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Correlational findings

Study Easterlin (2002a): study US 1972

Public
50+ aged, USA, followed 26 years 1972-1998
Survey name
US-GSS
Sample
Respondents
N = 9432
Non Response
Assessment
Interview: face-to-face

Correlate

Authors's Label
Work status
Our Classification
Related specification variables
Operationalization
Self reported work status: moving averages during 1972-1998
A: full-time worker (reference)
B: part-time worker
C: unemployed
D: retired
E: keeping house
F:  other

Observed Relation with Happiness

Happiness Measure Statistics Elaboration / Remarks O-HL-c-sq-v-3-aa DMa = +                              Females  Males
Full time worker   Ma =      2.56     2.53 O-HL-c-sq-v-3-aa DMa = + Part-time worker   Ma =      2.59     2.49 O-HL-c-sq-v-3-aa DMa = - Unemployed         Ma =      2.17     2.35 O-HL-c-sq-v-3-aa DMa = + Retired            Ma =      2.66     2.62 O-HL-c-sq-v-3-aa DMa = + Keeping house      Ma =      2.62    2.63 O-HL-c-sq-v-3-aa DMa = - Other              Ma =      2.48     2.54

Ma estimated by ordered logit regression for
- married
- good health
- median income
  O-HL-c-sq-v-3-aa Beta = +/- ns                          Females   Males
Part-time                -.06(ns)  +.01(ns)
(vs fulltime work) O-HL-c-sq-v-3-aa Beta = - p < .01 Unemployed               -.35(01) -.17(01)
(vs fulltime work) O-HL-c-sq-v-3-aa Beta = + p < .001 Retired                  +.10(001) +.14(001)
(vs fulltime work) O-HL-c-sq-v-3-aa Beta = + p < .01 Homemaker                +.06(01)  +.09(ns)
(vs fulltime work) O-HL-c-sq-v-3-aa Beta = +/- ns Other (vs fulltime work) -.09(10)  +.00(ns)

Betas controled for:
- marital status
- self rated health
- income

Ordered probit analysis yields similar results