The Origins of Happiness

Health of Mind and Body

the BHPS in Figure 6.3 reveal a similar pattern (though the

scales of physical and mental health here are not commen-

surable). The huge negative external effects of mental illness

are much less recognized than they should be.

In Table 6.4 we investigate another key question: How

24.0

23.8

23.6

23.4

23.2

23.0

22.8

22.6

22.4

22.2

22.0

21.8

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0.0

25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75

Emotional

health problems

(left-hand side)

Physical

health problems

(right-hand side)

Figure 6.3. Ill health: by age (Britain, BHPS)

Table 6.4. How life- satisfaction (0– 10) is affected by emotional and

physical health of self and others (household panel data)

(pooled cross- section)

Units Britain (BHPS) Australia Germany

Mental illness

Own SD −0.77 (.01) −0.21 (.02) −0.42 (.01)

Partner’s SD −0.13 (.01) −0.04 (.01) −0.11 (.01)

Physical illness

Own SD −0.22 (.01) −0.25 (.02) −0.25 (.01)

Partner’s SD −0.02 (.01) −0.08 (.02) −0.16 (.01)