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Correlational findings

Study Feather & O'Brien (1986): study AU 1980

Public
School-leavers, Australia, followed 2 years,1980-1982
Sample
Respondents
N = 5446
Non Response
T2: 25%, T3: 34%
Assessment
Questionnaire: Paper & Pencil Interview (PAPI)
Mailed orr administered in the schools.

Correlate

Authors's Label
Unemployment.
Our Classification
Remarks
Level of happiness at T1(1980), T2(1981) and T3(1982). T1 and T2 happiness by T2 employment(sample A): T2-empl. T2 unempl. difference
Related specification variables
Operationalization
0  Employed at T2/T3.
1  Unemployed at T2/T3

Observed Relation with Happiness

Happiness Measure Statistics Elaboration / Remarks A-AOL-g-mq-n-24-a AoV = + ns happiness at T1  Mt'= 6.53 Mt'= 6.46  -.07
happiness at T2  Mt'= 6.61 Mt'= 6.16  -.45
Interaction employment x time (nonsignificant):
happ.  T1 to T2       +.08      -.30  -.38

T1 and T3 happiness by T3 employment(sample A):
                 T3-empl.  T3 unempl. difference
A-AOL-g-mq-n-24-a AoV = - p < .01 happiness at T1  Mt'= 6.60 Mt'= 6.36  -.24
happiness at T3  Mt'= 6.50 Mt'= 5.80  -.70
Interaction employment x time ( p<01 ):
happ.  T1 to T3       -.10      -.56  -.46

T2 and T3 happiness by T3 employment(sample A+B):
                 T3-empl.  T3 unempl. difference
A-AOL-g-mq-n-24-a AoV = - p < .01 happiness at T2  Mt'= 6.27 Mt'= 5.93  -.34
happiness at T3  Mt'= 6.43 Mt'= 5.60  -.83
Interaction employment x time ( p< 01):
happ.  T2 to T3       +.16      -.33  -.49

Significance assessed by variance-analysis, also involving employment.

The original depression score is ranging from
4 to 28. Mt' is standardized into a happpiness score (0-10 and reversed)

Possible testing effects checked by comparing three sub-samples:
- sample A: selected at T1, tested at T1, T2, T3
- sample B: selected at T1, tested at T2 and T3
- sample C: selected at T1, tested at T3 only
At T3 happiness appeared lower in sample A than in sample B, but there is little evidence for systematic testing effects.