HOW HARMFUL IS HAPPINESS?
Consequences of enjoying life or not

CONTENTS:

Ruut Veenhoven (ed)
'How harmfull is happiness?' Consequences of enjoying life or not.
Universitaire Pers Rotterdam, 1989, The Netherlands, ISBN 90 237 228.09 , 137p.

Abstract chapter 2
DOES HAPPINESS BUFFER STRESS?
By Jacqueline van der Werff and Robbert Sanderman

When faced with the same stressful life-events, do happy people suffer less damage to their health in the long run than unhappy people. as measured by the increase of health complaints? This hypothesis is tested on the data of a four wave panel study in the Netherlands. The analysis involves three main variables: 1. happiness, measured by Bradburn's affect balance scale: 2. stressful life-events, measured by open questions on events in the past year and weighted for importance by an external jury : 3. health, measured by everyday psychosomatic complaints. The results show that happiness hardly specifies the stress-health relationship.

Ruut Veenhoven (ed)
'How harmfull is happiness?' Consequences of enjoying life or not.
Universitaire Pers Rotterdam, 1989, The Netherlands, ISBN 90 237 228.09 , 137p.

Abstracht chapter 3
DOES HAPPINESS HEAL?
Frits van Dam

It is currently believed that happiness is healthy. It is claimed that happiness prevents health problems to some extent, and that it enhances recovery from illness. This paper deals with the latter claim and focuses on recovery from cancer, in particular on the theory that cancer patients can "fight' the disease with a "positive attitude'. This chapter considers the roots of that theory, measurement problems and empirical evidence. It is concluded that there is as yet no convincing evidence for that theory.

Ruut Veenhoven (ed)
'How harmfull is happiness?' Consequences of enjoying life or not.
Universitaire Pers Rotterdam, 1989, The Netherlands, ISBN 90 237 228.09 , 137p.

Abstract. chapter 4
ARE THE SATISFIED MORE DOCILE?
by Adriaan Ph. Visser

Several surveys among hospital patients show a relationship between satisfaction and behaviour. Satisfied hospital patients are less apt to complain, but equally well informed and more self-sufficient. Apparently satisfaction does not make patients docile.

Ruut Veenhoven (ed)
'How harmfull is happiness?' Consequences of enjoying life or not.
Universitaire Pers Rotterdam, 1989, The Netherlands, ISBN 90 237 228.09 , 137p.

Abstract chapter 5
DOES HAPPINESS LENGTHEN LIFE?
By Dorly J.H. Deeg and Robert J. van Zonneveld

A happy person can count on more years of life than an unhappy person. This conclusion is based on data from the Dutch Longitudinal Study among the Elderly. A national probability sample of 3149 persons aged 65 and overwas examined at baseline, 1955-'57. Vital status and date of death were ascertained for 84% of the original sample in 1983. Physical, mental andsocial characteristics were related to survival time subsequent to the baseline examination. From the eleven variables that pertain to happiness or satisfaction with various aspects of life, the majority showed a significant univariate correlation with survival time. In a multivariate model controlling for symptoms and indicators of ill-health, satisfaction appearedt o be an independent predictor of survival time. Specifically, this was the case for satisfaction with aging, income satisfaction, and perceived value of life. In total, satisfaction explains minimally 1.4% and maximally 8.1% of the variance in survival time. For a 70-year-old man of average health, satisfaction of one standard deviation above average promises a 20 months longer life.

Ruut Veenhoven (ed)
'How harmfull is happiness?' Consequences of enjoying life or not.
Universitaire Pers Rotterdam, 1989, The Netherlands, ISBN 90 237 228.09 , 137p.

Abstract. chapter 6
DOES HAPPINESS BIND?
By Ruut Veenhoven

This chapter checks the claim that happiness harms social bonds, marriage in particular. It is shown that happiness rather benefits marriage. Married people appear typically happier than singles, and the difference seems partly due to a positive effect of happiness on marriage chances. Unhappiness is a handicap in love, both because it is mostly a disadvantage in intimate encounters and because it is detrimental to the development of psychological characteristics that are crucial in modern marriage.

Ruut Veenhoven (ed)
'How harmfull is happiness?' Consequences of enjoying life or not.
Universitaire Pers Rotterdam, 1989, The Netherlands, ISBN 90 237 228.09 , 137p.

Abstract chapter 7
DOES HAPPINESS SOOTHE POLITICAL PROTEST?
By. Bert Klandermans

This paper tries to give an answer to the question of whether happiness makes people politically apathetic. Although there is little research available that poses this question directly, much can be inferred from the vast literature on discontent and political unrest. Dissatisfaction as a single factor appears to be a rather weak predictor of protest behavior. Apart from dissatisfaction, several other factors determine people's willingness to become engaged in protest. Grievance interpretation, expectancies of success and perceived costs and benefits of participation are shown to be important intermediators. It is concluded from this evidence that there is little reason to assume that happiness necessarily turns people into acquiescent citizens. On the contrary, happiness might reflect the basic sense of security people need to become actively involved in their society.

Ruut Veenhoven (ed)
'How harmfull is happiness?' Consequences of enjoying life or not.
Universitaire Pers Rotterdam, 1989, The Netherlands, ISBN 90 237 228.09 , 137p.

Abstract. chapter 8
DOES HAPPINESS LEAD INTO IDLENESS?
by Harry Verkley and Jan Stolk

This chapter reports a one year follow-up study of 750 unemployed and 750 employed males and females, aged 30-50 years, in the Netherlands. It was found that : 1. Happier unemployed had a higher chance of finding a job, 2. Happier employed had a lower chance of losing their job. Although significant, the correlations were rather low.

Ruut Veenhoven (ed)
'How harmfull is happiness?' Consequences of enjoying life or not.
Universitaire Pers Rotterdam, 1989, The Netherlands, ISBN 90 237 228.09 , 137p.

Abstract chapter 9
DO HAPPY WORKERS WORK HARDER?
by Michael Argyle

Opinions about the consequences of happiness on work differ. There is no research on the effects of life-satisfaction on productivity but there is a lot of research on the link between job satisfaction and work performance. This research shows modestly positive correlations with productivity, absenteeism and labour turnover. These correlations tend to be stronger among white collar workers. It is still largely unclear to what extent satisfaction effects productivity or vice versa.

Ruut Veenhoven (ed)
'How harmfull is happiness?' Consequences of enjoying life or not.
Universitaire Pers Rotterdam, 1989, The Netherlands, ISBN 90 237 228.09 , 137p.

Abstract. chapter 10
DOES HAPPINESS INDUCE A ROSY OUTLOOK?
By Bruce Headey and Ruut Veenhoven

The appreciation of a life-as-a-whole affects evaluative perceptions of various aspects of life. When people get happier, they become more satisfied with their jobs and attainments, they see more nice events happen to them and they rise in their own estimation. This appears in an analysis of the Australian QOL-panel study, involving 4 interviews over a 7 year period. There is no ground to dismiss these effects as rosily unrealistic, but there are good reasons to consider them beneficial for the individual and lhe society.

Ruut Veenhoven (ed)
'How harmfull is happiness?' Consequences of enjoying life or not.
Universitaire Pers Rotterdam, 1989, The Netherlands, ISBN 90 237 228.09 , 137p.