Having Fun As We Age: A
Survey of Adult Funstyles
Report Prepared by RoperASW
Copyright AARP, 2001
AARP
Knowledge Management
601 E Street NW
Washington, DC 20049
http://research.aarp.org
Reprinting with Permission
For information contact Carol Keegan 202 434-6286
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization for people 50 and over. We
provide information and resources; advocate on legislative, consumer, and legal issues;
assist members to serve their communities; and offer a wide range of unique benefits,
special products, and services for our members. These benefits include AARP
Webplace at www.aarp.org, Modern Maturity and My Generation magazines, and the
monthly AARP Bulletin. Active in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and
the U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP celebrates the attitude that age is just a number and life
is what you make it.
Having Fun As We Age: A Survey of Adult Funstyles
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Introduction and Method Overview ............................................................ 1
Summary of Findings .................................................................................. 2
I. American Fun and Passion ...................................................................... 7
II. Quantifying Fun.................................................................................... 19
III. Fun and Secrets ................................................................................... 30
IV. Other Insights into Fun and Passion ................................................... 37
Appendix: Annotated Questionnaire......................................................... 44
Having Fun As We Age: A Survey of Adult Funstyles
Introduction and Method Overview
Introduction and Method Overview
This report details the findings of a national telephone survey conducted
by Roper Starch Worldwide on behalf of AARP to explore how
Americans have fun and what they are most passionate about in life—
especially as they age.
Telephone interviews were conducted among a national cross-section of
2,118 Americans (age 18+) from June 15 – July 9, 2001. Each interview
took 15 minutes, on average, to administer. Sample was drawn from a
national random digit dial (RDD) list.
Persons age 45-55 were oversampled to ensure a large enough base size
for individual analysis. The oversample and other key demographic data
were weighted to U.S. Census norms to correct for slight sampling errors.
Data for the total sample are projectible to Americans generally within a
+/- 2 percentage point margin of error at the 95% confidence level.
Page 1
Having Fun As We Age: A Survey of Adult Funstyles
Summary Of Findings
Summary Of Findings
Americans “Really Love” Relationships
True to the stereotype, men are more likely to say they “really love”
making love (64%) than any other of 12 activities asked about. Men keep
this passion well into later life.
Over half (54%) also love to spend a romantic evening with their spouse
or partner, especially those in early middle-age (61% of those 35-44).
Women, on the other hand, tend to “really love” a wider variety of
activities than do men, and are more likely to sustain their passions into
later life. By a fair margin over other activities asked about, women are
most likely to say they love spending time with family (70%). This
remains the top passion from age 18 into their later years.
About half of women (53%) also “really love” spending a romantic
evening with their spouse or partner. This is especially true of younger
women (e.g., 63% of those 18-34).
Top Passions
Asked to name, unaided, the activities in life they are most passionate
about, men are most likely to name something related to sports, exercise,
or the outdoors (54%). To a lesser extent, men are also passionate about
social activities, such as spending time with family (28%) and with friends
(20% of 18-34 year-olds).
Women, however, are most likely to be passionate about some kind of
hobby or other activity (52%). Such passions grow steadily with age (e.g.,
43% of 18-34 year-olds versus 64% of those 65-plus). But women are
passionate about no one single hobby as much as they are about spending
time with family—the most often mentioned passion (42%).
Page 2
Having Fun As We Age: A Survey of Adult Funstyles
Summary Of Findings
Taking the Time to Do the Things We Love
How often do Americans get to spend time doing their favorite activities?
Of the top three activities men “really love” to do, one of them—spending
time with family—is something the majority (70%) get to do often.
However, only a minority “often” get to enjoy the other top passions,
making love (37%) and spending a romantic evening with their
spouse/partner (37%).
Women, like men, also are not often able to indulge some of their
passions. The majority does often get to spend time with their family
(84%)—the most commonly cited activity they “love” to do—but only a
minority often engages in other top passions, such as making love (34%)
and spending a romantic evening with their spouse/partner (29%).
Does Life Get More Fun As We Age?
Asked whether, as they get older, they find themselves having more fun in
life, less fun, or the same amount of fun, a plurality (43%) of men 18-34
agree that life is getting more fun.
By the time they reach middle-age (35-54), however, men are about as
likely to say they are having the same amount of fun as they used to (34%
versus 34% who are having more fun).
Ages 55-64 seem to be the least-fun years for men, when a plurality (38%)
say life is getting less fun than it used to. Once they reach 65, however, the
plurality (38%) says life is getting no more or less fun.
For women, life keeps getting more fun into older age. In fact, a plurality
of women (42%) says life is more fun than it used to be until they reach
age 65, at which point they are about as likely to say life is less fun than
before (37%) or the same (35%).
Page 3
Having Fun As We Age: A Survey of Adult Funstyles
Summary Of Findings
The Most-Fun Age
Asked at what age they have had the most fun in life, men and women
alike, by the time they’ve reached their senior years, look back and say
their mid-30s (35, on average, among men; 34 among women).
Setting Aside Funtime
Though most men do not set aside time daily to “just have fun,” most—
about eight in ten (79%)—do so at least once a week.
About three-quarters (73%) of women say they take time on at least a
weekly basis to have fun, and they are most likely to say this between the
ages of 18 and 34.
Does Work Take Away From Fun-Time? Surprisingly, No
Asked to estimate how many hours they have fun in an average week,
men, on average, say about 22 hours, which is about half the time they
spend working (46 hours, on average).
To what extent does work cut into fun time? Not much—in fact, even men
who do not work report spending very similar amounts of time just having
fun as do men who work.
Women tend to spend a little less time working (39 hours, on average) and
having fun (18 hours) than do men in an average week. But they tend to
have about as much fun per week throughout their lives, until they reach
65, when women lag behind men (12 versus 21 hours, on average).
Many Americans Only Pretend to Like Entertaining Guests
Nearly four in ten men (38%) say they “often” or “occasionally” pretend
to enjoy entertaining guests more than they really do.
Sizable proportions of men also pretend to like doing things cultural or
educational (35%) and spending time with family other than their spouse
or partner (30%). On the other hand, few (14%) pretend they like making
love more than they really do.
Page 4
Having Fun As We Age: A Survey of Adult Funstyles
Summary Of Findings
Women are very similar to men on this subject. They are most likely to
pretend liking entertaining guests (33% do so often/occasionally; 44%
among those 18-34).
They are also particularly apt to pretend enjoying exercising or playing
sports (32%) or doing something cultural or educational (28%).
Men and women alike share a disinclination to fake such things as they get
older.
Secret Wishes
Men not only pretend to like things they do, they wish they could be doing
something else. Asked to identify certain secret wishes and desires, a
majority of men says they “often” or “occasionally” wish they could be
doing good deeds for others (83%), have a more meaningful life (61%), be
more successful at work (60%), and have a more satisfying sex life (56%).
Women share many of the same secret passions—doing good deeds for
others (84%), having a more meaningful life (59%), and being more
successful at work (52%), among them.
How Does It Feel to Be Passionate?
Asked how they feel when doing something they are passionate about,
men reveal a remarkable range of feelings and emotions, ranging from
happy (96% say it describes their feeling “completely” or “somewhat”) to
alert (89%) to free (86%) to calm (80%), among others.
Women are virtually identical to men on this score, reporting the same
feelings in the same order in about the same numbers—for example,
happy (96%) to alert (89%) to free (83%) to calm (78%).
A Nation of Fun People
American men describe themselves as a fun bunch of people, with most
agreeing that they are “a fun person to be around” (88% say the statement
describes them completely or somewhat) and that they “live for having
fun” (59%).
Moreover, as much fun as they are, they wish they could have still more
time to have fun (71%), though fewer than half (44%) say they are
disappointed if they don’t have fun every single day.
Page 5
Having Fun As We Age: A Survey of Adult Funstyles
Summary Of Findings
Women profess to be slightly less fun-oriented than men, though most
agree they are “a fun person to be around” (90%). But only half (50%) say
they “live for having fun,” and about four in ten (39%) agree that “having
fun” is an over-rated concept.
Page 6
Having Fun As We Age: A Survey of Adult Funstyles
American Fun and Passions
Activities Americans “Really Love” To Do
Men
True to the stereotype, men are more likely to say they “really love”
making love (64%) than any of the other 12 activities asked about. Men
keep this passion well into later life—it is only when they reach age 55
that another passion, spending time with family (55% of all men),
becomes pre-eminent.
Over half (54%) also love to spend a romantic evening with their spouse
or partner, especially those in early middle-age (61% of those 35-44).
Large numbers also say they love to:
•
Socialize with friends (38%; especially younger men—e.g., 52% of
18-34 year-olds versus 32% of those 65-plus)
•
Exercise or play sports (33%; especially younger men—e.g., 44% of
18-34 year-olds versus 30% of those 65-plus)
•
Read (27%; a top passion among the 65-plus set at 45% versus, for
example, 21% of those 18-34)
Among those who work, about four in ten (38%) say they “really love”
their current job situation. Indeed, our survey reveals that the 65-plus set is
an especially happy work force—54% say they love their job.
Page 7
Having Fun As We Age: A Survey of Adult Funstyles
Women
Women tend to “really love” a wider variety of activities than do men, and
are more likely to sustain their passions into later life.
By a fair margin over other activities asked about, women are most likely
to say they love spending time with family (70%). This remains the top
passion from age 18 into their later years.
About half of women (53%) also “really love” spending a romantic
evening with their spouse or partner. This is especially true of younger
women (e.g., 62% of those 18-34).
Making love is also a favored activity (47% love to do it)—particularly
among 35-44 year-olds (63%)—but it does not top the list of passions as it
does among men. And women 65-plus are less likely than men 65-plus to
“really love” it (47% versus 17%).
Large numbers also love to:
•
Socialize with friends (46%; 18-34 mention it as much as making
love—55% for both)
•
Read (44%, particularly enjoyed by women in the middle years)
•
Do something religious or spiritual (35%—a top passion among those
65-plus, 44%)
Like men, four in ten (40%) women who work say they “really love” their
current job situation. But in contrast to men, only a minority of those age
65 and over profess such love for their job (35% versus 54% of men).
Page 8
Having Fun As We Age: A Survey of Adult Funstyles
Activities Men “Really Love” To Do
Base: Total men*.
(% who “really love” to do item)
Age
Total
Total Men 18-34 35-44 45-54
(2,118) (919) (319) (178) (189)
Unweighted base
55-64 65+
(106) (110)
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
Make love
55
64
69
72
66
54
44
Spend time with family
63
55
48
59
57
60
60
Spend a romantic evening with
my spouse, partner, or date
53
54
56
61
57
44
42
Socialize with friends
42
38
52
36
26
28
32
Exercise or play sports
26
33
44
35
21
17
30
Spend time on hobbies
30
31
36
33
28
25
28
Read
36
27
21
25
27
33
45
Play with pets
28
24
24
27
27
23
17
Do something spiritual or
religious
30
24
19
23
26
23
31
Do something cultural or
educational
22
19
19
15
21
16
24
Watch television
14
13
12
14
11
13
17
Do volunteer work
16
13
11
12
17
9
20
Q.5 - For each of the following activities, please tell me if it is something
that you really love to do, like doing, dislike doing, or really dislike
doing. First…. [READ EACH ITEM.]
*Note: a column for “Total Respondents” appears for comparison purposes.
Page 9
Having Fun As We Age: A Survey of Adult Funstyles
Activities Women “Really Love” To Do
Base: Total women*.
(% who “really love” to do item)
Age
Total
Total Women 18-34 35-44 45-54
(2,118) (1,199) (313) (259) (265)
Unweighted base
55-64 65+
(147) (190)
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
Spend time with family
63
70
65
72
74
77
69
Spend a romantic evening with
my spouse, partner, or date
53
53
62
65
54
47
27
Make love
55
47
55
63
51
38
17
Socialize with friends
42
46
55
40
43
46
41
Read
36
44
37
40
52
50
44
Do something spiritual or
religious
30
35
27
33
37
40
44
Play with pets
28
32
32
32
37
38
26
Spend time on hobbies
30
29
29
30
29
35
27
Do something cultural or
educational
22
24
22
27
29
27
15
Exercise or play sports
26
21
25
23
20
18
13
Do volunteer work
16
18
16
18
16
16
24
Watch television
14
16
15
13
10
21
23
Q.5 - For each of the following activities, please tell me if it is something
that you really love to do, like doing, dislike doing, or really dislike
doing. First…. [READ EACH ITEM.]
*Note: a column for “Total Respondents” appears for comparison purposes.
Page 10
Having Fun As We Age: A Survey of Adult Funstyles
How Men Feel About Work
Base: Men employed full- or part-time*.
Unweighted base
Age
Total
Total Men 18-34 35-44 45-54
(1,405) (679) (246) (166) (171)
55-64 65+
(63) (19)
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
91
90
87
93
90
89
100
Really love it
39
38
37
42
33
40
54
Like it
52
52
49
51
57
49
46
9
9
11
6
9
11
--
Dislike it
6
6
8
5
5
11
--
Really dislike it
3
3
3
1
5
--
--
1
1
1
2
1
--
--
Love/like it
Dislike/really dislike it
Don’t know/Refused
Q.9 - When it comes to your current job situation, would you say you
really love your job, like it, dislike it, or really dislike it?
*Note: a column for “Total Respondents” appears for comparison purposes.
Page 11
Having Fun As We Age: A Survey of Adult Funstyles
How Women Feel About Work
Base: Women employed full- or part-time*.
Unweighted base
Age
Total
Total Women 18-34 35-44 45-54
(1,405) (726) (219) (195) (198)
55-64 65+
(82) (17)
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
91
92
89
92
92
96
100
Really love it
39
40
31
42
48
54
35
Like it
52
51
58
50
45
41
65
9
8
11
8
7
4
--
Dislike it
5
4
7
3
3
--
--
Really dislike it
3
4
5
5
4
4
--
1
*
--
--
*
--
--
Love/like it
Dislike/really dislike it
Don’t know/Refused
Q.9 - When it comes to your current job situation, would you say you
really love your job, like it, dislike it, or really dislike it?
*Note: a column for “Total Respondents” appears for comparison purposes.
Page 12
Having Fun As We Age: A Survey of Adult Funstyles
Top American Passions
Men
Asked to name the activities in life they are most passionate about, men
are most likely to name something related to sports, exercise, or the
outdoors (54%). Among these activities, fishing (16%) was the most oftmentioned.
Men are passionate about social activities as well, such as spending time
with family (28%—especially those 35-44, 44%) and with friends (20% of
18-34 year-olds).
Other common passions include travel (10%), work (10%), and music
(9%).
Women
Women, unlike men, are most likely to be passionate about some kind of
hobby or other activity (52%). Such passions grow steadily with age (e.g.,
43% of 18-34 year-olds versus 64% of those 65-plus) and include
activities such reading (15%), travel (13%), and music (9%).
But women are passionate about no one single hobby as much as they are
about spending time with family—the most often mentioned passion
(42%), especially among younger women.
Women also mention gardening (13%), spending time with friends (11%),
church/religious activities (11%), and work (10%).
Page 13
Having Fun As We Age: A Survey of Adult Funstyles
Top Passions of American Men
Base: Total men*.
Unweighted base
Age
Total
Total Men 18-34 35-44 45-54
(2,118) (919) (319) (178) (189)
55-64 65+
(106) (110)
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
44
38
38
49
36
30
27
Spending time with family 35
28
22
44
29
23
24
Spending time with friends 12
12
20
7
8
8
4
Social activities (net)
Hobbies/indoor non-active
activities (net)
45
38
40
28
35
48
48
Artistic/creative/arts
(subnet)
22
18
22
10
15
24
17
Music
9
9
14
3
7
9
6
Travel
12
10
5
12
9
17
17
Reading
10
5
4
3
5
5
11
43
54
56
54
58
56
44
Fishing
10
16
9
20
22
19
17
Gardening/lawn work
9
4
*
2
8
4
12
Work
10
10
9
10
10
10
10
Church/religion
9
7
4
11
8
4
8
Sports/exercise/outdoor
recreation (net)
Q.3 - What are the two or three activities in life that you are most
passionate about, that most make you feel happy and full of life?
[DO NOT READ LIST. PROBE IF NAME ONLY ONE PASSION:]
Anything else?
*Note: a column for “Total Respondents” appears for comparison purposes.
Page 14
Having Fun As We Age: A Survey of Adult Funstyles
Top Passions of American Women
Base: Total women*.
Unweighted base
Age
Total
Total Women 18-34 35-44 45-54
(2,118) (1,199) (313) (259) (265)
55-64 65+
(147) (190)
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
Social activities (net)
44
49
62
52
45
41
33
Spending time with
family
35
42
49
47
41
37
27
Spending time with
friends
12
11
20
8
6
6
9
Hobbies/indoor non-active
activities (net)
45
52
43
47
53
63
64
Artistic/creative/arts
(subnet)
22
26
23
25
22
31
34
Music
9
9
10
9
7
5
9
Travel
12
13
8
9
16
20
19
Reading
10
15
12
13
13
22
17
43
32
32
42
30
32
22
Fishing
10
4
1
7
6
7
4
Gardening/lawn work
9
13
5
16
16
16
18
Work
10
10
11
10
11
10
5
Church/religion
9
11
11
5
10
13
16
Sports/exercise/outdoor
recreation (net)
Q.3 - What are the two or three activities in life that you are most
passionate about, that most make you feel happy and full of life?
[DO NOT READ LIST. PROBE IF NAME ONLY ONE PASSION:]
Anything else?
*Note: a column for “Total Respondents” appears for comparison purposes.
Page 15
Having Fun As We Age: A Survey of Adult Funstyles
Frequency of Activities
How often do Americans get to spend time doing their favorite activities?
Men
Of the top three activities men “really love” to do, one of them—spending
time with family—is something the majority (70%) get to do often.
However, only a minority “often” gets to enjoy the other top passions,
making love (37%) and spending a romantic evening with their
spouse/partner (37%). Rather, they are more likely to spend their time
socializing with friends (58%), watching television (52%), and/or reading
(51%), passions shared by less than half the male population. Generally,
this gap exists among younger and older men alike.
Women
Women, like men, also are not often able to indulge some of their
passions. The majority do often get to spend time with their family
(84%)—the most commonly cited activity they “love” to do—but only a
minority often engages in other top passions, such as making love (34%)
and spending a romantic evening with their spouse/partner (29%).
As with men, these gaps persist into older age.
Page 16
Having Fun As We Age: A Survey of Adult Funstyles
Frequency of Activities Among Men
Base: Total men*.
(% who do “often”)
Age
Total
Total Men 18-34 35-44 45-54
(2,118) (919) (319) (178) (189)
Unweighted base
55-64 65+
(106) (110)
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
Spend time with family
77
70
64
77
74
69
73
Socialize with friends
58
58
75
55
41
53
52
Watch television
53
52
44
54
51
62
65
Read
58
51
38
51
54
59
69
Exercise or play sports
43
48
60
45
37
38
46
Spend time on hobbies
40
46
56
37
41
40
45
Play with pets
45
42
42
49
47
43
30
Do something spiritual or
religious
46
39
30
42
39
42
54
Make love
36
37
42
47
36
31
20
Spend a romantic evening with my
spouse, partner, or date
33
37
41
31
30
44
37
Do something cultural or
educational
39
36
38
31
37
34
33
Do volunteer work
19
18
16
16
20
18
24
Q.4 - I am going to read you some activities, and for each one please tell
me if it is something you do often, occasionally, not very often, or
never. First…. [READ EACH ITEM.]
*Note: a column for “Total Respondents” appears for comparison purposes.
Page 17
Having Fun As We Age: A Survey of Adult Funstyles
Frequency of Activities Among Women
Base: Total women*.
(% who do “often”)
Age
Total
Total Women 18-34 35-44 45-54
(2,118) (1,199) (313) (259) (265)
Unweighted base
55-64 65+
(147) (190)
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
Spend time with family
77
84
86
89
88
82
71
Read
58
66
57
58
74
73
74
Socialize with friends
58
59
68
51
54
56
56
Watch television
53
53
51
48
47
53
69
Do something spiritual or
religious
46
53
40
47
61
61
68
Play with pets
45
47
43
54
58
49
34
Do something cultural or
educational
39
41
43
33
47
41
39
Exercise or play sports
43
38
44
36
33
39
30
Spend time on hobbies
40
35
33
28
36
45
39
Make love
36
34
42
45
34
30
11
Spend a romantic evening with my
spouse, partner, or date
33
29
29
28
31
34
24
Do volunteer work
19
15
22
20
23
21
19
Q.4 - I am going to read you some activities, and for each one please tell
me if it is something you do often, occasionally, not very often, or
never. First…. [READ EACH ITEM.]
*Note: a column for “Total Respondents” appears for comparison purposes.
Page 18
Having Fun As We Age: A Survey of Adult Funstyles
Quantifying Fun
Fun and Growing Older
Men
Asked whether, as they get older, they find themselves having more fun in
life, less fun, or the same amount of fun, a plurality (43%) of men 18-34
agrees that life is getting more fun.
By the time they reach middle-age (35-54), however, men are as likely to
say they are having the same amount of fun as they used to (34% versus
34% who are having more fun).
Ages 55-64 seem to be the least-fun years for men, when a plurality (38%)
says life is getting less fun than it used to.
Once they reach age 65, however, the plurality (38%) says they have the
same amount of fun as they grow older.
Women
For women, life keeps getting more fun into older age, until they reach age
65. In fact, a plurality of women (42%) says life is more fun than it used to
be until they reach age 65, at which point they are about as likely to say
life is less fun than before (37%) or the same (35%).
Page 19
Having Fun As We Age: A Survey of Adult Funstyles
Fun and Growing Older Among Men
Base: Total men*.
Unweighted base
Age
Total
Total Men 18-34 35-44 45-54
(2,118) (919) (319) (178) (189)
55-64 65+
(106) (110)
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
More
37
36
43
34
34
29
28
Same
29
31
25
34
31
32
38
Less
32
32
31
31
32
38
33
Refused
*
*
--
--
--
--
1
Don’t know
1
1
1
*
2
1
1
Q.14 - As you get older, do find yourself having more fun in life than you
used to, the same amount of fun, or less fun than you used to?
*Note: a column for “Total Respondents” appears for comparison purposes.
Page 20
Having Fun As We Age: A Survey of Adult Funstyles
Fun and Growing Older Among Women
Base: Total women*.
Unweighted base
Age
Total
Total Women 18-34 35-44 45-54
(2,118) (1,199) (313) (259) (265)
55-64 65+
(147) (190)
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
More
37
39
43
43
41
42
25
Same
29
27
24
26
27
28
35
Less
32
32
32
29
32
29
37
Refused
*
--
--
--
--
--
--
Don’t know
1
1
*
1
1
*
3
Q.14 - As you get older, do find yourself having more fun in life than you
used to, the same amount of fun, or less fun than you used to?
*Note: a column for “Total Respondents” appears for comparison purposes.
Page 21
Having Fun As We Age: A Survey of Adult Funstyles
The Most-Fun Age
Asked at what age they have had the most fun in life, men and women
alike, by the time they’ve reached their senior years, look back and say
their mid-30s (35, on average, among men; 34 among women).
Interestingly, people in that age range—the mid-30s—do not recognize
their current situation as the most fun they’ve enjoyed. Rather, Americans
ages 35-44 say, on average, that 25 was the year they had the most fun.
In fact, no matter what age, nostalgia seems to be a potent force—people
tend to think they were having more fun when younger.
And, among both men and women, the older the age group, the further
back in time they tend to go in recalling their “most-fun” age. On average:
•
•
•
•
•
The youngest adults (age 18-34) say their most-fun age fell within the
first few years of their age range
Adults 35-44 say it happened 10 years ago, on average
Those 45-54 look back 16 years on average to their most-fun years
Those 55-64 say their most-fun age happened at least 20 years ago,
and
Those 65+ look back at least three decades
Page 22
Having Fun As We Age: A Survey of Adult Funstyles
Mean Age Americans Have Had “Most Fun” In Their Lives
Base: Total respondents.
Men
Women
40
35
35
29
30
25
25
20
15
20
28
32
34
31
25
19
10
5
0
18-34
35-44
45-54
55-64
65+
Q.1 - Looking back, at what age do you think you had the
most fun in your life, up to now?
Page 23
Having Fun As We Age: A Survey of Adult Funstyles
Setting Aside Fun-Time
Men
Though most men do not set aside time daily to “just have fun,” most—
about eight in ten (79%)—do so at least once a week.
They are most likely to do so between the ages of 18 and 34 (86%; 41%
set aside fun time daily at this age). They are least likely to set aside daily
funtime at ages 55-64 (64%), an age when the plurality of men say life is
getting less fun as they get older.
Women
Women are much like men in the frequency with which they set aside time
for fun. About three-quarters (73%) say they take time on at least a weekly
basis to have fun, and they are most likely to say this between the ages of
18 and 34.
Like men, women are somewhat less likely to have fun on a weekly basis
in their middle years (69% between ages 45-64), but a solid majority, at all
ages, does so.
Page 24
Having Fun As We Age: A Survey of Adult Funstyles
Frequency Men Set Aside Time Just to Have Fun
Base: Total men*.
Unweighted base
Age
Total
Total Men 18-34 35-44 45-54
(2,118) (919) (319) (178) (189)
55-64 65+
(106) (110)
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
74
79
86
82
74
64
76
Every day
27
33
41
33
28
21
31
Every couple of days
21
22
24
24
22
16
20
Every week
27
24
21
25
24
27
25
Less often than once a week 23
20
13
17
24
36
22
At least once a week
Every couple of weeks
11
11
8
9
12
20
11
Every month
6
4
3
4
5
6
5
Every couple of months
3
3
2
2
5
5
3
Less often than every
couple of months
2
1
*
2
1
3
--
Never
1
1
--
--
1
2
3
Refused/Don’t know
1
1
*
1
3
--
1
Q.7 - About how often, if ever, would you say you take the time to do
something with the specific goal of having fun? Is it… [READ
EACH ITEM. ACCEPT ONE RESPONSE.]
*Note: a column for “Total Respondents” appears for comparison purposes.
Page 25
Having Fun As We Age: A Survey of Adult Funstyles
Frequency Women Set Aside Time Just to Have Fun
Base: Total women*.
Unweighted base
Age
Total
Total Women 18-34 35-44 45-54
(2,118) (1,199) (313) (259) (265)
55-64 65+
(147) (190)
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
75
73
79
73
69
68
72
Every day
27
22
25
22
19
20
20
Every couple of days
21
21
26
19
21
14
18
Every week
27
30
28
32
29
34
34
Less often than once a week 23
26
22
26
31
30
27
At least once a week
Every couple of weeks
11
10
9
10
14
12
9
Every month
6
7
7
10
7
9
5
Every couple of months
3
4
2
3
6
5
6
Less often than every
couple of months
2
3
3
2
3
2
3
Never
1
2
1
1
1
2
4
Refused/Don’t know
1
*
--
1
--
*
2
Q.7 - About how often, if ever, would you say you take the time to do
something with the specific goal of having fun? Is it… [READ
EACH ITEM. ACCEPT ONE RESPONSE.]
*Note: a column for “Total Respondents” appears for comparison purposes.
Page 26
Having Fun As We Age: A Survey of Adult Funstyles
Working and Playing
Men
Asked to estimate how many hours they have fun in an average week,
men, on average, say about 22 hours, which is about half the time they
spend working (45 hours, on average).
To what extent does work cut into fun time? Not much—in fact, even men
who don’t work report spending very similar amounts of time just having
fun as do men who work.
Men tend to spend the most hours having fun when they are young (27
hours, on average, among 18-34 year-olds) and in their later years (26
hours among those 65-plus).
Women
In an average week, women 18-34 tend to spend less time working (39
hours, on average) and having fun (18 hours) than do men of the same
age. But they tend to have about as much fun per week throughout their
lives, irrespective of age, until they reach 65, when women lag behind
men (12 versus 21 hours, on average).
Like men, women report similar amounts of weekly fun time whether or
not they work.
Page 27
Having Fun As We Age: A Survey of Adult Funstyles
Hours Work vs. Play Among Men
Base: Total men.
Mean hours have fun (not employed)
Mean hours have fun (employed)
Mean hours have work (employed)
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
45
47
46
46
43
28
26
21
27
19
17
21
19
19
18-34
35-44
14
45-54
55-64
65+
Q.10 – About how many hours a week do you work in an average workweek?
Q.11 – Thinking for a moment, about how many hours in a typical week
would you say you spend just having fun?
Page 28
Having Fun As We Age: A Survey of Adult Funstyles
Hours Work vs. Play Among Women
Base: Total women.
Mean hours have fun (not employed)
Mean hours have fun (employed)
Mean hours have work (employed)
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
39
40
41
18
18
17
32
39
18
15
19
15
16
15
12
18-34
35-44
45-54
55-64
65+
Q.10 – About how many hours a week do you work in an average workweek?
Q.11 – Thinking for a moment, about how many hours in a typical week
would you say you spend just having fun?
Page 29
Having Fun As We Age: A Survey of Adult Funstyles
Fun and Secrets
Activities Americans Pretend to Like
Men
Men like to have fun—and often do—but it’s not always easy to tell when
they’re really enjoying themselves.
In fact, nearly four in ten men (38%) say they “often” or “occasionally”
pretend to enjoy entertaining guests more than they really do. This is
especially true among those ages 18-34 (46%).
Men also pretend to like doing things cultural or educational (35%) and
spending time with family other than their spouse or partner (30%). On the
other hand, few (14%) pretend they like making love more than they really
do.
Interestingly, as they get older, men become less and less likely to pretend
they like doing all activities asked about—except exercising.
Women
Women are very similar to men on this subject. They are most likely to
pretend to like entertaining guests (33% do so often/occasionally; 44%
among those 18-34).
They are also particularly apt to pretend enjoying exercising or playing
sports (32%) or doing something cultural or educational (28%).
Also like men, women show less proclivity to feign fun in most things as
they get older.
Page 30
Having Fun As We Age: A Survey of Adult Funstyles
Activities Men Pretend to Like
Base: Total men*.
(% pretend “often” or “occasionally”)
Age
Total
Total Men 18-34 35-44 45-54
(2,118) (919) (319) (178) (189)
Unweighted base
55-64 65+
(106) (110)
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
Entertaining guests
35
38
46
37
29
36
33
Doing something cultural
or educational
31
35
44
37
26
31
25
Spending time with other family
members and children
28
30
33
34
27
30
22
Doing volunteer work
24
28
40
25
25
22
15
Exercising or playing sports
28
24
22
29
22
27
24
Spending time with your spouse
or partner
19
22
23
22
21
25
17
Making love
16
14
12
17
14
16
14
Q.12 - Sometimes people pretend that they like doing things more than
they actually do. Here is a list of activities, and for each one I’d
like to know whether you often, occasionally, not very often, or
never pretend that you’re having more fun doing them than you
really are. First… [READ EACH ITEM AND READ SCALE
VERBATIM EACH TIME.]
*Note: a column for “Total Respondents” appears for comparison purposes.
Page 31
Having Fun As We Age: A Survey of Adult Funstyles
Activities Women Pretend to Like
Base: Total women*.
(% pretend “often” or “occasionally”)
Age
Total
Total Women 18-34 35-44 45-54
(2,118) (1,199) (313) (259) (265)
Unweighted base
55-64 65+
(147) (190)
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
Entertaining guests
35
33
44
33
34
22
20
Exercising or playing sports
28
32
35
32
37
29
24
Doing something cultural
or educational
31
28
37
25
27
23
23
Spending time with other family
members and children
28
26
33
26
25
23
18
Doing volunteer work
24
21
26
21
24
13
13
Spending time with your spouse
or partner
19
17
20
15
20
14
10
Making love
16
17
23
15
19
13
10
Q.12 - Sometimes people pretend that they like doing things more than
they actually do. Here is a list of activities, and for each one I’d
like to know whether you often, occasionally, not very often, or
never pretend that you’re having more fun doing them than you
really are. First… [READ EACH ITEM AND READ SCALE
VERBATIM EACH TIME.]
*Note: a column for “Total Respondents” appears for comparison purposes.
Page 32
Having Fun As We Age: A Survey of Adult Funstyles
Secret Wishes
Men
Men not only pretend to like things they do, they wish they could be doing
something else. Asked to identify certain secret wishes and desires, a
majority of men says they “often” or “occasionally” wish they could be:
•
doing good deeds for others (83%)
•
very wealthy (70%, especially when young; e.g., 79% of 18-34 yearolds)
•
having a more meaningful life (61%)
•
better able to express their emotions (61%)
•
more successful at work (60%)
•
having a more satisfying sex life (56%)
As they get older, men are especially likely to secretly long less for
wealth, success at work, athletic excellence, and great looks.
Page 33
Having Fun As We Age: A Survey of Adult Funstyles
Women
Women share many of the same passions, and give them priority to a
remarkably similar degree. Majorities “often” or “occasionally” wish they
could be:
•
doing good deeds for others (84%)
•
very wealthy (69%, especially when young; e.g., 81% of 18-34 yearolds)
•
having a more meaningful life (59%)
•
better able to express their emotions (59%)
•
more successful at work (52%)
Like men, as they age, women tend to secretly long less for health, success
at work, athletic excellence, and great looks. Unlike men, older women are
also less likely to long for a more satisfying sex life.
Page 34
Having Fun As We Age: A Survey of Adult Funstyles
Secret Desires Among Men
Base: Total men*.
(% secretly wish for “often” or “occasionally”)
Age
Total
Total Men 18-34 35-44 45-54
(2,118) (919) (319) (178) (189)
Unweighted base
55-64 65+
(106) (110)
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
Doing good deeds for others
84
83
81
85
84
83
87
Being very wealthy
69
70
79
77
64
62
47
Having a more meaningful life
60
61
61
67
62
57
51
Being able to express my emotions
better
60
61
62
66
62
54
55
Being more successful at work
56
60
68
73
63
49
22
Having a more satisfying sex life
48
56
55
59
58
59
47
Being a great athlete or performer 37
47
62
54
38
23
29
Being incredibly good-looking
41
38
46
43
34
28
26
Leading a more wild and dangerous
life
24
29
42
30
26
15
11
Q.17 - Now I’d like to know about any secret wishes you might have. For
each of the following, please tell me whether it is something you
often, occasionally, not very often, or never secretly wish for.
First… [READ EACH ITEM.]
*Note: a column for “Total Respondents” appears for comparison purposes.
Page 35
Having Fun As We Age: A Survey of Adult Funstyles
Secret Desires Among Women
Base: Total women*.
(% secretly wish for “often” or “occasionally”)
Age
Total
Total Women 18-34 35-44 45-54
(2,118) (1,199) (313) (259) (265)
Unweighted base
55-64 65+
(147) (190)
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
Doing good deeds for others
84
84
85
83
83
84
86
Being very wealthy
69
69
81
74
69
67
43
Having a more meaningful life
60
59
64
62
60
57
48
Being able to express my emotions
better
60
59
64
57
56
61
53
Being more successful at work
56
52
66
63
54
40
18
Being incredibly good-looking
41
43
60
42
37
31
29
Having a more satisfying sex life
48
41
48
45
48
32
22
Being a great athlete or performer 37
29
44
32
26
12
11
Leading a more wild and dangerous
life
24
20
32
21
19
10
8
Q.17 - Now I’d like to know about any secret wishes you might have. For
each of the following, please tell me whether it is something you
often, occasionally, not very often, or never secretly wish for.
First… [READ EACH ITEM.]
*Note: a column for “Total Respondents” appears for comparison purposes.
Page 36
Having Fun As We Age: A Survey of Adult Funstyles
Other Insights into Fun and Passion
How Does It Feel to Be Passionate?
Men
Asked how they feel when doing something they are passionate about,
men reveal a remarkable range of feelings and emotions. Indeed, at least
seven in ten say the following words describe their feelings “completely”
or “somewhat” when engaged in an activity they are passionate about:
•
Happy (96%)
•
Alert (89%)
•
Free (86%)
•
Exhilarated (83%)
•
Calm (80%)
•
Powerful (70%)
Some of these feelings become less prevalent among older men—e.g.,
exhilarated (68% among those age 65-plus versus 87% of 18-34 year-olds)
and powerful (48% versus 80%, respectively). These changes most likely
reflect the fact that passions, as they change over the years, offer different
rewards to older men.
Page 37
Having Fun As We Age: A Survey of Adult Funstyles
Women
Women are virtually identical to men on this score, reporting the same
feelings in the same order in about the same numbers:
•
Happy (96%)
•
Alert (89%)
•
Free (83%)
•
Exhilarated (78%)
•
Calm (78%)
•
Powerful (67%)
Also like men, feelings of power and exhilaration decline with age among
women who are engaged in pursuits they are passionate about.
Page 38
Having Fun As We Age: A Survey of Adult Funstyles
How Do Men Feel When Doing Something They’re Passionate About?
Base: Total men*.
(% describes “completely” or “somewhat”)
Unweighted base
Age
Total
Total Men 18-34 35-44 45-54
(2,118) (919) (319) (178) (189)
55-64 65+
(106) (110)
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
Happy
96
96
97
97
95
92
94
Alert
89
89
88
96
89
89
93
Free
84
86
88
85
86
88
80
Exhilarated
80
83
87
86
83
81
68
Calm
79
80
77
81
82
82
81
Powerful
68
70
80
77
64
62
48
Sexy
52
55
54
63
54
52
49
Exhausted
54
53
58
54
49
60
45
Child-like
53
53
58
61
48
47
40
Afraid
20
20
26
20
14
15
17
Q.6 - Think for a moment about something that you’re really passionate
about doing. Now please tell me if each of the following words
describes completely, somewhat, only a little, or not at all how you
feel when you’re doing something that you’re really passionate
about doing. First … [READ EACH ITEM.]
*Note: a column for “Total Respondents” appears for comparison purposes.
Page 39
Having Fun As We Age: A Survey of Adult Funstyles
How Do Women Feel When Doing Something They’re Passionate About?
Base: Total women*.
(% describes “completely” or “somewhat”)
Unweighted base
Age
Total
Total Women 18-34 35-44 45-54
(2,118) (1,199) (313) (259) (265)
55-64 65+
(147) (190)
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
Happy
96
96
96
97
96
97
92
Alert
89
89
87
91
93
90
85
Free
84
83
84
83
86
84
79
Exhilarated
80
78
85
77
84
77
64
Calm
79
78
74
74
84
81
85
Powerful
68
67
75
72
70
58
48
Exhausted
54
54
52
59
58
52
48
Child-like
53
53
63
61
54
46
32
Sexy
52
48
56
52
55
37
30
Afraid
20
20
20
20
22
17
17
Q.6 - Think for a moment about something that you’re really passionate
about doing. Now please tell me if each of the following words
describes completely, somewhat, only a little, or not at all how you
feel when you’re doing something that you’re really passionate
about doing. First … [READ EACH ITEM.]
*Note: a column for “Total Respondents” appears for comparison purposes.
Page 40
Having Fun As We Age: A Survey of Adult Funstyles
A Nation of Fun People
Men
Summing up, men describe themselves as fun bunch of people, with most
agreeing that they are “a fun person to be around” (88% say the statement
describes them completely or somewhat) and that they “live for having
fun” (59%).
Moreover, as much fun as they are, they wish they could have still more
time to have fun (71%), though fewer than half (44%) say they are
disappointed if they don’t have fun every single day.
But on these measures, attitudes are markedly different among older and
younger men, with seniors placing considerably less priority on having
fun. In fact, whereas a majority of men 18-34 says they live for having fun
(77%), wish they had more time to have fun (75%), and are disappointed
if they don’t have fun every day (56%), fewer than half of men age 65plus agree. Indeed, over half (53%) of men at least 65 years old agree that
“having fun” is an over-rated concept.
Women
Women are somewhat less “fun-oriented” than men, though most agree
they are “a fun person to be around” (90%). But only half (50%) say they
“live for having fun,” and about four in ten (39%) agree that “having fun”
is an over-rated concept.
But like men, attitudes shift away from the sanctity of fun among older
women, especially when it comes to wishing for more time to have fun
(e.g., 67% among 18-34 year-olds versus 41% among those 65-plus),
living for fun (64% versus 40%, respectively), and being disappointed if
they don’t have fun every day (48% versus 17%).
Page 41
Having Fun As We Age: A Survey of Adult Funstyles
Assorted Views of Fun Among Men
Base: Total men.
(% describes “completely” or “somewhat”)
Age
Total
Total Men 18-34 35-44 45-54
(2,118) (919) (319) (178) (189)
Unweighted base
55-64 65+
(106) (110)
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
I am a fun person to be around
89
88
95
86
88
82
77
I wish I could have more time
to have fun
69
71
75
86
74
68
37
I live for having fun
54
59
77
57
52
40
43
I find myself disappointed if I
don’t have some fun every day
38
44
56
45
38
36
32
I think the concept of “having
fun” is over-rated
35
30
22
30
25
38
53
Q.13 - For each of the following statements, please tell me whether it
completely describes you, somewhat describes you, describes you
only a little, or doesn’t describe you at all. First… [READ EACH
ITEM.]
*Note: a column for “Total Respondents” appears for comparison purposes.
Page 42
Having Fun As We Age: A Survey of Adult Funstyles
Assorted Views of Fun Among Women
Base: Total women.
(% describes “completely” or “somewhat”)
Age
Total
Total Women 18-34 35-44 45-54
(2,118) (1,199) (313) (259) (265)
Unweighted base
55-64 65+
(147) (190)
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
I am a fun person to be around
89
90
94
89
90
90
86
I wish I could have more time to
have fun
69
67
81
75
71
53
41
I live for having fun
54
50
64
50
46
36
40
I think the concept of “having fun”
is over-rated
35
39
31
36
41
42
54
I find myself disappointed if I
don’t have some fun every day
32
48
30
30
18
17
38
Q.13 - For each of the following statements, please tell me whether it
completely describes you, somewhat describes you, describes you
only a little, or doesn’t describe you at all. First… [READ EACH
ITEM.]
*Note: a column for “Total Respondents” appears for comparison purposes.
Page 43
Appendix: Annotated Questionnaire
Page 44
Roper Starch Worldwide Inc.
Job CNT-565
Client: AARP
July, 2001
FUNSTYLES SURVEY
POSTED QUESTIONNAIRE OF NATIONAL GENERAL PUBLIC DATA
(WEIGHTED; N = 2,118)
Respondent Name: ____________________________________________________
Interviewer Name: _____________________________________________________
Phone #: _____________________________________________________________
Date:___________________________________
Time Started: _______________
Time Ended: ________________
1.
Looking back, at what age do you think you had the most fun in your life, up to now?
[ENTER AGE HERE:]
Mean age: 25.9
Refused.................................................................... *
Don’t know...........................................................7%
2.
And at what age do you predict you will have had the most fun in your life, when all
is said and done?
[ENTER AGE HERE:] Mean age: 41.6
Refused.................................................................... *
Don’t know.........................................................21%
3.
What are the two or three activities in life that you are most passionate about, that
most make you feel happy and full of life? [DO NOT READ LIST. PROBE IF
NAME ONLY ONE PASSION:] Anything else?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Page 45
4.
I am going to read you some activities, and for each one please tell me if it is
something you do often, occasionally, not very often, or never. First…. [READ
EACH ITEM.]
Occas.
%
%
%
a. Spend time with family ............................................. 77
b. Socialize with friends ................................................ 58
c. Spend time on hobbies .............................................. 40
d. Read........................................................................... 58
e. Watch television ........................................................ 53
f. Exercise or play sports............................................... 43
g. Play with pets ............................................................ 45
h. Do volunteer work..................................................... 19
i. Do something spiritual or religious ........................... 46
j. Do something cultural or educational........................ 39
[ALWAYS ASK BEFORE l:]
k. Spend a romantic evening with my
spouse, partner, or date.............................................. 33
[NEVER ASK FIRST:]
l. Make love .................................................................. 36
16
31
36
26
31
31
15
30
25
36
5
9
16
12
14
16
11
22
19
18
34
28
[ROTATE:]
5.
Not very
often Never
Often
Ref.
DK
%
%
%
1
1
8
4
3
11
29
28
10
7
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
17
15
*
1
14
16
5
1
For each of the following activities, please tell me if it is something that you really
love to do, like doing, dislike doing, or really dislike doing. First…. [READ EACH
ITEM.]
Really
Love
Like
Ref.
DK
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
a. Spend time with family ............................................. 63
b. Socialize with friends ................................................ 42
c. Spend time on hobbies .............................................. 30
d. Read........................................................................... 36
e. Watch television ........................................................ 14
f. Exercise or play sports............................................... 26
g. Play with pets ............................................................ 28
h. Do volunteer work..................................................... 16
i. Do something spiritual or religious ........................... 30
j. Do something cultural or educational........................ 22
[ALWAYS ASK BEFORE l:]
k. Spend a romantic evening with my
spouse, partner, or date.............................................. 53
[NEVER ASK FIRST:]
l. Make love .................................................................. 55
34
54
59
51
69
55
45
57
53
62
1
1
3
2
3
2
5
6
3
2
2
3
6
10
11
13
13
15
11
11
*
*
1
2
3
4
6
5
3
2
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
1
*
*
2
2
1
*
36
5
3
1
1
1
28
6
2
1
5
2
[ROTATE:]
Neutral
Really
(VOL) Dislike dislike
Page 46
6.
Think for a moment about something that you’re really passionate about doing. Now
please tell me if each of the following words describes completely, somewhat, only a
little, or not at all how you feel when you’re doing something that you’re really
passionate about doing. First … [READ EACH ITEM.]
Some- Describes Doesn’t
Completely what
only a
describe
describes describes
little
at all
[ROTATE:]
%
a. Afraid ........................................ 4
b. Alert ......................................... 62
c. Calm......................................... 42
d. Child-like ................................. 20
e. Exhausted................................. 22
f. Exhilarated............................... 44
g. Free .......................................... 54
h. Happy....................................... 74
i. Powerful................................... 31
j. Sexy ......................................... 21
%
16
27
37
33
32
36
30
21
38
30
%
16
5
10
14
16
10
8
3
12
14
%
63
4
10
31
29
7
6
1
18
30
Ref.
DK
%
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
1
%
1
1
1
2
1
2
2
1
2
3
7.
About how often, if ever, would you say you take the time to do something with the
specific goal of having fun? Is it… [READ EACH ITEM. ACCEPT ONE
RESPONSE.]
%
Every day............................................................... 27
Every couple of days ............................................. 21
Every week............................................................ 27
Every couple of weeks .......................................... 11
Every month ............................................................ 6
Every couple of months........................................... 3
Less often than every couple of months.................. 2
Or do you never take time to have fun? .................. 1
[DO NOT READ] Refused/Don’t know................ 1
8.
Which of the following best describes your employment status? [READ EACH
ITEM. ACCEPT ONE RESPONSE.]
%
Work full-time....................................................... 54
Work part-time ...................................................... 11
Full-time homemaker .............................................. 8 [SKIP TO Q.11]
Full-time student ..................................................... 4 [SKIP TO Q.11]
Unemployed, laid off, or looking for work ............. 5 [SKIP TO Q.11]
Retired ................................................................... 18 [SKIP TO Q.11]
[DO NOT READ] Refused .................................... * [SKIP TO Q.11]
[DO NOT READ] Don’t know .............................. * [SKIP TO Q.11]
Page 47
9.
When it comes to your current job situation, would you say you really love your job,
like it, dislike it, or really dislike it?
%
Really love it ......................................................... 39
Like it .................................................................... 52
Dislike it .................................................................. 5
Really dislike it........................................................ 3
Refused.................................................................... *
Don’t know.............................................................. 1
10.
About how many hours a week do you work in an average work-week?
[RECORD # OF HOURS:] Mean hours: 42.8
Refused.....................................................................Don’t know.............................................................. *
11.
Thinking for a moment, about how many hours in a typical week would you say you
spend just having fun?
[RECORD # OF HOURS. If “NONE,” ENTER 0:]
Refused............................................................... *
Don’t know...........................................................5%
12.
Mean Hours: 20.3
Sometimes people pretend that they like doing things more than they actually do.
Here is a list of activities, and for each one I’d like to know whether you often,
occasionally, not very often, or never pretend that you’re having more fun doing them
than you really are. First… [READ EACH ITEM AND READ SCALE
VERBATIM EACH TIME.]
Not very
Often Occas. often Never
pretend pretend pretend pretend
[ROTATE:]
%
a. Spending time with your spouse or
partner........................................................... 6
b. [ALWAYS READ AFTER a]
Spending time with other family
members and children .................................. 8
c. Doing something cultural or
educational ................................................... 8
d. Doing volunteer work................................... 8
e. Making love.................................................. 6
f. Exercising or playing sports......................... 9
g. Entertaining guests ....................................... 9
Ref.
DK
%
%
%
%
%
13
13
62
2
3
20
17
55
*
*
23
16
10
19
26
19
15
11
15
20
48
54
64
55
43
*
1
6
*
1
1
6
4
1
1
Page 48
13.
For each of the following statements, please tell me whether it completely describes
you, somewhat describes you, describes you only a little, or doesn’t describe you at
all. First… [READ EACH ITEM.]
Some- Describes Doesn’t
Completely what
only a
describe
describes describes
little
at all
[ROTATE:]
%
a. I wish I had more energy ..................... 49
b. I become bored easily .......................... 20
c. I am a fun person to be around ............ 48
d. I live for having fun ............................. 26
e. I like to take risks................................. 19
f. I am a spiritual or religious person ...... 40
g. I like to help people in need................. 65
h. I think the concept of “having fun”
is over-rated ......................................... 12
i. I wish I could have more time to
have fun ............................................... 44
j. I find myself disappointed if I don’t
have some fun every day ..................... 17
k. I am always trying to learn new
things.................................................... 60
Ref.
DK
%
26
24
41
28
34
32
29
%
8
17
6
18
18
11
4
%
17
38
3
27
28
17
2
%
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
%
*
*
2
*
*
*
*
23
13
51
*
2
25
10
20
*
1
21
16
46
*
*
31
6
3
*
*
14.
As you get older, do find yourself having more fun in life than you used to, the same
amount of fun, or less fun than you used to?
%
More .................................................................. 37
Same .................................................................. 29
Less.................................................................... 32
Refused................................................................*
Don’t know..........................................................1
15.
Generally speaking, how would you rate your overall physical health? Would you say
it is excellent, good, fair, or poor?
%
Excellent................................................................ 27
Good ...................................................................... 52
Fair ........................................................................ 18
Poor ......................................................................... 4
Refused.................................................................... *
Don’t know.............................................................. *
Page 49
16.
Please tell me whether, over the past month, you have felt each of the following often,
occasionally, not very often, or never. First… [READ EACH ITEM.]
Often
[ROTATE:]
%
a. Nervous or uneasy....................................... 10
b. Happy .......................................................... 70
c. Fat or overweight ........................................ 21
d. Excited......................................................... 39
e. Special ......................................................... 39
f. Empty or numb............................................. 6
g. Lonely.......................................................... 10
h. Sad or depressed........................................... 9
i. Irritable or angry.......................................... 12
j. Truly alive ................................................... 58
k. Loss of sexual interest ................................. 11
l. Easily tired................................................... 25
m. Sexually attractive ....................................... 32
n. Capable and competent ............................... 67
o. Creative ....................................................... 41
p. Peaceful ....................................................... 58
17.
Occas.
%
32
25
23
44
39
13
23
26
40
31
20
33
38
24
37
33
Not very
often Never
%
29
4
15
12
15
21
23
30
32
8
18
23
14
5
15
7
%
28
1
40
5
7
59
43
34
16
3
45
18
11
3
7
3
Ref.
DK
%
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
3
*
2
*
*
*
%
*
*
*
*
1
1
*
*
*
1
3
*
3
1
*
*
Now I’d like to know about any secret wishes you might have. For each of the
following, please tell me whether it is something you often, occasionally, not very
often, or never secretly wish for. First… [READ EACH ITEM.]
Often
[ROTATE:]
%
a. Being more successful at work ..................... 31
b. Being a great athlete or performer ................ 16
c. Doing good deeds for others......................... 48
d. Having a more satisfying sex life ................. 25
e. Being incredibly good-looking ..................... 17
f. Leading a more wild and dangerous life........ 9
g. Being able to express my emotions better .... 31
h. Being very wealthy ....................................... 40
i. Having a more meaningful life ..................... 31
Occas.
%
25
22
35
24
24
16
29
29
29
Not very
often Never
%
12
19
8
16
20
20
17
12
16
%
27
43
8
30
38
55
23
18
23
Ref.
DK
%
1
*
*
4
*
*
*
*
*
%
4
*
*
2
1
*
*
*
1
Page 50
Now, I have some final questions for statistical purposes...
D1.
In what year were you born?
[RECORD YEAR:] Mean age: 44.4
Refused.................................................................1%
Don’t know.............................................................. *
D2.
What was the last level of education you completed? [DO NOT READ.]
%
Less than high school .............................................. 8
High school graduate............................................. 40
Post high-school vocational training ....................... 6
Some college ......................................................... 23
College graduate.................................................... 14
Some post-graduate work........................................ 2
Post-graduate degree ............................................... 7
[DO NOT READ] Refused .................................... *
[DO NOT READ] Don’t know .............................. *
D3.
Do you have access to a computer, either at home, work, or somewhere else?
[ACCEPT MULTIPLE RESPONSES]
%
Yes, at home.......................................................... 64
Yes, at work........................................................... 33
Yes, somewhere else ............................................. 12
No .......................................................................... 21
Refused.................................................................... *
Don’t know.............................................................. *
D4.
Do you have access to the Internet, either at home, work, or somewhere else?
[ACCEPT MULTIPLE RESPONSES]
%
Yes, at home.......................................................... 54
Yes, at work........................................................... 29
Yes, somewhere else ............................................. 12
No .......................................................................... 27
Refused.................................................................... *
Don’t know.............................................................. *
Page 51
D5.
Which one of the following best describes you? [READ EACH ITEM. ACCEPT
ONE RESPONSE.]
%
Married .............................................................................. 53
Living with a steady partner, but not married ..................... 8
Have a steady partner, but don’t live with him/her ........... 11
Single without a steady partner ......................................... 27
[DO NOT READ] Refused ................................................ *
[DO NOT READ] Don’t know .......................................... *
D6.
Have you ever been… [READ EACH ITEM. ACCEPT MULTIPLE
RESPONSES.]
%
Divorced ................................................................ 28
Separated ................................................................. 4
Widowed ................................................................. 9
[DO NOT READ] None of the above.................. 61
[DO NOT READ] Refused .................................... *
[DO NOT READ] Don’t know ...............................-
D7.
How many children, if any, do you have, either living with you or out on their own?
[RECORD # OF CHILDREN:]
Mean number of children: 1.9
None ...................................................................28% [SKIP TO D10]
Refused.................................................................... * [SKIP TO D10]
Don’t know.............................................................. * [SKIP TO D10]
D8.
And how many children age 18 or younger, if any, do you have living at home with
you now?
[RECORD # OF CHILDREN:]
Mean number of children: 1
None ...................................................................48%
Refused.................................................................... *
Don’t know..............................................................--
D9.
Do you have any grandchildren?
%
Yes, ....................................................................... 45
No .......................................................................... 55
Refused.................................................................... *
Don’t know.............................................................. *
Page 52
D10.
Do you consider yourself Hispanic, Spanish, or Latino?
%
Yes........................................................................... 8
No .......................................................................... 92
Refused.................................................................... *
Don’t know.............................................................. *
D11.
What do you consider to be your racial or ethnic background? [READ ITEMS IF
NECESSARY.]
%
White/Caucasian.................................................... 78
Black /African American ...................................... 10
Asian........................................................................ 2
Pacific Islander........................................................ 1
Native American/Alaskan ....................................... 2
Hispanic................................................................... 4
Other: [SPECIFY:] _____________________
____________________________________...... 3
[DO NOT READ] Refused .................................... 1
[DO NOT READ] Don’t know .............................. *
D12.
I am going to read a list of income ranges. Please stop me when I reach the category
that contains your current annual pre-tax household income. We need this information
for statistical purposes only. [READ EACH ITEM; STOP WHEN REACH ITEM
THAT CONTAINS RESPONDENT’S INCOME.]
%
Less than $10,000.................................................... 7
$10,000 to $19,999................................................ 12
$20,000 to $29,999................................................ 14
$30,000 to $39,999................................................ 14
$40,000 to $49,999................................................ 12
$50,000 to $74,999................................................ 14
$75,000 to $99,999.................................................. 8
$100,000 to $149,000.............................................. 4
$150,000 to $199,999.............................................. 2
$200,000 or more .................................................... 1
[DO NOT READ] Refused .................................... 9
[DO NOT READ] Don’t know .............................. 5
Page 53
D13.
How many telephone numbers are there in this household where YOU can be
reached? Please do not include cell phones or lines that are used ONLY for a
computer or modem, or those that are used ONLY by some other household member.
[DO NOT READ.]
%
One line ................................................................. 83
Two lines ............................................................... 14
Three lines ............................................................... 2
Four lines................................................................. 1
Five lines ................................................................. *
More than 5 lines..................................................... *
Refused.................................................................... *
Don't know ..............................................................--
D14.
At the beginning of the survey, I mentioned that it is being conducted for a major
magazine. The people who are writing the article based on the survey results would
welcome the opportunity to talk more in depth with some of the people taking this
survey. Your participation would be completely voluntary. Would you be willing to
talk to one of the writers?
[IF ASKED ABOUT CONFIDENTIALITY, READ:]
If you agree to be further interviewed, please remember that this survey is being
conducted by Roper Starch Worldwide, which is not in any way associated with the
magazine. All answers you provided today will be held strictly confidential by Roper
Starch Worldwide, and will not even be seen by any writer who would call you, if
you consent. Again, would you be willing to talk to one of the writers?
Yes......................................................................54% [RECORD INFO. BELOW]
No .......................................................................46% [READ SIGN-OFF]
[READ SIGN-OFF:]
Those are all of my questions. Thanks very much for your time and participation—it is
greatly appreciated.
Respondent Name: ____________________________________________________
Best time to be reached: ________________________________________________
Phone* #: ____________________________________________________________
*INTERVIEWER—WHEN ASKING FOR PHONE NUMBER, ASK: “What would be
the best number to reach you at?”
Page 54