Cheng Terence C, Powdthavee Nattavudh, Oswald Andrew J
University of Melbourne.
Econ J (London). 2017 Feb;127(599):126-142. doi: 10.1111/ecoj.12256. Epub 2015 Oct 15.
There is a large amount of cross-sectional evidence for a midlife low in the life cycle of human happiness and well-being (a 'U shape'). Yet no genuinely longitudinal inquiry has uncovered evidence for a U-shaped pattern. Thus, some researchers believe the U is a statistical artefact. We re-examine this fundamental cross-disciplinary question. We suggest a new test. Drawing on four data sets, and only within-person changes in well-being, we document powerful support for a U shape in longitudinal data (without the need for formal regression equations). The article's methodological contribution is to use the first-derivative properties of a well-being equation.
有大量横断面证据表明，在人类幸福和福祉的生命周期中存在中年低谷（“U形”）。然而，尚无真正的纵向研究发现U形模式的证据。因此，一些研究人员认为U形是一种统计假象。我们重新审视这个基本的跨学科问题。我们提出了一项新测试。利用四个数据集，且仅关注幸福感的个体内部变化，我们在纵向数据中发现了对U形的有力支持（无需使用正式的回归方程）。本文的方法学贡献在于运用了幸福感方程的一阶导数性质。
