Abstract
The main goal of this research is to determine the link between happiness and individual subjective life expectancy (SLE) among Chilean senior citizens. We use data from the 2015 edition of the Chilean Social Protection Survey. Our sample consists of 1298 seniors: 700 aged 65–74, 421 aged 75–84, and 177 aged 85 and older. We provide a novel methodological approach that allows us to measure the relative contribution of happiness to SLE, by combining the Shapley–Owen–Shorrocks decomposition with contrasts of marginal linear predictions of the equality of the means by groups. Results reveal that happiness is the most important determinant of seniors’ SLE, and the effect is stronger the older the people are. Addressing varying levels of happiness is important because both happiness and unhappiness have a significant impact. In an ageing population, social agents should consider that these variables (happiness and SLE) are related to engagement in healthy lifestyles. If prevention programs integrated this interaction, welfare systems could save scarce resources. Therefore, governments should foster happiness to support active ageing.
Highlights
In the last 40 years, life expectancy has increased by 15 years for men and 10 years for women worldwide
It is not possible to estimate the significance of the components, as the R-square always rises when an additional explanatory variable is introduced into the regression [46]
Individuals with higher levels of education have more extensive social networks and are better able to cope with daily activities and, in turn, these life conditions have a positive impact on happiness
Summary
In the last 40 years, life expectancy has increased by 15 years for men and 10 years for women worldwide. This increase is not homogenous and there are important life expectancy differences among, for example, income groups [1]. US life expectancy at birth is lower than in other high-income countries. The focus of this research, has the highest life expectancy in South America (80.5 years old), followed by Mexico, with a life expectancy five years lower. There are important gender differences within the country: while life expectancy for Chilean men is 77.4 years old, for Chilean women it is 83.4 [5]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
