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Correlational findings

Study Bjornskov (2008a): study US 1993

Public
18+aged, general public, 9 regions, USA, 1983-1998
Sample
Respondents
N = 60200
Non Response
Assessment
Interview: face-to-face

Correlate

Authors's Label
Social trust
Our Classification
Remarks
Average response per state, assessed in 1983 and 1998
Distribution
Mean:    31,367;  Min. 24,692 (North Carolina); Max.37,969 (New Hampshire). Mean, minimum and maximum seem to be obtained by some transformation of the original results on the 1-6-scale.
Operationalization
Response to statement:
"Most people are honest".
1 generally agree
2
3
4
5
6  definitively agree

Observed Relation with Happiness

Happiness Measure Statistics Elaboration / Remarks O-SLP-c-sq-n-6-a r = +.89 Level of average happiness by level of social trust in 9 US-regions over 16 years over 1983-1998 (cross-esectional). O-SLP-c-sq-n-6-a r = +.33 p < .01 CHANGE in average happiness by CHANGE in average social trust in 9 US-regions over 16 years over 1983-1998. O-SLP-c-sq-n-6-a r = +.59 p < .01 If two outlier observations are excluded. O-SLP-c-sq-n-6-a Beta = +.01 p < .01 Beta (+0,008) controlled for
-regional fixed effects, such that only changes in the variables are captured while longer-run effects and the potential influence of stable stocks of social capital are not considered.
-formal sociability
-informal sociability
-log Gross State Product (GSP) per capita
-GSP relative to USA-GDP O-SLP-c-sq-n-6-a Beta = +.01 p < .05 Beta unchanged (+0.008) if additionally controlled for changes at individual level by analyzing the residuals of individual-level analysis.