Holahan et al. (1999): study US 1960
Publication
- Author(s):
- Holahan, C.K.; Holahan, C.J.; Wonacott, N.L.
- Title:
- Self Appraisal, Life Satisfaction and Retrospective Life Choices Across One and Three Decades.
- Source:
- Psychology and Aging, 1999, Vol. 14, 238 - 244
Investigation
- Public
- Gifted (IQ>135) followed unto old age, USA, 1960-1992
- Sample
- Non-probability purposive-quota sample
- Respondents
- N = 383
- Non Response
- Assessment
-
Interview: face-to-face
Repeated, with questionnaires
Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings
- Full text:
-
Self report on 2 questions:
A
"How important was each of the following goals in life in the plans you made for yourself in early adulthood?"
-
-
- joy in living
4 of prime importance to me
3
2
1 less important to me than to most people
B.
"How successful have you been in the pursuit of these goals?"
5 had excellent fortune in this respect
4
3
2
1 little satisfaction in this area
Computation: Life satisfaction score = Perceived success in achieving joy in living now (B) minus remembered importance of joy in living in early adulthood (A) - Classification:
- M-AC-h-mq-v-8-a
- Author's label:
- Life-satisfaction discrepancy
- Page in publication:
- 239
- Full text:
-
Self report on single question: following enumeration of lifegoals in six areas, the last of which was 'joy in living'
" How successful have you been in pursuit of that goal.....?"
(joy in living)
5 had excellent fortune in this respect
4
3
2
1 found little satisfaction in this area - Classification:
- M-PL-h-sq-v-5-b
- Author's label:
- Life satisfaction
- Page in publication:
- 239
- Observed distribution
- Summary Statistics
- On original range 1 - 5 On range 0-10
- Mean:
- 4.03 -
- SD:
- 0.92 -
- Full text:
-
Self report on single question:
'All things considered, how satisfied are you with your life these days?'
1 completely dissatisfied
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 completely satisfied - Classification:
- O-SLW-c-sq-n-9-a
- Author's label:
- Overall life satisfaction
- Page in publication:
- 241