Dobson (1985): study US 1964

Publication

Author(s):

Dobson, C.D.

Title:

Attitudes and Perceptions.

Source:

Powers, E.A. et al (Eds).: "Late Life Transitions", Kluwer, 1985, Dordrecht, Netherlands, 123 - 136

Investigation

Public

50+ aged males, fulltime employed at T1, followed ten years, Iowa, USA, 1964-74

Sample

Non-probability purposive-quota sample

Respondents

N = 1870

Non Response

T1 refusals: 8% T1-T2 drop-out: 29%, of which 20% deceased

Assessment

Interview: face-to-face

Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings

Full text:

Self report on single question:

How do you feel things have worked out for you generally?
4  very well
3  fairly well
2  not very well
1  not at all well

Classification:

M-CO-h-sq-v-4-a

Author's label:

General sense of well-being

Remarks:

T1;  M = 3,52  SD = 0,54  Ms' = 8,40
T2;  M = 3,53  SD = 0,55  Ms' = 8,43

Observed distribution

Frequencies

1: 0%,   2: 2%,   3: 43%,   4: 55%   (total 100%)

Summary Statistics

On original range 1 - 4 On range 0-10

Mean:

3.53 8.42

SD:

6.55 -

Correlational Findings

Author's label Subject Description Finding General sense of well-being Long term happiness (< 10 years ago) Age Age difference among elderly Employed status Full-time vs part-time
Current status: retired or not Retirement Actual changes in happiness
Pre-retirement conditions
Adjustment to retirement Occupational group Earlier occupation
Current occupation Anomie Current anomy Life-satisfaction Adjustment to old-age inventories Self-esteem Evaluation of self-as-a-whole Political cynism Perceived political control Approval for political interventions Social reform: radical reform vs consolidation