Palmore (1981): study US 1968

Publication

Author(s):

Palmore, E.B.

Title:

Social Patterns in Normal Aging: Findings From the Duke Longitudinal Study.

Source:

Duke University Press, 1981, Durham, USA

Investigation

Public

46+ aged whites, North Carolina, USA, followed from 1968 to 1976.

Sample

Probability stratified sample

Respondents

N = 375

Non Response

Assessment

Interview: face-to-face
Whole-day interviews, tests and examinations. Rounds in longitudinal study; examined period: 1968/70 N=502, 1970/72 N= 443, 1972/74 N= 378, 1974/76 N= 375

Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings

Full text:

Self report on single question:

Here is a picture of a ladder. Suppose we say that the top of the ladder (9) represents the best possible life for you and the bottom (0) represents the worst possible life for you.  Where on the ladder do you feel personally stand at the present time?
[   9  ]  best possible life for you
[   8  ]
[   7  ]
[   6  ]
[   5  ]
[   4  ]
[   3  ]
[   2  ]
[   1  ]
[   0  ]  worst possible life for you

Name: Cantril's self anchoring ladder rating of life (adapted version)

Classification:

C-BW-c-sq-l-10-ca

Author's label:

happiness attitude

Page in publication:

121

Observed distribution

Summary Statistics

On original range 0 - 9 On range 0-10

Mean:

7.00 -

SD:

1.40 -

Full text:

Self report on 8 questions:

"During the past week, did you ever feel.....?"
A  Particularly interested in or excited about something
B  Pleased about having accomplished something
C  On top of the world
D  Pity for some people you know
E  Helpless, with no control over situations
F   Bored
G   Vaguely uneasy about something without knowing why
H   Angry about something that usually wouldn't bother you

Rating  options:
0  never
1  once
2  several times
3  often



Summation: Factorially derived clusters:
A+B+C+D (Enhancement)
E+F+G+H (Discomfort)
Affect Balance Score: Enhancement minus Discomfort.

Possible range: + 16 to - 16

Name: Bradburn's `Affect Balance scale' (modified version)

Classification:

A-BB-cw-mq-v-4-b

Author's label:

Affect balance

Page in publication:

117

Observed distribution

Summary Statistics

On original range -16 - 16 On range 0-10

Mean:

1.10 -

SD:

2.80 -

Correlational Findings

Author's label Subject Description Finding change in life satisfaction Past happiness ( 1 to 10 years ago) T1 self rated health Earlier physical health T1 sex enjoyment Earlier satisfaction with sex-life T1 internal control Earlier inner-control T1 having a confident Earlier intimacy later selfrating health Later physical health organizational activity Later organizational participation later social activity hours Later leisure
Later total social participation later performance status (Physical function) Later physical health