Age and Gender Differences in Well-being in Croatia

Abstract

In the survey-based study we examined the age and gender differences in personal and national well-being of Croatian citizens. A representative sample of 4,000 citizens participated in the study. Two subscales of International Well-being Index (IWI) were administered: Personal Well-being Index (PWI: satisfaction with material status, health, achievement, relationships, safety, community, future security, spirituality) and National Well-being Index (NWI: satisfaction with economy, environment, social conditions, government, business, national security). Among personal life domains, both men and women were the most satisfied with their relationships with family and friends, and with acceptance by the community, while they were the least satisfied with their material status and future security. Among national life domains, the highest ratings were obtained for the state of the natural environment, while the government and economic situation were the least satisfying national domains for both groups. Univariate analyses of gender differences in satisfaction with specific life domains and overall well-being indexes revealed certain gender differences. Men reported higher satisfaction with national well-being as well as with some of the personal life domains than women. However, the gender differences in overall national well-being index were not significant when income was taken into account, Group comparisons by age showed general trend of decline in personal well-being with age. Age differences in Croatian citizens’ well-being were more pronounced than gender differences. As expected, research has confirmed that income plays an important role in well-being of citizens, whereby the role of income is much greater when the relationship between age and well-being is examined, than it is the case in the relationship between well-being and gender. Possible explanations of the obtained results are provided and some future policy interventions are considered.