print

Studies

Dykstra & Wagner (2007): study DE 1990

Publication

Author(s):
Dykstra, P.A.; Wagner, M.
Title:
Pathway to Childlessness and Late-Life Outcomes.
Source:
Journal of Family Issues, 2007, Vol. 26, 1487 - 1517

Investigation

Public
70-100+ aged, West-Berlin, Germany 1990-1993
Sample
Non-probability purposive-quota sample
Respondents
N = 516
Non Response
32%
Assessment
Interview: face-to-face
Interviews in 14 sessions that covered mental and physical health, psychological functioning and social and economic situation.

Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings

Full text:
Self report on single question:

Taken all together, how satisfied or dissatisfied are you with your life in general?
1  very dissatisfied
2  not satisfied
3  neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
4 satisfied
5  very satisfied
Classification:
O-SLu-g-sq-n-5-a
Author's label:
Life Satisfaction
Remarks:
Men: M = 3,8 (N=258); Women:M = 3,6 (N=258).
Observed distribution
Summary Statistics
On original range 1 - 5 On range 0-10
Mean:
3.70 -
SD:
- -

Correlational Findings

Author's label Subject Description Finding Gender Sexe: male (vs female) Current age Age difference among elderly Never had children Ever had children (vs not)
Development of family of procreation (family life-cycle)
Earlier life-change
Loss of children Death of children
Development of family of procreation (family life-cycle)
Specific earlier life-events
Marital history/first, second, third marriage Earlier life-change
Still with first spouse
Retirement career (exit-age) Age at retirement Occupational history, upward mobility Development of occupation
Earlier social mobility
Intra-generational mobility
Life History Earlier life (antecedents of happiness)
Summed effect of earlier personal conditions
Marital history/single vs in first marriage Life-long single Marital history/single after divorce Earlier life-change
Ever divorced/separated
Marital history/single after widowhood Earlier life-change
Specific earlier life-events
Ever widowed
Marital history/single after several marriages Earlier life-change
Earlier marital transitions