Abstract
To which extent do happiness correlates contribute to the stability of life satisfaction? Which method is appropriate to provide a conclusive answer to this question? Based on life satisfaction data of the German SOEP, we show that by Negative Binomial quasi-maximum likelihood estimation statements can be made as to how far correlates of happiness contribute to the stabilisation of life satisfaction. The results show that happiness correlates which are generally associated with a positive change in life satisfaction, also stabilise life satisfaction and destabilise dissatisfaction with life. In such as they lower the probability of leaving positive states of life satisfaction and increase the probability of leaving dissatisfied states. This in particular applies to regular exercise, volunteering and living in a marriage. We further conclude that both patterns in response behaviour and the quality of the measurement instrument, the life satisfaction scale, have a significant effect on the variation and stability of reported life satisfaction.
Highlights
For the Blow-Up and Cluster (BUC) method, the estimation for indifferent states is omitted since a regression in one point is not possible
As in Eq 3.10 derived, the coefficient of the NB2QMLE is a semi-elasticity: The value of i for the regressor xi indicates that an extra unit in xi is expected to increase chances to stay in a certain life satisfaction level by percent
The results of our NB2QML estimations confirm a stabilisation of individual life satisfaction
Summary
Providing answers to the question as to which extent our living conditions and economic factors bring us a relative or absolute increase in happiness always has been of central importance in economically motivated happiness studies, both concerning the well-being of individuals (Oswald 1997; Frijters et al 2004; Kahneman and Deaton 2010) as well as the well-being of whole nations (Easterlin 1974; Hagerty and Veenhoven 2003; Deaton 2008; Di Tella and MacCulloch 2008; Graham 2009). An adaptive process usually begins with a negative starting condition, a desire or a need for change. In aspiration of the change (Clark et al 2008) or once a condition is reached which eliminates the starting condition, happiness changes and adaption begins: we slowly get accustomed to the change or satisfaction that comes from eliminating the desire or need (Frederick and Loewenstein 1999), whereas the fortunate effect lasts as long as we pay attention to it (Kahneman and Thaler 2006; Armenta 2014). Noted exceptions of the treadmill effects are negative life events that are related to the sense of life such as unemployment and widowhood, which are adapted over many years only or not even fully (Lucas et al 2004; Clark et al 2008). Genetic factors are shaping individual adaptation: By examining twins, Lykken and Tellegen (1996) argue that the falling back in the hedonic treadmill is genetically determined in such that they conclude: “It may be trying to be happier is as futile as trying to be taller [...].” other research shows, that on the question of life satisfaction the set point has turned out to be changeable in the course of life (Fujita and Diener 2005; Headey and Muffels 2016)
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