Stepping Off the Hedonic Treadmill: Individual Differences in Response to Marriage, Divorce, and Spousal Bereavement

Anthony D. Mancini, George A. Bonanno and Andrew Clark
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Anthony D. Mancini: Pace University - Pace University
George A. Bonanno: Columbia University [New York]

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Abstract: Theorists have long maintained that people react to major life events but then eventually return to a setpoint of subjective well-being. Yet prior research is inconclusive regarding the extent of interindividual variability. Recent theoretical models suggest that there should be heterogeneity in long-term stress responding (Bonanno, 2004; Muthén & Muthén, 2000). To test this idea, we used latent growth mixture modeling to identify specific patterns of individual variation in response to three major life events (bereavement, divorce, and marriage). A four-class trajectory solution provided the best fit for bereavement and marriage, while a three-class solution provided the best fit for divorce. Relevant covariates predicted trajectory class membership. The modal response across events was a relatively flat trajectory (i.e., no change). Nevertheless, some trajectories diverged sharply from the modal response. Despite the tendency to maintain preevent levels of SWB, there are multiple and often divergent trajectories in response to bereavement, divorce, and marriage, underscoring the essential role of individual differences.

Keywords: Bereavement; Divorce; Individual differences; Latent growth mixture modeling; Marriage; Major life events; Well being (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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Published in Journal of Individual Differences, 2011, 32 (3), pp.144-152. ⟨10.1027/1614-0001/a000047⟩

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Working Paper: Stepping Off the Hedonic Treadmill: Individual Differences in Response to Marriage, Divorce, and Spousal Bereavement (2011)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-00654610

DOI: 10.1027/1614-0001/a000047

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