Authors

• Pulkkinen, Lea (University of Jyväskylä. Department of Psychology)

Keywords

adults, alcoholism, families, future, health, labour and employment, leisure time, life events, life styles, living conditions, personal identity, smoking, values

Abstract

The data are part of the Jyväskylä Longitudinal Study of Personality and Social Development (JYLS), in which the same individuals have been followed over 30 years. At this research stage, the life situation of 36-year-olds was charted. In addition, this research stage includes an interview, self-ratings based on various tests and methods, and personality tests. In order to enable comparisons, the questions in the life situation questionnaire of 36-year-olds are mostly the same as in the life situation questionnaire of 27-year-olds, which the respondents completed at an earlier research stage.

First, the respondents' family relations were canvassed. They were asked about their marital status, household size, housing tenure, received government subsidies, loans, number of children, and the size of the place of residence. In addition, they responded questions on financial situation, education, occupation, employment, unemployment, and satisfaction with income level.

In relation to leisure, the respondents indicated how often they spent time with their children. Further questions covered reading books, watching television, seeing relatives, participating in voluntary organisations, going to theatre, concerts or restaurants, doing handicraft, and physical exercising. They were also asked to prioritise various things (e.g. family, friends and work) in order of importance. Satisfaction with leisure time activities and friendships were also canvassed. Further questions pertained to the respondents' use of alcohol, smoking, mental wellbeing, and health.

The importance of politics, art, science, technology, religion, and economic life was examined. The respondents' self-image and satisfaction with themselves were also surveyed, as well as their personal development goals. In addition, they were asked whether they had obtained their goals in life, whether they generally looked at various things trustingly, whether they had a strong will, and whether they felt desperate.

Finally, changes in life were queried. The respondents were asked questions on various events in their life (e.g. beginning studies, transition to working life, getting married, start of cohabitation, change of place of residence, death of a parent, abortion or miscarriage, severe illness of a close person or own sickness, accident, economic breakdown, religious or ideological revival). Views on important issues and threats in the future were also queried.

Background variable used: the respondent's gender.