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Effect Size Strengths in Subjective Well-Being Research

Author

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  • Danielle M. Geerling

    (University of Utah)

  • Ed Diener

    (University of Utah
    University of Virginia)

Abstract

Subjective well-being (SWB) research is characterized by many large samples, which often results in virtually all variables being significantly related to well-being, even if the associations are small. In this article we explore the strengths of associations between various predictors and SWB outcomes. In addition to standard effect-size statistics, we also examined the range of the SWB scale covered in the distribution of the predictor, allowing us to estimate the strength of influence of each variable, independent of variability in the sample. We analyzed just a few variables to illustrate what our approach reveals. Our analyses included a representative sample of both the world and the United States, and our data included three types of SWB (life satisfaction (LS), positive affect (PA), and negative affect (NA)). The largest effect sizes emerged for societal characteristics, such as between-nations differences, as well as personal characteristics, such as perceived social support. Small or very small effect sizes were consistently found for demographic characteristics, such as sex, age, and marital status. Other effect sizes varied by the type of SWB being considered. For example, income resulted in a large effect size for LS, but small to medium effect sizes for PA and NA. We suggest that when scholars report and interpret the associations of predictor variables with SWB, they consider the strengths of their significant associations.

Suggested Citation

  • Danielle M. Geerling & Ed Diener, 2020. "Effect Size Strengths in Subjective Well-Being Research," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 15(1), pages 167-185, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ariqol:v:15:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1007_s11482-018-9670-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s11482-018-9670-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Joar Vittersø & Fredrik Nilsen, 2002. "The Conceptual and Relational Structure of Subjective Well-Being, Neuroticism, and Extraversion: Once Again, Neuroticism Is the Important Predictor of Happiness," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 57(1), pages 89-118, January.
    2. Ulrich Schimmack & Jürgen Schupp & Gert Wagner, 2008. "The Influence of Environment and Personality on the Affective and Cognitive Component of Subjective Well-being," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 89(1), pages 41-60, October.
    3. John F. Helliwell & Aneta Bonikowska & Hugh Shiplett, 2016. "Migration as a Test of the Happiness Set Point Hypothesis: Evidence from Immigration to Canada," NBER Working Papers 22601, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Leonie Manthey & Viktor Vehreschild & Karl-Heinz Renner, 2016. "Effectiveness of Two Cognitive Interventions Promoting Happiness with Video-Based Online Instructions," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 319-339, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Svenja Damberg & Lena Frömbling, 2022. "“Furry tales”: pet ownership’s influence on subjective well-being during Covid-19 times," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 56(5), pages 3645-3664, October.
    2. Wen Fan & Yue Qian, 2023. "State Contexts, Job Insecurity, and Subjective Well-being in the Time of COVID-19," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 24(6), pages 2039-2059, August.
    3. Catherine Tulloch & Nerilee Hing & Matthew Browne & Matthew Rockloff & Margo Hilbrecht, 2022. "Parental Gambling and the Health and Wellbeing of Children Derived From Two Nationally Representative Cohorts of Australian Children," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 17(5), pages 3049-3068, October.
    4. Marta Dziechciarz–Duda, 2023. "Income Expectations in Sustainability of Subjective Perception of Households’ Wellbeing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-15, February.

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