DO PEOPLE REALLY ADAPT TO MARRIAGE?

Authors: Lucas, Richard; Clark, Andrew

Source: Journal of Happiness Studies, Volume 7, Number 4, November 2006 , pp. 405-426(22)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

Although cross-sectional studies have shown a reliable association between marital status and subjective well-being, a recent longitudinal study [Lucas et al. 2003, Journal of Personality & Social Psychology 84(3), pp.␣527-539] found no support for the idea that happiness increases after marriage. Instead, participants who got married reported short-term increases followed by complete adaptation back to baseline levels of well-being. However, researchers have criticized this study on two grounds. First, these results contradict cohort-based analyses from a nationally representative sample. Second, these analyses do not control for pre-marriage cohabitation, which could potentially inflate baseline levels of well-being. The original data (plus four additional waves) are reanalyzed to address these concerns. Results confirm that individuals do not get a lasting boost in life satisfaction following marriage.

Keywords: subjective well being; marriage; adaptation; happiness; setpoint theory

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10902-006-9001-x

Affiliations: 1: Email: lucasri@msu.edu

Publication date: 2006-11-01