Abstract
This paper analyzed the effect of major positive and negative life events (marriage, divorce, birth of child, widowhood, and
unemployment) on life satisfaction. For the first time, this study estimated the effects of life events not with a precision
of 12 months but of 3 months. Specifically, two questions were addressed: (1) Does the precision of the temporal localization
of the event (i.e., 12 or 3 months) affect the observed trajectories of life satisfaction, and (2) is the precision of the
temporal localization more important for negative life events? As expected, results showed that the precision of temporal
localization allows a clearer view on hedonic adaptation, in particular following negative life events.
unemployment) on life satisfaction. For the first time, this study estimated the effects of life events not with a precision
of 12 months but of 3 months. Specifically, two questions were addressed: (1) Does the precision of the temporal localization
of the event (i.e., 12 or 3 months) affect the observed trajectories of life satisfaction, and (2) is the precision of the
temporal localization more important for negative life events? As expected, results showed that the precision of temporal
localization allows a clearer view on hedonic adaptation, in particular following negative life events.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-22
- DOI 10.1007/s11205-012-0004-1
- Authors
- Ekaterina A. Uglanova, Bremen International Graduate School for Social Sciences, Jacobs Center on Lifelong Learning and Institutional Development, Jacobs University Bremen, Campus Ring 1, 28759 Bremen, Germany
- Ursula M. Staudinger, Bremen International Graduate School for Social Sciences, Jacobs Center on Lifelong Learning and Institutional Development, Jacobs University Bremen, Campus Ring 1, 28759 Bremen, Germany
- Journal Social Indicators Research
- Online ISSN 1573-0921
- Print ISSN 0303-8300