ERIC Number: EJ907410
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011-Jan
Pages: 21
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0303-8300
EISSN: N/A
Effect of Changes in Living Conditions on Well-Being: A Prospective Top-Down Bottom-Up Model
Nakazato, Naoki; Schimmack, Ulrich; Oishi, Shigehiro
Social Indicators Research, v100 n1 p115-135 Jan 2011
Using the German Socio-Economic Panel, we examined life-satisfaction and housing satisfaction before and after moving (N = 3,658 participants from 2,162 households) with univariate and bivariate two-intercept two-slope latent growth models. The main findings were (a) a strong and persistent increase in average levels of housing satisfaction, (b) no increase in average life-satisfaction, (c) low stability in individuals' level of housing satisfaction, and (d) high stability in individuals' level of life-satisfaction. The results are discussed in the context of top-down and bottom-up models as well as adaptation theories of well-being. We conclude that moving or living in a better home is unrelated to life-satisfaction judgments for two reasons. First, housing makes a small contribution to life-satisfaction judgments. Second, positive effects of better housing are undermined by the greater costs of living in a better home. The results provide no support for the prediction of adaptation theory that shifting aspirations undermine the benefits of living in a better home.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Social Indicators, Social Theories, Housing, Sociometric Techniques, Correlation, Socioeconomic Influences, Living Standards, Well Being, Life Satisfaction, Place of Residence, Relocation, Aspiration, National Surveys, Models
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Germany
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A