Findings on happiness in Perneger et al. (2004): study CH 1998

Publication
Author(s)Perneger, T.V.; Bovier, P.A.; Hudelson, P.M.
TitleHealth and Happines in Young Swiss Adults.
SourceQuality of Life Research, 2004, Vol. 13, 171 - 178
DOIDOI:10.1023/B:QURE.0000015314.97546.60
Investigation
PublicUniversity students, Switzerland, 1998.
 age: range=18-56; M=26.3, SD=5.6
Collect periodwinter
Survey nameUnnamed study
SampleProbability simple random sample
 Participants were randomly selected students who had been enrolled in University of Geneva, Switzerland for at least two semesters.
Respondents N =1257
Non Response36%
AssesmentQuestionnaire: paper
 Mailed questionnaire
Happiness measure(s) used
Full textSelfreport on single question: During the past 4 weeks.. Have you been a happy person? 5 all of the time 4 most of the time 3 some of the time 2 a little of the time 1 none of the time Item MH5 in SF-36 (Medical Outcome Study 36 item Short Form) version 2 (5-step rating scale)
ClassificationM-TH-cm-sq-v-5-a
Author's labelSelf-perceived happiness
Page in publication172-173
RemarksAnalysis based on dichotomy 'happy' (score 5 or 4) vs. 'not happy' (score 3, 2, or 1) 63% happy 27% unhappy
Finding used in
nation ranks		Yes
 On original range 1 - 5On range 0 - 10
Mean3.616.53
Standard deviation0.852.14

Scores in12345
%1.39.925.651.910.7

Correlational findings

Author's label Our subject description
Age (years)show  Current age (in years)
Consulted other doctor in past yearshow  Visits to doctor
Consulted psychiatrist or psychologist in past yearshow  Being in treatment for mental disorder (vs not)
Housing problemsshow  Concern about housing
I get love and affectionshow  Perceived sufficiency of intimate contacts
Live-in partnershow  Living alone or not
Mental healthshow  Current general mental health
Money problemsshow  Sufficiency of current income
Nationalityshow  Earlier nationality (nation of origin)
Physical healthshow  Current general health status
Practices sports once per week or more oftenshow  Active involvement in sports
Self esteemshow  Current satisfaction with self
Sexshow  Sex (male vs female)
Smokes cigarettesshow  Use of tobacco
Social supportshow  Amount of current support received
Stressshow  Amount of problems perceived
Unwanted sexual experienceshow  Earlier sex-life