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Mental Health and Happiness: Evidence From the U.S. Data

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  • Nazgol Makki
  • Madhu S. Mohanty

Abstract

The current study examines the role of poor mental health characterized by depression in the determination of an individual’s happiness measured by self-satisfaction and job satisfaction. Using two samples from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, 1979 (NLSY79) and following an ordered probit approach, the study demonstrates that, other variables held constant, an individual suffering from mental depression is likely to have lower levels of self-satisfaction and job satisfaction than those with better mental health. The significance of this variable in both self-satisfaction and job satisfaction regressions indicates that metal health status is an important covariate of an individual’s overall well-being, and should not, therefore, be omitted when estimating relevant happiness equations. JEL Classification Codes : A12, J28, Z13

Suggested Citation

  • Nazgol Makki & Madhu S. Mohanty, 2019. "Mental Health and Happiness: Evidence From the U.S. Data," The American Economist, Sage Publications, vol. 64(2), pages 197-215, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:amerec:v:64:y:2019:i:2:p:197-215
    DOI: 10.1177/0569434518822266
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    job satisfaction; self-satisfaction; mental health; depression; ordered probit;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A12 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Relation of Economics to Other Disciplines
    • J28 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Safety; Job Satisfaction; Related Public Policy
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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