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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
Informal sociability
Our Classification
Error Estimates
Eigenvalue of factor: 1,779
Remarks
Average number of activities of citizens per state.
Distribution
Mean   -0,05; Min.  -0,460 (Alabama); Max.i+0,262 (North Dakota)
Operationalization
Selfreport of participation in the following activities:
-gave or attended a dinner party
-went swimming
-went to the movies
-entertained people at home
-went out to dinner at a restauant
-went on picnic
-played cards
-attended a sporting event
-went to a pop or rock concert
-went clothes shopping
-went camping
-went bowling
-played tennis

Observed Relation with Happiness

Happiness Measure Statistics Elaboration / Remarks O-SLP-c-sq-n-6-a r = +.85 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 Beta = +.37 p < .01 CHANGE in average happiness by CHANGE in average informal sociability in 9 US-regions over 16 years over 1983-1998.

Beta (+0,369) 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.
-social trust
-formal sociability
-log Gross State Product (GSP) per capita
-GSP relative to USA-GDP O-SLP-c-sq-n-6-a Beta = +.18 ns (+0,183) if additionally controlled for changes at individual level by analyzing the residuals of individual-level analysis.