How to create an averaged scale from multiple variables?

[Samuel Rhodes]

I would like to create an averaged scale created from five variables for each observation. Each of my respondents answered five questions about their political efficacy - this level of efficacy varies across each participant, so one observation's level should not look like the another.

I found this code online, but it creates the same average for each observation. I don't need the average for the entire data set, but rather the average for how each individual participant responded.

sum V1 V2 V3 V4 V5
return list
gen average = r(mean)

In SPSS, the syntax to create this is:

compute average = mean(V1, V2, V3, V4, V5).
EXECUTE.

Is there a similar command to do this in Stata? Many thanks for your assistance.

[Rich Goldstein]

see the rowmean function for the -egen- command;

help egen

[Samuel Rhodes]

see the rowmean function for the -egen- command;

help egen

Thank you, Rich! Rowmean gave me exactly what I was looking for. Much appreciated!