Individuals’ Assessments of Their Own Wellbeing, Subjective Welfare, and Good Life: Four Exploratory Studies
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Three Dimensions of Wellbeing
3. Subjective Welfare
4. A Good Life
5. Study 1: How Do People Rank the Importance of Wellbeing and Subjective Welfare to Their Own Lives?
5.1. Materials and Methods
5.2. Results
5.3. Discussion
6. Study 2: Factor Analysis of the Three Dimensions of Wellbeing and Subjective Welfare
6.1. Materials and Methods
6.2. Results
6.3. Discussion
7. Study 3: How Do Wellbeing and Subjective Welfare Contribute to a Good Life?
7.1. Materials and Methods
7.2. Results
7.3. Discussion
8. Study 4: How Do Relative Wellbeing and Subjective Welfare Contribute to a Good Life?
8.1. Materials and Methods
8.2. Results
8.3. Discussion
9. Discussion
10. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
- Desa, U.N. Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; United Nations: San Francisco, CA, USA, 2016. [Google Scholar]
- Gul, F.; Pesendorfer, W. Welfare without happiness. Am. Econ. Rev. 2007, 97, 471–476. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Dahlen, M.; Thorbjørnsen, H.; Sjåstad, H.; von Heideken Wågert, P.; Hellström, C.; Kerstis, B.; Lindberg, D.; Stier, J.; Elvén, M. Changes in physical activity are associated with corresponding changes in psychological well-being: A pandemic case study. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 10680. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Dahlen, M.; Thorbjørnsen, H. The Boost Effect: Can A COVID-19 Infection Increase Perceived Meaning in Life? Soc. Inq. Well-Being 2021, 19, 53–62. [Google Scholar]
- Kassouri, Y.; Altıntaş, H. Human well-being versus ecological footprint in MENA countries: A trade-off? J. Environ. Manag. 2020, 263, 110405. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Bleys, B. Beyond GDP: Classifying alternative measures for progress. Soc. Indic. Res. 2012, 109, 355–376. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Greve, B. What is welfare? Cent. Eur. J. Public Policy 2008, 2, 50–73. [Google Scholar]
- Easterlin, R.A. Happiness, growth, and public policy. Econ. Inq. 2013, 51, 1–15. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- O’Connor, K.J. Happiness and welfare state policy around the world. Rev. Behav. Econ. 2017, 4, 397–420. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Veenhoven, R. National wealth and individual happiness. In Understanding Economic Behavior; Springer: Dordrecht, The Netherlands, 1989; pp. 9–32. [Google Scholar]
- Emmerling, J.; Navarro, P.; Sisco, M.R. Subjective well-being at the macro level—Empirics and future scenarios. Soc. Indic. Res. 2021, 157, 899–928. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ryff, C.D.; Magee, W.J.; Kling, K.C.; Wing, E.H. Forging macro-micro linkages in the study of psychological well-being. Self. Soc. Aging Process. 1999, 247, 278. [Google Scholar]
- Taht, K.; Xanthopoulou, D.; Figgou, L.; Kostouli, M.; Unt, M. The role of unemployment and job insecurity for the well-being of young Europeans: Social inequality as a macro-level moderator. J. Happiness Stud. 2020, 21, 2355–2375. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Cojocaru, A.; Diagne, M.F. How reliable and consistent are subjective measures of welfare in Europe and Central Asia? Evidence from the second Life in Transition Survey. Econ. Transit. 2015, 23, 75–103. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Somarriba, N.; Pena, B. Quality of life and subjective welfare in Europe: An econometric analysis. Appl. Econom. Int. Dev. 2008, 8, 55–66. [Google Scholar]
- Shi, D.; Yu, H. Reevaluating the subjective welfare loss of air pollution. J. Clean. Prod. 2020, 257, 120445. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Oishi, S.; Choi, H.; Koo, M.; Galinha, I.; Ishii, K.; Komiya, A.; Luhmann, M.; Scollon, C.; Shin, J.; Lee, H.; et al. Happiness, meaning, and psychological richness. Affect. Sci. 2020, 1, 107–115. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Diener, E.; Lucas, R.E.; Oishi, S.; Hall, N.; Donnellan, M.B. Advances and open questions in the science of subjective well-being. Collabra Psychol. 2018, 4, 15. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Deci, E.L.; Ryan, R.M. Hedonia, eudaimonia, and well-being: An introduction. J. Happiness Stud. 2008, 9, 1–11. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Linton, M.J.; Dieppe, P.; Medina-Lara, A. Review of 99 self-report measures for assessing well-being in adults: Exploring dimensions of well-being and developments over time. BMJ Open 2016, 6, e010641. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Besser, L.L.; Oishi, S. The psychologically rich life. Philos. Psychol. 2020, 33, 1053–1071. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Oishi, S.; Choi, H.; Buttrick, N.; Heintzelman, S.J.; Kushlev, K.; Westgate, E.C.; Tucker, J.; Ebersole, C.R.; Axt, J.; Gilbert, E.; et al. The psychologically rich life questionnaire. J. Res. Personal. 2019, 81, 257–270. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Graham, C. Adaptation amidst prosperity and adversity: Insights from happiness studies from around the world. World Bank Res. Obs. 2011, 26, 105–137. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ravallion, M.; Himelein, K.; Beegle, K. Can subjective questions on economic welfare be trusted? Econ. Dev. Cult. Chang. 2016, 64, 697–726. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Dahlen, M.; Thorbjørnsen, H.; von Heideken Wågert, P.; Hellström, C.; Kerstis, B.; Lindberg, D.; Stier, J.; Elvén, M. The comeback effect: How happy are people who have recovered from a COVID-19 infection? Int. J. Wellbeing 2022, 12, 114–133. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Galiani, S.; Gertler, P.J.; Undurraga, R. The half-life of happiness: Hedonic adaptation in the subjective well-being of poor slum dwellers to the satisfaction of basic housing needs. J. Eur. Econ. Assoc. 2018, 16, 1189–1233. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Sen, A.K. Inequality Re-Examined; Russell Sage Foundation: Oxford, UK, 1992; ISBN 0-19-828334-2. [Google Scholar]
- Anand, P.; Hunter, G.; Carter, I.; Dowding, K.; Guala, F.; Hees, M.V. The development of capability indicators. J. Hum. Dev. Capab. 2009, 10, 125–152. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Binder, M. Subjective well-being capabilities: Bridging the gap between the capability approach and subjective well-being research. J. Happiness Stud. 2014, 15, 1197–1217. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Allardt, E. Dimensions of welfare in a comparative Scandinavian study. Acta Sociol. 1976, 19, 227–239. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Helne, T.; Hirvilammi, T. Wellbeing and sustainability: A relational approach. Sustain. Dev. 2015, 23, 167–175. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Paul, E.F.; Miller, F.D.; Paul, J. The Good Life and the Human Good; Cambridge Press: Cambridge, UK, 1992; ISBN 978-0521437592. [Google Scholar]
- Brülde, B. Happiness and the good life. Introduction and conceptual framework. J. Happiness Stud. 2007, 8, 1–14. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Chekola, M. Happiness, rationality, autonomy and the good life. J. Happiness Stud. 2007, 8, 51–78. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Veenhoven, R. The four qualities of life. Ordering concepts and measures of the good life. Underst. Hum. Well-Being 2006, 1, 74–100. [Google Scholar]
- Carlquist, E.; Ulleberg, P.; Delle Fave, A.; Nafstad, H.E.; Blakar, R.M. Everyday understandings of happiness, good life, and satisfaction: Three different facets of well-being. Appl. Res. Qual. Life 2017, 12, 481–505. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Tafarodi, R.W.; Bonn, G.; Liang, H.; Takai, J.; Moriizumi, S.; Belhekar, V.; Padhye, A. What makes for a good life? A four-nation study. J. Happiness Stud. 2012, 13, 783–800. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Delhey, J.; Steckermeier, L.C. The good life, affluence, and self-reported happiness: Introducing the good life index and debunking two popular myths. World Dev. 2016, 88, 50–66. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- King, L.A.; Napa, C.K. What makes a life good? J. Personal. Soc. Psychol. 1998, 75, 156. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Scollon, C.N.; King, L.A. Is the good life the easy life? Soc. Indic. Res. 2004, 68, 127–162. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- World Medical Association. World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki: Ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects. JAMA 2013, 310, 2191–2194. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Dahlen, M.; Thorbjørnsen, H. An Infectious Silver Lining: Is There a Positive Relationship between Recovering from a COVID Infection and Psychological Richness of Life? Front. Psychol. 2022, 13, 785224. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
n | M | SD | 1. | 2. | 3. | 4. | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Happiness | 707 | 7.68 b | 1.78 | - | |||
2. Meaning in life | 702 | 7.36 c | 1.76 | 0.29 *** | - | ||
3. Psychological richness | 701 | 6.46 d | 1.95 | 0.052 | 0.24 *** | - | |
4. Subjective Welfare | 701 | 8.24 a | 1.69 | 0.39 *** | 0.28 *** | 0.14 *** | - |
Factor 1 | Factor 2 | Factor 3 | Factor 4 | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Happiness items | ||||
Happy | 0.46 | 0.68 | 0.018 | −0.035 |
Pleasant | 0.67 | 0.45 | −0.078 | 0.046 |
Simple | 0.61 | 0.20 | −0.29 | 0.091 |
Comfortable | 0.75 | 0.19 | −0.070 | 0.026 |
Stable | 0.62 | 0.32 | −0.28 | 0.093 |
Meaningfulness items | ||||
Meaningful | 0.29 | 0.84 | 0.083 | 0.063 |
Fulfilling | 0.31 | 0.85 | 0.13 | 0.040 |
Purposeful | 0.17 | 0.81 | 0.086 | 0.13 |
Dedicated | 0.17 | 0.78 | 0.18 | 0.24 |
Virtuous | 0.15 | 0.17 | 0.050 | 0.94 |
Psychological richness items | ||||
Psychologically rich | 0.20 | 0.60 | 0.35 | −0.043 |
Eventful | 0.22 | 0.48 | 0.66 | −0.098 |
Interesting | 0.30 | 0.62 | 0.49 | −0.014 |
Dramatic | −0.16 | 0.002 | 0.86 | 0.058 |
Surprising | 0.013 | 0.30 | 0.80 | 0.068 |
Subjective Welfare items | ||||
Welfare | 0.76 | 0.085 | 0.20 | 0.18 |
Economic security | 0.80 | 0.086 | 0.070 | 0.060 |
Access to what I need | 0.75 | 0.25 | 0.078 | 0.015 |
Capability for good health | 0.71 | 0.25 | 0.056 | 0.013 |
Opportunity to do what I want | 0.66 | 0.27 | 0.15 | −0.084 |
Factor 1 | Factor 2 | |
---|---|---|
Happiness items | ||
Happy | 0.65 | 0.35 |
Pleasant | 0.80 | 0.34 |
Simple | 0.83 | 0.089 |
Comfortable | 0.67 | 0.41 |
Stable | 0.61 | 0.39 |
Subjective Welfare items | ||
Welfare | 0.19 | 0.85 |
Economic security | 0.24 | 0.85 |
Access to what I need | 0.41 | 0.71 |
Capability for good health | 0.48 | 0.59 |
Opportunity to do what I want | 0.48 | 0.53 |
Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Happiness | 0.73 (0.027) *** | 0.58 (0.030) *** | 0.43 (0.036) *** | |
Meaning in life | - | - | 0.22 (0.033) *** | |
Psychological richness | - | - | - | |
Subjective Welfare | - | 0.26 (0.028) *** | 0.23 (0.027) *** | |
R2 | 0.51 | 0.57 | 0.59 | - |
Adjusted R2 | 0.51 | 0.57 | 0.59 | - |
ΔF | 744.29 *** | 89.12 *** | 46.08 *** | - |
Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Happiness | 0.56 (0.027) *** | 0.48 (0.030) *** | 0.34 (0.041) *** | 0.37 (0.042) *** |
Meaning in life | - | - | 0.19 (0.040) *** | 0.24 (0.042) *** |
Psychological richness | - | - | - | −0.12 (0.036) *** |
Subjective Welfare | - | 0.18 (0.030) *** | 0.16 (0.030) *** | 0.16 (0.030) *** |
R2 | 0.41 | 0.44 | 0.46 | 0.47 |
Adjusted R2 | 0.41 | 0.44 | 0.45 | 0.46 |
ΔF | 451.48 *** | 36.38 *** | 28.56 *** | 11.14 *** |
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. |
© 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Share and Cite
Dahlen, M.; Thorbjørnsen, H. Individuals’ Assessments of Their Own Wellbeing, Subjective Welfare, and Good Life: Four Exploratory Studies. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 11919. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191911919
Dahlen M, Thorbjørnsen H. Individuals’ Assessments of Their Own Wellbeing, Subjective Welfare, and Good Life: Four Exploratory Studies. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022; 19(19):11919. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191911919
Chicago/Turabian StyleDahlen, Micael, and Helge Thorbjørnsen. 2022. "Individuals’ Assessments of Their Own Wellbeing, Subjective Welfare, and Good Life: Four Exploratory Studies" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19, no. 19: 11919. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191911919