HAPPINESS AND HAPPINESS INEQUALITY IN AZERBAIJAN: RESULTS WITH SINGLE-ITEM AND MULTIPLE-ITEM CONSTRUCTS
HAPPINESS AND HAPPINESS INEQUALITY IN AZERBAIJAN: RESULTS WITH SINGLE-ITEM AND MULTIPLE-ITEM CONSTRUCTS

Summary/Abstract: This paper compares the performance of thesingle-item (a 1-10 scale) and multiple-item constructs(Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), 5-item and 7-itemlife domain scales) employed to measure happiness andhappiness inequality based on the same survey data. Usinga cross-sectional dataset of 2208 respondents fromAzerbaijan, the study examines the reliability and validityof each scale. Further, it discusses the scales’ predictedhappiness and happiness inequality indicators within theaggregate sample and sub-samples of specific socio-demographic groups. The research results confirm thereliability and validity of multiple-item constructs. In fact,there is a strong positive correlation between all theexamined constructs of happiness. Interestingly, the meanhappiness predicted by the single-item, SWLS, 5-item,and 7-item life domain scales does not vary much. Themean happiness percentage of the highest score in eachconstruct varies within [50.8%; 62.1%] for the aggregatesample. SWLS’s happiness prediction is lower than thatof others by 7-11 percentage points, followed by the 5-item life domain scale and the single-item scale. Thehappiness prediction difference between the single-itemconstruct and the 7-item life domain scale is negligible. Interms of predicting happiness inequality, the 7-item lifedomain scale displays the least dispersion as per bothstandard deviation and coefficient of variation indicators.Conversely, the single-item construct yields the largestvariability. Research findings are consistent regardless ofage groups, gender identity, educational attainment level,marital status, employment status, and residential area.The overall recommendation is to use a multiple-item lifedomains scale to measure happiness and happinessinequality in a society, as it offers a broader perspectivefor using happiness research findings in improving publicpolicy efficiency.

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