Family support, family income, and happiness : a 10-year perspective

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2007-08
Authors
North, Rebecca Jeanne
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Abstract

This study with 274 married adults examined the relative contributions of family income and family support to happiness across a 10-year period. Family income showed a small, positive association with concurrent happiness, whereas family support showed a substantial, positive association with concurrent happiness. The positive association between income and happiness grew weaker as income increased. Furthermore, family income moderated the association between family support and concurrent happiness; family support was more strongly associated with happiness when family income was low than when family income was high. In addition, change in family support was positively related to change in happiness, while change in family income was unrelated to change in happiness. These findings suggest that happiness can change and underscore the importance of exploring more deeply the role that family relationships play in facilitating such change.

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