Race and life satisfaction in the middle class

This article examines Black-White differences in life satisfaction among members of the middle class. Using national survey data for the period 1984 to 1994, its analysis shows that although the sources of satisfaction do not differ appreciably by race, middle-class Blacks express lower absolute levels of satisfaction with several facets of their lives than middle-class Whites. Controls for sociodemographic and social participation variables do not alter these findings. It is concluded that, even among the ranks of the materially successful middle class, race continues to exert a significant impact on subjective well-being.