Disability and Subjective Well-being

The authors examine the relationship between disability, its onset, and subjective well-being in Chapter 15. Individuals with a work-limitating disability self-reported lower levels of life satisfaction. Consistent with previous studies, the authors find a negative relationship between disability status and subjective well-being. Employment status, income, and wealth, mitigates this negative relationship, but disability still emerges as a salient determinant of subjective well-being throughout the analysis.