Andrews & Withey (1976): study US 1972 /1

Publication

Author(s):

Andrews, F.M.; Withey, S.B.

Title:

Social Indicators of Well-Being. Americans Perceptions of Life Quality.

Source:

Plenum Press, 1976, New York, USA

Investigation

Public

18+ aged, general public, USA, May 1972

Survey name

Unnamed study

Sample

Probability area sample

Respondents

N = 1297

Non Response

24%

Assessment

Interview: face-to-face
using highly structured questionnaires

Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings

Full text:

Self report on single question, asked twice in interview:

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

Summation: arithmetic mean

Name: Andrews & Withey's "Delighted-Terrible Scale" (original version)
Also known as Lehman's 'Global life satisfaction'

Classification:

O-DT-u-sqt-v-7-a

Author's label:

Life3 (G3)

Remarks:

Combination of two ratings on 7-step scale results in 14 steps, with the following frequencies

Page in publication:

311

Observed distribution

Summary Statistics

On original range 1 - 7 On range 0-10

Mean:

5.50 7.50

SD:

0.91 1.52

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:

Three-point happiness (G31)

Page in publication:

319

Observed distribution

Frequencies

1: 9%,   2: 64%,   3: 27%   (total 100%)

Summary Statistics

On original range 1 - 3 On range 0-10

Mean:

2.18 7.17

SD:

0.57 1.49

Correlational Findings

Author's label Subject Description Finding Educational level Level of school-education White race Ethnic status in the USA Family life cycle Stage of life
Current parental status
Development of family of procreation (family life-cycle)
Married state (compared to non-married states) Male sex Sex: male (vs female) Age Current age (in years) Satisfaction with housework, work around the house Satisfaction with home-making Income Current income level (unspecified) Satisfaction with how one gets on with people Satisfaction with own abilities
Satisfaction with opportunities for contact Satisfaction with religious faith Satisfaction with religion Satisfaction with amount of fun Pleasant (vs unpleasant) Satisfaction with spare time activities Satisfaction with leisure activities Satisfaction with amount of time doing things one likes Satisfaction with time for leisure Satisfaction with house, apartment Satisfaction with housing
Build environment Satisfaction with neighborhood Attitude to neighborhood Satisfaction with consumer facilities Satisfaction with local shops Satisfaction with municipal services Attitudes to state-services Satisfaction with recreation facilities Satisfaction with local recreation
Build environment Satisfaction with school facilities in the area Satisfaction with local schools
Build environment Satisfaction with local government Attitudes to local government Satisfaction with the weather Attitude to local climate Satisfaction with condition of natural environment Attitude to local natural environment Satisfaction with national government Attitudes to national government Satisfaction with the way young people think and act Satisfaction with compatriots in nation Satisfaction with the way people over 40 think and act Satisfaction with compatriots in nation Satisfaction with cost of living Satisfaction with costs of living in nation Satisfaction with media Satisfaction with media in nation Satisfaction with health and physical condition Satisfaction with health Satisfaction with family Satisfaction with family Satisfaction with activities with family Satisfaction with family Satisfaction with close adult relative Satisfaction with close adult relatives Satisfaction with social contacts and friends Satisfaction with friends Satisfaction with chance to know people Satisfaction with opportunities for contact Satisfaction with organizational memberships Satisfaction with organizational participation Satisfaction with material standard of living Satisfaction with standard of living Satisfaction with job Satisfaction with work-as-a-whole Satisfaction with security from theft Satisfaction with safety in vicinity Satisfaction with treatment by others Satisfaction with compatriots in nation Satisfaction with mobility Satisfaction with local transport
Build environment Satisfaction with use of own education Satisfaction with education Happiness O-HL by O-DT Socioeconomic status 'Objective' socio-economic status
Status consistency Concerns Current concerns
Satisfaction with multiple domains of life Satisfaction with personal efficacy Satisfaction with self
Satisfaction with own abilities Satisfaction with chance to know people Perceived opportunities for contacts