Entry:

Davis, James A., "New Money, An Old Man/Lady and 'Two's Company': Subjective Welfare in the NORC General Social Surveys, 1972-1982," GSS Social Change Report No. 18, February, 1983. Also published in Social Indicators Research, 15 (November, 1984), 319-350.


Abstract:

Being black, being unmarried, and worsening financial state are independently related to unhappiness. However, no other social ties or rank variables such as occupation and education predict happiness. Thus only the economics, not the sociological nor the psychological hypothesis of happiness, receives much support.

GSS Years:

1972-82

Other Data Sets:

Census 1972, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1980

GSS Codebook Variables referenced by document:

Variable Name

Variable Label

 
 
HAPPY

GENERAL HAPPINESS

EDUC

HIGHEST YEAR OF SCHOOL COMPLETED

PRESTIGE

RS OCCUPATIONAL PRESTIGE SCORE (1970)

INCOME

TOTAL FAMILY INCOME

PAPRES16

FATHERS OCCUPATIONAL PRESTIGE SCORE (1970)

RACE

RACE OF RESPONDENT

INCOM16

RS FAMILY INCOME WHEN 16 YRS OLD

FINRELA

OPINION OF FAMILY INCOME

FINALTER

CHANGE IN FINANCIAL SITUATION

MARITAL

MARITAL STATUS

HOMPOP

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN HOUSEHOLD

MEMNUM

NUMBER OF MEMBERSHIPS

SOCBAR

SPEND EVENING AT BAR

SOCREL

SPEND EVENING WITH RELATIVES

SOCFREND

SPEND EVENING WITH FRIENDS

SOCOMMUN

SPEND EVENING WITH NEIGHBOR

RACOCC

EQUALITY IN OCCUPATION

RACINC

EQUALITY IN INCOME

RACOPNOW

OPPORTUNITIES IMPROVED IN LAST 5 YRS