Investigating Health and Subjective Well-Being: Methodological Challenges

Abstract

When three different forms of research reviews all reach the same conclusion, that health and subjective well-being have a modest positive correlation, the finding is convincing. Despite the consistent findings, different methods of reviewing research have different strengths. A meta-analysis emphasizes measures of central tendency. A narrative review, in contrast, can focus upon details in deviant findings. Using these methods together provides good information when aggregating findings from many studies.