print

Studies

Thompson et al. (1960): study US 1952

Publication

Author(s):
Thompson, W.E.; Kosa, J.; Streib, G.F.
Title:
The Effect of Retirement on Personal Adjustment: A Panel Analysis.
Source:
Journal of Gerontology, 1960, Vol. 15, 165 - 169

Investigation

Public
60+ aged, employed at start, followed 2 years, USA, 1952-54
Sample
Non-probability purposive sample
Respondents
N = 1559
Non Response
Assessment
Interview: face-to-face
Structured interview, followed by 2 mailed questionnaires.

Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings

Full text:
Self report on 3 questions:

A   All in all, how much happiness would you say you find in life today......?
3  a great deal
2  some but not very much
1  almost none

B  In general, how would you say you feel most of the time, in good spirits or in low spirits.....?
1   I am usually in low spirits
2   I am sometimes in good spirits, sometimes in low spirits
3   I am mostly in good spirits

C   On the whole, how satisfied are you with your way of life today.....?
4  very satisfied
3  fairly satisfied
2  not very satisfied
1  not satisfied at all

Items selected by Guttman scaling.
Classification:
M-AO-*-mq-v*-10-a
Author's label:
Satisfaction with life
Remarks:
Almost symmetric: 1952: 51% satisfied, 49% dissatisfied, 1954: 43% satisfied, 57% dissatisfied
Break satisfied/dissatisfied not reported
Page in publication:
166
Error estimates:
Reproducibility: +.96, Error ratio : +.55

Correlational Findings

Author's label Subject Description Finding Having difficulties in keeping occupied Concern about (un)employment Subjective health Global health self-rating Economic deprivation Later level of income Recent retirement. Change to retirement: stopped working
Compulsory retirement (vs free choice)
Past happiness. Past happiness ( 1 to 10 years ago)
Actual changes in happiness
Compulsory retirement. Compulsory retirement (vs free choice)