The conclusions of a study of happiness and social determinants across age cohorts in Taiwan was that;

Happiness was not different across different age cohort groups in Taiwanese people. However, the social factors related to happiness showed different relationships with happiness across the age groups. Socioeconomic status was more significant in determining happiness among older individuals, while a social relationship was more important for the younger and middle-aged individuals.

Table I. Description of the samples. Variables Happiness Age Gender: Female Male Education year Marital status: No spouse Having a spouse Living place: Urban area Town Rural area Living arrangement: With others Alone BMI Religion belief: No Yes Chronic diseases: No Yes Self-rated health: Good Poor Smoking: Never Quit Smoking Drinking: Never Social Light Heavy Regular exercise: No Yes Internet using: No Yes Mood Family social support Friends/colleagues/ neighbors social support Formal social support Work: No Yes Social group participation Social trust Subjective economic status Social class Life control Quality of life Young (n = 824) Middle-aged (n = 978) Old (n = 397) Mean (SD) or % 4.03 (0.83) 28.62 (6.22) 48.3% 5 | .7% I450 (2.58) 68.4% 3 I .6% 60.0% 28.6% | |.4% 93.6% 6.4% 22.80 (4.2 I) 34.6% 65.4% 89.4% I0.6% 8 I 0% | 9.0% 35.8% 2.5% 6 I .7% 59.0% 29.6% 8.5% 2.9% 52.6% 47.4% 5.6% 94.4% I I.8l (4.I I) 7.27 (3. I 0) 5.97 (I .83) 2.96 (0.77) 23.3% 76.7% 2. I 8 (I .08) 2.33 (0.79) 3.04 (. I 7) 5.03 (I .45) 6.74 (I .94) 2.83 (0.58) Mean (SD) or % 3.93 (0.93) 5 I .89 (7.08) 52. I % 47.9% I I.24 (3.76) I9.2% 80.8% 53.9% 27.0% | 9. | % 93.8% 6.2% 24.27 (3.39) | 5.9% 84. I % 62.6% 37.4% 79.8% 20.2% 33.9% 4.9% 6 I . I % 66.4% I8.6% 7.5% 7.6% 47.8% 52.2% 53.9% 46. I % Io.93 (4.44) 7.63 (3.93) 4.82 (I .73) 2.92 (0.85) 3 I.0% 69.0% 2.03 (I .07) 2.06 (0.87) 2.87 (I. I4) 4.9I (I64) 6.88 (2. I 2) 2.83 (0.62) Mean (SD) or % 3.95 (0.99) 73.75 (6.59) 5 I .6% 48.4% 8.5I (3.94) 34.0% 66.0% 50.5% 23.6% 25.9% 93.5% 6.5% 23.92 (3.27) | 2.6% 87.4% 35.7% 64.3% 72.3% 27.7% 30.2% 7.6% 62.2% 78.6% | 2.8% 3.5% 5.0% 44. I% 55.9% 92.4% 7.6% I I.50 (4.98) 7.66 (3.95) 4.23 (0.09) 2.90 (0.89) 83.8% I6.2% I.84(I.I6) I.99 (0.80) 2.68 (I . I 3) 4.86 (I .77) 6.89 (2.43) 2.85 (0.59) Signicance >lllllllllk 0.053 (0.037) 0.042 (0.0 I 6)** 0.022 (0.0 I 7) 0.300 (0. I 57) 0.005 (0.036) 0.049 (0.0 I 6)** 0.047 (0.0 I 6)** 0.048 (0.0 I 8)** 0.047 (0.0 I 8)** 0.0 I 8 (0.005)>IIIIII'k 0.082 (0.050) 0.08| (0.024)** 0.020 (0.024) 0.052 (0.023)* 0.054 (0.058) 0.05I (0.025)* 0.089 (0.024)*>II""""p