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Correlational findings

Study Stacey & Gatz (1991): study US 1971

Public
Three generations of family members, followed 14 years, USA, 1971-85
Sample
Respondents
N = 1159
Non Response
Attrition T1-T2: 43%
Assessment
Questionnaire: Paper & Pencil Interview (PAPI)
Mailed questionnaire

Correlate

Authors's Label
Age
Our Classification
Operationalization
age in years

Observed Relation with Happiness

Happiness Measure Statistics Elaboration / Remarks A-BB-cm-mq-v-2-a DMt = + Age (years)        Happiness (Ms')
T1      T2         T1      T2
15-19   29-33      5.81    6.70
20-34   34-48      6.02    6.82
35-49   49-63      6.93    7.40
50-64   64-78      7.23    7.62
65-86   79-100     7.51    6.38

Significant effect of age.
Both positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA) decline with age. Negative affect declines most. As a result Affect Balance (Hedonic level) rises. This appears both in cross-sectional and longitudinal comparison.

Unaffected by sex