Oxford Happiness Scale

Introduction

The Oxford Happiness Scale (OHS) is a 29-item self-report measure of subjective psychological well-being, developed by Peter Hills and Michael Argyle (2002) at the University of Oxford. Using a 6-point agreement scale, it samples broader facets of happiness than very short instruments such as the Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS).

The OHS evolved from the earlier Oxford Happiness Inventory (OHI, Argyle, Martin & Crossland, 1989). Rather than asking respondents to judge happiness as a single global impression, it samples several facets — including life reward, social warmth, energy, self-esteem, optimism, and a sense of meaning — giving a more differentiated picture of well-being.

Compared with the 4-item SHS (a global sense of happiness) and the 5-item Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS, a cognitive judgment of life satisfaction), the OHS is longer but covers a wider band of the happiness construct. The three measures are related but not interchangeable.

Because the OHS was partly derived by reversing items from a depression inventory, its score should be read as a relative indicator of psychological well-being rather than an absolute measure of “true happiness.”

Theoretical Background

Michael Argyle (1925–2002) was a British social psychologist at the University of Oxford and a pioneer of the empirical study of happiness. He treated subjective well-being as a measurable psychological variable shaped by personality, social relationships, and everyday activities — a foundation of later positive psychology.

Argyle’s work emphasized that happiness is influenced by both relatively stable personality traits and modifiable social behaviours, including social contact, leisure, and physical activity. The OHS was designed to capture this multi-component view of well-being rather than a single dimension.

Scoring & Interpretation

Each of the 29 items uses a 6-point scale from “strongly disagree” (1) to “strongly agree” (6). Twelve items are reverse-scored so that a higher score always reflects greater happiness. The total score is the sum of all item scores.

Total scores range from 29 to 174, with higher scores indicating higher reported happiness. The OHS has no established clinical cut-offs; the score is most meaningful as a relative, within-person reference point rather than an absolute diagnosis.

• Closer to 29: Lower reported happiness. This may reflect current difficulties, low mood, or dissatisfaction. If persistent distress is present, please consult a qualified professional.
• Around the middle of the range: A moderate level of reported happiness and well-being.
• Closer to 174: Higher reported happiness across the facets measured.

References