In this study, we examine whether the positive effect of income gains on subjective well-being (SWB) can in part be explained by the improved future prospects that are generated by a more solid financial situation. Using three-wave panel data from the US, we inspect the relation between changes in income, hope and SWB using a fixed-effects model. Results show that hope indeed partially mediates the relation between income and SWB, but only for monthly incomes over $1800. Positive expectations, on the other hand, mediate the relation for all income levels. From the two components of hope, agency, the belief that we can achieve our goals, seems to be the strongest mediator. We find no indications that extremely high levels of hope or expectations will harm SWB through disappointment.

在这项研究中，我们研究了收入增长对主观幸福感（SWB）的正面影响是否可以部分归因于财务状况更加稳固所带来的未来前景改善。使用来自美国的三波面板数据，我们使用固定效应模型检查了收入，希望和SWB变化之间的关系。结果表明，希望的确确实部分地调节了收入与SWB之间的关系，但仅适用于月收入超过1800美元的人群。另一方面，积极的期望调节了所有收入水平的关系。从希望的两个方面来看，代理，即我们可以实现目标的信念，似乎是最强有力的调解者。我们没有迹象表明极高的希望或期望会通过失望而损害SWB。