Dimensions Of Subjective Well-being Research Articles

The Effect of Gratitude Intervention on Life Satisfaction of University students: The Role of Self-Esteem

Gratitude education is very common in traditional Chinese education. Gratitude is both an emotion and a trait (Rash et al.,2011). It is a tendency to perceive benefits bestowed by others or by some impersonal source, and accompanied by positive, social emotions (Lin C.C.,2015). As a trait, gratitude draws attention to positive outcomes in life (Emmons et al.,2019). Furthermore, this project chooses life satisfaction and self-esteem as variables in the research. ‘Life satisfaction is a subjective evaluation of overall quality of life’，and is the key dimension of subjective well-being (Proctor et al.,2009). Self-esteem is a sense of individuals’ general value or worth from his or her aspects (Rosenberg, 1979). Self-esteem is commonly considered as the “feeling that one is good enough” (Orth & Robins,2014). Life satisfaction and self-esteem are often used in studies of gratitude，but few of them find the complicated correlations between these three factors. So the purpose of this project is to explore whether gratitude interventions can enhance gratitude and subsequently increase life satisfaction and self-esteem.

The indirect effect of travel mode use on subjective well-being through out-of-home activities

AbstractThe issue of the effects of travel on subjective well-being (SWB) has recently attracted increasing interest in transport studies. A common finding is that travel affects SWB indirectly through out-of-home activities. However, little is known about how to operationalize this relationship. In this study, we proposed a conceptual model and estimated structural equation models relating travel mode use and activities with multiple SWB dimensions, including affective components (positive affect and negative affect) and cognitive components (belongingness, achievement, and confidence in coping). We used data from a national mobility project in Japan (N = 13,000) to estimate the postulated models. We found that while public transport use enhanced the cognitive components of SWB, it also had a negative effect on the affective components of SWB. Car use affected SWB in a more complex pattern; it promoted SWB by enabling leisure activities but also reduced SWB dimensions of belongingness and achievement through shopping activities. Active travel modes did not have a clear effect on SWB; for example, walking to school was associated with increased belongingness, whereas walking for shopping negatively influenced belongingness. Other contributing factors, such as COVID-19 worry, car access, and the ‘going-out’ problem-solving style, were also found to influence multiple dimensions of SWB. Overall, our study showed how the effects of activities on multiple dimensions of SWB varied with different travel modes, thereby revealing the indirect effect of travel mode use on SWB via activities. Suggestions for shaping transport policies towards SWB are also discussed.

How does benign/malicious envy impact young women's subjective well-being in daily life? An investigation of intrapersonal and interpersonal pathway.

Although previous cross-sectional studies have investigated the between-person correlation between dispositional envy and subjective well-being, few longitudinal studies have explored the within-person relationships between state benign/malicious envy and subjective well-being, as well as the intrapersonal and interpersonal mechanisms involved. This study adopted a diary approach for 14 consecutive days from a sample of 167 young women to investigate the within-person associations among benign/malicious envy, self-esteem, perceived social support, and subjective well-being. The results revealed that benign and malicious envy had opposite effects on subjective well-being within individuals. Besides, the results indicated that self-esteem and perceived social support mediated the relationships between benign envy and two dimensions of subjective well-being (positive affect and life satisfaction) within individuals. Furthermore, self-esteem played a within-person mediating role in the relationships between malicious envy and three dimensions of subjective well-being, whereas perceived social support only served as a within-person mediator between malicious envy and positive affect. These findings shed light on the distinction between benign envy and malicious envy and help in comprehending the intrapersonal and interpersonal mechanisms through which the two types of envy impact subjective well-being in daily life.

REKREASYONEL AKTİVİTELERE KATILIM İLE ÖZNEL İYİ OLUŞ ARASINDAKİ İLİŞKİ: AKADEMİSYENLER ÜZERİNDE BİR UYGULAMA

In this study, it was aimed to determine the relationship between the participation levels of academicians in recreational activities and their subjective well-being. A questionnaire was used as a data collection technique in the study and applied to a total of 393 academicians from Harran University, Afyon Kocatepe University and Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University. In the analysis of the obtained data, in addition to descriptive statistics, t test, analysis of variance and correlation analysis were used. According to the results of the research, singles, young people and research assistants participate in recreational activities at a higher level. However, the subjective well-being levels of women, young people, research assistants and those with low seniority were found to be higher. In the study, a positive, moderate and significant relationship (r=0.402) was found between the levels of participation in recreational activities in general and general subjective well-being. On the other hand, it was determined that the subjective well-being dimensions most affected by recreational activities were "friend relationships" (r=0.498), "activities of interest" (r=0.455) and "family relationships" (r=0.443), respectively. In addition, it was found that the recreational activities that most affected subjective well-being were "cultural activities" (r=0.471).

Subjective well-being and suicidal ideation in a military community sample

ABSTRACT Preliminary evidence suggests different dimensions of subjective well-being (SWB) may be differentially associated with reduced suicide risk when measured at the person versus group level. In this longitudinal study, 2055 military personnel and civilian government employees completed self-report surveys administered 6 times from January 2020 to November 2021. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) models were used to examine associations among life satisfaction, perceptions of life being worthwhile, happiness, negative affect, and suicidal ideation. At the participant level, life satisfaction and worthwhile life were significantly correlated with reduced suicidal ideation whereas negative affect was significantly correlated with increased suicidal ideation. At the unit level, happiness was significantly correlated with reduced suicidal ideation. When covarying for participant-level depression and hopelessness, participant-level life satisfaction was no longer statistically significant. Results suggest eudaimonic SWB may be protective at the individual level whereas hedonic SWB may be protective at the group level.

Relation of emotion malleability beliefs to subjective well-being: A short-term longitudinal study.

Prior research has shown that emotion malleability beliefs are positively related to subjective well-being, but less is known about the longitudinal relationship between both variables. The present study used a two-wave longitudinal design to examine the temporal directionality of the relationship in a sample of Chinese adults. Using cross-lagged models, we found that emotion malleability beliefs predicted all three dimensions of subjective well-being (i.e. positive affect, life satisfaction, and negative affect) 2 months later. However, we did not detect any reverse or reciprocal effect between emotion malleability beliefs and subjective well-being. In addition, emotion malleability beliefs still predicted life satisfaction and positive affect after controlling for the effect of the cognitive or emotional component of subjective well-being. Our study provided primary evidence for the temporal directionality of the association between emotion malleability beliefs and subjective well-being. Implications and suggestions for future research were discussed.

Subjective Well-Being and Active Life Expectancy in Japan: Evidence From a Longitudinal Study.

Existing research has suggested that older adults in Japan enjoy phenomenal physical health status, but they have poor subjective well-being (SWB). Limited empirical evidence exists, however, on how physical health and SWB intersect and are linked to the lives of older men and women in Japan. Using the concept of health expectancy, this study examines the role of SWB, as measured by life satisfaction, in the mortality and morbidity experiences of Japanese adults aged 65 years and older. We used the nationally representative Nihon University Japanese Longitudinal Study of Aging, 1999-2009. Our measurement of morbidity is disability, based on difficulty in activities in daily living (ADLs) and instrumental ADLs. We use the Interpolation of Markov Chains approach to compute life expectancy (LE), LE without disability (active LE), and LE with differing severity of disability for those who are satisfied with life and for those who are not. We documented significant differences in LE and active LE by the state of life satisfaction among older adults in Japan. Men and women who are satisfied with life are expected to live longer and spend more years without having disability compared to those who are not satisfied. We found no differences in the length of life with disability of differing severity by the state of life satisfaction. Our results highlight the important role of SWB at older ages in Japan, because it is directly related to the physical health of its aging population. Fully understanding the health of the older population requires research that focuses on both objective and subjective dimensions of well-being.

The mediating effect of subjective well-being in the relationship between social support and professional commitment among mainland Chinese kindergarten teachers

Kindergarten teachers’ professional commitment affects their emotional input and turnover intention, and it is affected by the spiritual and material factors of teachers’ families, kindergartens, and society. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the mediating effect of the dimensions of subjective well-being in the relationship between social support and professional commitment. The study is grounded in human ecology theory and social exchange theory. We surveyed 778 kindergarten teachers from different educational systems in Guangdong Province in China. We used the “Appreciative Social Support” and “Subjective Well-being” Scales and the “Professional Commitment Questionnaire.” The results showed that the four variables of social support, positive affect, life satisfaction, and professional commitment of kindergarten teachers were significantly and positively correlated with each other: social support positively predicted positive affect and life satisfaction, positive affect and life satisfaction positively predicted professional commitment, and social support indirectly influenced professional commitment through the parallel and chain path of positive affect and life satisfaction. This represents a compound multiple mediating effects on professional commitment.

How does sustainable water consumption in the shower relate to different dimensions of perceived well-being? Empirical evidence from university students

ABSTRACT Water scarcity is already a worrying issue and it is predicted to get worse in the future. This creates an imperative to use water efficiently and sustainably. In the domestic sphere, one of the main uses of water is showering, not only for hygiene reasons but also as a wellness activity. In order to gain insight into the implications of sustainable shower use, in this paper we analyse the relationship between subjective well-being and water consumption in the shower. We aim to answer the following questions: 1) How does shower water consumption relate to subjective well-being, 2) Does this relationship differ depending on showering habits (time spent in the shower, and number of showers per week), and 3) Does this relationship differ depending on the season (winter and summer). The dataset contains information on 937 students from different disciplines at the University of Granada, Spain. The different interpretations of subjective well-being considered are life satisfaction, affect, and vitality. Results suggest that there is a negative relationship between water consumption and subjective well-being, in line with the literature that identifies a well-being dividend from green behaviour (being pro-environmental helps the environment and increases happiness). All subjective well-being dimensions are negatively related to time spent in the shower, regardless of the season. In contrast, the frequency of showering is not significantly related to well-being. Therefore, it appears that higher water consumption does not translate into higher perceived well-being, indicating that there is no conflict between efficient shower water use and individual well-being.

The effect of housing problems on older people’s subjective well-being in 21 European countries (Los efectos de los problemas de vivienda sobre el bienestar subjetivo de las personas mayores en 21 países europeos)

ABSTRACT Housing has been acknowledged as a basic human need with an impact on health and well-being. Since older people tend to be more exposed to features in their home environment, it is important to identify specific vulnerabilities. This study used cross-sectional data of 40,185 respondents from the 2014 European Social Survey Round 7 to explore the relationship between housing problems, age group (≤ 70 years and > 70 years) and evaluative (life satisfaction) and hedonic (happiness) dimensions of subjective well-being (SWB) of 21 European countries. Housing problems were significantly associated with lower levels of happiness and life satisfaction (LS) in a multilevel model. The age group was found to be a moderator of that association. When exposed to housing problems, older people (> 70 years) presented lower levels of happiness than younger adults (≤ 70 years). These findings shed light on the differentiation of age groups and call for maintenance and improvement of housing conditions in later life, aiming to promote well-being.

Building back better? Resilience as wellbeing for rural migrant households in Bihar, India

The crisis in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to calls for ‘building back better’ and ‘resilient recovery’. In this article, we examine this agenda by asking what this might mean for one of the most marginalized social groups in India, namely, migrant workers from Scheduled Tribe or Adivasi communities in the eastern state of Bihar. It draws on intensive mixed-methods research undertaken over a nearly-two-year period between March 2019 and January 2021 in four villages in south Bihar. The article argues that the attention to social structures of power and subjectivities makes ‘equitable resilience’ a more robust idea of resilience. At the same time, in the context of Adivasi migrants in India who constantly suffer multiple oppressions, even equitable resilience must be seen in conversation with the idea of relational wellbeing since they need a radical improvement of life chances and not just mechanisms to deal with isolated shocks. The article develops a basic framework to put these ideas in conversation with each other and offers an empirical analysis of the material, relational and subjective dimensions of wellbeing, or their absence, of the migrants and their households. In addition, it outlines the cross-scalar socio-economic, ecological and political dynamics and temporal considerations that frame their life and livelihood outcomes. The article concludes by asserting the need to attend to the political content of ideas of resilience and wellbeing and to grapple with structural conditions of inequality. Only when policies and programmes are guided by these considerations can they be expected to lead to lasting change.

Subjective Well-Being and Schools in South Africa: A Post-COVID-19 Analysis.

From the analysis of the Wave 5 National Income Dynamics Study – Coronavirus Rapid Mobile Survey 2021 dataset, the study conducted in South Africa, we developed a model of analysis based on three dimensions, namely, subjective well-being, material living conditions, and importance attributed to education during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional analysis of the data for Gauteng area indicates that the dimension of subjective well-being of families in South Africa—even in relation to the factors such as conditions of deprivation (e.g., hunger)—does not necessarily influence the importance the respondents attach to their children’s education, this as reflected in whether or not they send them to school when COVID-19 restrictions allowed for schools to come back to face-to-face teaching. Subjective well-being of parents and guardians is, however, a predictor of concern about their children’s education and future. Our working hypothesis is that, although there is little evidence that subjective well-being has a significant association with the respondents’ willingness for their children to continue their schooling, there is a significant indirect effect of subjective well-being—which is especially determined by the gender as well as of the living material conditions—and the greater or lesser importance that the respondents attribute to their children’s education. Likewise, and in more general terms, subjective well-being is clearly related to gender, with women having the lowest levels of subjective well-being.

The Disability Paradox? Trajectories of Well-Being in Older Adults With Functional Decline.

Objectives: The 'disability paradox' (DP) suggests that most older adults maintain subjective well-being (SWB) despite functional decline. However, this may depend the SWB component: positive affect (PA), negative/depressed affect (NA/DA) or life satisfaction (LS). We assessed trajectories of these components in older adults with substantial functional decline. Methods: Data originated from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (N = 2545) observed during 1992-2008. Using latent class growth analysis, we distinguished a group with substantial functional decline and examined their SWB trajectories and individual characteristics. Results: The DP occurred more frequently for DA (Men:73%, Women:77%) and LS (Men:14%, Women:83%) than for PA (Men:26%, Women:17%). Higher perceived control (mastery) emerged as the most consistent factor associated with higher odds of the DP. Discussion: We provide a nuanced view of the DP, shifting the question from whether it exists to for which dimension of SWB and for whom it is more or less apparent.

A Japanese Subjective Well-Being Indicator Based on Twitter Data

Abstract This study presents for the first time the SWB-J index, a subjective well-being indicator for Japan based on Twitter data. The index is composed by eight dimensions of subjective well-being and is estimated relying on Twitter data by using human supervised sentiment analysis. The index is then compared with the analogous SWB-I index for Italy in order to verify possible analogies and cultural differences. Further, through structural equation models, we investigate the relationship between economic and health conditions of the country and the well-being latent variable and illustrate how this latent dimension affects the SWB-J and SWB-I indicators. It turns out that, as expected, economic and health welfare is only one aspect of the multidimensional well-being that is captured by the Twitter-based indicator.

Subjective Well-Being Scarring Through Unemployment: New Evidence from a Long-Running Panel

Abstract Scarring effects of unemployment on subjective well-being (SWB), i.e., negative effects that remain even after workers reenter employment, are well documented in the literature. Nevertheless, the theoretical mechanisms by which unemployment leads to long-lasting negative consequences for SWB are still under debate. Thus, we theorize that unemployment can have an enduring impact mainly through (1) the experience of unemployment as an incisive life event and (2) unemployment as a driver of future unemployment. In the empirical part, we focus on one important dimension of SWB: overall life satisfaction. Based on advanced longitudinal modeling that controls for group-specific trends, we estimate scarring through unemployment using the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP). Our results consistently show a large negative effect of unemployment on life satisfaction as well as significant scarring effects that last at least 5 years after reemployment for both men and women as well as for short- and long-term unemployment spells. Further analyses reveal that repeated periods of unemployment drive these effects and cause even longer lasting scarring, implying that there are hardly any adaptations to unemployment that buffer its effect on life satisfaction. We conclude that scarring effects mainly work through repeated episodes of unemployment. Regarding policy implications, our findings suggest that preventing unemployment, regardless of its duration, is beneficial for individual well-being not only in the short term.

Internalizing behaviors in adolescence: The unique contribution of life satisfaction beyond positive and negative affect

Previous research has established robust associations between adolescent subjective well-being (SWB) and internalizing behaviors, such as depression and anxiety. However, most studies have limited their focus to the relations between life satisfaction and internalizing behaviors. The current study examined the unique contributions of both cognitive (life satisfaction) and affective (positive and negative affect) components of SWB to global internalizing behaviors, depression, and anxiety in adolescence. The sample included 275 adolescents (50.2% female), with a mean age 16.64 years (SD = 1.02). The strongest predictor of global internalizing behaviors and anxiety was negative affect, followed by life satisfaction. Negative affect and life satisfaction had similar unique contributions to explaining depression. Positive affect was a significant predictor of depression, whereas its unique contribution to global internalizing behaviors and anxiety was negligible. Our findings support the importance of including both cognitive and affective dimensions of SWB when examining its associations with internalizing behaviors in adolescence. In addition, the results show that different measures of internalizing behaviors yield different associations with SWB indicators, and that a similar pattern of results is obtained using different measures of adolescent life satisfaction.

Emotional intelligence and materialism: the mediating effect of subjective well-being

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the nature of the relationship between emotional intelligence and materialism by exploring how subjective well-being mediates this link.Design/methodology/approachData was collected from surveying 1,000 Lithuanians within random sampling, and structural equation modelling (SEM) techniques using SmartPLS were used to analyze the data.FindingsThe results show that emotional intelligence not only has a negative indirect effect on materialism but also a positive impact on both dimensions of subjective well-being (satisfaction with life and affect balance). In addition, the findings indicate that both satisfaction with life and affect balance predict a decrease in materialism. Finally, the SEM analyzes show that the path between emotional intelligence and materialism is partially mediated by both satisfaction with life and affect balance.Social implicationsThe results of this study expand the understanding to what extent and how emotional intelligence is able to assist in adjusting materialistic attitudes, which have become more prevalent with the respective growth of consumerism and consumer culture worldwide. In the light of unsustainable consumption patterns threatening the survival of humankind and nature, the opportunities that could reverse this trend are presented for marketers and policy makers. This study gives insight into the potential pathways for diminishing consumer materialism, which is considered detrimental to subjective well-being and mental health.Originality/valueThe relationship between emotional intelligence and subjective well-being has been well documented, as has the link between materialism and subjective well-being. However, the simultaneous examination of the relationship between emotional intelligence, subjective well-being and materialism is lacking. The current study adds to the understanding of materialism not only by examining the effect of under-researched antecedent such as emotional intelligence but also by explaining the underlying mechanism of subjective well-being by which emotional intelligence connects to materialism.

Happiness and pro-environmental consumption behaviors

PurposeThis paper employs the theoretical foundations for subjective well-being to examine the impacts of two underlying dimensions of subjective well-being (psychological well-being and social well-being) on pro-environmental consumption behaviors (PECBs). In this research, the moderating role of exposure to positive environmental messages on media in the relationship between subjective well-being and PECBs is also examined.Design/methodology/approachThis research uses a quantitative research method with data collected from an online survey questionnaire posted in Facebook groups related to PECBs in Vietnam.FindingsPsychological well-being and social well-being are found to be separate significant predictors of PECBs. More importantly, exposure to positive environmental messages on media was found to reinforce the impacts of psychological well-being on PECB but not moderate the relationship between social well-being and PECB.Originality/valueThis research offers a new insight for encouraging PECB from the perspective of subjective well-being. Different from the extant perspectives, which usually examine subjective well-being as a unidimensional antecedent of PECB, the authors highlight that subjective well-being can influence PECB in two separate dimensions. Moreover, this research extends existing literature by accentuating the role of exposure to environmental messages in the association between different types of social well-being and PECB.

Subjective well-being and COVID-19 prevention practices among people living with HIV in Cape Town, South Africa

ABSTRACT COVID-19 poses significant threats to the health of people with underlying chronic conditions, including people living with HIV. The association between subjective well-being and practicing COVID-19 preventive behaviours among people living with HIV is yet to be empirically tested. The objective of the current study was to test the hypothesis that subjective well-being would be associated with engaging in greater COVID-19 preventive behaviours. A sample of 200 women and 72 men (mean age 38.1, SD = 10.4) receiving HIV treatment at a clinic in Cape Town, South Africa completed interview administered surveys of health behaviours and three dimensions of subjective well-being: emotional, social and psychological well-being. Hierarchical regression models were performed to test subjective well-being as predictors of COVID-19 preventive behaviours adjusting for age, sex, education, TB history, antiretroviral therapy adherence, and concern about contracting COVID-19. Results showed that psychological well-being, along with concerns over COVID-19, predicted greater COVID-19 preventive behaviours over and above the other variables in the model, accounting for 9.2% of the variance. Results support incorporating interventions to foster psychological well-being into existing clinical services for people living with HIV to improve clusters of health behaviours.

The influence of self-esteem and (cyber) bullying on adolescents’ well-being: a question of gender?

Subjective well-being consists of a subjective component (life satisfaction) and an affective component (positive and negative affect). Levels of well-being tend to decline during adolescence, which could have physical and mental health consequences. Multiple factors influence adolescent well-being, such as self-esteem, bullying and cyberbullying, as well as gender. In this paper, we study the relationship between self-esteem, bullying (face-to-face and virtual) and the affective dimension of subjective well-being in adolescence, considering the moderating effect of gender. 797 Spanish adolescents between 14 and 18 years old (54.2% girls; Mage=15.5; SD=.68) participated in the study. The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE), the Positive and Negative Experience Scale (SPANE), and Cyberbullying and Peer Bullying Screening were used. Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS 24.0, and EQS 6.4 packages. T-test, bivariate correlations and structural equations (SEM) were performed. The results suggest that girls have lower levels of self-esteem (t = 4.10; p < .001) and well-being (t = 2.46; p < .05) than boys, while boys more often report being bullies (t = 2.67; p < .01) and cyberbullies (t = 2.55; p = .01), as well as victims of bullying (t = 2.16; p < .05). The variables that influence adolescents’ affective well-being are self-esteem and bullying victimization. Gender moderates the influence of self-esteem on well-being. For boys, a negative assessment of themselves impacts their negative affection more strongly than girls [χ²(df)= 15.69(3); p < .001]. These results highlight the need to develop effective prevention and intervention programs to promote the well-being of adolescents, taking gender differences into account. Keywords: well-being; self-esteem; bullying; cyberbullying; adolescence; gender.