Subjective Well-being Scores Research Articles

Enhancing Subjective Well-Being in Taiwanese University Students Through an Eight-Week Mindfulness-Based Program: A Pilot Study

While mindfulness has demonstrated extensive benefits across diverse populations, research on its integration as a formal course and its effects on subjective well-being (SWB), particularly among Taiwanese university students, remains limited. This pilot study examined changes in SWB among 85 Taiwanese university students (61 males, 24 females) following an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Life (MBCT-L) course. Participants included 38 lower-grade (pre-internship) and 47 senior (post-internship) students. SWB was measured using the 29-item Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ), rated on a 6-point Likert scale, and administered before and after the intervention. Results revealed a significant increase in students’ overall SWB scores from 3.69 to 3.92 post-intervention. Although females initially exhibited higher baseline SWB compared to males, no significant sex differences were observed after the course. Score discrepancies between pre- and post-test stages varied across sex and internship status, indicating differential impacts of the MBCT-L course on distinct demographic groups. Additionally, this study validated the reliability of the short version of the OHQ (8 items) for use in similar research contexts. By conducting a formal MBCT-L course for Taiwanese university students, this study provides valuable empirical evidence, contributing to the cross-cultural understanding of mindfulness-based interventions and their effects on SWB.

Are Danes really happier than Swedes and Australians? A comparative analysis of subjective well-being measurement issues in Denmark, Sweden, and Australia

This study examines the reliability of cross-national subjective well-being (SWB) survey data, by corroborating the persistently high SWB-rankings of Denmark through a comparison to Sweden and Australia, two countries with similar or superior social, economic, and health indicators. Our research focuses on both the affective and the cognitive component of SWB, with a special emphasis on the affective component. We investigate four potential measurement issues that could contribute to Denmark’s elevated SWB scores: linguistic inconsistencies in survey translations, variations in answering scale usage, recall bias of affect, and positivity bias in life satisfaction judgments. To address these concerns, we utilize multi-group confirmatory factor analysis, analyse emotion-focused anchoring vignettes, examine affect items across varying time frames, and contrast overall life satisfaction assessments with those of domain-specific satisfaction. Despite accounting for various potential measurement issues, our results reveal that Danes consistently report higher SWB than their Swedish and Australian counterparts, although the differences are small for several of the measures. This finding implies that the SWB survey-data is reliable in this case, and that Denmark's high SWB rankings are not attributable to measurement biases but may indeed signify genuinely high levels of SWB. This paper adds to the growing body of literature on cross-national SWB comparisons and might provide insights for researchers aiming to compare well-being across countries.

Online Learning Self-Efficacy Beliefs Predict Subjective Well-Being of College Students During COVID-19 Pandemic

Online learning self-efficacy is associated with significant psychological outcomes among college students. Nevertheless, research on investigating self-efficacy among college students during COVID-16 pandemic is limited. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of self-efficacy beliefs regarding online learning in predicting subjective well-being of college students. One hundred and sixty-five college students were recruited for the study. Participants completed the Online Learning Self-Efficacy Scale (OLSES), the Subjective Well-Being Scale (SWBS), as well as a socio-demographic information form including items about COVID-19-related anxiety and perceived impact of COVID-19 on daily life. Regression analyses showed that overall self-efficacy predicted the subjective well-being scores. However, only time management subdimension of self-efficacy predicted subjective well-being. Our findings indicate that high levels of self-efficacy beliefs, and, in particular beliefs regarding time management, are associated with elevated levels of subjective well-being among college students. Interventions regarding self-efficacy in online learning environments may aid college students who have lower levels of subjective well-being during COVID-19.

Urban Care for Unpaid Caregivers: Community Voices in the Care Block Program, in Bogotá, Colombia.

The Care Block of Bogotá, Colombia, is an urban program that offers services for low-income unpaid caregivers. This study aimed to (i) characterize unpaid caregivers' subjective well-being, mental health symptoms, physical activity levels, and use of public spaces linked to the Care Block; (ii) identify caregivers' perceived built and social environment facilitators and barriers to accessing the Care Block facility; and (iii) document the community-led advocacy process to improve the Care Block program. The quantitative component included a subjective well-being and mental health symptoms survey, and the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) instrument. The qualitative component included the Our Voice citizen science method augmented with portable virtual reality equipment to engage participants in advocacy for changes. Participants (median age of 53years) dedicated a median of 13.8h a day to unpaid caregiving, had an average subjective well-being score of 7.0, and 19.1% and 23.8% reported having depression and generalized anxiety symptoms respectively. Caregivers reported that the program fosters their perception of purpose, enjoyment, resilience, and cognitive and emotional awareness. SOPARC evaluation showed that most women engaged in moderate to vigorous physical activity. The caregivers highlighted education, physical activity services, and integration of facilities as facilitators to accessing the Care Block program. Poor quality and lack of sidewalks and roads, limited personal safety, and the risk of pedestrian-vehicle collisions were identified as barriers. Virtual Reality sparked compelling dialogue between participants and stakeholders, allowing stakeholders to reflect on an urban program facilitating unpaid care work.

Interest in anime and manga: relationship with (mental) health, social disconnectedness, social joy and subjective well-being

Abstract Aim Our aim was to examine the association between interest in anime and manga and their relationship with (mental) health (in terms of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, health-related quality of life, symptoms of hikikomori), social disconnectedness (in terms of preference for solitude, loneliness, objective social isolation, and perceived social isolation), subjective well-being (in terms of ikigai, life satisfaction, and happiness) and joy (frequency of laughter, and frequency of hugs). Subjects and methods Data were taken from a large sample of the general German adult population aged 18–74 years (n = 4,738 individuals, average age: 46.4 years). Established tools were used to quantify the outcomes. Multiple linear and ordered logistic regressions were used, as appropriate. Results Regressions showed that a higher interest in anime was associated with several adverse mental health and some social disconnectedness outcomes. Contrarily, a higher interest in anime was associated with favorable subjective well-being outcomes, and favorable joy outcomes. Similarly, regressions showed that a higher interest in manga was associated with several adverse (mental) health and some social disconnectedness outcomes. Contrary, it is associated with lower objective social isolation. Moreover, it is not significantly associated with subjective well-being outcomes, but significantly associated with the joy outcome frequency of hugs. Conclusion A higher interest in manga and anime was associated both with negative and positive outcomes. Particularly a higher interest in anime was associated with more favorable subjective well-being scores, laughing and hugging. In this respect, this topic needs to be approached in a very nuanced way.

Developing a machine learning-based instrument for subjective well-being assessment on Weibo and its psychological significance: An evaluative and interpretive research.

Demystifying machine learning (ML) approaches through the synergy of psychology and artificial intelligence can achieve a balance between predictive and explanatory power in model development while enhancing rigor in validation and reporting standards. Accordingly, this study aimed to bridge this research gap by developing a subjective well-being (SWB) prediction model on Weibo, serving as a psychological assessment instrument and explaining the model construction based on psychological knowledge. The model establishment involved the collection of SWB scores and posts from 1,427 valid Weibo users. Multiple machine learning algorithms were employed to train the model and fine-tune its parameters. The optimal model was selected by comparing its criterion validity and split-half reliability performance. Furthermore, SHAP values were calculated to rank the importance of features, which were then used for model interpretation. The criterion validity for the three dimensions of SWB ranged from 0.50 to 0.52 (P< 0.001), and the split-half reliability ranged from 0.94 to 0.96 (P< 0.001). The identified relevant features were related to four main aspects: cultural values, emotions, morality, and time and space. This study expands the application scope of SWB-related psychological theories from a data-driven perspective and provides a theoretical reference for further well-being prediction.

A - 34 Differences in Symptom and Well-Being Report at Initial Post-Injury Concussion Medical Evaluations

Abstract Purpose To investigate differences in subjective symptom report and percentage ratings of subjective well-being (SWB) at initial post-injury concussion medical evaluations in professional football players. Method A retrospective, quasi-experimental design was used for the study. Participants included Canadian Football League players who underwent initial locker room post-injury medical evaluations. CFL concussion protocol requires any player suspected of a concussion to undergo a full evaluation including SCAT5. There were 2 groups including 43 players subsequently diagnosed with concussions who were compared with 22 players not diagnosed with concussion. Data included total symptom score from the SCAT5 and SWB (ratings out of 100%). T-tests and descriptive statistics evaluated differences between groups. Results At baseline, there were no significant differences on ratings of SWB between groups. In contrast, there was a significant difference in ratings of subjective well being between concussed players (M = 75.5%, SD = 19.5) and non concussed players (M = 92.7, SD = 7.7); t(63) = [3.8], p = [0.1]. Furthermore, significant differences on total symptom report from the SCAT5 were identified between concussed players (M = 16.9, SD = 15.4) and non concussed players (M = 3.5, SD = 5.7); t(63) - [3.9], p = [&amp;lt;0.01]. The sensitivity was 85% with a specificity of 63% using a post-injury SWB score of 75%. Conclusions Results indicated that at initial post-injury concussion evaluations, players subsequently diagnosed with concussion have lower SWB. Further research is needed to determine whether this metric would be helpful in the diagnosis of concussion.

Is the Self-Categorization of Social Network Consumption Related to Subjective Well-Being? A Longitudinal Study of Spanish Adolescents

The impact of social network consumption on adolescents’ subjective well-being (SWB) has remained a subject of debate in cross-sectional studies, and the understanding of how changing social network consumption patterns affect SWB over time is even more limited. This study adopts an innovative approach, utilizing various measurement scales to assess adolescents’ SWB alongside the evolution of their SSNC patterns. A four-wave longitudinal study was conducted involving 341 participants aged 9 to 14 from Spain. The findings indicate that as adolescents age, their perception of SSNC increases, while SWB declines over time. Adolescents categorizing themselves as low consumers of social networks consistently exhibited higher SWB scores than those with medium and high consumption levels. Notably, the relationship between SSNC and SWB showed variations depending on the measurement scale used. An analysis of the evolution of social network consumption profiles (SNCPs) revealed four distinct profiles, although these were not linked to changes in SWB over time. Finally, participants with an extreme consumption profile consistently exhibited significantly lower SWB scores. These findings underscore the importance of continuously monitoring social media use and its effects on SWB, especially within subgroups displaying more extreme consumption patterns, an insight that has implications for preventive interventions.

Children with homeostatically maintained and homeostatically defeated subjective well-being in Indonesia

The aims of this study are twofold. First, to explore the characteristics of children with homeostatically maintained and homeostatically defeated (as defined by Cummins 2003; Tomyn et al., 2015) subjective well-being (SWB) in Indonesia, including sociodemographic variables. Second, to investigate variables contributing to the subjective well-being (SWB) each of these two groups of Indonesian children. Homeostatically defeated children were identified based on their SWB scores are 50 or below 50 on a 0-100 scale, following Cummins’ theory of SWB homeostasis, while homeostatically maintained children were identified based on their SWB scores above 50. Participants of this study (N = 14,576; 50.64% girls and 49.36% boys; 96.15% were homeostatically maintained children and 3.85% were homeostatically defeated children) were children 10 and 12-year-olds. A representative sample of the Children’s Worlds survey in West Java Province, Indonesia, collected in October 2017 was used for the analysis here presented. The five items version of the Children’s Worlds Subjective Well-Being Scale (CW-SWBS5) was used as SWB indicator, together with several items to evaluate other SWB aspects (family, friends, school climate, living area, bullying, material deprivation, family economic status, and satisfaction with several other life domains). Cummins’ theory of SWB homeostasis was used to discuss the results. Results showed different contribution of some of the variables on the SWB of children depending if it appeared to be homeostatically maintained or homeostatically defeated. However, satisfaction with safety showed positive contribution to SWB of both homeostatically maintained and homeostatically defeated children. Implication for parents, teachers, government, and policy makers are discussed to assist these children to improve their SWB.

Traditional bullying, cyberbullying, and subjective well-being post-COVID-19 in Indonesia

Previous research has highlighted bullying as a significant issue in Indonesia, with a notable increase in cyberbullying among adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic, adversely affecting their psychological well-being. However, there has been limited discussion on bullying in the post-COVID-19 era. This study has three aims. The first is to examine the subjective well-being (SWB) of children who have either experienced bullying or have not been bullied after the pandemic. The second is to assess the occurrence of both traditional bullying (involving siblings and at school) and cyberbullying in Indonesia following COVID-19. The third aim is to investigate the factors linked to these forms of bullying post-pandemic. The participants were middle school students (N = 943; 57.2% girls, 45.0% in grade 7). The Children's Worlds Subjective Well-Being Scale with five items (CW-SWBS5) was employed to assess children's SWB. Separate measures were utilized for traditional and cyberbullying. Six factors—family, school climate, personal satisfaction, friendships, safety, and social media usage—were analyzed as independent variables using linear regression to determine their impact on bullying forms. The structural equation model (SEM) was applied to evaluate how these bullying types affect SWB. The findings revealed that sibling bullying and cyberbullying significantly influenced children’s SWB, with girls reporting lower SWB scores than boys. Cyberbullying emerged as the most prevalent form of bullying post-pandemic. A positive school climate was found to shield children from bullying. Cummins' theory of well-being homeostasis was employed to interpret the results. This study also discussed implications for educators and parents.

Subjective wellbeing of autistic adolescents and young adults: A cross sectional study.

Subjective wellbeing (SWB) represents an individual's perception of wellness that is supported by homeostatic mechanisms. These mechanisms are proposed to be maintained by low negative affect and high positive affect, although less is known about these mechanisms and SWB in autism. The current cross-sectional study aimed to compare patterns of positive affect, negative affect (Positive Affect and Negative Affect Scale), and SWB (Personal Wellbeing Index-School Children) between autistic (n = 53) and non-autistic (n = 49) individuals aged 10-22 years (Mage = 13.97, SD = 3.13). Between-group t-tests revealed that compared with same-age peers, autistic participants scored lower SWB overall (p < 0.001). In both groups average SWB scores fell into the higher range, however, autistic participants were three-times more likely to fall below this range when compared to non-autistic participants. Negative affect had a higher intercept in the autistic sample, but no difference in slopes were observed. A hierarchical multiple regression revealed that diagnosis, positive affect, and negative affect significantly predicted SWB in our sample. Between-group t-tests found no significant difference in positive affect or negative affect across age between the autistic and non-autistic samples. In autistic participants, positive affect increased across age as SWB decreased, whilst negative affect remained stable, a pattern inconsistent with homeostatic SWB. The current study is overall consistent with the homeostatic explanation for SWB within autism; however, we identified potential differences between autistic and non-autistic participants in the contribution of positive affect and negative affect to homeostatic protect mood across development.

Systematicity of receiving mental health care predicts better subjective well-being of Ukrainians during the second year of the Russian invasion

PurposeThis study aims to develop and test a multivariable psychosocial prediction model of subjective well-being in Ukrainian adults (n = 1,248) 1.5 years after the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.Design/methodology/approachThe research design followed the “Transparent reporting of a multivariable prediction model for individual prognosis or diagnosis” checklist. The online survey combined a questionnaire on sociodemographic characteristics and specifics of living in wartime, as well as validated self-reported inventories: The Modified BBC Subjective Well-being Scale, Acceptance and Action Questionnaire – Version 2 and Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale-10.FindingsThe initially developed model was tested through regression analysis, which revealed nine variables as predictors of the subjective well-being scores within the sample, explaining 49.3% of its variance. Among them, the strongest were living with a friend and receiving mental health care systematically. They were almost twice as influential as forced displacement abroad and trauma exposure, which predicted lower well-being, and living with a spouse, which forecasted higher well-being scores. Two resilience subscales – adjustment and restoring and resistance – as predictors of better well-being and perceived unsuccess in life and age as predictors of lower well-being were relatively weaker but statistically significant.Originality/valueThe obtained results support the previous evidence on the essential role of accessible mental health services and social support in times of war, as well as the deteriorative effect of trauma exposure and forcible taking refuge on subjective well-being.

A Study on the Relationship between Social Support and Subjective Well being of Vocational College Students

The objective of this research is to examine the correlation between social support and subjective well-being among vocational college students using empirical surveys. The intention is to provide a foundation for increasing their mental health and improving their subjective well-being. A total of 375 students from vocational colleges were chosen as participants, and their levels of social support and subjective well-being were assessed by the administration of a questionnaire. The findings indicated a substantial positive correlation between subjective well-being and objective support, subjective support, usage of support, and the overall social support score. (2) Female vocational college students exhibit a notably greater degree of assistance use compared to their male counterparts. There exists a notable disparity in survival rates between students pursuing liberal arts and those studying science in terms of subjective well-being, with science students exhibiting much greater levels of subjective well-being compared to liberal arts students. There are notable variations seen across different grades in terms of objective support, subjective support, usage of support, overall social support score, and subjective well-being. Following the LSD post-test analysis, it was determined that freshman students exhibited significantly lower levels of objective support, subjective support, total social support score, and subjective well-being score compared to students in other grades. On the other hand, sophomore students scored significantly higher than students in other grades in terms of utilization of support. (3) A multiple regression analysis revealed that objective support, subjective support, and usage of support positively predict subjective well-being. This research examines the correlation between social support and subjective well-being and offers empirical evidence and theoretical direction to enhance the subjective well-being of vocational college students via more focused coaching.

Having a tree in front of one’s home is associated with GREATER subjective wellbeing in adult residents in Melbourne, Australia, and Toronto, Canada

While urban trees can be important determinants of human health and wellbeing in world cities, the specific influence of nearby urban trees upon human wellbeing has not been adequately explored. While many studies have associated urban greenery abundance with wellbeing scores, many measures of urban greenery do not specify the type of vegetation or the impact of co-location. Here we fill this gap by associating self-reported measures of the presence of nearby trees (tree in front of one's home) with validated subjective wellbeing (SWB) scores. We also tested for the mediating role of what people thought about trees and nature, with a focus on the values people associate with urban trees and nature relatedness (NR). We used electronic panel survey data based on a demographic and geographical representative sample of more than 3400 residents living in Toronto, Canada, and Melbourne, Australia. We analysed these data using regression-based mediation and path analyses. We found that having a tree in front of one's home was strongly and positively associated with SWB scores in both cities with similar results (Melbourne, β = 0.17, p < 0.05; Toronto, β = 0.18, p < 0.05), while accounting for NR, values associated with urban trees, and demographics (e.g., age, education, home ownership). The mediating role of NR and values was small. The specific pathways of association between tree in front of one's home, SWB, NR, and values, varied by city, when accounting for demographics. We discuss how increasing the abundance of nearby urban trees in cities may also increase human wellbeing.

Effects of Income on Subjective Well-Being in the Elderly: Complete Mediation Roles of Self-Rated Health and Psychological Capital.

Although income and living conditions of residents have greatly improved in recent years, people's subjective well-being does not seem to increase daily. This study aimed to explore income, self-rated health, and psychological capital on subjective well-being, using data from the China General Social Survey conducted in 2017. A total of 1136 elderly as subsamples data were selected from 12 582 participants, involving general sociodemographic characteristics, income, self-rated health, psychological capital, and subjective well-being. SPSS v26.0 macro was used for descriptive statistics, ANOVA and correlation analysis. PROCESS v3.4 macro was performed to examine multiple mediating effects of self-rated health and psychological capital. The elderly residing in urban (P = .016) and having completed 9-year compulsory education (P = .016) reported higher subjective well-being scores. The findings revealed that subjective well-being was positively associated with income, health, and psychological capital among the aged adults (all P < .001). Self-rated health and psychological capital played complete mediation roles between income and subjective well-being (Effect indirect = 0.040, 95% bootstrap CI [0.022, 0.060]; Effect indirect = 0.027, 95% bootstrap CI [0.013, 0.044], respectively). Collectively, our findings indicate that residing in rural and having lower education levels serve as negative predictors of subjective well-being among the elderly. Although income still affects the elderly's subjective well-being, self-rated health and psychological capital may be the crucial mediating factors. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to improve health conditions and positive psychological capital for subjective well-being of the older people.

A Community-Based Intervention to Enhance Subjective Well-Being in Older Adults: Study Design and Baseline Participant Profiles

Promoting subjective well-being is a crucial challenge in aging societies. In 2022, we launched a community-based intervention trial (the Chofu-Digital-Choju Movement). This initiative centered on fostering in-person and online social connections to enhance the subjective well-being of older adults. This paper describes the study design and baseline survey. This quasi-experimental study involved community-dwelling older adults aged 65–84 years in Chofu City, Tokyo, Japan. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 3742 residents (1681 men and 2061 women), and a baseline survey was conducted in January 2022. We assessed subjective well-being (primary outcome); psychosocial, physical, and dietary factors; and the use of information and communication technology variables (secondary outcomes) among the participants. After the intervention involving online classes, community hubs, and community events, a 2-year follow-up survey will be conducted to evaluate the effects of the intervention, comparing the intervention group (participants) with the control group (non-participants). We received 2503 questionnaires (66.9% response rate); of these, the analysis included 2343 questionnaires (62.6% valid response rate; mean age, 74.4 (standard deviation, 5.4) years; 43.7% male). The mean subjective well-being score was 7.2 (standard deviation, 1.9). This study will contribute to the development of a prototype subjective well-being strategy for older adults.

Bem-Estar Subjetivo em Idosos e Adultos Jovens Portugueses: A Influência da Participação Social

Abstract This study aims to compare the Subjective Well-being (SWB) in older and younger adults and its predictors based on perceived past and current life, problems, social participation and social support activities, with a convenience sample composed of 467 older and 519 younger adults. Older adults showed lower scores of SWB and perceived good life, associated with higher past and current health and family problems. Younger adults reported more past and current love problems, negatively predicting SWB. Social participation and support activities predicted SWB only among older adults. Older and younger adults’ life circumstances produce differences in SWB. Social participation and support activities can promote SWB in older adults, acting as a buffer against the constraints and self-perceptions resulting from aging.

Children’s Experiences of Bullying Victimization and the Influence on Their Subjective Well-Being: a Population-Based Study

Bullying is both a major public health concern and a violation of children’s right to safety from violence. Within the past decade, there has been an increasing interest in the relation between bullying and children’s subjective well-being (SWB). Empirical research has unequivocally demonstrated the significant negative influence of bullying on children’s SWB. Within the South African context, violence and aggressive behaviour is widespread. The high prevalence of school bullying in South Africa is intricately related to the intergenerational experiences of violence, rooted in the history of racism, prejudice, oppression, exclusion, and the discriminatory practices of apartheid. However, there are limited large-scale studies that explores the relation between bullying victimization and children’s SWB. The current study, uses a population-based sample to explore the relation between bullying victimization and children’s SWB in South Africa, across provincial regions (nine provinces), age (10 - and 12-years), gender (boys and girls), geographical context (urban and rural), and socio-economic status (low, lower-middle, and middle socio-economic status). The study uses Subjective Well-Being Homeostasis Theory to frame and interpret the findings. We found a significant negative relationship between bullying victimization and children’s SWB. The combined influence of being hit, called unkind names and socially excluded explained 6 % of the variance in SWB for the overall sample, with some variation across provincial region, age groups, gender, geographical context, and socio-economic status. The study further found that increased incidences of bullying experiences were associated with lower mean scores of SWB. Finally, the study found that even though the different forms of bullying victimization have a significant negative influence on children’s SWB, the homeostatic mechanism is potentially mediating this influence and maintaining levels of SWB.

Associations between activities of daily living, leisure activities and subjective well-being in Chinese older adults.

The study aimed to explore the internal pathway of the association between activities of daily living and subjective well-being among Chinese older adults using a large and representative sample. There is still a lack of systematic investigation into the association between activities of daily living and subjective well-being among Chinese older adults. The study included 10 578 participants from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. We applied multiple linear regression analysis and Spearman correlation analysis to examine the association between activities of daily living and subjective well-being and PROCESS macro to determine the mediating effect of leisure activities on the relationship between them. The mean total score of subjective well-being was 30.5 ± 4.4. The prevalence of basic activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living limitations was 18.0% and 60.8%, respectively. Correlation analysis showed that activities of daily living score were negatively correlated with subjective well-being. Leisure activities were positively correlated with subjective well-being. The effect of instrumental activities of daily living on subjective well-being was partially mediated by leisure activities and leisure activities completely mediated the association between basic activities of daily living and subjective well-being. The effect of instrumental activities of daily living on subjective well-being was partially mediated by leisure activities and leisure activities completely mediated the association between basic activities of daily living and subjective well-being.

Subjective Wellbeing, Work Performance and Lived Experience of Zanzibari Women Entrepreneurs with Uncorrected Functional Presbyopia: A Pre-Post Mixed-Methods Study

ABSTRACT Purpose Uncorrected presbyopia has been shown to reduce Zanzibari women’s quality of life. In this mixed-methods study, we examined the subjective wellbeing and self-reported work performance among older women entrepreneurs with functional presbyopia before and shortly after correction, and how poor vision at close distance affected their daily lives. Methods Women entrepreneurs underwent eye examination to identify those with uncorrected functional presbyopia. Their subjective wellbeing and work performance were both measured in Cantril’s ladder. Ready-made glasses were then provided and 30 minutes to an hour later, their subjective wellbeing and work performance was remeasured. Twenty women entrepreneurs were interviewed to understand their lived experience with uncorrected presbyopia. Results Two-hundred-seventeen women entrepreneurs were included in the survey (mean age 51.6 years, SD 8.64). Women entrepreneurs had a mean subjective wellbeing score of 3.32 (SD 1.10) pre-correction and 5.99 (SD 1.13) post-correction (p < .001), and a mean self-rated current work performance score of 4.62 (SD 1.36) before correction and 5.47 (SD 1.35) post-correction (p < .001). One-hundred-and-ninety (87.6%) and 121 women entrepreneurs (55.8%) rated their current subjective wellbeing and work performance scores < 5, respectively. Around 1/4 of women entrepreneurs reported having severe difficulties with near tasks. Conclusion Poor vision at a close distance caused by uncorrected functional presbyopia negatively affected economic, physical and psychosocial aspects of women entrepreneurs’ lives. Subjective wellbeing and self-reported work productivity scores improved significantly shortly after presbyopia was corrected. More research with longer follow-up is needed to understand the full benefits of correcting presbyopia.