Publications [#301735] of Peter A Ubel

Journal Articles

1. Smith, DM; Langa, KM; Kabeto, MU; Ubel, PA, Health, wealth, and happiness: financial resources buffer subjective well-being after the onset of a disability., Psychological science, vol. 16 no. 9 (September, 2005), pp. 663-666, ISSN 0956-7976 [16137249], [doi]
   (last updated on 2026/01/17)

   Abstract:
   We examined the hypothesis that the relationship between financial status and subjective well-being, typically found to be very small in cross-sectional studies, is moderated by health status. Specifically, we predicted that wealth would buffer well-being after the onset of a disability. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, a longitudinal study of people at and approaching retirement age, we employed within-subjects analyses to test whether wealth measured prior to the onset of a disability protected participants' well-being from some of the negative effects of a new disability. We found support for this hypothesis: Participants who were above the median in total net worth reported a much smaller decline in well-being after a new disability than did participants who were below the median. We also found some evidence that the buffering effect of wealth faded with time, as below-median participants recovered some of their well-being.