The Origins of Happiness

Chapter 1

and school. The analysis is based on the more detailed infor-

mation provided by the Avon Study, which includes more

data on family finances, parenting behavior, family conflict,

and, crucially, schooling. All these variables are included in

three separate multiple regressions for intellectual perfor-

mance at 16, behavior at 16, and emotional health at 16.

Intellectual performance relates to the point score at GCSE,

behavior comes from the relevant parts of the Strengths and

Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and emotional health

from the Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (SMFQ).

Income

Qualications

Not unemployed

Noncriminality

Partnered

Physical health

Emotional health

0.15 (0.01)

0.02 (0.01)

0.03 (0.01)

0.260

0.33 (0.01)

0.06 (0.01)

0.01 (0.01)

0.232

0.02 (0.01)

0.03 (0.01)

0.00 (0.01)

0.012

0.03 (0.01)

0.03 (0.01)

0.00 (0.01)

0.088

0.01 (0.01)

0.03 (0.01)

0.02 (0.01)

0.013

–0.02 (0.01)

0.01 (0.01)

0.05 (0.01)

0.010

0.05 (0.02)

0.04 (0.02)

0.22 (0.02)

0.074

β (s.e.) R^2

–0.05 0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35

Intellectual

Behavioral

Emotional

Figure 1.4. How adult outcomes are affected by child outcomes at 16 (British Cohort Study)