Comments on: Shock, horror - young people satisfied with their lives

By: cassandra wilkinson

cassandra wilkinson — Sat, 05 May 2007 00:32:50 +0000

I certainly could have used that info! It’s yet more welcom evidence that the kids are alright.
Cassandra wilkinson

By: vee

vee — Fri, 04 May 2007 08:21:53 +0000

Of course the 18-24 demographic are satisfied, they don’t know any better and have not experienced an economic downturn. They would have been cared for by their parents in the last economic downturn and unless they took an interest in politics at an early age would be oblivious one even occurred.

On the impact of HECS I doubt its cost was considered given it can be deferred.

By: conrad

conrad — Fri, 04 May 2007 04:15:24 +0000

Fred,

these are the types of figures which make me surprised about these high rates of satisfaction. Maybe I’m a pessismist, but if I include people of low SES, that have mental disease, are sick, have crappy jobs, etc. , I’m really surprised about these overall results, and I wonder how un-random sampling is.

By: Andrew Norton

Andrew Norton — Thu, 03 May 2007 23:53:50 +0000

Fred - I haven’t done much work on job satisfaction, and while there are job satisfaction questions in various large surveys the number of young people in the sample often isn’t very high. On a quick comparison, I found a 1983 survey in which 16% of the 24 and unders were dissatisfied with their job. But there were only 179 people in that age group, and the young person’s labour market was quite different to now.

By: Fred Argy

Fred Argy — Thu, 03 May 2007 23:28:16 +0000

I notice that around 1 in 5 young people at work are NOT satisfied with their job overall. This could be normal - but I wonder if you know of any comparative figures with the past.

By: Club Troppo » Missing Link, Thursday May 3rd

Club Troppo » Missing Link, Thursday May 3rd — Thu, 03 May 2007 04:44:32 +0000

[...] criticised Anzac Day reflections. Continuing with his excellent happiness research, Andrew Norton digs up some data revealing that most young people are happy with their [...]

By: conrad

conrad — Thu, 03 May 2007 03:35:15 +0000

I agree — its suprisingly how poorly a whole group of people can design surveys.

By: Andrew Norton

Andrew Norton — Wed, 02 May 2007 23:50:57 +0000

Conrad - I think the aggregate number is consistent with other similar surveys, in which only small numbers rank themselves very lowly on life satisfaction. It’s the ‘very satisfied’ figure that should be viewed with more scepticism - the question only allows ‘very’ satisfied or ’somewhat’ satisfied. If there had been an option that was just ’satisfied’ I expect it would have substantially reduced the ‘very’ and ’somewhat’ choices.

By: backroom girl

backroom girl — Wed, 02 May 2007 23:27:34 +0000

of course the doom and gloom merchants would just say that young people have a false consciousness and don’t really know how bad things are for them

By: conrad

conrad — Wed, 02 May 2007 23:18:19 +0000

I was just surpised at the 95% figure.