Subjective well-being across the life course among non-industrialized populations

Michael Gurven, Yoann Buoro, Daniel Eid Rodriguez, Katherine Sayre, Benjamin C. Trumble, Arild Pyhälä, Hillard Kaplan, Arild Angelsen, Jonathan Stieglitz and Victoria Reyes-García
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Michael Gurven: Unknown
Yoann Buoro: Unknown
Daniel Eid Rodriguez: Unknown
Katherine Sayre: Unknown
Benjamin C. Trumble: Unknown
Arild Pyhälä: Unknown
Hillard Kaplan: IAST - Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse
Arild Angelsen: Unknown
Jonathan Stieglitz: IAST - Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse
Victoria Reyes-García: Unknown

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Abstract: Subjective well-being (SWB) is often described as being U-shaped over adulthood, declining to a midlife slump and then improving thereafter. Improved SWB in later adulthood has been considered a paradox given age-related declines in health and social losses. While SWB has mostly been studied in high-income countries, it remains largely unexplored in rural subsistence populations lacking formal institutions that reliably promote social welfare. Here, we evaluate the age profile of SWB among three small-scale subsistence societies (n = 468; study 1), forest users from 23 low-income countries (n = 6987; study 2), and Tsimane' horticulturalists (n = 1872; study 3). Across multiple specifications, we find variability in SWB age profiles. In some cases, we find no age-related differences in SWB or even inverted U-shapes. Adjusting for confounders reduces observed age effects. Our findings highlight variability in average well-being trajectories over the life course. Ensuring successful aging will require a greater focus on cultural and socioecological determinants of individual trajectories.

Date: 2024-10-23
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Published in Science Advances , 2024, vol. 10 (n° 43), ⟨10.1126/sciadv.ado0952⟩

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-04752968

DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ado0952

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