https://doi.org/10.1177/0734282919837403
Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment
1–14
© The Author(s) 2019
Article reuse guidelines:
sagepub.com/journals-permissions
DOI: 10.1177/0734282919837403
journals.sagepub.com/home/jpa
Article
The Chinese Version of the
Subjective Happiness Scale:
Validation and Convergence
With Multidimensional Measures
Chin-Lung Chien
1
, Po-Lin Chen
2
, Po-Jui Chu
3
,
Hsiang-Yi Wu
1
, Yi-Chao Chen
4
, and Shih-Chi Hsu
1
Abstract
This article aimed to establish the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the
Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS-C) and to investigate the convergence between SHS-C and
multidimensional subjective well-being (MSWB). A total of 543 college students completed
the following measures: the SHS-C, the MSWB scale, Rosenberg’s self-esteem scale, and the
interpersonal harmony scale. The SHS-C showed adequate internal consistent reliability and
test–retest reliability. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) showed a one-factor structure of
the SHS-C, and multigroup CFA showed factor invariance between gender groups. Subjective
happiness, as measured by the SHS-C, and MSWB, as measured by life satisfaction, positive
affect, and negative affect, were highly correlated (above .90), suggesting convergent validity.
The SHS-C was also correlated with two theoretically different but related constructs, self-
esteem and interpersonal harmony, providing evidence of criterion-related validity. The results
provide preliminary evidence that the SHS-C is valid with a Chinese-speaking population and
that the SHS-C and MSWB may be interchangeable.
Keywords
confirmatory factor analysis, measurement invariance, positive psychology, subjective happiness,
subjective well-being
Introduction
Subjective well-being (SWB) has long been an important topic in psychological studies and
applications (e.g., Diener, 1984; Lyubomirsky, 2007) and has, in particular, been considered one
of the core topics in positive psychology (Baumgardner & Crothers, 2009). SWB, a term often
used interchangeably with happiness (Andrew & Robinson, 1991), is used to refer to the good-
ness of life (Diener, 1984). SWB is defined as a subjective experience and a global judgment of
1
Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
2
Hsuan Chuang University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
3
National Changhua University of Education, Changhua, Taiwan
4
Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan
Corresponding Author:
Shih-Chi Hsu, Department of Psychology, Kaohsiung Medical University, 100, Shih-Chuan 1st Road, Kaohsiung 80708,
Taiwan.
Email: freekiki2002@gmail.com
837403JPA XX X 10.1177/0734282919837403Journal of Psychoeducational AssessmentChien et al.
research-article 2019