Psychological aspects of well-being and socio-demographic values: results from European Social Survey
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Published
Apr 14, 2017
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Abstract
The aim of the study is to explore links between happiness, optimism, resilience and meaningfulness, and socio-demographic factors in 25 European countries.
Research methods. Experts-generated single-item questions from European Social Survey round 6 were used to assess happiness, optimism, resilience, meaningfulness in life.
Results. Greater number of years of completed education relates to higher scores of happiness, optimism, meaningfulness and resilience in most European countries. However, in Western Europe and Scandinavian countries age does not relate or positively relates with psychological aspects of well-being, however in most Post-Soviet countries this relationship is negative.
Conclusions. Happiness, optimism, meaningfulness and resilience in most European countries were related to age and years of completed education with no specific differences between regions.
Keywords: optimism; resilience; happiness; meaningfulness; demographics
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Burns, R. A., Anstey, K. J., & Windsor, T. D. (2011). Subjective well-being mediates the effects of resilience and mastery on depression and anxiety in a large community sample of young and middle-aged adults. Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry, 45(3), 240-248.
Cohen, S., & Pressman, S. D. (2006). Positive affect and health. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 15(3), 122-125.
Daukantaitė, D., & Zukauskiene, R. (2012). Optimism and subjective well-being: Affectivity plays a secondary role in the relationship between optimism and global life satisfaction in the middle-aged women. Longitudinal and cross-cultural findings. Journal of Happiness Studies, 13(1), 1-16.
Diener, E., & Seligman, M. E. (2004). Beyond money toward an economy of well-being. Psychological science in the public interest, 5(1), 1-31.
Diener, E., Lucas, R. E., & Oishi, S. (2002). Subjective well-being. Handbook of positive psychology, 63-73.
Diener, E., Suh, E. M., Smith, H., & Shao, L. (1995). National differences in reported subjective well-being: Why do they occur?. Social Indicators Research, 34(1), 7-32.
ESS Round 6: European Social Survey Round 6 Data (2012). Data file edition 2.2. Norwegian Social Science Data Services, Norway – Data Archive and distributor of ESS data for ESS ERIC.
European Social Survey (2013) Round 6 Module on Personal and Social Wellbeing – Final Module in Template. London: Centre for Comparative Social Surveys, City University London.
Frijters, P., & Beatton, T. (2012). The mystery of the U-shaped relationship between happiness and age. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 82(2), 525-542.
Helliwell, J. F., & Putnam, R. D. (2004). The social context of well-being. Philosophical transactions-royal society of London series B biological sciences, 1435-1446.
Huppert, F. A. (2009). Psychological Well-being: Evidence Regarding its Causes and Consequences†. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, 1(2), 137-164.
Huta, V., Park, N., Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. (2006). Pursuing pleasure versus eudaimonia: Links with different aspects of well-being. Unpublished manuscript.
IndexMundi - Country Facts. Retrieved March 24, 2016, from http://www.indexmundi.com/.
Kaliatkaitė, J., . Bulotaitė L., (2014). Gerovės samprata sveikatos moksluose ir psichologijoje: tyrimai, problemos ir galimybės. Visuomenės sveikata, 1(64), 9-24.
Keyes, C. L., Shmotkin, D., & Ryff, C. D. (2002). Optimizing well-being: the empirical encounter of two traditions. Journal of personality and social psychology, 82(6), 1007-1022.
Kiviruusu, O., Huurre, T., Haukkala, A., & Aro, H. (2013). Changes in psychological resources moderate the effect of socioeconomic status on distress symptoms: A 10-year follow-up among young adults. Health Psychology, 32(6), 627-636.
Lambert, L., Passmore, H. A., & Holder, M. D. (2015). Foundational frameworks of positive psychology: Mapping well-being orientations. Canadian Psychology/Psychologie canadienne, 56(3), 311-321.
New economics foundation, NEF (2014). Well-being at work. A review of literature. United Kingdom
Peiro, A. (2006). Happiness, satisfaction and socio-economic conditions: Some international evidence. The Journal of Socio-Economics, 35(2), 348-365.
Poortinga, W. (2012). Community resilience and health: The role of bonding, bridging, and linking aspects of social capital. Health & place, 18(2), 286-295.
Ryff, C. D. (2014). Psychological Well-Being Revisited: Advances in Science and Practice. Psychotherapy and psychosomatics, 83(1), 10-28.
Ryff, C.D., & Singer, B. (1998b). Middle age and well-being. In H.S.Friedman (Ed.), Encyclopedia of mental health, 2 (pp. 707–719). New York: Academic Press.
Stephens, T., Dulberg, C., & Joubert, N. (1999). Mental health of the Canadian population: a comprehensive analysis [1994-1995 data]. Chronic Diseases and Injuries in Canada, 20(3), 118-126.
Sundquist, J., Johansson, S. E., Yang, M., & Sundquist, K. (2006). Low linking social capital as a predictor of coronary heart disease in Sweden: a cohort study of 2.8 million people. Social science & medicine, 62(4), 954-963.
The Economist (2015). A tale of two economics. Link: http://www.economist.com/news/finance-and-economics/21651261-north-limps-ahead-south-swoons-tale-two-economies [seen 2016-03-02].
United Nations Statistics Division. (2010). Composition of macro geographical (continental) regions, geographical sub-regions, and selected economic and other groupings. United Nations Statistics Division Web Site.