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Correlational findings

Study Easterlin (2002a): study US 1972

Public
50+ aged, USA, followed 26 years 1972-1998
Survey name
US-GSS
Sample
Respondents
N = 9432
Non Response
Assessment
Interview: face-to-face

Correlate

Authors's Label
Marital status
Our Classification
Related specification variables
Operationalization
Self reported marital status: moving averages during 1972-1998
A married (reference)
B lost spouse widowed
C divorced or separated,
D never-married

Observed Relation with Happiness

Happiness Measure Statistics Elaboration / Remarks O-HL-c-sq-v-3-aa DMa = -                               Female   Male
married                 Ma =  2.56     2.53 O-HL-c-sq-v-3-aa DMa = - lost spouse widowed     Ma =  2.24     2.11 O-HL-c-sq-v-3-aa DMa = - divorced or separated   Ma =  2.20     2.15 O-HL-c-sq-v-3-aa DMa = - never-married           Ma =  2.36     2.19

Ma estimated by ordered logit regression for
- full time worker
- good health
- median income O-HL-c-sq-v-3-aa Beta = - p < .001                        Female     Male
lost spouse widowed    -.29(001)  -.36(001)
(vs married)        O-HL-c-sq-v-3-aa Beta = - p < .001 divorced or separated  -.32(001)   -.33(001)
(vs married) O-HL-c-sq-v-3-aa Beta = - p < .001 never-married        -.18(001)  -.30(001)
(vs married)

Betas controled for:
- marital status
- self rated health
- income

Ordered probit analysis yields similar results