Welfare Survey 1988

Actual living conditions and subjectively perceived quality of life of
the West German population.

Topics: 1. Housing situation; residence equipped with central heating,
bath and toilet in residence; size of residence; residential status;
satisfaction with housing and satisfaction with residential area
(scales); postmaterialism; conservative or progressive attitude;
attitude to selected values (scale); perceived differences of opinion
between social conflict groups; satisfaction with public safety and the
fight against crime; stress from environmental pollution in residential
surroundings; concern about selected environmental problems in the
Federal Republic; attitude to abortion and aid to those wanting to die;
perceived loneliness; pleasure at work; contentment with life; feeling
of happiness; extent of leisure time and satisfaction with leisure
time; frequency of selected leisure activities (scale); most important
leisure activity; satisfaction with family life; living together with a
partner; marital satisfaction or satisfaction in a partnership (scale);
satisfaction with division of labor in household; contact opportunities
with other people; size of circle of friends; frequency of contact with
best friend; assistance provided to relatives, neighbors and friends.

2. Reasons for not being employed; satisfaction with status as
housewife; major reason for not being employed for women; perceived
possibility to find a suitable job; information on further intents to
find employment; search for work; desire for employment; last full-time
job; employment in the occupation learned; importance of job
characteristics and job satisfaction (scale); importance of areas of
life; perceived excessive demands or over-qualification at work; work
orientation; fear of loss of job and probability of finding an
equivalent position; number of years at work; frequency of unemployment
in the last ten years; judgement on financial security in case of
unemployment; satisfaction with social insurance in the country;
development of household income up to now and expected in the future;
comparison of personal income with that of friends and acquaintances as
well as in comparison with the average West German; satisfaction with
income and satisfaction with standard of living (scale).

3. Condition of health (scale); visits to the doctor; use of
medication; life and employment adjustments due to illness or
disability; physical and psychic constitution as well as
self-determination or influence by others (scales); religiousness and
satisfaction with church; interest in politics; satisfaction with
democracy; party preference; importance of selected areas of life for
one´s well-being and general satisfaction (scale); contentment with
life in comparison over time; desired contentment with life; perceived
possibilities of change regarding one´s own circumstances; happiest as
well as most painful event in life; goals unfulfilled and still sought;
estimate of length of interview by the respondent.

4. Satisfaction with education; self-assessment of social class; union
membership; party membership and membership in a citizen initiative or
a club; members of household and size of household; handicapped or
those needing care in the household.

Also encoded was: presence of spouse during the question on
satisfaction with partner; length of interview; residential building
type; type of city (rural or urban buildings); reliability and
willingness of respondent to cooperate; presence of others and their
intervention in the interview; interruptions of the interview.