Marieke Van Willigen

Education and the Subjective Quality of Life

We examine whether education influences subjective quality of life. If it does, what are the mechanisms by which education affects well-being? We propose that education improves well-being because it increases access to nonalienated paid work and economic resources that increase the sense of control over life, as well as access to stable social relationships, especially marriage, that increase social support. We examine the relationship between education and a variety of indicators of subjective quality of life-depression, anxiety, anger, aches and pains, malaise, and dissatisfaction. Using two representative national samples collected in 1990 and 1995, we find that the well educated have lower levels of emotional distress (including depression, anxiety, and anger) and physical distress (including aches and pains and malaise), but they do not have lower levels of dissatisfaction. Education reduces distress largely by way of paid work, nonalienated work, and economic resources, which are associated with high personal control; but the extent to which it reduces distress by way of marriage and social support is much more modest. We contrast distress and dissatisfaction as indicators of the subjective quality of life.

Heading for Higher Ground: Factors Affecting Real and Hypothetical Hurricane Evacuation Behavior

The purpose of this paper is to assess the determinants of hurricane evacuation behavior of North Carolina coastal households during Hurricane Bonnie and a future hypothetical hurricane. We use the data from a telephone survey of North Carolina coastal residents. Hypothetical questions are used to assess whether respondents will evacuate and where in the case of a future hurricane with varying intensities. We examine the social, economic, and risk factors that affect the decisions to evacuate and whether to go to a shelter or motel/hotel relative to other destinations. The most important predictor of evacuation is storm intensity. Households are more likely to evacuate when given evacuation orders, when they perceive a flood risk, and when they live in mobile homes. Households who own pets are less likely to evacuate. Non-white households, pet owners and those with more education are less likely to go to either a motel/hotel or shelter, preferring instead to stay with friends or family.

Instrumentalism in the land of opportunity: Socioeconomic causes and emotional consequences

This paper analyzes the relationship between the sense of control over ones own life and the belief that most Americans control their lives and create their own good or bad outcomes. We analyze the effects of four aspects of stratification: an ascribed status (race), achieved statuses of differing stability (education and household income), and recent economic hardship (trouble paying bills or buying necessities). Using data from a 1990 survey of 2,031 Americans, we find that the large majority hold instrumental views of themselves and of other Americans. Socioeconomic status strengthens both views, although education and income increase the belief that one controls ones own life more than the belief that other Americans control theirs. Each belief also appears to generalize to the other. Finally, the Americans who feel that they have little control over their own lives apparently take heart from the belief that most Americans can achieve what they set their minds to, that most peoples problems result from their bad decisions and lack of effort, and that the success or failure of others was morse than luck. Either a firm sense of personal control or (when that is weak) a firm belief in American instrumentation minimizes depression. We see no sign that blaming outcomes on chance, circumstance, or others makes Americans feel better.

Benefits of Equitable Relationships: The Impact of Sense of Fairness, Household Division of Labor, and Decision Making Power on Perceived Social Support

We examine the impact of equity in intimate relationships on perceived social support among married and cohabiting individuals. We found performing an inequitable portion of the housework or feeling ones portion of the housework is unfair corresponds with lower perceived social support for both individuals in advantaged and disadvantaged positions of power. The highest level of social support results when partners contribute equally to household decisions. In contrast to earlier studies, women do not perceive inequitable household responsibilities as more fair than do men. We argue perceived social support is based in part on the structural conditions of marital arrangements. Five percent of the participants identified as Black, 89% as White, and 6% as members of other racial groups. The average participant had just over a high school education, with a median family income of

THE RACE GAP IN SUPPORT GROUP PARTICIPATION BY BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS Real or Artifact

42,427.

Migration and psychological well-being among older adults: a growth curve analysis based on panel data from the Health and Retirement Study, 1996-2006.

Addressing methodological weaknesses of previous research, this study assesses whether African American women are, in fact, less likely to participate in breast cancer support groups than are White women. Of the breast cancer survivors, 958 (26% African Americans, 73% Caucasian) completed interviews concerning demographic characteristics, other support networks, effects of illness on home and spiritual life, and support group participation. Contrary to previous research, no race difference was found in support group participation. This research suggests more effort needs to be paid to sampling techniques and other methodological factors to adequately reflect the experiences and needs of breast cancer survivors, specifically African American women.

The Importance of Effect Measure Modification When Using Demographic Variables to Predict Evacuation

Purpose: A vibrant body of research examines migration among older adults. Existing research, however, grants scarce attention to the implications of later-life migration for the migrants themselves. Our research focuses on the impacts of migration on depressive symptomatology among older U.S. adults. Methods: Our analysis employs six waves of panel data from the Health and Retirement Study, 1996-2006. Growth curve modeling techniques are employed. Results: Net of other stressful life events, migration effects appear to vary significantly across persons. Findings highlight the particularly depressive impact of moves motivated by negative life events or circumstances. Results further suggest that later life moves may be especially stressful for women and as individuals age. Discussion: The stress of moving late in life may depend on social integration at destination. Further research should pursue this issue. Study limitations and additional directions for further research are delineated.

Differential Benefits of Volunteering Across the Life Course

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies have identified a number of demographic characteristics (e.g., age, income, level of education, household composition, and race or ethnicity) that affect hurricane evacuation. However, the magnitude and direction of these associations vary widely, even when the area of landfall or the intensity of the storm is similar. We propose that the associations of demographic characteristics and hurricane evacuation are modified by psychosocial factors such as social cohesion, social capital, and social control. Additional variability may be the result of the changing prevalence of these demographic variables over time or between study locations. METHODS: Ninety census blocks in three eastern North Carolina counties affected by Hurricane Isabel were selected probability proportionate to population and seven interviews were conducted at random locations within each of the selected blocks. Risk differences (RD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were produced for stratified data to test for heterogeneity. RESULTS: There was statistical evidence of effect measure modification on the additive scale of the effect of home type, homeownership, age, race, gender, marital status, and having children under age 18 living at home on hurricane evacuation based on Wald p-values of the interaction terms of ≤ 0.20 and strata-specific RDs which crossed the null value. Social cohesion, volunteerism, property preparation, church attendance, neighbors evacuation, and the number of local friends and family modified the RDs for the demographic characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: The associations between demographic characteristics and hurricane evacuation failure are modified by social factors. Effect measure modification on the additive scale may help explain the inconsistency of previously published results and is the appropriate measure for targeted interventions that can increase evacuation among certain groups that are missed when average risks are calculated across the population.