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Is well-being U-shaped over the life cycle?
David G Blanchflower1, Andrew J Oswald
1Department of Economics, Dartmouth College, USA.
Social Science & Medicine (1982)
|March 5, 2008
Summary
Psychological well-being follows a U-shape across the lifespan, with happiness typically lowest in middle age. This pattern holds globally, even after controlling for cohort effects and other factors.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Economics
Background:
- Previous research on life-cycle well-being is complicated by cohort effects.
- Understanding the trajectory of psychological well-being across the lifespan is crucial for public health and policy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the life-cycle pattern of psychological well-being globally.
- To control for cohort effects in analyzing well-being trends.
- To examine well-being across diverse nations and demographic groups.
Main Methods:
- Utilized large-scale datasets from Americans, Europeans, and citizens of 72 other nations.
- Employed regression analyses controlling for demographic variables and income.
- Incorporated a novel test to account for cohort effects.
Main Results:
- A consistent U-shaped well-being curve was observed across the lifespan in Western and non-Western countries.
- Happiness and mental health scores (e.g., GHQ-N6, depression-anxiety) exhibit a midlife dip.
- Some exceptions were noted, particularly in developing nations, and a decline in contentment was observed in American male birth cohorts.
Conclusions:
- Psychological well-being generally follows a U-shaped trajectory throughout life, reaching a minimum in middle age.
- The U-shape is a robust finding across diverse cultures and demographic groups, even when controlling for confounding factors.
- Further research is needed to explore exceptions and specific cohort trends.
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