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A Demonstration of Set-Points for Subjective Wellbeing

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  • Robert Cummins

  • Ning Li
  • Mark Wooden
  • Mark Stokes

Abstract

This paper presents evidence for the existence of ‘set-points’ for subjective wellbeing. Our results derive from a 10-year longitudinal study in which subjective wellbeing has been measured using a single question of general life satisfaction. The process of data analysis is driven by logic based on the theory of subjective wellbeing homeostasis. This analysis involves the iterative elimination of raw data, from 7,356 individual respondents, based on confidence limits. All results are projected onto a 0–100 point scale. We demonstrate evidence for the existence of set-points lying between 71 and 90 points, with an average set-point-range of 18–20 points for each person. The implications and limitations of these findings are discussed. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014

Suggested Citation

  • Robert Cummins & Ning Li & Mark Wooden & Mark Stokes, 2014. "A Demonstration of Set-Points for Subjective Wellbeing," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 15(1), pages 183-206, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:15:y:2014:i:1:p:183-206
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-013-9444-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Robert Cummins, 2010. "Subjective Wellbeing, Homeostatically Protected Mood and Depression: A Synthesis," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 11(1), pages 1-17, March.
    2. Robert Cummins, 2000. "Personal Income and Subjective Well-being: A Review," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 1(2), pages 133-158, June.
    3. Paul Frijters & David W. Johnston & Michael A. Shields, 2011. "Life Satisfaction Dynamics with Quarterly Life Event Data," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 113(1), pages 190-211, March.
    4. Andrew E. Clark & Ed Diener & Yannis Georgellis & Richard E. Lucas, 2008. "Lags And Leads in Life Satisfaction: a Test of the Baseline Hypothesis," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 118(529), pages 222-243, June.
    5. Keyes, C.L.M. & Myers, J.M. & Kendler, K.S., 2010. "The structure of the genetic and environmental influences on mental well-being," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 100(12), pages 2379-2384.
    6. Jed Blore & Mark Stokes & David Mellor & Lucy Firth & Robert Cummins, 2011. "Comparing Multiple Discrepancies Theory to Affective Models of Subjective Wellbeing," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 100(1), pages 1-16, January.
    7. Adrian Tomyn & Robert Cummins, 2011. "Subjective Wellbeing and Homeostatically Protected Mood: Theory Validation With Adolescents," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 12(5), pages 897-914, October.
    8. Bruce Headey & Ruud Muffels & Gert Wagner, 2013. "Choices Which Change Life Satisfaction: Similar Results for Australia, Britain and Germany," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 112(3), pages 725-748, July.
    9. Melanie Davern & Robert Cummins & Mark Stokes, 2007. "Subjective Wellbeing as an Affective-Cognitive Construct," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 8(4), pages 429-449, December.
    10. Mark Wooden & Simon Freidin & Nicole Watson, 2002. "The Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA)Survey: Wave 1," Australian Economic Review, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, vol. 35(3), pages 339-348, September.
    11. Bruce Headey, 2010. "The Set Point Theory of Well-Being Has Serious Flaws: On the Eve of a Scientific Revolution?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 97(1), pages 7-21, May.
    12. Oswald, Andrew J. & Powdthavee, Nattavudh, 2008. "Does happiness adapt? A longitudinal study of disability with implications for economists and judges," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(5-6), pages 1061-1077, June.
    13. Michael Eid & Ed Diener, 2004. "Global Judgments of Subjective Well-Being: Situational Variability and Long-Term Stability," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 65(3), pages 245-277, February.
    14. Robert Cummins, 1998. "The Second Approximation to an International Standard for Life Satisfaction," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 43(3), pages 307-334, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Gina Potarca & Laura Bernardi, 2021. "The Intermarriage Life Satisfaction Premium," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(3), pages 1413-1440, March.
    2. Adrian J. Tomyn & Elli Tamir & Mark A. Stokes & Paulo C. Dias, 2016. "A Cross-Cultural Evaluation of the Personal Wellbeing Index – School Children in Samples of Australian and Portuguese Adolescents," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 11(3), pages 837-851, September.
    3. Robert A. Cummins, 2018. "Subjective Wellbeing as a Social Indicator," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 135(3), pages 879-891, February.
    4. Michael J. Furlong & Mei-ki Chan & Erin Dowdy & Karen Nylund-Gibson, 2024. "Diminished Adolescent Social Well-Being During the COVID-19 Pandemic," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 17(2), pages 901-930, April.
    5. Adrian Tomyn & Robert Cummins & Jacolyn Norrish, 2015. "The Subjective Wellbeing of ‘At-Risk’ Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Australian Adolescents," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 16(4), pages 813-837, August.
    6. Shawn Grover & John F. Helliwell, 2019. "How’s Life at Home? New Evidence on Marriage and the Set Point for Happiness," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 20(2), pages 373-390, February.
    7. Mária Sováriová Soósová & Vladimíra Timková & Lucia Dimunová & Boris Mauer, 2021. "Spirituality as a Mediator Between Depressive Symptoms and Subjective Well-being in Older Adults," Clinical Nursing Research, , vol. 30(5), pages 707-717, June.
    8. Lisa Kriechel & Nadja Milewski & Martin Bujard, 2026. "The Affective Well-Being of Ukrainian Refugees in Germany: Evidence from Five Waves of Representative Panel Data," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 27(1), pages 1-21, January.
    9. Robert A. Cummins & Kenneth C. Land, 2018. "Capabilities, Subjective Wellbeing and Public Policy: A Response to Austin (2016)," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 140(1), pages 157-173, November.
    10. Adrian Tomyn & Melissa Weinberg & Robert Cummins, 2015. "Intervention Efficacy Among ‘At Risk’ Adolescents: A Test of Subjective Wellbeing Homeostasis Theory," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 120(3), pages 883-895, February.
    11. Jehane Simona-Moussa & Laura Ravazzini, 2019. "From One Recession to Another: Longitudinal Impacts on the Quality of Life of Vulnerable Groups," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 142(3), pages 1129-1152, April.
    12. Susanne Schwager & Uwe Berger & Anni Glaeser & Bernhard Strauss & Katharina Wick, 2019. "Evaluation of “Healthy Learning. Together”, an Easily Applicable Mental Health Promotion Tool for Students Aged 9 to 18 Years," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-15, February.
    13. Ioannis Paxinos, 2022. "Is there an Inspiration of QoL in the Field of Clinical Psychology and Psychiatry," Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research, Biomedical Research Network+, LLC, vol. 40(5), pages 32125-32127, January.
    14. Tanja Capic & Ning Li & Robert A. Cummins, 2018. "Confirmation of Subjective Wellbeing Set-Points: Foundational for Subjective Social Indicators," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 137(1), pages 1-28, May.
    15. Kimina Lyall & George Youssef & Antonina Mikocka-Walus & Subhadra Evans & Robert A. Cummins, 2023. "Exploring Evidence for Mindfulness and Subjective Wellbeing Homeostatic Resilience Buffering Depression and Stress Symptoms Associated with Inflammatory Bowel Disease," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 24(5), pages 1663-1682, June.
    16. Bryson, Alex & MacKerron, George, 2018. "How Does Terrorism Affect Individuals' Wellbeing?," IZA Discussion Papers 11273, IZA Network @ LISER.
    17. Matthew Bond & Dan Frings & Anna Stenning & Julien Morton, 2026. "National Estimates of Subjective Wellbeing in the UK Using the Personal Wellbeing Index," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 27(2), pages 1-30, February.
    18. Alex Bryson & George MacKerron, 2017. "How Does Terrorism Affect Individuals’ Wellbeing?," DoQSS Working Papers 17-14, Quantitative Social Science - UCL Social Research Institute, University College London.
    19. Chang-ming Hsieh, 2017. "Health, Quality of Homecare Services and Quality of Life: A Case of Frail Older Immigrant Adults," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 134(2), pages 711-723, November.
    20. Ning Li, 2014. "Multidimensionality of Longitudinal Data: Unlocking the Age-Happiness Puzzle," Melbourne Institute Working Paper Series wp2014n04, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne.
    21. Sophie Hentschel & Michael Eid & Tanja Kutscher, 2017. "The Influence of Major Life Events and Personality Traits on the Stability of Affective Well-Being," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 18(3), pages 719-741, June.

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