Family and life satisfaction : long-term Swb interdependence within families

In this thesis, using British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) for the time period 1996-2008 (excluding 2001) we examine the magnitude of longitudinal interdependence of Subjective Well-Being (SWB) within the family. We estimate the overall as well as spousal and fraternal correlation of life satisfaction. By adopting Winkelmann’s (2005) methodological approach, we find the correlation coefficient of 0.27 which suggests a 27 percent intra-family correlation in well-being. We also find that the correlation coefficient of spouses is 0.40 whereas 0.24 for children. Suggesting that SWB of family members is obviously correlated however shared economic and environmental conditions may be more important in determining well-being than shared genes.