The Origins of Happiness

Happiness at Older Ages

Married to divorced/widowed
Nonmarried to married
Increase in cultural engagement
Increase in organizational involvement
Increase in social network
Reduction in loneliness
Increase in positive support

0.06 (0.03)

0.09 (0.06)

0.05 (0.02)

0.04 (0.02)

0.02 (0.02)

0.25 (0.02)

0.10 (0.02)

Social factors

0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25

–0.05 0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.25

0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.25

0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.25

0.20

0.20

0.20

New chronic lung disease

New cancer

New arthritis

New diabetes

New stroke

New coronary heart disease

New long-standing illness

–0.02 (0.02)

–0.02 (0.02)

–0.04 (0.02)

–0.01 (0.02)

–0.01 (0.02)

–0.03 (0.01)

–0.05 (0.02)

Physical health

Reduction in ADL diculties

Improvement in hearing

Improvement in eyesight

Improvement in sleep quality

Reduction in pain

0.03 (0.02)

0.02 (0.02)

0.05 (0.01)

0.04 (0.02)

0.001 (0.02)

Functional capability

Improvement in sense of control

Change in cognitive function

Reduction in depressive symptoms

0.03 (0.01)

–0.001 (0.02)

0.07 (0.02)

Mental well-being

β (s.e.)

β (s.e.)

β (s.e.)

β (s.e.)

Figure 9.3. What affects changes in life- satisfaction over an eight- year interval

(ELSA) (β- coefficients)