| Abstract: |
There are strong two-way links between parent and child happiness (life
satisfaction), even for 'children' who have grown up, moved to their own home
and partnered themselves. German panel evidence shows that transmission of
(un)happiness from parents to children is partly due to transmission of values
and behaviors known to be associated with happiness (Headey, Wagner and
Muffels, 2010, 2012). These values and behaviors include giving priority to
pro-social and family values, rather than material values, maintaining a
preferred balance between work and leisure, active social and community
participation, and regular exercise. Both parents have about equal influence
on the values and behaviors which children adopt. However, the life
satisfaction of adult 'children' continues to be directly influenced by the
life satisfaction of their mothers, with the influence of fathers being only
indirect, via transmission of values and behaviors. There appears to be a
lifelong happiness dividend (or unhappiness dividend) due to parenting.
Structural equation models with two-way causation indicate that the life
satisfaction of offspring can significantly affect the satisfaction of their
parents, as well as vice-versa, long after the 'children' have left home. Data
come from 25 waves of the German Socio-Economic Panel Survey (SOEP,
1984-2008). SOEP is the only panel survey worldwide in which data on life
satisfaction have been obtained from parents and an adequate sub-sample of
children no longer living in the parental home. |