When Money Does Buy Happiness

When Money Does Buy Happiness



. . . Invoke the old cliché as you wish, but for disabled people, money seems to buy a measure of happiness. For others, well, the price hasn't changed.

A survey of 478 Americans over nine years, before and after they became disabled, found that wealth generally allowed "substantially better well-being, and less sadness and loneliness," researchers reported Wednesday.

The advantage eased after a few years of disability.

"Happiness and well-being may not depend on a person's financial state in times of health, but when that health fails, as it will eventually for most of us, money matters," said lead researcher Peter Ubel, a professor of internal medicine and psychology at the University of Michigan.

The results will be detailed in an upcoming issue of the journal Psychological Science. . . .