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Life satisfaction set point: stability and change.

Frank Fujita1, Ed Diener

  • 1Department of Psychology, Indiana University South Bend, South Bend, IN, USA.

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
|January 6, 2005
PubMed
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Life satisfaction (LS) shows moderate stability over time, but significant changes occur for many individuals. This study reveals that LS is less stable than physical traits but comparable to income stability.

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Behavioral Economics

Background:

  • Life satisfaction (LS) is a key indicator of well-being.
  • Previous research suggests LS may have a stable set point.
  • Longitudinal data is crucial for understanding LS stability.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the long-term stability of life satisfaction.
  • To determine if life satisfaction has a fixed set point.
  • To compare the stability of life satisfaction with other life factors.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized 17 years of data from a German nationally representative panel study.
  • Analyzed changes in life satisfaction (LS) over extended periods.
  • Correlated initial LS with later LS and compared LS stability to physical and economic variables.

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Main Results:

  • A significant portion (24%) of respondents showed substantial LS changes over 10 years.
  • LS stability decreased as the time interval between measurements increased.
  • Average LS in the first 5 years correlated .51 with LS in the last 5 years.
  • Physical traits and personality were more stable than LS; income showed similar stability.

Conclusions:

  • Life satisfaction (LS) is not entirely fixed and can change significantly over time.
  • While LS exhibits some stability, it is more dynamic than previously assumed.
  • Individual life satisfaction trajectories vary, influenced by factors beyond a fixed set point.