Influences of socioeconomic status, social network, and competence on subjective well-being in later life: A meta-analysis

Meta-analysis is used to synthesize findings from 286 empirical studies on the association of socioeconomic status (SES), social network, and competen ce with subjective well-being (SWB) in the elderly. All three aspects of li fe circumstances are positively associated with SWB. Income is correlated m ore strongly with well-being than is education. The quality of social conta cts shows stronger associations with SWB than does the quantity of social c ontacts. Whereas having contact with friends is more strongly related to SW B than having contact with adult children, there are higher associations be tween life satisfaction and quality of contact with adult children when com pared with quality of friendships. Moderating influences of gender and age on the effects of SES, social network, and competence on SWB are also inves tigated.