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Studies

Headey (1999): study AU AU Victoria 1987

Publication

Author(s):
Headey, B.
Title:
Old Age is not Downhill: The Satisfactions and Well-Being of Older Australians.
Source:
Australian Journal on Aging, 1999, Vol. 18, 32 - 37

Investigation

Public
24-76 aged, general public, Victoria, Australia, 1987
Sample
Probability simple random sample
Respondents
N = 649
Non Response
0 %
Assessment
Interview: face-to-face

Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings

Full text:
Self report on single question asked twice

'How do you feel about your life as a whole?'
1  terrible
2  very unhappy
3  unhappy
4  mostly dissatisfied
5  mixed feelings
6  mostly satisfied
7  pleased
8  very pleased
9  delighted
Classification:
O-DT-u-sqt-v-9-a
Author's label:
life satisfaction
Page in publication:
33
Full text:
Difference between self reports of ideal and real life:

A: Ideal life, the best life one could hope for
B: Real life, rating of present life
Full items not reported

Both items rated on a  21 step ladder scale:
20  best possible life, the most wonderful life you could imagine for anybody
.
.
.
0  worst possible life

Computation: Gap = A-B
Classification:
C-RA-c-mq-l-21-a
Full text:
Self report on single question:

Question on perception of quality of 'present life'.
(Full lead item not reported)
20  best possible life
.
.
.
0   worst possible life
Classification:
C-BW-c-sq-l-21-a

Correlational Findings

Author's label Subject Description Finding Positive affect