Hedonic adaptation to treatment: Evidence from a medical intervention

Marta Barazzetta, Simon Appleton and Trudy Owens

No 2015-08, Discussion Papers from University of Nottingham, CREDIT

Abstract: We investigate adaptation of subjective well-being using a randomised controlled trial. We find that providing medical equipment to a random sample of Ugandan adults with lower limb disabilities has a positive effect on their physical health, using both objective and self-reported measures. Treated patients experience a significant improvement in life satisfaction initially, but the effect is not prolonged. After one year, life satisfaction returns to the pre-treatment level. This evidence of adaptation is supported by observations of changes in reference levels and is robust to alternative estimation methods including instrumental variable estimation and intention-to-treat analysis.

Keywords: Happiness; adaptation; health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hap and nep-hea
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Journal Article: Hedonic Adaptation to Treatment: Evidence from a Medical Intervention (2020)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:not:notcre:15/08

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