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Body Mass Index, Perceived Health, and Happiness: Their Determinants and Structural Relationships

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Abstract

The structural relationships between body mass index, perceived health and happiness have been studied in a survey of 700 native Dutch citizens. We found an indirect effect of body mass index on happiness, via perceived health. Age had an inverted U-shaped relationship with body mass index, and both education and smoking had a negative effect on body mass index. Being married, doing paid work, owning a house, and doing sports had positive effects on perceived health, suggesting that living a regular life may lead to a better perceived health. Being married positively affected happiness. The other socio-demographic variables either had no effects on happiness or indirect effects via body mass index and perceived health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social Sciences, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    Judith R. Cornelisse-Vermaat, Gerrit Antonides & Johan A. C. Van Ophem

  2. “Scholar” Research Center for Education and Labor Market, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Judith R. Cornelisse-Vermaat & Henriette Maassen Van Den Brink

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  1. Judith R. Cornelisse-Vermaat
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  2. Gerrit Antonides
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  3. Johan A. C. Van Ophem
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  4. Henriette Maassen Van Den Brink
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Correspondence to Gerrit Antonides.

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Cornelisse-Vermaat, J.R., Antonides, G., Van Ophem, J.A.C. et al. Body Mass Index, Perceived Health, and Happiness: Their Determinants and Structural Relationships. Soc Indic Res 79, 143–158 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-005-4097-7

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