Perceived injustice in unified Germany and mental health. Partial primary data from the first wave of the study "Justice as a Problem within Reunified Germany".

Social Psychology

Authors(s) / Creator(s)

Schmitt, Manfred

Abstract

A clear disparity has been identified in the inner-German situation following reunification in the average quality of living conditions from West to East. For many citizens this raises the question as to the fairness of this situation, whose end is uncertain. Building on the psychology of fairness, the constructs of perceived privilege and perceived deprivation were studied longitudinally. Dispositional attitudes and values are considered, together with specific views on the situation of German distribution of wealth/good, their causes, and possible changes, all of which lead to perceived injustices. Along these theoretical lines it is investigated which types of emotions and the willingness to take action are promoted as well as how life satisfaction and mental health are correlated with these variables. The main interest was the relationships between the objective changes in the domestic distribution situation in Germany and the subjective perceptions of these changes on the part of German citizens. Three surveys were conducted in 2-year intervals. A section of the primary data which was collected for the first time of in 1996 is documented here. This section was chosen so that the results of an international publication (Schmitt, M. & Maes, J., 1998) could be considered and alternative assessments could be made.

Persistent Identifier

https://doi.org/10.5160/psychdata.stmd96ge05

Year of Publication

2004

Funding

German Research Foundation

How to cite

Schmitt, M. (2004). Perceived injustice in unified Germany and mental health. Partial primary data from the first wave of the study "Justice as a Problem within Reunified Germany". (Version 1.0.0) [Data and Documentation]. Trier: Research Data Center at ZPID. https://doi.org/10.5160/psychdata.stmd96ge05
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Study Description

Research Questions/Hypotheses:

Research Design:

Fully Standardized Survey Instrument (provides question formulation and answer options); single measurement

Measurement Instruments/Apparatus:

The survey instrument consists partly of self-constructed instruments. Some modifications or sections of standardized measuring instruments were used. All answers were recorded with rating scales, though depending on the instrument between 4-7 response alternatives were available.
The core variables collected with the self-constructed instruments included differential perceptions, difference justice, retrospective changes in the East and the West, future changes to employment and occupation in the East and the West, as well as emotions surrounding the professional quality of life in a reunified Germany. The considerations which led to the formulation of the relevant items can be found in Schmitt, Maes & Narrow (1995).
Life satisfaction was measured using standardized measuring instruments (measured with an extended and modified version of the questionnaire on life satisfaction from Fahrenberg, Myrtek, Wilk & Kreutel, 1986).
Depression was measured with a simplified German version of the Beck Depression Inventory from Schmitt & Maes (2000).
Self-esteem was measured with a German version of the Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale by Rosenberg (1965).
Mental health was measured using the SG scale of the Trier Personality Questionnaire from Becker (1989).

Data Collection Method:

Data collection in the absence of an experimenter

  • Mail Survey

Population:

East and West Germans in a reunified Germany

Survey Time Period:

January 1996

Sample:

3 recruitment strategies
(1) Geographically stratified random sample taken from the population register
(2) Geographically stratified random sample taken from the electronic telephone book
(3) Volunteers found via geographically targeted advertisements placed in the press. Detailed description of the sampling in Schmal, Maes & Schmidt (1996)

Gender Distribution:

40,3% female subjects (n=1020)
59,6% male subjects (n=1511)


Age Distribution: 14-88 years

Spatial Coverage (Country/Region/City): Germany

Subject Recruitment:

Recruitment was done via registration offices from selected municipalities, newspaper advertisements and press releases, as well as using the electronic telephone book. In total, approximately 25,000 people were contacted with the request to participate in the study. 2,345 people expressed interest. A further 700 people who volunteered through targeted advertisements and press releases were given the questionnaires directly.

Sample Size:

2534 individuals

Return/Drop Out:

The 79.9% response rate was slightly higher than in comparable studies.

stmd96ge05_readme.txt
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Description: Description of the files

stmd96ge05_pd.txt
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Description: Primary data file of the study

stmd96ge05_kb.txt
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Description: German codebook for the primary data file stmd96ge05_pd.txt

Position Name Label Valid Values Missing Values
1
GENDER
Geschlecht der Vp
1 "männlich" 2 "weiblich"
9 "fehlender Wert"
2
ALTER
Alter der Vp
14-88 "Jahre"
99 "fehlender Wert"
3
ORT
Herkunftsort der Vp (Ost-, Westdeutschland, Übersiedler verschiedener Varianten, nur dokumentiert, wenn n>10)
1 "immer im Osten" 2 "immer im Westen" 3 "vor der Wende im Osten, nach der Wende im Westen" 4 "vor der Wende im Westen, nach der Wende im Osten" 5 "anderer Herkunftsort, undokumentierter Kode" 6 "anderer Herkunftsort, undokumentierter Kode" 7 "vor der Wende im Osten, nach der Wende zunächst im Westen, dann wieder im Osten" 8 "aus dem Osten, zwischen 1949 und der Wende in den Westen" 9 "anderer Herkunftsort, undokumentierter Kode" 10 "anderer Herkunftsort, undokumentierter Kode" 11 "anderer Herkunftsort, undokumentierter Kode" 12 "aus dem Westen, vor 1949 in den Osten" 13 "anderer Herkunftsort, undokumentierter Kode" 14 "anderer Herkunftsort, undokumentierter Kode" 15 "anderer Herkunftsort, undokumentierter Kode" 16 "anderer Herkunftsort, undokumentierter Kode" 17 "anderer Herkunftsort, undokumentierter Kode" 18 "anderer Herkunftsort, undokumentierter Kode" 19 "anderer Herkunftsort, undokumentierter Kode" 20 "anderer Herkunftsort, undokumentierter Kode" 21 "anderer Herkunftsort, undokumentierter Kode" 22 "anderer Herkunftsort, undokumentierter Kode" 23 "anderer Herkunftsort, undokumentierter Kode" 24 "anderer Herkunftsort, undokumentierter Kode" 25 "aus dem Westen, zwischen 1949 und der Wende in den Osten" 26 "anderer Herkunftsort, undokumentierter Kode" 27 "anderer Herkunftsort, undokumentierter Kode" 28 "anderer Herkunftsort, undokumentierter Kode" 29 "anderer Herkunftsort, undokumentierter Kode" 30 "anderer Herkunftsort, undokumentierter Kode"
99 "fehlender Wert"
4
CDU
Einstellung zu politischen Parteien: CDU
-3 "sehr unsympathisch" -2 "" -1 "" 0 "" 1 "" 2 "" 3 "sehr sympathisch"
99 "fehlender Wert"
5
CSU
Einstellung zu politischen Parteien: CSU
-3 "sehr unsympathisch" -2 "" -1 "" 0 "" 1 "" 2 "" 3 "sehr sympathisch"
99 "fehlender Wert"
6
SPD
Einstellung zu politischen Parteien: SPD
-3 "sehr unsympathisch" -2 "" -1 "" 0 "" 1 "" 2 "" 3 "sehr sympathisch"
99 "fehlender Wert"
7
GRÜNE90
Einstellung zu politischen Parteien: Bündnis 90/Die Grünen
-3 "sehr unsympathisch" -2 "" -1 "" 0 "" 1 "" 2 "" 3 "sehr sympathisch"
99 "fehlender Wert"
8
FDP
Einstellung zu politischen Parteien: FDP
-3 "sehr unsympathisch" -2 "" -1 "" 0 "" 1 "" 2 "" 3 "sehr sympathisch"
99 "fehlender Wert"
9
DPD
Einstellung zu politischen Parteien: PDS
-3 "sehr unsympathisch" -2 "" -1 "" 0 "" 1 "" 2 "" 3 "sehr sympathisch"
99 "fehlender Wert"
10
REP
Einstellung zu politischen Parteien: Republikaner
-3 "sehr unsympathisch" -2 "" -1 "" 0 "" 1 "" 2 "" 3 "sehr sympathisch"
99 "fehlender Wert"
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Utilized Test Methods
Becker, P. (1989). Trierer Persönlichkeitsfragebogen (TPF). Göttingen: Hogrefe.
PSYNDEX
Fahrenberg, J., Myrtek, M., Wilk, D. & Kreutel, K. (1986). Multimodale Erfassung der Lebenszufriedenheit: Eine Untersuchung an Koronarkranken. Psychotherapie und Medizinische Psychologie, 36, 347-354.
PSYNDEX
Rosenberg, M. (1965). Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
Schmitt, M. & Maes, J. (2000). Vorschlag zur Vereinfachung des Beck-Depressions-Inventars (BDI). Diagnostica, 46, 38-46.
PSYNDEX
Further Reading
Maes, J. & Schmitt, M. (1999). More on ultimate and immament justice: Results from the research project "Justice as a Problem within Reunified Germany". Social Justice Research, 12, 65-78.
Maes, J. & Schmitt, M. (2000). Psychosoziales Problemverhalten und Vergangenheitsverklärung im wiedervereinigten Deutschland. Psychosozial, 23 (2), 85-96.
PSYNDEX
Maes, J., Schmitt, M. & Seiler, U. (1999a). Ungerechtigkeiten im wiedervereinigten Deutschland und psychosomatisches Wohlbefinden. In A. Hessel, M. Geyer & E. Brähler (Hrsg.), Gewinne und Verluste sozialen Wandels (S. 182-199). Stuttgart: Enke.
PSYNDEX
Maes, J., Schmitt, M. & Seiler, U. (1999b). Wer wünscht die Mauer zurück? Das menschliche Klima in Deutschland und seine Folgen. In H. Berth & E. Brähler (Hrsg.), Deutsch-deutsche Vergleiche (S. 28-43). Berlin: Verlag Wissenschaft und Forschung.
PSYNDEX
Maes, J., Schmitt, M. & Seiler, U. (1999c): Zukunft Mensch im vereinigten Deutschland aus der Sicht von Ostdeutschen und Westdeutschen. In G. Krampen, H. Zayer, W. Schönpflug & G. Richardt (Hrsg.), Beiträge zur angewandten Psychologie 1999: Zukunft Mensch - die Republik im Umbruch (S. 399-402). Bonn: Deutscher Psychologen Verlag.
PSYNDEX
Maes, J., Schmitt, M. & Seiler, U. (2000). Politischer Konservatismus und der Glaube an Gerechtigkeit. Zeitschrift für politische Psychologie, 8, 39-53.
PSYNDEX
Schmal, A., Maes, J. & Schmitt, M. (1996). Gerechtigkeit als innerdeutsches Problem: Untersuchungsplan und Stichprobe (Berichte aus der Arbeitsgruppe "Verantwortung, Gerechtigkeit, Moral" Nr. 96). Trier: Universität Trier, Fachbereich I - Psychologie.
PSYNDEX
Schmitt, M. & Janetzko, E. (1993). Verantwortlichkeitsüberzeugungen bei Ost- und Westdeutschen. In G. Trommsdorff (Hrsg.), Psychologische Aspekte des sozio-politischen Wandels in Ostdeutschland (S. 169-179). Berlin: Walter de Gruyter.
Schmitt, M. & Maes, J. (2002). Stereotypic ingroup bias as self-defense against relative deprivation: Evidence from a longitudinal study of the German unification process. European Journal of Social Psychology, 32, 309-326.
PSYNDEX
Schmitt, M. & Montada, L. (1999b). Psychologische, soziologische und arbeitswissenschaftliche Analysen der Transformation nach der deutschen Wiedervereinigung. In M. Schmitt & L. Montada (Hrsg.), Gerechtigkeitserleben im wiedervereinigten Deutschland (S. 7-18). Opladen: Leske + Budrich.
PSYNDEX
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