scholarly journals Energy Poverty and Life Satisfaction: Structural Mechanisms and Their Implications

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (20) ◽  
pp. 3988 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Druică ◽  
Zizi Goschin ◽  
Rodica Ianole-Călin

This paper investigates the distinct mechanisms through which energy poverty is linked to life satisfaction, via health status and one’s satisfaction with one’s own socioeconomic status, using data from the Life in Transition survey. Our sample contains 19,598 individuals from 11 former communist states located in Central and Eastern Europe, and two developed countries for comparison. We estimated a partial least squared–path model and found that both health status and socioeconomic status are relevant mediators. Our results also indicate that gender moderates the relation between health status and life satisfaction. Energy poverty has a low contribution to health status but a larger contribution to satisfaction with socioeconomic status, thus indicating that interventions on energy poverty may not greatly improve the level of health, but can have an influence on how people feel about their life. The contribution of our paper is twofold. On the one side, we continue to consolidate the existing link between energy poverty and self-reported health status with a new focus on the Central and Eastern European countries; on another side, we propose a theoretical framework expansion by including totally novel factors to be analyzed in this context: satisfaction with socioeconomic status, economic environment improvement, and intolerance.

1969 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Margit Suurna

In light of the current debate on the validation of the prevalent business models and trends taking place in the field of biotechnology in developed countries (see here in particular Pisano versus Glick), it is relevant to explore whether, and if so in which form and circumstances, the set arguments hold up and could be complemented by the context prevalent in transition countries. As one of the main concerns for the long-term development in the area relies on Pisano's argument that the sector is moving towards greater fragmentation, the deep analysis of that becomes particularly important in an environment where the very same problems are somewhat rooted in the local policymaking context and business environment. A specific example can be drawn here from the Central and Eastern European countries (CEE). Derived from this, the aim of the current article is to trace the trends in biotechnology business models in one of the rather well-performing CEE countries: Estonia. The article argues that the developments in the business models in Estonia are led by two rather contrary directions, where on the one hand increasing specialization and fragmentation and on the other hand movements towards geographical and institutional convergence can be detected.


2017 ◽  
Vol 87 (4) ◽  
pp. 392-414 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sevilay S. Celik ◽  
Yusuf Celik ◽  
Neset Hikmet ◽  
Mahmud M. Khan

This study aimed to examine the determinants of life satisfaction of older adults in Turkey. The sample consisted of 2,959 older adults over 65 years. The effects of psychological, daily life and instrumental activity, physical health and health status, and other important variables on life satisfaction were analyzed. The variables lessening life satisfaction for older adults included poverty, a lower self-reported health status, a decline in physical health, ability to chew, ability to do household activities, and an increase in feelings of depression and feeling social withdrawn. In contrast, being married, having a higher education level, and having an income-generating work increased life satisfaction among older adults. This study suggests the necessity of developing local and national policies that enable older adults to become more active in their communities. These policies should be coordinated under the framework of national aging policies that bridge health, social, and economic issues.


2020 ◽  
Vol 105 (6) ◽  
pp. 1814-1826 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salla Karjula ◽  
Laure Morin-Papunen ◽  
Stephen Franks ◽  
Juha Auvinen ◽  
Marjo-Riitta Järvelin ◽  
...  

Abstract Context Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with decreased health-related quality of life (HRQoL), but longitudinal data beyond the reproductive years are lacking, and the impact of isolated PCOS symptoms is unclear. Objective To study generic HRQoL using the 15D questionnaire, life satisfaction, and self-reported health status in women with PCOS symptoms at ages 31 and 46 years. Design A longitudinal assessment using the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966. Setting General community. Participants The 15D data were available for women reporting isolated oligo-amenorrhea (OA; at age 31 years, 214; and 46 years, 211), isolated hirsutism (H; 31 years, 211; and 46 years, 216), OA + H (PCOS; 31 years, 74; and 46 years, 75), or no PCOS symptoms (controls; 31 years, 1382; and 46 years, 1412). Data for life satisfaction and current health status were available for OA (31 years, 329; and 46 years, 247), H (31 years, 323; and 46 years, 238), PCOS (31 years, 125; and 46 years, 86), control (31 years, 2182; and 46 years, 1613) groups. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) 15D HRQoL, questionnaires on life satisfaction, and self-reported health status. Results HRQoL was lower at ages 31 and 46 in women with PCOS or H than in the controls. PCOS was an independent risk factor for low HRQoL, and the decrease in HRQoL in PCOS was similar to that of women with other chronic conditions, such as asthma, migraine, rheumatoid arthritis, and depression. The risk for low HRQoL in PCOS remained significant after adjusting for body mass index, hyperandrogenism, and socioeconomic status. Mental distress was the strongest contributing factor to HRQoL. PCOS was also associated with a risk for low life satisfaction and a 4-fold risk for reporting a poor health status. Conclusions Women with PCOS present with low HRQoL, decreased life satisfaction, and a poorer self-reported health status up to their late reproductive years. Assessments and interventions aiming to improve HRQoL in PCOS should be targeted beyond the fertile age.


2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-44
Author(s):  
Patrick Richard ◽  
Nilam Patel ◽  
Yuan-Chiao Lu ◽  
Pierre Alexandre

This paper examines the relationship between self-reported health status and medical debt outcomes using data from the 2013 Panel Study of Income Dynamics. There were two outcomes of interest: (a) the likelihood of having any medical debt, which included 4,227 households and (b) the amount of medical debt (medical debt > 0), which included 631 households. The results from the multivariate models showed that fair/poor health status increased the likelihood of having any medical debt by 73% and was associated with an increase in the amount of medical debt among those with medical debt by about 77% (p < .001) compared to those who reported better health. Poor health status appears to impose a financial burden on some households.


2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 2401-2416
Author(s):  
Renante Adrogado Egcas ◽  
Ryan Michael Flores Oducado ◽  
Jerome Visperas Cleofas ◽  
Judith Solasco Rabacal ◽  
Samson Mahidlawon Lausa

The COVID-19 pandemic has been there for over a year and may substantially negatively impact student’s mental well-being. This study aimed to assess the subjective mental well-being and satisfaction with life of Filipino college students. This cross-sectional study involved the analysis of 1,141 college students in the Philippines. The data were collected using the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Results indicated that while 52.8% reported high satisfaction with life, 40.2% had poor mental well-being. Self-reported health status (β=1.899, p=.000), age (β=0.179, p=.000), and year level (β=0.306, p=.000) predicted mental well-being. On the other hand, subjective mental well-being (β=0.736, p=.000), self-reported health status (β=0.967, p=.000), and age (β=0.691, p=.025) predicted life satisfaction. The COVID-19 pandemic has likely affected students’ mental health and well-being. Interventions should be initiated to address the mental health needs of the students during this pandemic and even beyond the health crisis.


Risks ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 69
Author(s):  
Han Lin Shang ◽  
Steven Haberman

An essential input of annuity pricing is the future retiree mortality. From observed age-specific mortality data, modeling and forecasting can take place in two routes. On the one hand, we can first truncate the available data to retiree ages and then produce mortality forecasts based on a partial age-range model. On the other hand, with all available data, we can first apply a full age-range model to produce forecasts and then truncate the mortality forecasts to retiree ages. We investigate the difference in modeling the logarithmic transformation of the central mortality rates between a partial age-range and a full age-range model, using data from mainly developed countries in the Human Mortality Database (2020). By evaluating and comparing the short-term point and interval forecast accuracies, we recommend the first strategy by truncating all available data to retiree ages and then produce mortality forecasts. However, when considering the long-term forecasts, it is unclear which strategy is better since it is more difficult to find a model and parameters that are optimal. This is a disadvantage of using methods based on time-series extrapolation for long-term forecasting. Instead, an expectation approach, in which experts set a future target, could be considered, noting that this method has also had limited success in the past.


2005 ◽  
Vol 61 (4) ◽  
pp. 335-365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beeto Wai-Chung Leung ◽  
Giovanni B. Moneta ◽  
Catherine McBride-Chang

This study developed a dispositional path model of life satisfaction for community dwelling Chinese elderly living in Hong Kong. A sample of 117 elderly completed scales measuring life satisfaction, optimism, self-esteem, relationship harmony, self-construals, and perceived/expected health and financial status. Modeling revealed that life satisfaction was predicted by self-esteem and relationship harmony, which in turn were predicted by independent and interdependent self-construals, respectively. In addition, optimism predicted life satisfaction directly and indirectly through self-esteem and relationship harmony. Financial status mediated entirely the effect of optimism on life satisfaction. Health status was predicted by optimism but did not predict life satisfaction. Optimism is a key contributor to subjective well being because it fosters self-esteem, relationship harmony, and positive perceptions of financial conditions.


1979 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 807-810 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane R. Dickie ◽  
Thomas E. Ludwig ◽  
David Blauw

This study explored the relationship between life satisfaction, several measures of health, several measures of activity level, and a measure of future orientation. Subjects were 30 institutionalized and 32 non-institutionalized older adults. In this sample age had no effect on reported life satisfaction, nor was there a difference between the institutionalized and non-institutionalized groups. However, males reported higher life satisfaction than females. Self-reported health status was related to life satisfaction, as was the number of days spent in bed during the past year. Finally, those who had made plans for things to do during the next several years reported higher life satisfaction than those who had no plans for the future. It was concluded that in this sample institutionalization did not influence life satisfaction directly but rather through health variables which are associated with institutionalization.


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