scholarly journals Explaining Cross-National Differences in Social Background Effects: What Have We Learned?

2021 ◽  
pp. 155-171
Author(s):  
Aart C. Liefbroer
Keyword(s):  
Young Adulthood ◽  
Social Background ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Demographic Research ◽  
Methodological Challenges ◽  
National Differences ◽  
Future Challenges ◽  
Childhood Disadvantage ◽  
Cross National

AbstractThis chapter provides an overview of economic, cultural and institutional narratives capable of explaining cross-national variation in the consequences of childhood disadvantage for socio-demographic outcomes in adulthood. However, testing these explanations is often hard, given a series of methodological challenges. Next, the ways in which the Contexts of Opportunity Project has tackled these challenges and its key results are presented. Childhood disadvantage has pervasive consequences for demographic outcomes in young adulthood and socio-economic and well-being outcomes in later adulthood. Strong cross-national variation in the strength of these relationships is observed, though. Childhood disadvantage often seems to have weaker consequences in more individualized societies. The chapter concludes with a discussion of future challenges for demographic research on cross-national differences.

scholarly journals Social Background and Adult Socio-Demographic Outcomes in a Cross-National Comparative Perspective: An Introduction

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Aart C. Liefbroer ◽  
Mioara Zoutewelle-Terovan
Keyword(s):  
Young Adulthood ◽  
Social Deprivation ◽  
Social Background ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Adverse Impact ◽  
Comparative Perspective ◽  
Individual Choice ◽  
Individual Preferences ◽  
Childhood Disadvantage ◽  
Cross National

AbstractAn individual choice paradigm, focusing on individual preferences and values, has long dominated our understanding of socio-demographic outcomes. Recently, a trend towards an unequal choice paradigm, stressing how inequality in opportunities structures socio-demographic outcomes, is observed. This chapter outlines these changes and argues for a comparative perspective to examine how childhood disadvantage impacts these socio-demographic outcomes. The expectation is that the consequences of childhood disadvantage for demographic outcomes in young adulthood and for socio-economic and well-being outcomes in middle and late adulthood depend on the opportunities that national contexts offer to abate the adverse impact of economic and social deprivation. Subsequently, all chapters of the book are briefly introduced and their contribution to understanding this key issue is discussed.

scholarly journals Satisfaction with life among university students from nine countries: Cross-national study during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleksandra M. Rogowska ◽  
Dominika Ochnik ◽  
Cezary Kuśnierz ◽  
Monika Jakubiak ◽  
Astrid Schütz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
University Students ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Satisfaction With Life ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Other ◽  
National Study ◽  
National Differences ◽  
Cross National

Abstract Background A cross-sectional study was performed to examine life satisfaction differences between university students from nine countries during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-national comparison of the association between life satisfaction and a set of variables was also conducted. Methods Participants in the study were 2349 university students with a mean age of 23 years (M = 23.15, SD = 4.66). There was a predominance of women (69.26%) and individuals studying at the bachelor level (78%). The research was conducted between May and July 2020 in nine countries: Slovenia (n=209), the Czech Republic (Czechia)(n=308), Germany (n=267), Poland (n=301), Ukraine (n=310), Russia (n=285), Turkey (n=310), Israel (n=199), and Colombia (n=153). Participants completed an online survey involving measures of satisfaction with life (SWLS), exposure to COVID-19, perceived negative impact of coronavirus (PNIC) on students' well-being, general self-reported health (GSRH), physical activity (PA), and some demographics (gender, place of residence, level of study). A one-way ANOVA was used to explore cross-national differences in life satisfaction. The χ2 independence test was performed separately in each country to examine associations between life satisfaction and other variables. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to identify life satisfaction predictors among a set of demographic and health-related variables in each of the nine countries. Results The level of life satisfaction varied between university students from the nine countries. The results for life satisfaction and the other variables differed between countries. Numerous associations were noted between satisfaction with life and several variables, and these showed cross-national differences. Distinct predictors of life satisfaction were observed for each country. However, poor self-rated physical health was a predictor of low life satisfaction independent of the country. Conclusions The association between life satisfaction and subjective assessment of physical health seems to be universal, while the other variables are related to cross-cultural differences. Special public health attention should be focused on psychologically supporting people who do not feel healthy.

scholarly journals Does Education Matter for the Relationship between Healthcare Use for Serious Health Problems and Well-being? A Study in 24 Countries

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 1136-1150
Author(s):  
Rania F. Valeeva
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
European Social Survey ◽  
Healthcare Use ◽  
Social Survey ◽  
National Differences ◽  
Multiple Regression Models ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Cross National

Previous research has shown that the well-being of people in Western societies varies consistently. To understand these differences, we focus on the relationship between healthcare use and well-being, since previous research has shown that poor health and lack of social support reduce well-being. Based on the findings of the previous research, we hypothesize that there is a positive relationship between healthcare use and well-being, and that the strength of this relationship increases with the years of schooling. We tested these hypotheses in 24 countries using data (N = 40,249) from the European Social Survey. The data were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression models. Our results indicate cross-national differences in the relationship between healthcare use for serious health problems and well-being. Moreover, they suggest that the extent of education matters for this relationship, however its influence differs across countries. Further research is needed to explain these cross-national differences.

Cross-national differences in the prevalence of mental illness symptoms: Evidence against the vulnerability paradox

2021 ◽  
pp. 000486742199878
Author(s):  
Anthony F Jorm ◽  
Roger T Mulder
Keyword(s):  
Gross Domestic Product ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Vulnerability Index ◽  
Domestic Product ◽  
Suicide Mortality ◽  
Mortality Data ◽  
National Differences ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Cross National

Objectives: The vulnerability paradox refers to the observation that greater vulnerability is associated with higher prevalence of mental disorder at the individual level, but lower prevalence at the country level. The paradox is supported by studies estimating prevalence using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview and by suicide mortality data. However, cross-national studies using single-item measures of subjective well-being find no evidence of a paradox, with vulnerability being associated with lower well-being at both the individual and country levels. These findings suggest the potential usefulness of simple indicators for studying cross-national differences. In this study, we investigated the vulnerability paradox using cross-national data on the prevalence of three symptoms that indicate depression or anxiety: unhappiness, sadness and worry. Methods: The data on prevalence of unhappiness were taken from 77 countries in the World Values Survey 2017–2020 and data on prevalence of sadness and worry from 142 countries in the Gallup World Poll in 2018. Country vulnerability was measured by the Vulnerability Index and gross domestic product per capita. The data were analyzed using random-effects meta-analysis, with vulnerability measures as moderator variables. Results: For all three symptoms, prevalence was associated with higher Vulnerability Index and lower gross domestic product per capita. When both moderators were entered in meta-regressions, there were significant associations for the Vulnerability Index, but not for gross domestic product per capita. Conclusion: These findings are inconsistent with the vulnerability paradox. They underscore that reducing mental disorders should be a priority in poorer nations and that further economic and social development may be an important contributor to achieving this.

Dimensions of national culture as predictors of cross-national differences in subjective well-being

1997 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Willem A. Arrindell ◽  
Chryse Hatzichristou ◽  
Jeroen Wensink ◽  
Ellen Rosenberg ◽  
Björn van Twillert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
National Culture ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
National Differences ◽  
Cross National

scholarly journals Rewarding Work: Cross-National Differences in Benefits, Volunteering During Unemployment, Well-Being and Mental Health

2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daiga Kamerāde ◽  
Matthew R Bennett
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Unemployment Benefits ◽  
Voluntary Work ◽  
Voluntary Activity ◽  
Unemployed People ◽  
Individual Agency ◽  
National Differences ◽  
Mental Health Effects ◽  
Cross National

Owing to increasing labour market flexibilization, a growing number of people are likely to experience unemployment and, as a consequence, lower mental health and well-being. This article examines cross-national differences in well-being and mental health between unemployed people who engage in voluntary work and those who do not, using multilevel data from the European Quality of Life Survey on unemployed individuals in 29 European countries and other external sources. This article finds that, regardless of their voluntary activity, unemployed people have higher levels of well-being and mental health in countries with more generous unemployment benefits. Unexpectedly, the results also suggest that regular volunteering can actually be detrimental for mental health in countries with less generous unemployment benefits. This article concludes that individual agency exercised through voluntary work can partially improve well-being but the generosity of unemployment benefits is vital for alleviating the negative mental health effects of unemployment.

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