370 likes | 552 Views
On the fifth anniversary of the Australian Unity Wellbeing Index: what have we learned about subjective wellbeing?. Robert A. Cummins Jacqui Woerner Adrian J. Tomyn T’Meika Knapp Adele M Gibson Australian Centre on Quality of Life Deakin University and Anna L.D Lau
E N D
On the fifth anniversary of the Australian Unity Wellbeing Index: what have we learned about subjective wellbeing? Robert A. Cummins Jacqui Woerner Adrian J. Tomyn T’Meika Knapp Adele M Gibson Australian Centre on Quality of Life Deakin University and Anna L.D Lau Department of Rehabilitation Sciences Hong Kong Polytechnic University This manuscript contains notes below each slide. To view these notes, open in Powerpoint , go to ‘View’, and click on ‘Notes Page’ Australian Centre on Quality of Life http://www.deakin.edu.au/research/acqol
Objective Conditions e.g. Physical health Subjective Perceptions e.g. Satisfaction with health Subjective Wellbeing Objective QOL Quality of Life ?
www.vermontdairy.com/ice_cream Two kinds of ‘happiness’ Short-term ‘state’ happiness An emotional response to something Enduring ‘trait’ happiness/contentment A mood with a genetic basis Subjective wellbeing
What is subjective wellbeing? A normally positive state of mind that involves the whole life experience
Personal Wellbeing Index International Wellbeing Group (2006) http://www.deakin.edu.au/research/acqol • Standard of living • Health • Achieving in life • Relationships • Safety • Community connectedness • Future security ( SWB ) “How satisfied are you with your -----?”
The Australian Unity Wellbeing Index Surveys Geographically representative national sample N = 2,000 Telephone interview #1: April 2001 ------------ #16: Oct 2006
How satisfied are you with your --------? [Jones and Thurstone ,1955] 11-point, end-defined scale Completely Dissatisfied Completely Satisfied Mixed
We code all data to lie on a range from Complete dissatisfaction Complete satisfaction 0 100
77 >S11 76 >S2, S4, S5 Scores above this line are significantly higher than S1 75 Strength of satisfaction 74 73 Major events preceding survey Sept Bali Pre-Iraq Hussein Athens Asian Second New 11 Bomb War deposed Olympics Tsunami Bali IR Bomb Laws Survey date S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10 S11 S12 S13 S14 S15 S16 Apr Sept Mar Aug Nov Mar Jun Aug Nov Feb May Aug Dec May Oct March May Oct 2001 2001 2002 02 02 03 03 03 03 04 04 04 04 05 05 06 06 06 Personal Wellbeing Index
Satisfaction with feeling part of your Community >S4, S5, S11 >S1
63 61 Strength of 59 satisfaction 57 55 S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10 S11 S12 S13 S14 S15 S16 Apr Sept Mar Aug Nov Mar Jun Aug Nov Feb May Aug May Oct May Oct 2001 2001 2002 2002 2002 2003 2003 2003 2003 2004 2004 2004 2005 2005 2006 2006 Satisfaction with theState of the Natural Environment >S5 >S1 <S1 Intense media coverage of ‘global warming’
64 >S10 62 >S1 Strength of satisfaction 60 58 S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10 S11 S12 S13 S14 S15 S16 Apr Sept Mar Aug Nov Mar Jun Aug Nov Feb May Aug May Oct May Oct 2001 2001 2002 2002 2002 2003 2003 2003 2003 2004 2004 2004 2005 2005 2006 2006 Introduction of new anti-union industrial relations laws Satisfaction with the Social Conditions
60 >S5,6,7,8,9 58 56 >S3,4 Strength of satisfaction 54 Government Re-elected 52 Government Re-elected 50 S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10 S11 S12 S13 S14 S15 S16 Apr Sept Nov Mar Aug Nov Mar Jun Aug Nov Feb May Aug Oct Jan May Oct May Oct 2001 2001 2001 2002 2002 2002 2003 2003 2003 2003 2004 2004 2004 2004 2005 2005 2005 2006 2006 September 11 Bail Bombing Post Iraq War Olympics Tsunami Satisfaction with Government
Subjective wellbeing homeostasis In a manner analogous to the homeostatic maintenance of body temperature, we propose a psychological/neurological homeostatic system that functions to hold subjective wellbeing steady.
Each person (cat) has a set-point for their subjective wellbeing. http://kenpope.com/jacob/hi.jpg 90 The average set-point Set-point range 75 60 Time http://www.mypethaven.com/Images/sad%20cat.gif
http://kenpope.com/jacob/hi.jpg Each person (cat) has a set-point for their subjective wellbeing. 90 The average set-point Set-point range 75 60 When nothing much is happening to them, People (and cats?) rate how they feel about their life in terms of their set-point for SWB Time http://www.mypethaven.com/Images/sad%20cat.gif
Subjective wellbeing Bad stuff Challenging wellbeing Depression
X Subjective wellbeing Bad stuff Protective resources (eg. money, relationships,) Protecting wellbeing √ External resources help to protect wellbeing against negative challenges
Income and subjective wellbeing 81 Total N ≈ 30,000 80 79.2 * 79 78.3 78.0 * 78 76.5 77 Subjective wellbeing * 76.3 76 * 74.9 75 Normal Range 73.9 74 73.0 73 71.7 72 71 <$15 $15-30 $31-60 $61-90 $91-120 $121-150 $150+ Median Household Income ($'000)
Does money buy a better life? “Has something happened to you recently causing you to feel happier or sadder than normal?”
Happy event 35 Sad event 32.4 29.5 30 28.2 26.1 26.0 % 25 reporting 24.8 25.1 an 22.9 20 event 21.3 17.6 15 10 <$15 $15-30 $30-60 $60-90 $90+ Household Income ($'000) Does money buy a better life?
80 78.3 78 77.3 77.0 76.9 76 76.3 75.3 75.0 74.9 Normative Range 73.8 74 73.0 72.2 SWB 72 71.1 70.6 70.3 Depression 70 risk 67.6 68 66 Partner Partner Partner Partner Parents Partner, Partner Parents Alone Other Sole Parents Other and only and children and children and only adults parents and adults parents children and children and other other and other parents adults adults children adults Household Structure and SWB Living with a partner Living without a partner
Living with Partner only 81 80 79.1 79.1 79 77.4 78 77.3 77.4 76.5 77 76.7 75.4 76 Normative Range 75 74 Subjective Wellbeing 73.4 73 72 71 70 69 68 67 66 65 64 63 62 <$15 $15-$30 $31-$60 $61-$90 $91-$120 $121-$150 $150+ Household Income ($'000) Money and Relationships are additive external resources
Partner only 81 Partner & children 80.7 80 79.1 78.9 79.1 79 77.4 78 77.3 78.2 77.4 76.5 77 77.3 76.7 75.4 76 75.9 Normative Range 75 74 72.6 73.4 73 Subjective Wellbeing 72 71 70.3 70 69 68 67 66 65 64 63 62 <$15 $15-$30 $31-$60 $61-$90 $91-$120 $121-$150 $150+ Household Income ($'000)
Partner only Partner & children 81 Sole parent 80.7 80 79.1 78.9 79.1 79 77.4 78 77.3 78.2 77.4 76.5 77 77.3 76.7 76.5 75.4 76 76.3 75.9 Normative Range 75 74 72.6 73.4 Subjective Wellbeing 73 72 71 70.1 70.3 70 69 69.6 68 67 66 65 64.1 64 63 62 <$15 $15-$30 $31-$60 $61-$90 $91-$120 $121-$150 $150+ Household Income ($'000)
84.4 85 80 76.0 75.4 75 Strength of support 70 67.5 65 60 55.2 55 50 Partner Family Friends Friends Professional (work) (general) How much supportdo you receive from----? Source of support
Partner 84 Family 82.6 83 Friends (work) 81.9 81.9 82 Friends (general) 81 80.4 80 Professional 79.2 79 80.1 78 77.7 77.7 77 76.2 76.3 76.1 76 74.9 75.6 75.1 74.3 75 Subjective wellbeing Normative range 74 74.7 74.5 74.4 73.7 73.8 73.0 72.5 73 72.8 72.0 71.7 72.3 72 71.4 71.4 71.5 71 71.0 70.2 70.1 70 69.9 68.9 69.2 69.8 69.2 69 69.0 67.6 68 67.5 67.4 67 66.8 66.2 66 64.9 65.7 65 64 63.8 63 62.8 62 61 60 10 9 8 7 6 5 (4 + 3) (2 + 1) 0 Level of support Is receiving support always good for wellbeing?
Level of Support from partner Never married 72.0 Live alone 70.6
Level of support from partner Never married 72.0 Live alone 70.6 80% (51%) (15%) (14%)
Where is wellbeing higher? In the city? http://www.topics-mag.com/edition21/images-life/city.jpg or in the country? http://www.gov.sk.ca/images/sask-photos/album/1121622170.19374.196546232.jpg
New South Wales Above average Average Below average
Victoria Above average Average Below average
Conclusions • The Australian Unity Wellbeing Index provides a unique view of the Australian population. It remains the only index in the world monitoring the subjective wellbeing of a population using a standardized instrument. • The differences in subjective wellbeing can be interpreted in terms of Homeostatic Theory and point to the importance of wealth and relationships as buffers against challenging living conditions • There are significant geographical difference in subjective wellbeing across Australia • The results from the Index can be used to inform policy in relation to issues of national importance • We anticipate that the Index will continue to develop and advance our understanding of how we might increase the life quality of all Australians
References Cummins, R.A. (1995). On the trail of the gold standard for life satisfaction. Social Indicators Research, 35, 179-200. Cummins, R.A. (1998). The second approximation to an international standard of life satisfaction. Social Indicators Research, 43, 307-334. Cummins, R.A. (2000a). Objective and subjective quality of life: An interactive model. Social Indicators Research, 52, 55-72. Cummins, R.A. (2000b). Personal income and subjective well-being: A review. Journal of Happiness Studies, 1, 133-158. Cummins, R.A. (2006). Australian Unity Wellbeing Index: Report 14.1 – “Fifth Anniversary Special Report – Summarising the major findings”. Melbourne: Australian Centre on Quality of Life, School of Psychology, Deakin University. ISBN 1 74156 0454 http://www.deakin.edu.au/research/acqol/index_wellbeing/index.htm Cummins, R.A. & Gullone, E. (2000). Why we should not use 5-point Likert scales: The case for subjective quality of life measurement. Proceedings, Second International Conference on Quality of Life in Cities (pp. 74-93). Singapore: National University of Singapore. Cummins, R.A., & Nistico, H. (2002). Maintaining life satisfaction: The role of positive cognitive bias. Journal of Happiness Studies, 3, 37-69. Cummins, R.A., Gullone, E. & Lau, A. L. D. (2002). A model of subjective well being homeostasis: The role of personality . In: E. Gullone & R.A. Cummins (Eds.), The universality of subjective wellbeing indicators: Social Indicators Research Series (pp. 7-46). Dordrecht: Kluwer. Cummins, R.A., Eckersley, R. Pallant, J. Van Vugt, J, & Misajon, R. (2003). Developing a national index of subjective wellbeing: The Australian Unity Wellbeing Index. Social Indicators Research, 64, 159-190. Cummins, R.A., Davern, M., Okerstrom, E., Lo, S.K., & Eckersley, R. (2005a). Australian Unity Wellbeing Index: Report 12.1 – “Special Report on City and Country Living”. Melbourne: Australian Centre on Quality of Life, School of Psychology, Deakin University. ISBN 1 74156 004 7
References Cummins, R.A., Knapp, T., Woerner, J., Walter, J. & Page, K.(2005b). Australian Unity Wellbeing Index: Report 13.1 – “The Personal Wellbeing of Australians Living within Federal Electoral Divisions”. Melbourne: Australian Centre on Quality of Life, School of Psychology, Deakin University. ISBN 1 7415 6025 X Davern, M., Cummins, R.A. & Stokes, M (2007). Subjective wellbeing as an affective/cognitive construct. Journal of Happiness Studies (in press) Diener, E. (2006) Guidelines for national indicators of subjective well-being and ill-being. Journal of Happiness Studies, 7, 397 – 404. Hanestad, B. R., & Albrektsen, G. (1992) The stability of quality of life experience in people with Type 1 diabetes over a period of a year. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 17, 777-784. Headey, B., & Wearing, A. (1989) Personality, life events, and subjective well-being: Toward a dynamic equilibrium model. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57, 731-739. IWBG (2006) International Wellbeing Group: Personal Wellbeing Index.http://www.deakin.edu.au/research/acqol/instruments/wellbeing_index.htm (accessed 06/01/07) Jones, L.V., & Thurstone, L.L. (1955). The psychophysics of semantics: An experimental investigation. The Journal of Applied Psychology, 39(1), 31-36. Juvenal (55 AD - 127 AD), Roman poet & satirist. http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/29034.html (accessed 05/01/07) Rothbaum, F., Weisz, J.R., & Snyder, S.S. (1982) Changing the world and changing the self: A two-process model of perceived control. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 42, 5-37.