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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
Male sex
Our Classification
Remarks
Level of happiness at T1(1980), T2(1981) and T3(1982). T1 happiness by male sex (sample A): female male difference
Related specification variables
Operationalization
0  Females
1  Males

Observed Relation with Happiness

Happiness Measure Statistics Elaboration / Remarks A-AOL-g-mq-n-24-a AoV = + happiness at T1  Mt'= 6.58  Mt'= 6.67     +.09

T3 happiness by male sex (sample D):
                 female     male       difference
A-AOL-g-mq-n-24-a AoV = - happiness at T3  Mt'= 6.54  Mt'= 6.50     -.04

T2 and T3 happiness by male sex (sample A+B):
                 female     male       difference
A-AOL-g-mq-n-24-a AoV = + ns happiness at T2  Mt'= 6.18  Mt'= 6.21     +.03
happiness at T3  Mt'= 6.25  Mt'= 6.26     +.01
Interaction sex x time (non-significant):
T2 to T3              +.07       +.05     -.02

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.