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Studies

Hoopes & Lounsbury (1989): study US 1985

Publication

Author(s):
Hoopes, L.L.; Lounsbury, J.W.
Title:
An Investigation of Life Satisfaction Following a Vacation: A Domain Specific Approach.
Source:
Journal of Community Psychology, 1989, Vol. 17, 129 - 140

Investigation

Public
Working adults, USA, before and after vacation, 198?,
Sample
Non-probability purposive sample
Respondents
N = 129
Non Response
23
Assessment
Questionnaire: Paper & Pencil Interview (PAPI)
Completed at T1 and T3. Prevacation survey 1 to 2 weeks before vacation (median time 7 days), within a week after they returned to their jobs subjects filled out the postvacation survey form (median time 3 days).

Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings

Full text:
Self report on single question:

How do you feel about your life as a whole.....?
7  delighted
6  pleased
5  mostly satisfied
4  mixed
3  mostly dissatisfied
2  unhappy
1  terrible

Name: Andrews & Withey's `Delighted-Terrible Scale'  (original version)
Classification:
O-DT-u-sq-v-7-a
Author's label:
Satisfaction with life as a whole
Remarks:
Post vacation: M= 5,43 SD=.85
This question on overall life satisfaction was preceded by 30 questions on satisfaction with aspects of life.
Scale was reversed in original report.
Mean in original scale: Pre vacation = 2,70, Post vacation = 2,57,
SD in original scale: Prevacation= .86, Postvacation= .85

Overall life satisfaction increased significantly (t=3.29 p<05) after vacation
Page in publication:
132,134,
Observed distribution
Summary Statistics
On original range 1 - 7 On range 0-10
Mean:
5.30 -
SD:
0.86 -

Correlational Findings

Author's label Subject Description Finding Satisfaction with leisure Satisfaction with leisure
Earlier satisfaction with leisure
Later satisfaction with leisure
Satisfaction with leisure during vacation Satisfaction with leisure
Earlier satisfaction with leisure
Later satisfaction with leisure
Satisfaction with marriage/family Satisfaction with family of relatives
Earlier satisfaction with current marriage-relationship
Later satisfaction with current marriage
Satisfaction with marriage/family during vacation Satisfaction with family of relatives
Satisfaction with marriage
Length of current marriage
Later satisfaction with current marriage
Satisfaction with nature Satisfaction with leisure activities
Satisfaction with local recreation
Build environment
Satisfaction with nature during vacation Satisfaction with leisure
Earlier satisfaction with leisure
Later satisfaction with leisure
Satisfaction with money Earlier satisfaction with income
Later satisfaction with income
Satisfaction with money during vacation Concern about leisure
Concern about spending
Satisfaction with work Earlier satisfaction with work
Later satisfaction with work
Satisfaction with work during vacation Earlier satisfaction with work
Later satisfaction with work
Satisfaction with community Attitude to vicinity
Earlier satisfaction with residence
Later attitudes to residence
Satisfaction with food/lodging during vacation Earlier satisfaction with leisure
Later satisfaction with leisure
Satisfaction with vacation as a whole Earlier leisure
Later leisure
panel dropout Panel-dropout Covariate set Summed socio-demographic factors only Vacation Actual changes in happiness
Traveling
Current time-usage