Dataset Information

WHAT PREDICTS A SUCCESSFUL LIFE? A LIFE-COURSE MODEL OF WELL-BEING.

ABSTRACT: Policy-makers who care about well-being need a recursive model of how adult life-satisfaction is predicted by childhood influences, acting both directly and (indirectly) through adult circumstances. We estimate such a model using the British Cohort Study (1970). We show that the most powerful childhood predictor of adult life-satisfaction is the child's emotional health, followed by the child's conduct. The least powerful predictor is the child's intellectual development. This may have implications for educational policy. Among adult circumstances, family income accounts for only 0.5% of the variance of life-satisfaction. Mental and physical health are much more important.

SUBMITTER: Layard R

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4240315 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

WHAT PREDICTS A SUCCESSFUL LIFE? A LIFE-COURSE MODEL OF WELL-BEING.

Layard Richard R Clark Andrew E AE Cornaglia Francesca F Powdthavee Nattavudh N Vernoit James J

Economic journal (London, England) 20141101 580

Policy-makers who care about well-being need a recursive model of how adult life-satisfaction is predicted by childhood influences, acting both directly and (indirectly) through adult circumstances. We estimate such a model using the British Cohort Study (1970). We show that the most powerful childhood predictor of adult life-satisfaction is the child's emotional health, followed by the child's conduct. The least powerful predictor is the child's intellectual development. This may have implicati ...[more]

PMID: 25422527

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundAdolescents in sub-Saharan Africa often report low levels of quality of life (QoL) and well-being, but reliable data are limited. This study examines which sociodemographic, health, and behavioral risk factors and adverse adolescent experiences are associated with, and predictive of, QoL in Kenyan secondary schoolgirls.Methods and findings3,998 girls at baseline in a randomised controlled trial in Siaya County, western Kenya were median age 17.1 years. Subjectively perceived physical, emotional, social and school functioning was assessed using the Pediatric Quality of Life (QoL) Inventory-23. Laboratory-confirmed and survey data were utilized to assess sociodemographic, health and behavioral characteristics, and adverse adolescent experiences. We identified a group of girls with Low QoL (n = 1126; 28.2%), Average QoL (n = 1445; 36.1%); and High QoL (n = 1427; 35.7%). Significantly higher scores on all well-being indicators in the LQoL compared with HQoL group indicated good construct validity (Odds Ratio's (ORs) varying from 3.31 (95% CI:2.41-4.54, p < .001) for feeling unhappy at home to 11.88 (95%CI:7.96-17.74, p< .001) for PHQ9 defined possible caseness (probable diagnosis) of depression. Adverse adolescent experiences were independently statistically significant in the LQoL compared to the HQoL group for threats of family being hurt (aOR = 1.35,1.08-1.68, p = .008), sexual harassment out of school (aOR = 2.17,1.79-2.64, p < .001), and for menstrual problems like unavailability of sanitary pads (aOR = 1.23,1.05-1.44, p = .008) and stopping activities due to menstruation (aOR = 1.77,1.41-2.24, p < .001). After 2-years follow-up of 906 girls in the LQoL group, 22.7% persisted with LQoL. Forced sex (aOR = 1.56,1.05-2.32, p = .028) and threats of family being hurt (aOR = 1.98,1.38-2.82, p < .001) were independent predictors of persistent LQoL problems.ConclusionsPersistent QoL problems in Kenyan adolescent girls are associated with adverse physical, sexual and emotional experiences and problems with coping with their monthly menstruation. A multi-factorial integral approach to reduce the rate of adverse adolescent experiences is needed, including provision of menstrual hygiene products.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov:NCT03051789.

Dataset Information

WHAT PREDICTS A SUCCESSFUL LIFE? A LIFE-COURSE MODEL OF WELL-BEING.

Publications

WHAT PREDICTS A SUCCESSFUL LIFE? A LIFE-COURSE MODEL OF WELL-BEING.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets