Subjective wellbeing of Cork primary school children

Abstract

ABSTRACT The International Survey of Children’s Wellbeing (ISCWeB) is the most wide-ranging and diverse study ever conducted internationally on children from their own perspective. The aim of this study was to pilot the ISCWeB among primary schoolchildren in Ireland to examine their subjective wellbeing and examine the relationship between subjective wellbeing and certain aspects of children’s lives (food security and pastime pursuits). A total of 671 (51.0% female) participants, from 16 schools in Cork, Ireland, completed the survey; 165 (24.6%) 8 year olds, 265 (39.5%) 10 year olds and 241 (35.9%) 12 year olds. Questions examined self-reported wellbeing and life satisfaction. Children’s satisfaction with their lives was high. Among 10 & 12-year olds, ‘relaxing, talking or having fun with family and friends’ was significantly related to all subjective wellbeing scales (SWB) [partial rank range = 0.18–0.27; p < 0.05] and ‘playing electronic games’ was found to be negatively associated with domain based SWB for 12-year olds. Overall, food security was found to be high. This study, for the first time, gives an insight into the wellbeing of Irish children from their own point of view and provides a rationale for a national Children’s Worlds survey to be administered in Ireland.