How stable is happiness? Using the STARTS model to estimate the stability of life satisfaction

Publication type

Journal Article

Authors

Publication date

June 1, 2007

Abstract:

A common interpretation of existing subjective well-being research is that long-term levels of well-being are almost completely stable. However, few studies have estimated stability and change using appropriate statistical models that can precisely address this question. The STARTS model (Kenny & Zautra, 2001) was used to analyze life satisfaction data from two nationally representative panel studies. Results show that 34-38% of the variance in observed scores is trait variance that does not change. An additional 29-34% can be accounted for by an autoregressive trait that is only moderately stable over time. Thus, although life satisfaction is moderately stable over long periods of time, there is also an appreciable degree of instability that might depend on contextual circumstances.

Published in

Journal of Research in Personality

Volume and page numbers

Volume: 41 , p.1 -1

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2006.11.005

Subjects

Notes

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