An Empirical Study of Happiness in Italy

2008 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincenzo Scoppa ◽  
Michela Ponzo
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Relative Income ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Demographic Characteristics ◽  
Economic Conditions ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Limited Impact ◽  
Large Cities ◽  
Subjective Evaluations ◽  
Public Transfers

Abstract This study analyzes the determinants of individual subjective well-being (happiness) in Italy by estimating microeconometric happiness equations in order to examine the effects of socio-demographic characteristics and economic conditions on subjective evaluations of happiness. Consistent with the findings in other advanced countries we find that income and wealth increase happiness and that unemployment is extremely bad for subjective well-being. In addition, we obtain some novel and interesting results for Italy including the following: income obtained by public transfers has a limited impact on subjective well-being; education increases happiness, even when controlling for income; Southern residents and individuals living in large cities are less happy; and social capital makes people happier. Finally, individuals care about relative income, in the sense that their happiness is negatively influenced by the income of others in their group of reference. Our results show that several non-economic variables are extremely important for subjective well-being.

scholarly journals The Influence of Income and Social Capital on the Subjective Well-Being of Elderly Chinese People, Based on a Panel Survey

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 4786 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junhong Zhu ◽  
Changyong Liang ◽  
Jeffery Lucas ◽  
Wenjuan Cheng ◽  
Zhaoyang Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Social Trust ◽  
Relative Income ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Negative Influence ◽  
Rural Elderly ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Chinese Government ◽  
Subjective Well Being

China has undergone many economic changes in the past four decades, and has seen an imbalance in economic development between rural and urban regions. Meanwhile, it also has an aging population. Using panel data on 3590 elderly residents aged between 60 and 95 in 28 provinces in China in 2015, this study explored older adults’ subjective well-being in terms of income, relative income, and social capital. The ordinary least square (OLS) regression results showed that the effect of actual income on subjective well-being was weak, and relative income and social capital had a significant effect on the happiness of urban and rural residents; however, there were substantial differences between urban and rural areas associated with economic inequality, social context, social security, and demographic characteristics. Expanding income inequality is contributing to decreased happiness of the rural elderly, while higher social trust and social interaction mitigate this negative influence. This paper also verified that relative income has a mediating or moderating effect on income and the subjective well-being of urban and rural elderly people. The evidence indicates that the Chinese government should pay more attention to reducing the income gap between and within urban and rural groups, and take advantage of social capital to improve the subjective well-being of the elderly population.

scholarly journals The social context of well–being

2004 ◽  
Vol 359 (1449) ◽  
pp. 1435-1446 ◽  
Author(s):  
John F. Helliwell ◽  
Robert D. Putnam
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Context ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Marriage And Family ◽  
Family Ties ◽  
Subjective Evaluations ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Us ◽  
Community Ties

Large samples of data from the World Values Survey, the US Benchmark Survey and a comparable Canadian survey are used to estimate equations designed to explore the social context of subjective evaluations of well–being, of happiness, and of health. Social capital, as measured by the strength of family, neighbourhood, religious and community ties, is found to support both physical health and subjective well–being. Our new evidence confirms that social capital is strongly linked to subjective well–being through many independent channels and in several different forms. Marriage and family, ties to friends and neighbours, workplace ties, civic engagement (both individually and collectively), trustworthiness and trust: all appear independently and robustly related to happiness and life satisfaction, both directly and through their impact on health.

scholarly journals Subjectively Evaluated Effects of Domestic Violence on Well-Being in Clinical Populations

ISRN Nursing ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marika Poutiainen ◽  
Juha Holma
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Early Identification ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Life Management ◽  
Subjective Evaluations ◽  
Sense Of Security ◽  
Routine Inquiry

Effects of domestic violence are reflected in victims' physical, psychological, and sexual health as well as in victims' subjective evaluations of health or subjective well-being. The principal aim of this study was to study the extent to which the consequences of domestic violence are reflected in patients' subjectively evaluated well-being, life management, and sense of security in an emergency department, a maternity department, and a reception unit of a psychiatric hospital. A questionnaire on the effects of domestic violence was administered to 530 patients. 61 patients reported either current or previous domestic violence that affected their current well-being and life management. Domestic violence was reported to have an effect on subjective well-being and sense of security: the more recent or frequent the experience of violence was, the greater was considered its impact on well-being and sense of security. Routine inquiry can uncover hidden cases of abuse and hence would be of great benefit in the healthcare context. Early identification of abuse victims can prevent further harm caused by violence.

scholarly journals RE-examining the Effect of Online Social Support on Subjective Well-Being: The Moderating Role of Experience

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 88
Author(s):  
Meng-Hsiang Hsu ◽  
Chun-Ming Chang ◽  
Shing-Ling Wu
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Online Support ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Levels Of Use ◽  
Moderating Role

Building upon the perspectives of social capital theory, social support, and experience, this study developed a theoretical model to investigate the determinants of subjective well-being on social media. This study also examined the moderating role of experience on the relationship between subjective well-being and social support. Data collected from 267 social media users in Taiwan were used to test the proposed model. Structural equation modeling analysis was used to test the measurement model and the structural model. The findings reveal that receiving online support and providing online support are the key predictors of subjective well-being. Furthermore, social capital positively influences the reception and provision of online support. Finally, providing online support has a significant effect on the subjective well-being of users with low levels of use experience, while receiving online support exerts a stronger influence on the subjective well-being of users with high levels of use experience.

scholarly journals Living in the Restoration Public Housing after the Great East Japan Earthquake Correlates with Lower Subjective Well-Being of Older Adults

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (15) ◽  
pp. 2696 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moriyama ◽  
Iwasa ◽  
Tsubokura ◽  
Kuroda ◽  
Yasumura
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Public Housing ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Health Indicators ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Great East Japan Earthquake ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Functional Health ◽  
World Health ◽  
Subjective Well Being

We aimed to (1) describe the subjective well-being (SWB) of older residents in Fukushima Prefecture seven years and seven months after the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE) and examine the effect of relocation to the restoration public housing (RPH) on SWB, social capital, and health indicators; and (2) investigate the association between social capital and SWB. Questionnaires were administered to collect data of both RPH and non-RPH residents (≥65 years). Respondents’ SWB was collected via the Japanese version of the World Health Organization Five Well-Being Index. Additionally, residents’ social capital (trust, reciprocity, and participation), physical activity level, social network, functional health, history of chronic disease, and demographic data were collected. We analyzed 101 responses (valid response rate: approximately 34%) from RPH and 158 (53%) from non-RPH residents. SWB was lower in RPH compared to non-RPH residents but not statistically significant. Older RPH residents may demonstrate lower social capital and health indicators after the GEJE. Mistrust was found to be positively associated with low SWB in RPH residents. Future studies should examine the effectiveness of support for enhancing the trust of older RPH residents regarding, for example, the involvement of scientists—including medical professionals—in risk communications in promoting SWB.

scholarly journals Social Capital, Well-Being and Municipality: Salaspils Municipality (Latvia) Case

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-75
Author(s):  
Inga Jēkabsone ◽  
Biruta Sloka
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Theoretical Background ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Political Sciences ◽  
Participatory Techniques ◽  
The Social ◽  
Wide Range

Abstract During the last three decades, social capital has gained prominence throughout the social sciences. The concepts has been analysed in various manners (from perspectives of economics, political sciences, sociology, anthropology etc.) providing wide range of theoretical conceptualizations. The aim of paper is to analyse the relation of social capital and possibility to improve the well-being of the municipality’s citizens using co-responsibility approach. In order to achieve the aim, the tasks are formulated as follows: 1) to review theoretical background for concept of social capital and subjective well-being, 2) to analyse the factors of social capital at local level, and 3) to use the results of conducted empirical research at Salaspils municipality in analysing the correlation of level of social capital and possibility to improve well-being implementing inclusive local management. Research methods used: Scientific literature studies, several stages of focus group discussions, statistical data analysis, SPIRAL methodology, scenario method. The main findings of the paper - there are evidences on relation of social capital and possibility to improve the well-being of the municipality’s citizens. In municipalities with sufficient level of social capital are good opportunities to use participatory techniques for achieving higher level of overall well-being. The paper consists of practical value how to mobilise the social capital of the municipality in order to ensure the inclusive management of the territory.

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