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Studies

Verkleij & Stolk (1989): study MZ 1983

Publication

Author(s):
Verkleij, H.; Stolk, J.
Title:
Does Happiness Lead into Idleness?
Source:
Veenhoven, R.;Ed.: "How Harmful is Happiness", University Press Rotterdam, 1989, Netherlands, 79 - 93

Investigation

Public
30-50 aged, in working force, followed 1 year, urban areas, Netherlands, 1983-84
Sample
Respondents
N = 1100
Non Response
T1-T2 attrition: 27%
Assessment
Interview: face-to-face
T1: interview, T2: mailed questionaire

Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings

Full text:
Self report on 10 questions:

During the past few weeks, did you ever feel ....?  (yes/no)
A   Particularly excited or interested in something?
B   So restless that you couldn't sit long in a chair?
C   Proud because someone complimented you on something  
     you had done?
D   Very lonely or remote from other people?
E   Pleased about having accomplished something?
F   Bored?
G   On top of the world?
H   Depressed or very unhappy?
I    That things were going your way?
J    Upset because someone criticized you?

Answer options and scoring:
yes = 1
no  = 0
Summation:
-Positive Affect Score (PAS): A+C+E+G+I
-Negative Affect Score (NAS): B+D+F+H+J
-Affect Balance Score (ABS): PAS minus NAS
Possible range: -5 to +5

Name: Bradburn's 'Affect Balance Scale' (standard version)
Classification:
A-BB-cm-mq-v-2-a
Author's label:
Happiness
Error estimates:
Reliability: retest after 1 yr: r=+.48 (p<001) Validity:

Correlational Findings

Author's label Subject Description Finding Re-employment Change in employment
Becamet (re)employed
Job loss Change in employment Happiness Recent happiness (< 1 year ago) Depressive complaints Depressive (f31-33) Health Self-perceived health Belonging/loneliness Earlier mood-pattern
Later mood-pattern
Attitude to unemployment Attitudes to own (un)employment Education Level of school-education Financial problems Concerns about income Negative Life-events Balance of negative- and positive life-events