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The association between life satisfaction and affective well-being

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  • Berlin, Martin
  • Fors Connolly, Filip

Abstract

We estimate the correlation between life satisfaction and affect—two conceptually distinct dimensions of subjective well-being. We propose a simple model that distinguishes between a stable and a transitory component of affect, and which also accounts for measurement error in self-reports of both variables, including current-mood bias effects on life satisfaction judgments. The model is estimated using momentarily measured well-being data, from an experience sampling survey that we conducted on a population sample of Swedes aged 18–50 (n=252). Our main estimates of the correlation between life satisfaction and long-run affective well-being range between 0.78 and 0.91, indicating a stronger convergence between these variables than many previous studies that do not account for measurement issues.

Suggested Citation

  • Berlin, Martin & Fors Connolly, Filip, 2019. "The association between life satisfaction and affective well-being," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 34-51.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:joepsy:v:73:y:2019:i:c:p:34-51
    DOI: 10.1016/j.joep.2019.04.010
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    Cited by:

    1. Filip Fors Connolly & Tommy Gärling, 2022. "Mediators of Differences Between Employed and Unemployed in Life Satisfaction and Emotional Well-being," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 1637-1651, April.
    2. Jeehoon Han & Caspar Kaiser, 2024. "Time use and happiness: US evidence across three decades," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 37(1), pages 1-25, March.
    3. Haiyang Lu & Ivan T. Kandilov, 2021. "Does Mobile Internet Use Affect the Subjective Well-being of Older Chinese Adults? An Instrumental Variable Quantile Analysis," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(7), pages 3137-3156, October.
    4. Zhijian Zhang & Xueyuan Wang, 2021. "Ambition or Jealousy? It Depends on Whom you are Compared with," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(3), pages 1189-1215, March.
    5. Sakari Kainulainen, 2022. "Concurrent Assessments of Individuals’ Affect and Contentment and the Correlation of these Estimates to Overall Happiness at Specific Moments," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 17(5), pages 3151-3174, October.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Subjective well-being; Life satisfaction; Affective well-being; Measurement error; Reliability;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C10 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - General
    • I30 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General

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