Intergenerational Transmission of Latent Satisfaction Reflected by Satisfaction Across Multiple Life Domains: A Prospective 32-year Follow-Up Study

Abstract

Intergenerational transmission of life satisfaction has been empirically established, but less is known about the continuity of satisfaction as being reflected across multiple life domains, unique effects of parental domain-specific satisfaction on offspring overall life satisfaction, and potential gender effects. In this population-based prospective study, the association between the life satisfaction of parents (G1) (2191 mothers and 2156 fathers) and their children (G2) (921 sons and 1277 daughters) was examined. In both generations, satisfaction as a parent, as a spouse, and at work was assessed in about the same developmental stage (mean age for G1 38 to 42 years, and for G2 38 to 43 years at the times when LS was measured). When both parents were considered jointly, only mothers' overall life satisfaction had an independent effect on their adult children's overall life satisfaction, with the effect diminishing over time. However, we also found a robust effect of paternal satisfaction at work on offspring's overall life satisfaction in adulthood. Gender of the offspring did not significantly moderate the strength of the associations between generations. The current findings emphasize the high interdependence of life satisfaction within families long after children have moved out of the parental home.

Domain Satisfaction and Overall Life Satisfaction: Testing the Spillover-Crossover Model in Chilean Dual-Earner Couples

“…The Interdependence Theory [ 22 ] recognizes the importance of mutual influences (i.e., interdependence), while the Family Systems Theory [ 23 ] underscores the interdependence between individuals, so that individuals involved in reciprocal relationships, such as family members, can influence one another in their thoughts, emotions and behaviors. Consistent with these theories, research has shown that life satisfaction [ 14 , 24 ], job satisfaction [ 25 ], satisfaction with family life [ 14 , 26 ] and satisfaction with food-related life [ 14 , 27 ] are correlated between members of a couple. Therefore, both theories make it possible to hypothesize that an individual’s life satisfaction is not only influenced by their own satisfaction in different life domains but also by their partner’s satisfaction in different life domains in married or cohabiting couples, which, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, has not been previously assessed.…”

The diverging patterns of life satisfaction between families: A latent profile analysis in dual-earner parents with adolescents

“…The findings above suggest that divergent life satisfaction levels may be found between families, and between members of a single family. Similar patterns of life satisfaction between family members have been explained by genetic personality traits (Carlsson et al, 2014;Dobewall et al, 2019;Headey et al, 2014;Thege et al, 2017), but also by family-related environmental aspects, such as parental influences, life events and shared experiences (Headey et al, 2014;Ma, 2016;Mauno et al, 2018;Thege et al, 2017). However, familyrelated environmental aspects may differ between families as well as affect in different ways the members of the same family.…”

“…Family relationships contribute to SWB not only because they are included in the individual's overall assessment of their life, but because family members share characteristics and conditions that can account for similar assessments. In the case of life satisfaction, there is evidence indicating that life satisfaction levels are correlated between members of the same family (Carlsson, Lampi, Li, & Martinsson, 2014;Dobewall et al, 2019;Headey, Muffels, & Wagner, 2014;Ma, 2016;Maftei, Holman, & Cârlig, 2020;Mauno, Hirvonen, & Kiuru, 2018;Thege, Littvay, Tarnoki, & Tarnoki, 2017).…”

“…While there is evidence of correlation between life satisfaction levels among family members, other studies have explored the nuances of these relations. Research shows that parents' own well-being is only weakly related to their children's (Augustijn, 2020;Bedin & Sarriera, 2014;Casas et al, 2012), and that mothers' life satisfaction has greater influence than fathers' on their children's life satisfaction (Chi et al, 2019;Dobewall et al, 2019;Headey et al, 2014;Richter, Bondü, Spiess, Wagner, & Trommsdorff, 2018;Schnitzlein & Wunder, 2016). In other words, while some families show similar patterns of life satisfaction (i.e.…”

“…According to this approach, life satisfaction depends on the person's assessment of their different life domains (Pavot & Diener, 2008). Evidence shows that parents' satisfaction in domains such as work (Dobewall et al, 2019;Mauno et al, 2018), family, and even food (Schnettler et al, 2017a, b) are associated with their own life satisfaction. These studies also report that parents' satisfaction in different domains is also associated with their children's life satisfaction.…”