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Studies

Polit et al. (1980): study US 1975

Publication

Author(s):
Polit, D.F.; Nuttall, E.V.; Nuttall, R.L.
Title:
The Only Child Grows Up: A Look at Some Characteristics of Adults Only Children.
Source:
Family Relations, 1980, Vol. 29, 99 - 106

Investigation

Public
Couples, white, middle/upper class, USA, 1975
Sample
Respondents
N = 1074
Non Response
Assessment
Interview: face-to-face
Wives: face to face interview, husbands: mailed questionnaire.

Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings

Full text:
Self report on single question:

Lead item not reported.
[  10  ] best possible life
[    9  ]
[    8  ]
[    7  ]
[    6  ]
[    5  ]
[    4  ]
[    3  ]
[    2  ]
[    1  ]  worst possible life

Name: Cantril's self anchoring Ladder rating of life (modified version)
Classification:
C-BW-c-sq-l-10-a
Author's label:
Personal adjustment
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:
Life satisfaction
Full text:
Self report on single question:

"In general, how satisfying do you find your life these days? Would you call it....?."
3  completely satisfying
2  pretty satisfying
1  not satisfying
Classification:
O-SLu-c-sq-v-3-b
Author's label:
Life satisfaction

Correlational Findings

Author's label Subject Description Finding Being an only child, birth order Only child
Birth order
Male sex Sexe: male (vs female)