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Social Indicators Research

, Volume 42, Issue 2, pp 205–219 | Cite as

A Paradox in African American Quality of Life

  • Virgil H. Adams III
Article

Abstract

This study examines panel data from the National Survey of Black Americans with regard to the quality of life of African Americans between 1980 and 1992. Objective measures from current populations reports and census data (such as health, education, and income) indicate that the situation for African Americans has either stagnated or declined during this period. The present analyses show that African Americans' reports of general life satisfaction increased and there was a decline in happiness. There was no response bias that could account for the observed changes in well-being. Contrasts are drawn between these results and the existing well-being literature. Implications for further research are discussed.

Keywords

Life Satisfaction Objective Measure Panel Data National Survey Census Data 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© Kluwer Academic Publishers 1997

Authors and Affiliations

  • Virgil H. Adams III
    • 1
  1. 1.Gerontology CenterUniversity of KansasLawrenceU.S.A

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