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Studies

Veroff et al. (1981): study US 1976

Publication

Author(s):
Veroff, J.; Douvan, E.; Kulka, R.A.
Title:
The Inner American: A Self-Portrait from 1957 to 1976.
Source:
Basic Books, 1981, New York, USA

Investigation

Public
21+ aged, general public, USA, 1976
Sample
Respondents
N = 2264
Non Response
29%
Assessment
Interview: face-to-face
Structured interview

Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings

Full text:
Self report on single question:

Taken all together, how would you say things are these days?   Would you say that you are....?
3  very happy
2  pretty happy
1  not too happy
Classification:
O-HL-c-sq-v-3-aa
Author's label:
Happiness
Remarks:
Data 1957     

1976  very happy 30%,  pretty happy  57%, not too happy 11%, not ascertained  2,7%
Observed distribution
Frequencies
1: 11%,   2: 54%,   3: 35%   (total 100%)
Summary Statistics
On original range 1 - 3 On range 0-10
Mean:
2.24 7.32
SD:
0.63 1.65
Full text:
Self report on single question:

In general how satisfying do you find the way you are spending your life these days. Would you call it.....?
3  completely satisfying
2  pretty satisfying
1  not very satisfying
Classification:
O-SLL-c-sq-v-3-a
Author's label:
Satisfaction
Remarks:
data 1976
Observed distribution
Frequencies
1: 10%,   2: 73%,   3: 16%   (total 99%)
Summary Statistics
On original range 1 - 3 On range 0-10
Mean:
2.06 6.88
SD:
0.51 1.53

Correlational Findings

Author's label Subject Description Finding Sources of happiness Perceived sources of one's own happiness Sources of unhappiness Perceived sources of one's own happiness Sources of worry Specific worries White race Ethnic status in the USA Religion Current religious denomination Population density Community size Income Current income level (unspecified) Father's occupation Parents occupation
'Objective' socio-economic status
Church attendance Participation in church Working Current employment status Being retired Current status: retired or not Being a full-time housewive Full-time home maker Male sex Sexe: male (vs female) Age Current age (in years) Marital status: married vs divorced Married (vs divorced) Marital status: single vs divorced Never married (vs divorced) Marital status: single vs married Married (vs never married) Region in USA Region in USA Talking when worried Current coping-style Praying when unhappy Current coping-style
Praying
Expected happiness In the long run Broken home background Number of parents (broken home) Education Level of school-education Zest Psychological-morale inventories