Sense Of Life Satisfaction Research Articles

Perceptions of sociological and psychological age norms by young, middle-aged, and elderly New Zealanders.

Groups of young, middle-aged, and elderly New Zealand men and women were surveyed as to their opinions concerning the correct age at which to attain various milestones in life (e.g., get married, retire, become a grandparent, or to manifest various personality traits (e.g., be ambitious, have a sense of life satisfaction, be self-concerned). In general, it was found there was considerable agreement as to when a person should attain the milestones of life. There was little agreement about the correct age at which to manifest certain personality traits. This was taken to indicate that society provides its members with a set of expectations, or age norms, about when to achieve life goals. Society does not, however, seem to provide the same standards for how one should feel when achieving these goals. The greatest amount of variability of opinion for when one should manifest these personality traits was seen in the responses of the middle-aged individuals. This was taken to indicate that middle-age is a particularly ill-defined phase of life and subject to much individual interpretation as to what personal characteristics one should use to define middle-age.

Is happiness relative?

The theory that happiness is relative is based on three postulates: (1) happiness results from comparison, (2) standards of comparison adjust, (3) standards of comparison are arbitrary constructs. On the basis of these postulates the theory predicts: (a) happiness does not depend on real quality of life, (b) changes in living-conditions to the good or the bad have only a shortlived effect on happiness, (c) people are happier after hard times, (d) people are typically neutral about their life. Together these inferences imply that happiness is both an evasive and an inconsequential matter, which is at odds with corebeliefs in present-day welfare society.Recent investigations on happiness (in the sense of life-satisfaction) claim support for this old theory. Happiness is reported to be as high in poor countries as it is in rich countries (Easterlin), no less among paralyzed accident victims than it is among lottery winners (Brickman) and unrelated to stable livingconditions (Inglehart and Rabier). These sensational claims are inspected but found to be untrue. It is shown that: (a) people tend to be unhappy under adverse conditions such as poverty, war and isolation, (b) improvement or deterioration of at least some conditions does effect happiness lastingly, (c) earlier hardship does not favour later happiness, (d) people are typically positive about their life rather than neutral.It is argued that the theory happiness-is-relative mixes up ‘overall happiness’ with contentment’. Contentment is indeed largely a matter of comparing life-as-it-is to standards of how-life-should-be. Yet overall hapiness does not entirely depend on comparison. The overall evaluation of life depends also on how one feels affectively and hedonic level of affect draws on its turn on the gratification of basic bio-psychological needs. Contrary to acquired ‘standards’ of comparison these innate ‘needs’ do not adjust to any and all conditions: they mark in fact the limits of human adaptability. To the extend that it depends on need-gratification, happiness is not relative.

A psychoeducational approach to methadone maintenance treatment: A survey of client reactions

STAR, a methadone clinic in Portland, Oregon employs a psychoeducational approach in an attempt to provide coherent, comprehensive treatment in meeting diverse client needs. Two hundred and thirty-eight STAR clients completed a 133 item survey as part of an evaluative review of the efficacy of the psychoeducational model. Clients were asked about their perceived treatment needs and expectations, drug use, criminality, mental and physical health, social and economic stability, and their sense of self-worth and life satisfaction. Respondents reported that receiving methadone was the most useful and best liked aspect of treatment, followed by individual counseling, and education and skill classes. Clients indicated low rates of criminal behavior and drug use, but acknowledged high rates of psychological symptoms including depression, anxiety, and irritability, and rated as very important the need to reduce drug use and to improve health, to achieve a sense of life satisfaction, to enhance feelings about self and relationships, especially those with their children. A majority of the respondents had less than adequate income, and a substantial minority had less than a high school education. Longer time in treatment at STAR was associated with reduced heroin and cocaine use and improvements in social, economic and legal realms. The discussion focuses on implications for methadone treatment in general and possible modifications of the STAR program.