Subjective well-being and significant life-events across the life-span

We tested the structure of adults' subjective well-being, its age related variations, and the effects of significant life-events upon well-being. 280 subjects ranging in age between 20 and 94 years answered the Berne Questionnaire of Subjective Well-Being (adult form). They identified those life-events which they perceived as having long lasting effects on their Life. (1) The factor pattern of subjective well-being across the life span was comparable with the factor structure across adolescence. (2) The subjects' age did not influence the degree of reported life satisfaction. (3) Some life-events correlated with specific ages, whereas other life-events were not related to the subjects' age. (4) The number of significant life-events decreased with age. (5) There were specific negative life-events which decreased subjective well-being. (6) In general, the subjects reported a lower well-being, the more negative life-events they experienced.