Translation and Validation of the Malayalam Version of the Subjective Happiness Scale

Kelly Cotton (), Sanish Sathyan, Soumya Jacob, K. S. Shaji, Emmeline Ayers, Dristi Adhikari, Alben Sigamani, Pradeep Kumar Vg and Joe Verghese
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Kelly Cotton: Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Sanish Sathyan: Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Soumya Jacob: Christ University
K. S. Shaji: Kerala University of Health Sciences
Emmeline Ayers: Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Dristi Adhikari: Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Alben Sigamani: Carmel Research Consultancy Pvt Ltd
Pradeep Kumar Vg: Baby Memorial Hospital
Joe Verghese: Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 2025, vol. 176, issue 1, No 11, 245-255

Abstract: Abstract The subjective happiness scale (SHS) is a brief instrument used to measure global subjective happiness that has been translated from its original English to many other languages. To date, there is no reported translation of this scale into Malayalam, a language spoken by over 32 million people especially in the southern state of Kerala, India. In the present study, 656 community-dwelling older adults participating in the Kerala Einstein study (KES) completed the Malayalam version of the SHS. The Malayalam version demonstrated high internal consistency and good convergent validity, as assessed by comparison to measures of depression and anxiety. We also used factor analysis to determine that the Malayalam version of the SHS has a unidimensional structure, akin to the original English as well as other language adaptations. Our study adds to the repertoire of tools to measure happiness in non-English-speaking populations, enabling future research to explore the foundations of well-being across diverse cultures.

Keywords: Subjective happiness scale; Malayalam; Measurement; Validity; Well-being (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/s11205-024-03448-y

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