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Studies

Hoopes & Lounsbury (1989): study US 1985

Publication

Author(s):
Hoopes, L.L.; Lounsbury, J.W.
Title:
An Investigation of Life Satisfaction Following a Vacation: A Domain Specific Approach.
Source:
Journal of Community Psychology, 1989, Vol. 17, 129 - 140

Investigation

Public
Working adults, USA, before and after vacation, 198?,
Sample
Non-probability purposive sample
Respondents
N = 129
Non Response
23
Assessment
Questionnaire: Paper & Pencil Interview (PAPI)
Completed at T1 and T3. Prevacation survey 1 to 2 weeks before vacation (median time 7 days), within a week after they returned to their jobs subjects filled out the postvacation survey form (median time 3 days).

Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings

Full text:
Self report on single question:

How do you feel about your life as a whole.....?
7  delighted
6  pleased
5  mostly satisfied
4  mixed
3  mostly dissatisfied
2  unhappy
1  terrible

Name: Andrews & Withey's `Delighted-Terrible Scale'  (original version)
Classification:
O-DT-u-sq-v-7-a
Author's label:
Satisfaction with life as a whole
Remarks:
Post vacation: M= 5,43 SD=.85
This question on overall life satisfaction was preceded by 30 questions on satisfaction with aspects of life.
Scale was reversed in original report.
Mean in original scale: Pre vacation = 2,70, Post vacation = 2,57,
SD in original scale: Prevacation= .86, Postvacation= .85

Overall life satisfaction increased significantly (t=3.29 p<05) after vacation
Page in publication:
132,134,
Observed distribution
Summary Statistics
On original range 1 - 7 On range 0-10
Mean:
5.30 -
SD:
0.86 -

Correlational Findings

Author's label Subject Description Finding Satisfaction with leisure