Entry:

Ward, Russell A., "Never-Married in Later Life," Journal of Gerontology, 34 (November, 1978), 861-869.


Abstract:

Single people are less happy than married people and only slightly more happy than the widowed or divorced. Males appear to have lower incomes if never married. Unmarried women are less likely to differ from married working women with regard to income, and at higher educational levels show an increase in earnings compared to married women.

GSS Years:

1972-77

Other Data Sets:

Gallup 1950, 1973

GSS Codebook Variables referenced by document:

Variable Name

Variable Label

 
 
AGE

AGE OF RESPONDENT

MARITAL

MARITAL STATUS

SEX

RESPONDENTS SEX

PAOCC16

FATHERS CENSUS OCCUPATION CODE (1970)

MAEDUC

"HIGHEST YEAR SCHOOL COMPLETED

MAWORK

MOTHERS EMPLOYMENT SINCE MARRIAGE

EDUC

HIGHEST YEAR OF SCHOOL COMPLETED

HAPPY

GENERAL HAPPINESS

PAEDUC

"HIGHEST YEAR SCHOOL COMPLETED

HEALTH

CONDITION OF HEALTH

INCOME

TOTAL FAMILY INCOME

RINCOME

RESPONDENTS INCOME

HOMPOP

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN HOUSEHOLD

UNRELAT

NUMBER IN HOUSEHOLD NOT RELATED

ATTEND

HOW OFTEN R ATTENDS RELIGIOUS SERVICES

MEMNUM

NUMBER OF MEMBERSHIPS

SATFRND

FRIENDSHIPS

RICHWORK

"IF RICH

JOBINC

HIGH INCOME

JOBSEC

NO DANGER OF BEING FIRED

JOBHOUR

SHORT WORKING HOURS

JOBPROMO

CHANCES FOR ADVANCEMENT

JOBMEANS

WORK IMPORTANT AND FEEL ACCOMPLISHMENT

WRKSTAT

LABOR FRCE STATUS

SOCREL

SPEND EVENING WITH RELATIVES

SATFAM

FAMILY LIFE

SOCFREND

SPEND EVENING WITH FRIENDS

SOCOMMUN

SPEND EVENING WITH NEIGHBOR

LIFE

IS LIFE EXCITING OR DULL