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Studies

Headey & Veenhoven (1989): study AU AU Victoria 1981

Publication

Author(s):
Headey, B.; Veenhoven, R.
Title:
Does Happiness Induce a Rosy Outlook?
Source:
Veenhoven, R.;Ed.:"How Harmful is Happiness?", Universitaire Pers Rotterdam, 1989, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 106 - 127

Investigation

Public
18-65 aged, general public, followed 6 years, Melbourne, Australia, 1981-87
Sample
Respondents
N = 649
Non Response
Attrition T1-T4: 31%
Assessment
Interview: face-to-face

Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings

Full text:
Self report on single question asked twice in interview,

"How do you feel about your life as a whole......?"
10   delightful
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1   terrible

Summation: mean

Name: Andrews & Withey's `Delightful-Terrible Scale' (modified version)
Classification:
O-DT-u-sqt-v-10-a
Author's label:
Life satisfaction

Correlational Findings

Author's label Subject Description Finding Satisfaction with marriage Change in satisfaction with marriage Satisfaction with job Change in satisfaction with work Satisfaction with standard of living Later satisfaction with income Satisfaction with friends Satisfaction with friends Percieved unfulfilled aspirations Overall happiness and contentment
Perceived realization of life-goal set
Sense of relative superiority Relative superiority Earlier happiness Past happiness ( 1 to 10 years ago) Earlier life-events Balance of negative- and positive life-events Satisfaction with health Change in satisfaction with health
Satisfaction with health