Headey (2008): study DE 1990

Publication

Author(s):

Headey, B.

Title:

Life Goals Matter to Happiness: A Revision of Set-Point Theory.

Source:

Social Indicators Research, 2008, Vol. 86, 213 - 231

Investigation

Public

16+ aged, general public, Germany, 1990-2004

Sample

Probability multi-stage cluster sample

Respondents

N = 3553

Non Response

Assessment

Interview: face-to-face

Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings

Full text:

Self report on single question:

Taking all things together, how satisfied are you with your life these days? Please answer with the help of this scale. For instance, when you are totally satisfied with your life, please tick '10'. When you are totally unsatisfied with your life, please tick '0'. You may use all values in between to indicate that you are neither totally satisfied nor totally unsatisfied."
10 totally satisfied
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0  totally unsatisfied

Classification:

O-SLW-c-sq-n-11-d

Correlational Findings

Author's label Subject Description Finding Current priority for life-goals Current life-goals Age Current age (in years) Gender Sex: male (vs female) Extraversion Extraverted Locus of control Inner locus of control Neuroticism Neurotic (f48) Earlier average priority for life-goals Object of earlier goals
Object of life-goals Past life-satisfaction at T1 Past happiness ( 1 to 10 years ago) Partner Living alone or not
Married state (compared to non-married states) Years of education Years schooling Disposable household income Household income Health disability Current handicap Effect of current priorities & conditions Summed socio-demographic + health + life goals + personality