Life Satisfaction in Canada

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Published estimates of the change in life satisfaction associated with a change in life circumstances. Click a column heading to sort; use the search box to filter (for example "CAN", "panel" or "unemployment"). Effects are on a 0–10 life satisfaction scale unless the entry states another scale; the number after ± is a 95% half-width. Domains are those of Canada's Quality of Life Framework. Where the kind of exposure is "subjective", the exposure is itself a self-rating (for example trust or self-rated health); such entries are listed but will not enter pooled estimates.

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DomainCategoryKind of exposureChangeEffect on life satisfactionDynamics over timeConfidence in effect and causalityData typeData sourceCountryReferenceLocation in paperCommentsStatusEntry
EnvironmentAir pollutiondoseIncrease of 1-day SO₂ level by 10 μg m⁻³ (equivalent to 3.9 ppb)-0.02 (±0.02) on 5-point life satisfactionTemporary effectEffect robust in cross-sectional data; includes high-resolution geographic fixed effects.Cross-sectionalCCHS 2005-11CANBarrington-Leigh & Behzadnejad, 2017In text, bottom of page 16 of paperlegacy-unverifiedBarrington-Leigh-Behzadnejad-2017EEPS-pollution-01
EnvironmentAir pollutiondoseIncrease of average PM10 level by 10 μg m⁻³ (equivalent to 3.9 ppb)+0.014 on 3-point happinessUnknownMedium to high; effects of air pollution significantly exogenous for single individualCross-sectionalGSS (USA) 1984-96USALevinson, 2012Results section paragraph 1legacy-unverifiedLevinson-JPubE2012-happiness-pollution-01
EnvironmentAir pollutiondoseIncrease of average SO₂ level by 10 μg m⁻³ (equivalent to 3.9 ppb)-0.08UnknownHigh; effects driven by unanticipated changes in power plant emissions due to policyPanelGSOEP 1983-2011DEULuechinger, 2009Table 4, column II (IV estimate)legacy-unverifiedLuechinger-EJ2009-air-quality-SWL-01
EnvironmentLand useeventConstruction of wind turbine within 4km around household-0.1405 (±0.0782)Seems temporary; effect disappears after 5 yearsHigh; wind turbine construction exogenous for household in surroundings, difference-in-differences with treatment at multiple points in timePanelGSOEP 2000-2012DEUKrekel & Zerrahn, 2017Table 2, column 1legacy-unverifiedKrekel-Zerrahn-JEEM2017-wind-turbines-well-being-01
EnvironmentLand usedoseIncrease of 1 hectare of greenspace within 1km of household+0.0066 (±0.0049)Seems permanentMedium to high; panel data-based set but no clearcut exogenous variation; similar results by studies in the UKPanelGSOEP 2000-2012DEUKrekel et al, 2016Table B.2Effects strongest for older residentslegacy-unverifiedKrekel-Kolbe-Wustemann-EcolEcon2016-urban-land-use-well-being-01
EnvironmentLand usedoseIncrease of 1 hectare of greenspace within 1km of household+0.0031, converted by curator from 1-7 to 0-10Seems permanentMedium to high; panel data-based set but no clearcut exogenous variationPanelBHPS 1991-2008GBRWhite et al, 20130.0020 in Table 2, Column 5Cited by / taken from DOHC in Frijters and Krekel...?legacy-unverifiedWhite-et-al-PS2013-urban-green-space-well-being-01
EnvironmentLand usedoseIncrease of 1 hectare of vacant land (abandoned areas) within 1km of household-0.0395 (±0.0002)UnknownMedium; panel data-based but no clearcut exogenous variationPanelGSOEP 2000-2012DEUKrekel et al, 2016Table B.2Effects strongest for older residentslegacy-unverifiedKrekel-Kolbe-Wustemann-EcolEcon2016-urban-land-use-well-being-02
EnvironmentWeatherdoseDaily rainfall of 6mm above average-0.008 (±0.0012) on 5-point life satisfactionTemporary effectEffect is statistically significant and robust in cross-sectional dataset, but not in panel datasetCross-sectional and panelCCHS 2005-11, NPHS 2004-10CANBarrington-Leigh & Behzadnejad, 2017Table 2, Columns 7 and 8Women and individuals with poor health condition are more affectedlegacy-unverifiedBarrington-Leigh-Behzadnejad-JEP2017-weather-01
Good governanceDiscriminationeventExperience religious discrimination-0.39UnknownCross-sectional data precludes causal claimsCross-sectionalGSS27CANVang et al, 2019Table 4, Column 2Significant positive interaction term suggests higher religiosity mitigates the negative effect of religious discriminationlegacy-unverifiedVang-Hou-Elder-JOHS2019-religious-discrimination-life-satisfaction-01
Good governanceFearsubjectiveA doubling fear of crimeApprox. -0.30UnknownMedium. Panel data-based, often replicated, but drivers of fear not exogenousPanelNationwide representative study on victimization and crime-related issues, 2010DEUHanslmaier, 2013"derived from the relative effect of fera of crime versus effect from unemployment in a log-odds setting" (note on this reference in Frijters handbook)Derived from relative effect of fear of crime versus effect from unemployment in a log-odds settinglegacy-unverifiedHanslmaier-EJC2013-crime-fear-life-satisfaction-01
Good governanceTrustsubjectiveBelieve a lost wallet is likely to be returned if found by police+0.138 (±0.094) on 11-point Cantril ladderUnknownMedium. Cross sectional data includes regional fixed effects; generally consistent with broader literatureCross-sectionalGWP 2006WLDHelliwell & Wang, 2011Table 2-b, Column 6legacy-unverifiedHelliwell-Wang-IJW2011-trust-well-being-08
Good governanceTrustsubjectiveConfidence in police+0.361 (±0.114) on 10-point life satisfactionUnknownCross sectional data precludes causal claimsCross-sectionalGSS17CANHelliwell & Wang, 2011Table 3, Column 5legacy-unverifiedHelliwell-Wang-IJW2011-trust-well-being-13
Good governanceViolent crimeeventVictim of violent crime-0.396Effect largely in first year (only statistically significant in first year)High but specific: effects are for unanticipated events that were recordedPanelHILDA 2002-12AUSJohnston et al, 2018Table 3 (?) Effect of -0.398 for females and -.300 for maleslegacy-unverifiedJohnston-Shields-Suziedelyte-EJ2018-violent-crime-victimisation-well-being-01
Healthdose+0.24 (±0.03)Effect lasts while treatment lastsMedium. Fixed-effect estimates consistent with small RCTs and public health campaign results, but magnitude very unclearPanelHILDA 2007, 2009AUSMujcic & Oswald, 2016Table 2, column 1 and 2; in text near beginning of page 3legacy-unverifiedMujcic-Oswald-AJPH2016-fruit-vegetables-well-being-01
HealthMental healthstateFrom depression to full mental health+0.71Permanent, little evidence of a peakHigh as found everywhere, including large clinical trialsPanelBHPSGBRClark et al, 2019Table 16.2Based on 4-point change on a 0-12 scalelegacy-unverifiedClark-Fleche-Layard-Powdthavee-Ward-2019-origins-of-happiness-04
HealthMental healthsubjectiveFrom excellent to poor mental health (self-rated)-3.13 (±0.30)UnknownCross-sectional data precludes causal claimsCross-sectionalCCHS 2009-10CANShi et al, 2019Obtained from control variableslegacy-unverifiedShi-Joyce-Wall-Orpana-Bancej-BMCph2019-life-satisfaction-approach-health-behaviours-05
HealthNutritiondoseFrom 0 to 8 portions of fruit and vegetables a day+0.16 (±0.08)UnknownCross-sectional data precludes causal claimsCross-sectionalCCHS 2009-10CANShi et al, 2019Table 2, column 2legacy-unverifiedShi-Joyce-Wall-Orpana-Bancej-BMCph2019-life-satisfaction-approach-health-behaviours-04
HealthPhysical healthsubjectiveFrom excellent to poor physical health (self-rated)-2.19 (±0.17)UnknownCross-sectional data precludes causal claimsCross-sectionalCCHS 2009-10CANShi et al, 2019Table 2, Column 1Obtained from control variableslegacy-unverifiedShi-Joyce-Wall-Orpana-Bancej-BMCph2019-life-satisfaction-approach-health-behaviours-02
HealthPhysical healthsubjectiveFrom healthy to poor physical health (self-rated)-0.96Permanent effect, with initial peakHigh as found everywhere, including to health shocks.PanelGSOEP 1983-2011DEUFerrer-i-Carbonell & Frijters, 2004Unclear but likely taken from Table 3. See additional comments columnBased on a 3-point change in a 1-5 self-report measure of physical healthlegacy-unverifiedFerrer-i-Carbonell-Frijters-EJ2004-01
HealthPhysical healthsubjectiveFrom healthy to poor physical health (self-rated)-1.080 (±0.122)Permanent effect, with initial peakHigh as found everywhere, including to health shocks.PanelNCDS 1958-2009GBRFrijters et al, 2014Table 4, column 2legacy-unverifiedFrijters-Johnston-Shields-EJ2014-childhood-predicts-adult-life-satisfaction-01
HealthPhysical healthsubjectiveSatisfied with health status, at age 60 or older+0.292 (±0.059) on 10-point life satisfactionUnknownMedium. Cross-sectional data precludes causal claims, yet findings are consistent with many studies suggesting health is the strongest single predictor of late-life SWBCross-sectionalWVS 2005-07CAN, GBR, NZL, USAZelikova, 2013Table 2, Column 7legacy-unverifiedZelikova-HSE2013-successful-aging-subjective-well-being-01
HealthSmokingstateFrom smoking daily to not at all+0.12 (±0.04)UnknownCross-sectional data precludes causal claimsCross-sectionalCCHS 2009-10CANShi et al, 2019Table 2, column 1Obtained from control variableslegacy-unverifiedShi-Joyce-Wall-Orpana-Bancej-BMCph2019-life-satisfaction-approach-health-behaviours-03
ProsperityDurationdoseExtra year of compulsory education-0.03 (±0.098), converted by curator from 1-7 to 0-10Persistent effectsHigh for UK; since effect found from 1972 UK compulsory school changes. Marginal result also found in other Western countriesPanelBHPS 1996-2008GBRClark & Jung, 2017Page 11, paragraph 1 (based on Table 3)legacy-unverifiedClark-Jung-IBER2017-compulsory-education-life-satisfaction-01
ProsperityEmployment statusstateFrom employment to unemployment-0.46 (±0.078)Immediate effect higher, then reducing, but no adaptationHigh. Large effects found in longitudinal cross-sections, recession-related and employment-shock related (plant closures)PanelGSEOPDEUClark et al, 2019Table 4.2legacy-unverifiedClark-Fleche-Layard-Powdthavee-Ward-2019-origins-of-happiness-01
ProsperityEmployment statusstateFrom employment to unemployment-0.71 (±0.059)Immediate effect higher then reducing, but no adaptationImmediate effect higher then reducing, but no adaptationPanelBCS70GBRClark et al, 2019Table 4.2legacy-unverifiedClark-Fleche-Layard-Powdthavee-Ward-2019-origins-of-happiness-02
ProsperityEmployment statusstateFrom employment to unemployment-.054 (±0.022) on 5-point happiness in lifeShort and long term effectsHigh. Panel data, fixed instrumental effectsPanelNPHS 1994-2007, CCHS 2009-11CANLatif, 2010Table 3, Column 2Not statistically significant for individuals aged 54 and olderlegacy-unverifiedLatif-JPM2010-crisis-unemployment-psychological-wellbeing-01
ProsperityEmployment statusstateFrom full-time employed to part-time employed not wanting more hours+0.080 (±0.043)Largely permanentEffect very robust in cross section and panels, but causality unclearCross-sectional and panelGWP 2006-08AUS, CAN, NZL, USADe Neve & Ward, 2017Table 6.3, Column 8 "NA+ANZ"Particularly strong effect for menlegacy-unverifiedDeNeve-Ward-WHR2017-happiness-at-work-02
ProsperityEmployment statusstateFrom full-time employed to part-time employed wanting more hours-0.108 (±0.016)Largely permanentEffect very robust in cross section and panels, but causality unclearCross-sectional and panelGWP 2006-08AUS, CAN, NZL, USADe Neve & Ward, 2017Table 6.3, Column 8 "NA+ANZ"Particularly strong effect for menlegacy-unverifiedDeNeve-Ward-WHR2017-happiness-at-work-01
ProsperityEmployment statusstateFrom unemployment to out-of-labour force-0.23 (±0.13)UnknownCross-sectional data precludes causal claimsCross-sectionalCCHS 2009-10CANShi et al, 2019Table 4.2legacy-unverifiedShi-Joyce-Wall-Orpana-Bancej-BMCph2019-life-satisfaction-approach-health-behaviours-01
ProsperityEmployment statusstateFrom working to retired (at age 55 or older)+0.056 (±0.047) on 5-point happiness in lifeUnknownHigh. Panel data, fixed instrumental effectsPanelNPHS 1994-2007CANLatif, 2011Table 2, Column 4No significant effect for ages 45-54legacy-unverifiedLatif-JSE2011-retirement-psychological-well-being-01
ProsperityFinancial satisfactionsubjectiveHigh financial stress (self-rated)-0.864 (±0.086)UnknownCross-sectional data, considering the possibility of an indirect effect of income through financial stress uncovers a strong effect of financial stress on life satisfaction, but an effect not clearly linked to incomeCross-sectionalGSS 19-24CANBrzozowski & Spotton Visano, 2020Table 2, Column 2Measurement includes those who report 3 or higher on a 5-point stress scale and also choose "finances" as their primary source of stresslegacy-unverifiedBrzozowski-SpottonVisano-JOHS2020-financial-satisfaction-life-satisfaction-01
ProsperityIncomedoseDoubling of household income+0.16 (±0.196)Persistent effects with elation peakHigh. Effect found in panels, cross-sections, and shock-related (lotteries).PanelBCS70GBRClark et al, 2019Table 2.1Height disputed and income measurement problematic.legacy-unverifiedClark-Fleche-Layard-Powdthavee-Ward-2019-origins-of-happiness-03
ProsperityIncomedoseDoubling of household income+0.5Persistent effects with elation peakHigh. Effect found in panels, cross-sections, and shock-related (lotteries).PanelGSOEP 1991-2001DEUFrijters et al, 2004Table 2legacy-unverifiedFrijters-Haisken-DeNew-Shields-AER2004-income-life-satisfaction-east-germany-01
ProsperityIncomedoseIncrease in difference between own log income and log income of a provincial reference group+0.194 (±0.135)UnknownMedium. Panel data, significant negative effect as found in other Canadian literature.PanelNPHS 1994-2009CANLatif, 2016Table 5, Column 2Reference group contains all individuals with a similar education level that are inside the same age bracket and residing in the same provincelegacy-unverifiedLatif-SIR2016-happiness-comparison-income-canada-01
ProsperityJob satisfactionsubjectiveOne unit change on 0-10 scale of non-financial job satisfaction+0.15 (±0.04)UnknownCross sectional data but findings consistent between ESC and GSS data. Causality unclear.Cross-sectionalGSS17, ESC2CANHelliwell & Huang, 2010Table 1, Column 2Income effect instrumented for ESC data, adjusted in GSS datalegacy-unverifiedHelliwell-Huang-ILRR2010-hows-the-job-01
ProsperityType of jobstateBeing in a white collar job versus a blue collar jobApprox. +0.80UnknownEffect very robust in cross-section and panels but causality unclearCross-sectional and panelGWP 2006-08WLDDe Neve & Ward, 2017Approximated from job categories in Table 6.5 (?)White collar includes: managers, officials, clerical and office workers; blue collar includes construction, transportation, farminglegacy-unverifiedDeNeve-Ward-WHR2017-happiness-at-work-03
ProsperityType of jobstateEmployment in an occupation that is below an individual’s skills or work experience (immigrants)-0.055 (±0.096)Negative effect tends to diminish with increased length of stay in CanadaCross-sectional data precludes causal claimsCross-sectionalCCHS 2009-14CANFrank & Hou, 2017Table 3, Column 4Lower income the main intermediate factor linking over-education to life satisfaction for immigrantlegacy-unverifiedFrank-Hou-StatsCan2017-overeducation-life-satisfaction-immigrants-02
ProsperityType of jobstateEmployment in an occupation that is below an individual’s skills or work experience (non-immigrants)-0.280 (±0.049)UnknownCross-sectional data precludes causal claimsCross-sectionalCCHS 2009-14CANFrank & Hou, 2017Table 3, Column 2Lower income just one of the important factors for non-immigrants.legacy-unverifiedFrank-Hou-StatsCan2017-overeducation-life-satisfaction-immigrants-01
ProsperityWork conditionsstateFlexible work hours+0.19 (±0.1176)UnknownCross-sectional data precludes causal claimsCross-sectionalGSS 24CANHilbrecht et al, 2014Table 12, Column 3legacy-unverifiedHilbrecht-Smale-Mock-WLJ2014-commute-time-well-being-02
SocietyBelongingsubjectiveSense of belonging to Canada+0.336 (±0.137) on 10-point life satisfactionUnknownCross sectional data precludes causal claimsCross-sectionalGSS17CANHelliwell & Wang, 2011Table 3, Column 5A sense of belonging to Canada is strongly associated with general social trustlegacy-unverifiedHelliwell-Wang-IJW2011-trust-well-being-16
SocietyBelongingsubjectiveSense of belonging to the community+0.781 (±0.110) on 10-point life satisfactionUnknownCross sectional data precludes causal claims but is consistent with broader literature suggesting community-level belonging is most importantCross-sectionalGSS17CANHelliwell & Wang, 2011Table 3, Column 5A sense of belonging to one’s community is strongly associated with neighbourhood trustlegacy-unverifiedHelliwell-Wang-IJW2011-trust-well-being-14
SocietyBelongingsubjectiveSense of belonging to the province+0.274 (±0.114) on 10-point life satisfactionUnknownCross sectional data precludes causal claimsCross-sectionalGSS17CANHelliwell & Wang, 2011Table 3, Column 5legacy-unverifiedHelliwell-Wang-IJW2011-trust-well-being-15
SocietyCommutedoseFrom no commute to 1 hour car commute-0.012 (±0.041)UnknownLow. Findings disputed and causality unclear.PanelBHPS 1996-2008GBRDickerson et al, 2014Table 2, Column 2legacy-unverifiedDickerson-Hole-Munford-RSUE2014-commuting-well-being-methodology-01
SocietyCommutedoseFrom no commute to 1 hour car commute-0.20 (±0.098)UnknownLow. Findings disputed and causality unclear.PanelGSOEP 1985-2003DEUStutzer & Frey, 2008Table 1, Column 2legacy-unverifiedStutzer-Frey-SJE2008-commuting-SWL-01
SocietyCommutedoseIncrease in commute (by ???)-0.18 (±0.1176) on 10-point life satisfactionUnknownLow. Unclear units on time allocation commuting variable .Cross-sectionalGSS 24CANHilbrecht et al, 2014Table 12, Column 2Particularly strong effect for women; Significant indirect effects for time spent in physically active leisure and seriousness of traffic congestionlegacy-unverifiedHilbrecht-Smale-Mock-WLJ2014-commute-time-well-being-01
SocietyFriendshipssubjectiveCan count on friends+0.414 (±0.090) on 11-point Cantril ladderUnknownLow. Cross sectional data with regional effects; causality unclearCross-sectionalGWP 2006WLDHelliwell & Wang, 2011Comes from Y/N response to question: "If you were in trouble, do you have relatives or friends you can count on to help you whenever you need them, or not?"legacy-unverifiedHelliwell-Wang-IJW2011-trust-well-being-05
SocietyFriendshipsdoseFrom 0 close friends to 3-5 close friends+0.241 (±0.017) on 10-point life satisfactionUnknownCross sectional data; consistent with broader literatureCross-sectionalGSS17CANHelliwell & Wang, 2011Table 3, Column 1Impact is much smaller for those who are married or living with a partner, suggesting friends and spouses provide some similar happiness benefitslegacy-unverifiedHelliwell-Wang-IJW2011-trust-well-being-01
SocietyFriendshipsdoseFrom 0 close relatives to 3-5 close relatives+0.526 (±0.149) on 10-point life satisfactionUnknownCross sectional data; consistent with broader literatureCross-sectionalGSS17CANHelliwell & Wang, 2011Table 3, Column 1Paper includes several categories of numbers of close relatives (1 or 2, 3-5, 6-10, 11-20, over 20), an increase from one category to the next is about 0.15legacy-unverifiedHelliwell-Wang-IJW2011-trust-well-being-03
SocietyFriendshipsdoseSeeing close friends more frequently+0.096 (±0.051) on 10-point life satisfactionUnknownCross-sectional data precludes causal claims, but consistent withCross-sectionalGSS17CANHelliwell & Wang, 2011Table 3, Column 4Frequency of visits with family and especially with friends add significantly to LS above and beyond the effects of having such networks in placelegacy-unverifiedHelliwell-Wang-IJW2011-trust-well-being-02
SocietyFriendshipsdoseSeeing close relatives more frequently+0.096 (±0.051) on 10-point life satisfactionUnknownCross sectional data; consistent with broader literatureCross-sectionalGSS17CANHelliwell & Wang, 2011Table 3, Column 1Frequency of visits with family add significantly to LS above and beyond the effects of having the network in placelegacy-unverifiedHelliwell-Wang-IJW2011-trust-well-being-04
SocietyImmigrationstateBeing an immigrant parent (female)-0.210 (±0.106) on 5-point life satisfactionNo apparent improvement over time, "years since arrival" variable is statistically insignificantMedium. Cross sectional data, effect persists with controls for personal characteristics such as ethnicity, income, etc; consistent with broader literatureCross-sectionalCCHS 2002-10CANBurton & Phipps, 2010Table 5, Column 3No statistically significant effect for female immigrant children once mediating variables (language, ethnicity) are addedlegacy-unverifiedBurton-Phipps-DalhousieWP2010-immigrant-children-well-being-01
SocietyImmigrationstateBeing an immigrant parent (male)-0.218 (±0.133) on 5-point life satisfactionNo apparent improvement over time, "years since arrival" variable is statistically insignificantMedium. Cross sectional data, effect persists with controls for personal characteristics such as ethnicity, income, etc; consistent with broader literatureCross-sectionalCCHS 2002-10CANBurton & Phipps, 2010Table 5, Column 4No statistically significant effect for female immigrant children once mediating variables (language, ethnicity) are addedlegacy-unverifiedBurton-Phipps-DalhousieWP2010-immigrant-children-well-being-02
SocietyProsocial spendingstateDonated to charity in the past month+0.28 (±0.047) on 11-point Cantril ladderUnknownCross-sectional data, relies on correlational analysis, supported by limited experimental dataCross-sectional and panelGWP 2006-08AUS, CAN, NZL, USAAknin et al, 2013Region-specific coefficient using survey results from US, Canada, Australia, NZlegacy-unverifiedAknin-et-al-JPSP2013-prosocial-spending-wellbeing-01
SocietyProsocial spendingstateDonated to charity in the past month+0.27 (±0.039) on 11-point Cantril ladderUnknownCross-sectional data, relies on correlational analysis, supported by limited experimental dataCross-sectional and panelGWP 2006-08WLDAknin et al, 2013legacy-unverifiedAknin-et-al-JPSP2013-prosocial-spending-wellbeing-02
SocietyRomantic relationshipsstateFrom never married to married at 50 or older+0.20 (±0.078)Permanent effect with high initial peakMedium: cohort study findings so causality unclearPanelBHPSGBRClark et al, 2019Table 9.1legacy-unverifiedClark-Fleche-Layard-Powdthavee-Ward-2019-origins-of-happiness-06
SocietyRomantic relationshipsstateFrom partnered to separated-0.40 (±0.14)High intial effect, then some adaptationHigh as found everywhere.PanelBHPSGBRClark et al, 2019Table 5.2Note that most find new partners and don't stay separated. Lone men suffer more.legacy-unverifiedClark-Fleche-Layard-Powdthavee-Ward-2019-origins-of-happiness-07
SocietyRomantic relationshipsstateFrom single to married/partnered+0.28 (±0.10)Permanent effect with initial peakHigh. Ubiquitous finding around the worldPanelBHPSGBRClark et al, 2019Table 5.2legacy-unverifiedClark-Fleche-Layard-Powdthavee-Ward-2019-origins-of-happiness-05
SocietyRomantic relationshipsstateFrom single to married/partnered+0.1Permanent effect with initial peakHigh. Ubiquitous finding around the worldPanelGSOEP 1983-2011DEUFerrer-i-Carbonell & Frijters, 2004Taken from Frijters and Krekel's table-- not exactly sure where this coefficient came from. Maybe Column 1: fixed effect ordered logit 0.08 in Table 3 ?legacy-unverifiedFerrer-i-Carbonell-Frijters-EJ2004-02
SocietyRomantic relationshipsstateFrom single to married/partnered+0.60 (±0.022)UnknownHigh. Panel data, fixed instrumental effectsPanelNPHS 1994-2007, CCHS 2009-11CANLatif, 2010Table 3, Column 2legacy-unverifiedLatif-JPM2010-crisis-unemployment-psychological-wellbeing-02
SocietyRomantic relationshipsstateNever married, age 60 or older-0.122 (±0.078)UnknownMedium. Cross-sectional data precludes causal claims, yet consistent with broader literature as found widelyCross-sectionalWVS 2005-07CAN, GBR, NZL, USAZelikova, 2013Table 2, Column 7legacy-unverifiedZelikova-HSE2013-successful-aging-subjective-well-being-02
SocietyTrustsubjectiveBelieve a lost wallet is likely to be returned if found by a stranger+0.074 (±0.098) on 11-point Cantril ladderUnknownLow. Cross sectional data includes regional fixed effects; but effect is statistically insignificant.Cross-sectionalGWP 2006WLDHelliwell & Wang, 2011Table 2-c, Column 6legacy-unverifiedHelliwell-Wang-IJW2011-trust-well-being-09
SocietyTrustsubjectiveBelieve a lost wallet is likely to be returned if found by a stranger+0.237 (±0.098) on 10-point life satisfactionUnknownCross sectional data precludes causal claims but is consistent with GWP findings and broader literatureCross-sectionalGSS17CANHelliwell & Wang, 2011Table 3, Column 3legacy-unverifiedHelliwell-Wang-IJW2011-trust-well-being-10
SocietyTrustsubjectiveBelieve a lost wallet is likely to be returned if found by neighbours+0.172 (±0.088) on 10-point life satisfactionUnknownCross sectional data; consistent with GWP findings and broader literatureCross-sectionalGSS17CANHelliwell & Wang, 2011Table 3, Column 3Respondents who live in high-density census tracts and are highly mobile are less likely to believe a neighbour would return their walletlegacy-unverifiedHelliwell-Wang-IJW2011-trust-well-being-06
SocietyTrustsubjectiveBelieve a lost wallet is likely to be returned if found by neighbours+0.117 (±0.088) on 11-point Cantril ladderUnknownMedium. Cross sectional data includes regional fixed effects; generally consistent with broader literatureCross-sectionalGWP 2006WLDHelliwell & Wang, 2011Table 2-a, Column 6legacy-unverifiedHelliwell-Wang-IJW2011-trust-well-being-07
SocietyTrustsubjectiveSocial trust (self-reported trust in "most people")+0.131 on 10-point life satisfactionUnknownCross-sectional data precludes causal claims; statistically significant positive effect on life satisfaction and domain satisfaction in all domainsCross-sectionalGSS17CANvan der Horst & Coffé, 2011Table 3, Column 1Social trust measured by a binary variable where 0 is ‘‘one cannot be too careful in dealing with people’’ and 1 is ‘‘most people can be trusted’’.legacy-unverifiedvanderHorst-Coffe-SIR2011-friendship-SWB-01
SocietyTrustsubjectiveTrust in co-workers+0.638 (±0.149) on 10-point life satisfactionUnknownCross sectional data precludes causal claims;Cross-sectionalGSS17CANHelliwell & Wang, 2011Table 3, Column 5legacy-unverifiedHelliwell-Wang-IJW2011-trust-well-being-12
SocietyTrustsubjectiveTrust in neighbours+0.336 (±0.140) on 10-point life satisfactionUnknownCross sectional data precludes causal claims but is consistent with broader literature on community-level trustCross-sectionalGSS17CANHelliwell & Wang, 2011Table 3, Column 5Respondents who live in high-density census tracts and are highly mobile are less likely to trust their neighbourslegacy-unverifiedHelliwell-Wang-IJW2011-trust-well-being-11

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To comment on an entry, correct it, or suggest a study or estimate, please write through the contact page and quote the entry identifier (tick "Entry" above the table to show it).

Entries marked "legacy-unverified" were entered by hand in 2020–2021 and have not yet been re-checked against the source.

For how to cite this database, and for the method and principles behind it, see Barrington-Leigh and Lemermeyer, "A public, open, and independently-curated database of happiness coefficients", Journal of Happiness Studies, doi 10.1007/s10902-023-00652-4, April 2023.

This project was made possible by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (supporting Barrington-Leigh) and the Arts Research Internship Award Programme at McGill University (supporting Katja Lemermeyer).