Subjective well-being across the life course among non-industrialized populations

Subjective well-being (SWB) is often described as being U-shaped over adulthood, declining to a midlife slump and then improving thereafter. Improved SWB in later adulthood has been considered a paradox given age-related declines in health and social losses. While SWB has mostly been studied in high-income countries, it remains largely unexplored in rural subsistence populations lacking formal institutions that reliably promote social welfare. Here, we evaluate the age profile of SWB among three small-scale subsistence societies (n=468; Study 1), forest users from 23 low-income countries (n=6,987; Study 2), and Tsimane’ horticulturalists (n=1,872; Study 3). Across multiple specifications, we find variability in SWB age profiles. In some cases, we find no age-related differences in SWB or even inverted-U shapes. Adjusting for confounders reduces observed age effects. Our findings highlight variability in average well-being trajectories over the life course. Ensuring successful aging will..., Due to IRB arrangements with the Tsimane tribe, the datasets for Study 3 can't be shared openly. However, users can request access by following the instructions in the associate manuscript's Data Sharing Statement.
Study 1: Baka, Punan, and Tsimane As part of a cross-cultural project on the adaptive value of local ecological knowledge, subjective well-being was studied among two foraging populations, the Baka of the Congo Basin and the Punan of Borneo, and Tsimane’ horticulturalists, between 2012-2013. Subjective well-being was queried by: “Taking everything into consideration, would you say your life is 0=very bad, 1=not good, 2=fair, 3=good, 4=very good”, followed by verbal explanations for their answers. Overall, roughly half of the people in each of the three groups said life was “good”, and with more reports of “very good” than “very bad”. Individuals were sampled every three months, up to four times. In total, 474 individuals were sampled 1,174 times: Baka (n=223 inds/460 ob, mean..., , # Subjective well-being across the life course among non-industrialized populations

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.37pvmcvth](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.37pvmcvth)

Data are available for Study 1 and Study 2. Due to IRB arrangements with the Tsimane tribe, the datasets for Study 3 can't be shared openly. However, users can request access to this data by following the instructions in the associated manuscript's Data Sharing Statement

## Description of the data and file structure

Study 1: As part of a cross-cultural project on the adaptive value of local ecological knowledge, subjective well-being was studied among two foraging populations, the Baka of the Congo Basin and the Punan of Borneo, and Tsimane’s horticulturalists.

Study 2: The CIFOR Poverty Environment Network (PEN) collected individual and household-level data from rural-living people in 23 low-income countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Note: To meet Dryad specifications about de-identification (e.g., maximum...