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Correlational findings

Study VanSantvoort (2009): study ZZ Europe 2005

Public
15+ aged, general public, 9 European countries, 2005
Sample
Respondents
N = 14889
Non Response
30 %
Assessment
Interview: face-to-face
Most studies based on face-to-face interviews

Correlate

Authors's Label
Disability
Our Classification
Distribution
1: 80,4 %, 2: 18,5%, 3: 6,7%
Operationalization
Selfreport on single question:
Are your hampered in your daily activities in any way by any longstanding illness, disability, infirmity or mental health problem?
1 no
2 yes, to some extent
3 yes, a lot

Observed Relation with Happiness

Happiness Measure Statistics Elaboration / Remarks O-Sum-*-mq-n-11-b DM = -                  Handicapped
                 Not    some    a lot
                        extend
Belgium      M = 7.72   7.19    6.49  
Germany      M = 7.17   6.51    5.58
Denmark      M = 8.50   8.04    7.66       
Finland      M = 8.22   7.69    7.30
Netherlands  M = 7.81   7.46    6.74
Slovenia     M = 7.31   6.76    5.83  
Slovakia     M = 6.23   4.87    4.44  
UK           M = 7.41   7.08    6.54

All          M = 7,37   6,82    6,14

All differences significant except between 'a lot' and 'to some extend' in Denmark and Slovakia.

Differece in happiness between handicapped and not handicapped is smallest in the countries with a 'coherent' disability policy (Denmark, Finland, UK), as compared to countries with 'fragmented' policy (Belgium, Germany, Netherlands) and 'transition' policy (Slovakia, Slovenia)

Difference between handicapped and not handicapped is smallest in Denmark, Finland and the UK.
O-Sum-*-mq-n-11-b Beta = -.19 p < .001 Beta handicapped (vs not)
Beta's similar in all countries
O-Sum-*-mq-n-11-b Beta = +.20 p < .001 Beta controlled for:
- socio-demographic variables
- socio-economic variables
O-Sum-*-mq-n-11-b Beta = -.02 p < .05 Beta additionally controlled for:
- self assessed health
- feeling optimistic and energetic
- feeling about household income
O-Sum-*-mq-n-11-b Beta = -.03 p < .01 Beta additionally controlled for:
- social participation

Beta's in all countries separatly not significant after controlling for socio-demographic factors, self-related conditions and social participation.