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Correlational findings

Study Thoits & Hewitt (2001): study US 1986

Public
25+ aged, general public, USA, 1986-1989
Sample
Respondents
N = 2867
Non Response
T1: 33% T2: 21%
Assessment
Interview: face-to-face
At home

Correlate

Authors's Label
Life satisfaction 3 years ago
Our Classification
Distribution
T1: M = 3,75, SD = 0,94. T2: M = 5,36, SD = 1,48
Note that scales are not identical!
Operationalization
Selfreport on slightly different questions

T1: How satisfied are you with your life in general?
5  completely satisfied
4  very satisfied
3  somewhat satisfied
2  not very satisfied
1  not at all satisfied

T2: How satisfied are you with your life in general?"
1  completely unsatisfied
2  very unsatisfied
3  unsatisfied
4  unsatisfied nor satisfied
5  satisfied
6  very satisfied
7  completely satisfied

T1-T2 difference 3 years

Observed Relation with Happiness

Happiness Measure Statistics Elaboration / Remarks O-SLu-g-sq-v-7-a b = +.36 p < .000 T1 life-satisfaction (5-step) by T2 lifesatisfaction (7-step)
B controled for T2 social integration