Wilkening & McGranahan (1978): study US Wisconsin 1974 /1

Publication

Author(s):

Wilkening, E.A.; McGranahan, D.H.

Title:

Correlates of Subjective Well-Being in Northern Wisconsin.

Source:

Social Indicators Research, 1978, Vol. 5, 211 - 234

Investigation

Public

18+ aged, general public, NW Wisconsin-residents, USA, 1974

Sample

Respondents

N = 1423

Non Response

12%

Assessment

Interview: face-to-face
Structured interview

Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings

Full text:

Self report on single question, asked twice in interview:

Considering everything, how satisfied are you with your life as a whole........?
7   completely satisfied
6
5
4
3
2
1   completely dissatisfied

Summation: both scores added
Possible range: 2 to 14

Classification:

O-SLW-u-sqt-v-7-a

Author's label:

Life satisfaction

Remarks:

first  question M=5.82 (possible range 1-7); Ms'=8.03
second question M=5.62 (possible range 1-7); Ms'=7.70

Error estimates:

Reliability: equivalence: r= +.56 Validity:

Correlational Findings

Author's label Subject Description Finding Level of education Level of school-education Occupational status 'Objective' socio-economic status Income Household income Level of living Specific possessions
Expenditures on: Durables Live alone Living alone or not Married Married state (compared to non-married states) Having children Current parental status Contact with relatives Contacts with relatives Contact with friends Current contacts with friends Church attendance Participation in church Organizational membership Membership of voluntary organizations Health problems Degree of restriction Recent move Recently moved separated/divorced Divorced or separated Unemployed Current employment status Retirement Current status: retired or not Widowed Married (vs widowed) Urban living Rural dwelling (vs urban) Rural living Open country (vs village) Male sex Sex: male (vs female) Joint effect Summed socio-demographic + environment + health + life events + ties