Abstract
Research on the relation between family and happiness has focused on the micro level and considered the effects of an individual’s place in the family system, such as whether or not one is married and exchange of support with kin. Macro level differences in the family system as such have received little attention as yet. In this paper we consider regional differences in family types in Europe and explore the relationship with average happiness. Data on dominant family type in regions are taken from Todd (1990), who distinguishes five family types: 1) absolute nuclear; 2) egalitarian nuclear; 3) communitarian; 4) stem family; and 5) incomplete stem family. Data on average happiness in regions are taken from the Eurobarometer surveys. Average happiness appears to be highest in regions where family pattern of “absolute nuclear” prevails and lowest in the regions where “egalitarian nuclear” family dominates. Control for economic prosperity in regions does not change this picture. A possible interpretation of these findings is that freedom adds more to happiness than equality does. It is not true for types of freedom. If horizontal freedom (intragenerational freedom) seems to be important in terms of well-being, the results are much less convincing as far as vertical freedom (intergenerational freedom) is concerned. The findings might have some far reach contribution in the field of family policy.
Highlights
Interest in happiness has been on the rise in the last decades, among the general public and amongHow to cite this paper: Brulé, G., & Veenhoven, R. (2014)
On that basis we explore the statistical relation between happiness and dominant family types in nations and in regions
We find the highest happiness in nations and regions where the “absolute nuclear” family type prevails and the lowest where the “egalitarian nuclear” family dominates
Summary
Interest in happiness has been on the rise in the last decades, among the general public and amongHow to cite this paper: Brulé, G., & Veenhoven, R. (2014). Interest in happiness has been on the rise in the last decades, among the general public and among. How to cite this paper: Brulé, G., & Veenhoven, R. Average Happiness and Dominant Family Type in Regions in Western Europe around 2000. The scientific interest manifest in a growing number of publications in the field, some 500 books and articles appeared in 2010 and the yearly growth rate is about 5% (Veenhoven, 2011: Section, 3)
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