Abstract
In Sweden the overall life satisfaction trajectory between ages 22 and 40 is slightly hill-shaped and dominated by life transitions, especially those relating to one’s family situation. Among persons in their twenties, partnership formation and birth of a child typically lead to a slight increase in overall satisfaction with life. Between ages 30 and 40 average life satisfaction declines, chiefly due to the increasing strains of family life and the breakup of couples. These strains are evident in data relating to specific aspects of family life. After age 30 satisfaction with one’s partner declines, and so does satisfaction with both one’s mother and father. Also, despite rising income, satisfaction with one’s economic situation lessens. Considered as a whole, the evidence suggests that even in a welfare state the strains on young adults of balancing work and family life are substantial. The analysis is based on panel data, 1999–2009, that focus especially on family life.
Highlights
Adulthood is marked by a succession of major life events—completing school, leaving home, finding a job, finding a partner, starting a family
From age 22 to 30/32 life satisfaction increases, with the increase being steepest between 26 and 30/32; thereafter life satisfaction declines in each of the two age intervals studied here. This pattern is found in a regression analysis for all cohorts pooled, in which the average change in life satisfaction during each age interval is captured by the coefficient on the age interval’s dummy (Table 1, column 1)
There is a difference among cohorts in the level of life satisfaction, but in each of the two intermediate age intervals, where more than one cohort is included, the direction of change is the same for each cohort
Summary
Adulthood is marked by a succession of major life events—completing school, leaving home, finding a job, finding a partner, starting a family. The interest here is in the effect of such events on feelings of personal well-being. Does the transition from school to work, for example, raise or lower personal happiness? What is the effect on well-being of forming a union? A. Easterlin (SWB) during young adulthood, and to what extent do these life transitions, taken as a whole, shape the well-being trajectory? The data are from a Swedish panel study of young adults. Among other things, that SWB follows a slight hill-shaped trajectory to about age 40, and that life transitions play a major role in shaping this trajectory. Among the transition events, changing family circumstances are especially important
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