Findings on happiness in Molnar (1985): study US 1981

Publication
Author(s)Molnar, J.J.
TitleDeterminants of Subjective Well-Being among Farm Operators.
SourceRural Sociology, 1985, Vol. 50, 141 - 162
Investigation
PublicFarm operators, Alabama, USA, 1981
Survey nameNot available
SampleNot available
 Probability simple random sample drawn from a master list maintained by various agencies and organizations serving the state
Respondents N =705
Non Response29,9%
AssesmentQuestionnaire: paper
 Mailed questionnaire
General remarksThe author supplied some additional data, i.e. non-significant regression-coëfficients, that were not published in the table on p.156 of the article
Happiness measure(s) used
Full textSelfreport on single question: "Here is a picture of a ladder. At the bottom of the ladder is the worst life you might reasonably expect to have. At the top is the best life you might expect to have. Of course, life from week to week falls somewhere in between. Where was your life most of the time during the past year?" [ 9 ] best life you might expect to have [ 8 ] [ 7 ] [ 6 ] [ 5 ] [ 4 ] [ 3 ] [ 2 ] [ 1 ] worst life you might expect to have Name: Cantril's self anchoring ladder rating (modified version)
ClassificationC-BW-cy-sq-l-9-a
Author's labelSubjective well-being
Finding used in
nation ranks		Yes
 On original range 1 - 9On range 0 - 10
Mean5.405.40
Standard deviation1.95

Correlational findings

Author's label Our subject description
Ageshow  Current age (in years)
Combined off-farm employment statusshow  Multiple jobs
Combined off-farm employment statusshow  Time spend to farming, also classified as above ↑
Commitment to farmingshow  Attitudes to current occupation
Commitment to farmingshow  Concern about farming, also classified as above ↑
Economic constraintsshow  Economic success of farm
Educationshow  Level of school-education
Expected well-being in five yearsshow  In the near future (up to 5 years)
Farm structure and individual characteristicsshow  Current characteristics of the farm
Farm structure and individual characteristicsshow  Socio-demographic + environmental factors, also classified as above ↑
Gross farm salesshow  Size of farm
Growth plansshow  Economic success of farm
Land operatedshow  Size of farm
Off-farm workdaysshow  Time spend to farming
Percent farm incomeshow  Time spend to farming
Self-definition as a farm operatorshow  Concern about farming
Self-definition as a farm operatorshow  Self-perceived social identity, also classified as above ↑
Total family incomeshow  Household income
Wife's work statusshow  Current employment status
Wife's work statusshow  Full-time vs part-time, also classified as above ↑
Wife's work statusshow  Time spend to farming, also classified as above ↑