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Studies

Palisi & Canning (1983): study ZZ Western nations 1977

Publication

Author(s):
Palisi, B.J.; Canning, C.
Title:
Urbanism and Social Psychological Well-Being: A Cross-Cultural Test of Three Theories.
Source:
The Sociological Quarterly, 1983, Vol. 24, 527 - 543

Investigation

Public
Males, metropolitan areas, England, USA, Australia, 1977-1980
Sample
Probability systematic sample
Respondents
N = 752
Non Response
67 %
Assessment
Questionnaire: Paper & Pencil Interview (PAPI)
Mailed questionnaire

Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings

Full text:
Self report on 10 questions:

"During the past week, did you ever feel.....?"

A   So restless that you could not sit long in a chair
B   Proud, because someone had complimented you
C   Very lonely or remote  from people?
D   Pleased about having accomplished something
E   Bored
F   On top of the world?
G   Depressed
H   That things were going your way?
I    Upset because someone criticized you?
J   Could not do anything, simply because you could not start?

Answer options and scoring:
- yes  = 1
- no  =  0

Summation:
Positive Affect Score (PAS): summed  scores on  B,D F,H
Negative Affect Score (NAS): summed  scores on A,C,E,G,I,J
Affect Balance Score (ABS):  PAS minus NAS

Possible range -6 to +4

Name: Bradburn's `Affect Balance Scale'  (adapted version)
Classification:
A-BB-cw-mq-v-2-a
Author's label:
Social-psychological well-being

Correlational Findings

Author's label Subject Description Finding Living in city center Sub-urban (vs urban) Living in a single family home Type of current dwelling Education Level of school-education Married status Married state (compared to non-married states) Age Current age (in years) Marriage well-being Satisfaction with marriage Native born Ever migrated or not Father native born Migration generation Visit kin Contacts with relatives Visit friends Visits to friends