Authors

• Pulkkinen, Lea (University of Jyväskylä. Department of Psychology)
• Kinnunen, Marja-Liisa (University of Jyväskylä. Department of Psychology)
• Kokko, Katja (University of Jyväskylä. Department of Psychology)

Keywords

adults, education, families, future, health, labour and employment, leisure time, life styles, living conditions, partnerships (personal), personal identity, technological literacy, unemployment, 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 40 years. At this research stage, the lives of 50-year-olds were surveyed in terms of family, work, health, and leisure. In addition to the Life Situation Questionnaire, this research stage includes an interview, self-ratings based on various tests and methods, personality tests, a life history calendar, a medical examination and laboratory tests. In order to enable comparisons, the questions in the Life Situation Questionnaire of 50-year-olds are mostly the same as in those of 27, 36 and 42-year-olds, which the respondents completed at earlier research stages.

First, the respondents were asked questions on their education, work situation, unemployment periods, sick leaves, satisfaction with work and time allocated to housework. Further questions pertained to R's parents, couple relationship, spouse's work, number of children and grandchildren, household composition, housing, and finances. The respondents were asked to what extent they agreed with statements relating to parents' responsibility for their offspring and young people in general, and for the state of the world.

In relation to leisure, the respondents indicated how often they spent time with their children. Further questions covered reading books, watching television, participating in voluntary organisations, going to movies, doing handicraft, and physical exercise. They were also asked to prioritise various things (e.g. family, friends, work or studies, hobbies, home). Satisfaction with leisure time activities and friendships were canvassed. Views on the use of mobile phones, computers and the relationship to Internet were also probed. Some questions pertained to the respondents' alcohol use, smoking, psychosocial health (GHQ-12), self-perceived health in general and social support received.

The respondents' self-image and satisfaction with themselves were also surveyed, as well as their personal development goals and personality traits. The importance of various things including art, technology, religion, and social work was examined. Other questions covered control over own life, future plans, trust in and fears about the future and the factors influencing own future.

Background variable used: the respondent's gender