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Lebenszufriedenheit am Ende des Lebens in Ost- und Westdeutschland: die DDR wirft einen langen Schatten

Author

Listed:
  • Denis Gerstorf
  • Gert G. Wagner

Abstract

"Die meisten Menschen sind die meiste Zeit über glücklich" stellt in einer Zusammenfassung vieler empirischer Studien Biswas-Diener (2009) fest. Sogar nach einschneidenden Negativerlebnissen wie Arbeitslosigkeit oder dem Verlust des Partners passen sich die meisten Menschen recht schnell an die neuen Lebensumstände an und kehren zu ihrem Ausgangsniveau der Lebenszufriedenheit zurück; und diese ist für die meisten Menschen in westlichen Kulturen typischerweise eher positiv als negativ oder neutral (siehe z.B. Brickman/ Campbell 1971 sowie Diener u.a. 2006). In diesem Beitrag konzentrieren wir uns freilich auf eine Phase des Lebens, in der das eben gezeichnete positive Bild des Wohlbefindens nicht mehr gilt: die Lebenszeit unmittelbar vor dem Tod. Wir gehen hier speziell der Frage nach, ob die kumulativen Effekte, die im Laufe eines Lebens auftreten und den Prozess des Sterbens (mit)bestimmen, nach der bereits 20 Jahre zurückliegenden Vereinigung Deutschlands noch heute von den Lebensbedingungen in der DDR (mit)bestimmt werden.

Suggested Citation

  • Denis Gerstorf & Gert G. Wagner, 2010. "Lebenszufriedenheit am Ende des Lebens in Ost- und Westdeutschland: die DDR wirft einen langen Schatten," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 320, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).
    • Handle: RePEc:diw:diwsop:diw_sp320
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jan Goebel & Roland Habich & Peter Krause, 2009. "Zur Angleichung von Einkommen und Lebensqualität im vereinigten Deutschland," Vierteljahrshefte zur Wirtschaftsforschung / Quarterly Journal of Economic Research, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research, vol. 78(2), pages 122-145.
    2. Denis Gerstorf & Nilam Ram & Guy Mayraz & Mira Hidajat & Ulman Lindenberger & Gert G. Wagner & Jürgen Schupp, 2010. "Late-Life Decline in Well-Being across Adulthood in Germany, the UK, and the US: Something Is Seriously Wrong at the End of Life," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 286, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).
    3. Denis Gerstorf & Nilam Ram & Jan Goebel & Jürgen Schupp & Ulman Lindenberger & Gert G. Wagner, 2010. "Where People Live and Die Makes a Difference: Individual and Geographic Disparities in Well-Being Progression at the End of Life," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 287, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).
    4. Gert G. Wagner & Joachim R. Frick & Jürgen Schupp, 2007. "The German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP) – Scope, Evolution and Enhancements," Schmollers Jahrbuch : Journal of Applied Social Science Studies / Zeitschrift für Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaften, Duncker & Humblot, Berlin, vol. 127(1), pages 139-169.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    German unification; Selective mortality; differential aging; well-being; SOEP;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • J14 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of the Elderly; Economics of the Handicapped; Non-Labor Market Discrimination
    • P36 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist Institutions and Their Transitions - - - Consumer Economics; Health; Education and Training; Welfare, Income, Wealth, and Poverty

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