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Age and Gender: What Are Some Correlates of Well-Being at The National Level?

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Sasidharan Rajendran

The document discusses several factors that influence individual well-being including genetic factors, personality traits, age, gender, income, employment status, and relationships. It also notes that while genetic and personality factors are important determinants of well-being, they are beyond the realm of public policy goals.

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Age and Gender: What Are Some Correlates of Well-Being at The National Level?

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Sasidharan Rajendran
28 views1 page
The document discusses several factors that influence individual well-being including genetic factors, personality traits, age, gender, income, employment status, and relationships. It also notes that while genetic and personality factors are important determinants of well-being, they are beyond the realm of public policy goals.

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HEALTH WELLNESS CONCEPTS-6

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HEALTH WELLNESS CONCEPTS-6

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The document discusses several factors that influence individual well-being including genetic factors, personality traits, age, gender, income, employment status, and relationships. It also notes that while genetic and personality factors are important determinants of well-being, they are beyond the realm of public policy goals.

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© All Rights Reserved
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Download as pdf or txt
28 views1 page

Age and Gender: What Are Some Correlates of Well-Being at The National Level?

Uploaded by

Sasidharan Rajendran
The document discusses several factors that influence individual well-being including genetic factors, personality traits, age, gender, income, employment status, and relationships. It also notes that while genetic and personality factors are important determinants of well-being, they are beyond the realm of public policy goals.

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determined set-point for emotions such as happiness and sadness.

26,27,57,58,59 However, the


expression of genetic effects are often influenced by factors in the environment implying
that circumstances and social conditions do matter and are actionable from a public
policy perspective. Longitudinal studies have found that well-being is sensitive to life
events (e.g., unemployment, marriage).60, 61 Additionally, genetic factors alone cannot
explain differences in well-being between nations or trends within nations.

Some personality factors that are strongly associated with well-being include optimism,
extroversion, and self-esteem.20, 62 Genetic factors and personality factors are closely
related and can interact in influencing individual well-being.

While genetic factors and personality factors are important determinants of well-being,
they are beyond the realm of public policy goals.

Age and Gender

Depending on which types of measures are used (e.g., life satisfaction vs. positive affect),
age and gender also have been shown to be related to well-being. In general, men and
women have similar levels of well-being, but this pattern changes with age,63 and has
changed over time.64 There is a U-shaped distribution of well-being by age—younger and
older adults tend to have more well-being compared to middle-aged adults.65

Income and Work

The relationship between income and well-being is complex.4, 39, 65 Depending on which
types of measures are used and which comparisons are made, income correlates only
modestly with well-being. In general, associations between income and well-being
(usually measured in terms of life satisfaction) are stronger for those at lower economic
levels, but studies also have found effects for those at higher income levels.66 Paid
employment is critical to the well-being of individuals by conferring direct access to
resources, as well as fostering satisfaction, meaning and purpose for
some.67 Unemployment negatively affects well-being, both in the short- and long-term.61, 65,
67

Relationships

Having supportive relationships is one of the strongest predictors of well-being, having a


notably positive effect.68, 69

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What are some correlates of well-being at the national level?

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