Abstract
OBJECTIVESIncreasing interest has emerged in the use of subjective well-being as a development indicator and for the evaluation of public policies. The aim of this study was to assess life and health satisfaction and their determinants in the adult population of Iran.METHODSWe conducted a survey of a sample of 3,150 adults at least 18 years of age in Tehran, the capital of Iran. The subjects were selected using a stratified random sampling method, and they were interviewed face-to-face at their usual residence by trained interviewers. Life satisfaction was used as a measure of subjective well-being. We used ordinary least square regression models to assess the associations of life and health satisfaction with socio-demographic variables.RESULTSOn a 0-10 scale, the mean (standard deviation) scores for life and health satisfaction were 6.93 (2.54) and 7.18 (1.97), respectively. The average score for life satisfaction in females was 0.52 points higher than in males. A U-shaped relationship was found between age and life satisfaction, with respondents 35 to 44 years of age having the lowest average level of life satisfaction. Satisfaction with life and health among divorced respondents was significantly lower than among never-married and married participants. The scores for life satisfaction in respondents who rated their health status as poor were 3.83 points lower than in those who rated their health status as excellent.CONCLUSIONSThe majority of the population of Tehran was satisfied with their life and health. Self-rated health status had the greatest impact on life satisfaction.
Highlights
In recent years, efforts have been made to incorporate the concept of subjective well-being (SWB) into policy-making
In model 1, life satisfaction was used as the dependent variable, while health satisfaction was used in model 2
The results showed a nonlinear relationship between self-rated health status and life satisfaction, such that a drop from fair to poor health was associated with a larger decrease in satisfaction with life than other 1-point downward movements in health status
Summary
Efforts have been made to incorporate the concept of subjective well-being (SWB) into policy-making. National and international surveys of SWB have been carried out in developed countries, especially in European countries. These countries have tried to use SWB data to inform policy. Economists have used SWB data to measure consumer preferences and social welfare [5]. Following the Stiglitz Commission recommendations, national statistical agencies in many countries, such as the UK, the US, France, Japan, and Korea have started to measure SWB. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development considered the nature and drivers of SWB and developed guidelines and tools for measuring it [6]
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