Neighbourhood flOURISHing (NOURISH): A new short and inclusive interpersonal measure of subjective wellbeing

Abstract

BackgroundShort individual Subjective Wellbeing (SWB) survey instruments are increasingly used to measure the impact of policy and community health initiatives. Neighbourhood-level interventions should affect social SWB, where intervention impact relates to a geographically bounded area. Existing social SWB measures lack spatial focus and have not been tested with low literacy users. The objective of the study was to develop and validate a short and inclusive neighbourhood flourishing tool. MethodsFive key stages, started with conceptualisation built on recent reviews and a community survey. Second, a set of survey items were operationalised. Third, cognitive interviews with six low education readers refined and reduced the pool. Fourth, these items plus new and established measures of SWB and predictors of both, were tested with 292 participants and subject to psychometric analyses. Fifth, the nine strongest items were validated in two deprived UK neighbourhoods with a further 221 participants and subjected to readability formulas. ResultsInitial work revealed 12 relevant concepts and 101 survey items assessing these were developed. Approximately half the new short items were acceptable in ‘think aloud’ interviews (n = 6). Two rounds of completion of items revealed a 2-factor solution consisting of neighbourhood feelings and functionings. The final solution consisted of three high loading items assessing feelings (safety, trust and respect) and three items assessing functionings (celebration, autonomy and participation), that did not cross-load, and demonstrated predictive and discriminant validity. Based on eight reading score formulas, the final measure was found to suit a reading age of 12–14 years old. ConclusionThe new valid six-item measure was tested with 519 participants, is acceptable and usable with people from deprived neighbourhoods, and with evidence of validity. This is a robust practical and inclusive tool for the measurement of Neighbourhood Flourishing, relevant to urban regeneration, inequalities and climate change policy and research.