Socail inequalities in happiness in the United States, 1972 to 2004: An age-period-cohort analysis

被引:399
作者
Yang, Yang [1 ,2 ]
机构
[1] Univ Chicago, Populat Res Ctr, Chicago, IL 60637 USA
[2] Univ Chicago, NORC, Ctr Aging, Chicago, IL 60637 USA
关键词
D O I
10.1177/000312240807300202
中图分类号
C91 [社会学];
学科分类号
030301 ; 1204 ;
摘要
This study conducts a systematic age, period, and cohort analysis that provides new evidence of the dynamics of and heterogeneity in, subjective well-being across the life course and over time in the United States. I use recently developed methodologies of hierarchical age-period-cohort models, and the longest available population data series on happiness from the General Social Survey, 1972 to 2004. I find distinct life-course patterns, time trends, and birth cohort changes in happiness. The age effects are strong and indicate increases in happiness over the life course. Period effects show first decreasing and then increasing trends in happiness. Baby-boomer cohorts report lower levels of happiness, suggesting the influence of early life conditions and formative experiences. I also find substantial life-course and period variations in social disparities in happiness. The results show convergences in sex, race, and educational gaps in happiness with age, which can largely be attributed to differential exposure to various social conditions important to happiness, such as marital status and health. Sex and race inequalities in happiness declined in the long term over the past 30 years. During the most recent decade, however the net sex difference disappeared while the racial gap in happiness remained substantial.
引用
收藏
页码:204 / 226
页数:23
相关论文
共 49 条
[1]   STABILITY AND CHANGE IN LEVELS AND STRUCTURE OF SUBJECTIVE WELL-BEING - USA 1972 AND 1988 [J].
ANDREWS, FM .
SOCIAL INDICATORS RESEARCH, 1991, 25 (01) :1-30
[2]  
[Anonymous], WORLD DATABASE HAPPI
[3]   Well-being over time in Britain and the USA [J].
Blanchflower, DG ;
Oswald, AJ .
JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ECONOMICS, 2004, 88 (7-8) :1359-1386
[4]  
CHAMBERLAIN K, 1988, SOC INDIC RES, V20, P581
[5]   Age-related differences and change in positive and negative affect over 23 years [J].
Charles, ST ;
Reynolds, CA ;
Gatz, M .
JOURNAL OF PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, 2001, 80 (01) :136-151
[6]   Age and subjective well-being revisited: A discrepancy perspective [J].
Cheng, ST .
PSYCHOLOGY AND AGING, 2004, 19 (03) :409-415
[7]   LONGITUDINAL ANALYSES OF PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING IN A NATIONAL SAMPLE - STABILITY OF MEAN LEVELS [J].
COSTA, PT ;
ZONDERMAN, AB ;
MCCRAE, RR ;
CORNONIHUNTLEY, J ;
LOCKE, BZ ;
BARBANO, HE .
JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY, 1987, 42 (01) :50-55
[8]   Positive emotions in early life and longevity: Findings from the nun study [J].
Danner, DD ;
Snowdon, DA ;
Friesen, WV .
JOURNAL OF PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, 2001, 80 (05) :804-813
[10]  
Davis JamesAllan., 2005, GEN SOCIAL SURVEYS 1