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Do Humans Suffer a Psychological Low in Midlife? Two Approaches (With and Without Controls) in Seven Data Sets

In: The Economics of Happiness

Author

Listed:
  • David G. Blanchflower

    (Dartmouth College
    University of Stirling
    NBER)

  • Andrew J. Oswald

    (University of Warwick
    IZA Institute for the Study of Labor)

Abstract

Using seven recent data sets, covering 51 countries and 1.3 million randomly sampled people, the paper examines the pattern of psychological well-being from approximately age 20 to age 90. Two conceptual approaches to this issue are possible. Despite what has been argued in the literature, neither is the ‘correct’ one, because they measure different things. One studies raw numbers on well-being and age. This is the descriptive approach. The second studies the patterns in regression equations for well-being (that is, adjusting for other influences). This is the ceteris-paribus analytical approach. The paper applies each to large cross-sections and compares the patterns of life-satisfaction and happiness. Using the first method, there is evidence of a midlife low in five of the seven data sets. Using the second method, all seven data sets produce evidence consistent with a midlife low. The scientific explanation for the approximate U-shape currently remains unknown.

Suggested Citation

  • David G. Blanchflower & Andrew J. Oswald, 2019. "Do Humans Suffer a Psychological Low in Midlife? Two Approaches (With and Without Controls) in Seven Data Sets," Springer Books, in: Mariano Rojas (ed.), The Economics of Happiness, chapter 0, pages 439-453, Springer.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:sprchp:978-3-030-15835-4_19
    DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-15835-4_19
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    Cited by:

    1. is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Hermien Dijk & Jochen Mierau, 2023. "Mental health over the life course: Evidence for a U‐shape?," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(1), pages 155-174, January.
    3. Hamermesh, Daniel S., 2020. "Lockdowns, Loneliness and Life Satisfaction," IZA Discussion Papers 13140, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    4. Borooah, Vani, 2024. "What Makes People Happy," MPRA Paper 123174, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Gail Low & Alex Bacadini França & Donna M. Wilson & Gloria Gutman & Sofia von Humboldt, 2023. "Suitability of the Attitudes to Aging Questionnaire Short Form for Use among Adults in Their 50s: A Cross-Sectional e-Survey Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(22), pages 1-16, November.
    6. Jeffrey R. Bloem & Andrew J. Oswald, 2022. "The Analysis of Human Feelings: A Practical Suggestion for a Robustness Test," Review of Income and Wealth, International Association for Research in Income and Wealth, vol. 68(3), pages 689-710, September.
    7. Deaton, Angus, 2018. "What do self-reports of wellbeing say about life-cycle theory and policy?," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 18-25.
    8. David G. Blanchflower & Alex Bryson, 2024. "Seasonality and the female happiness paradox," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 58(1), pages 1-33, February.
    9. Rob J. M. Alessie & Viola Angelini & Jochen O. Mierau & Laura Viluma, 2020. "Moral hazard and selection for voluntary deductibles," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(10), pages 1251-1269, October.
    10. Rohrer, Julia M. & Brümmer, Martin & Schupp, Jürgen & Wagner, Gert G., 2021. "Worries across time and age in the German Socio-Economic Panel study," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 181(C), pages 332-343.
    11. C. O. Henriques & L. A. Lopez-Agudo & O. D. Marcenaro-Gutierrez & M. Luque, 2021. "Reaching Compromises in Workers’ Life Satisfaction: A Multiobjective Interval Programming Approach," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(1), pages 207-239, January.
    12. Argyro Avgoustaki & Hans T. W. Frankort, 2019. "Implications of Work Effort and Discretion for Employee Well-Being and Career-Related Outcomes: An Integrative Assessment," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 72(3), pages 636-661, May.
    13. Yiwan Ye & Xiaoling Shu, 2022. "Lonely in a Crowd: Cohort Size and Happiness in the United Kingdom," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(5), pages 2235-2257, June.
    14. Daniel S. Hamermesh, 2020. "Life satisfaction, loneliness and togetherness, with an application to Covid-19 lock-downs," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 18(4), pages 983-1000, December.
    15. Euamporn Phijaisanit, 2022. "Revisiting the Conventional Wisdom of Development, Sustainability and Happy Ageing: The Case of Thailand’s Data," Discussion Papers 71, Thammasat University, Faculty of Economics, revised Jan 2022.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I3 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being

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