Here We Go Again: Prior How Experience with Recessions Intensifies Poor Subjective Well-being

• In Event: 136 - Open Refereed Roundtable Session
  In Refereed Roundtable 100min: Table 11. Well-being, Health and Health Care

Abstract

Numerous studies have shown that the subjective well-being of workers is negatively impacted during economic downturns. This decline in subjective well-being is associated with the declines in job security resulting from these downturns. This study expands prior research, which was limited to full-time workers and did not address respondents’ prior experiences with recessions. Using General Social Survey repeated cross-sections (1994-2012) and GSS panel individual fixed effects from General Social Survey panels (2006-2012), this study finds (1) that experiencing a recession in young adulthood reduces subjective well-being, and (2) this poor well-being is partly explained by pessimism over the future, as measured by self-reported estimates of respondent’s children’s standard of living.

Author

• Bryce J. Bartlett, Duke University