Subjective Health and Subjective Well-Being (The Case of EU Countries)
Affiliation(s)
1 Institute of Sociology, Lithuanian Social Research Centre, Vilnius, Lithuania. 2 Department of Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia.
1 Institute of Sociology, Lithuanian Social Research Centre, Vilnius, Lithuania. 2 Department of Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia.
ABSTRACT
Article presents the concept of subjective health in the context of the structure of subjective well-being. We emphasize the structural link between satisfaction with health as a life domain and satisfaction with a life as a whole within cognitive part of subjective well-being. To explain the link between life satisfaction as a whole and satisfaction with health we apply Needs Conceptual Model of Subjective Well-Being and bottom-up approach. We recognize that objective life domains—life circumstances are mirrored and evaluated by human consciousness. The more or less favourable objective life circumstances are, the better or worse is the satisfaction with them by an individual. From the very general perspective, in empirical part of the article, we present both objective and subjective health situation and the life satisfaction in EU countries. We use Eurostat and European Values Survey data. Satisfaction of needs leads to increased level of subjective weal-being. When objective health by an individual is being compared to the certain standard, it fits in to the system of overall satisfaction with life. It means that the whole process starts at the point of objective health and ends at the point of life satisfaction.
Article presents the concept of subjective health in the context of the structure of subjective well-being. We emphasize the structural link between satisfaction with health as a life domain and satisfaction with a life as a whole within cognitive part of subjective well-being. To explain the link between life satisfaction as a whole and satisfaction with health we apply Needs Conceptual Model of Subjective Well-Being and bottom-up approach. We recognize that objective life domains—life circumstances are mirrored and evaluated by human consciousness. The more or less favourable objective life circumstances are, the better or worse is the satisfaction with them by an individual. From the very general perspective, in empirical part of the article, we present both objective and subjective health situation and the life satisfaction in EU countries. We use Eurostat and European Values Survey data. Satisfaction of needs leads to increased level of subjective weal-being. When objective health by an individual is being compared to the certain standard, it fits in to the system of overall satisfaction with life. It means that the whole process starts at the point of objective health and ends at the point of life satisfaction.
KEYWORDS
Satisfaction with Life, Subjective Well-Being, Satisfaction with Health, Subjective Health, Needs Conceptual Model of Subjective Well-Being
Satisfaction with Life, Subjective Well-Being, Satisfaction with Health, Subjective Health, Needs Conceptual Model of Subjective Well-Being
Cite this paper
Gataūlinas, A. and Banceviča, M. (2014) Subjective Health and Subjective Well-Being (The Case of EU Countries). Advances in Applied Sociology, 4, 212-223. doi: 10.4236/aasoci.2014.49026.
Gataūlinas, A. and Banceviča, M. (2014) Subjective Health and Subjective Well-Being (The Case of EU Countries). Advances in Applied Sociology, 4, 212-223. doi: 10.4236/aasoci.2014.49026.
References
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/5k9b9ltjm937-en [4] Bradburn, N. (1969). The Structure of Psychological Well-Being. Chicago: Aldine Pub. Co. [5] Cottam, H. R., & Mangus, A. R. (1942). A Proposed Definition of Standard of Living. Social Forces, 21, 177, 179.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2570553 [6] Cummins, R. A. (1995). On the Trail of the Gold Standard for Life Satisfaction. Social Indicators Research, 35, 179-200.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01079026 [7] Cummins, R. A. (1998). The Second Approximation to an International Standard for Life Satisfaction. Social Indicators Research, 43, 307-334.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1006831107052 [8] Cummins, R. A. (2000). Personal Income and Subjective Well-Being: A Review. Journal of Happiness Studies, 1, 133-158.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1010079728426 [9] Cummins, R. A. (2003). Normative Life Satisfaction: Measurement Issues and a Homeostatic Model. Social Indicators Research, 64, 225-256.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1024712527648 [10] Cummins, R. A. (2010). Subjective Well-Being, Homeostatically Protected Mood and Depression: A Synthesis. Journal of Happiness Studies, 11, 1-17.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10902-009-9167-0 [11] DeSalvo, K. B., Fan, V. S., McDonell, M. B., & Fihn, S. D. (2005). Predicting Mortality and Healthcare Utilization with a Single Question. Health Services Research, 40, 1234-1246.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-6773.2005.00404.x [12] Diener, E. (1984). Subjective Well-Being. Psychological Bulletin, 95, 542-575.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.95.3.542 [13] Diener, E. (2006). Guidelines for National Indicators of Subjective Well-Being and Ill-Being. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 1, 151-157.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11482-006-9007-x [14] Diener, E., & Biswas-Diener, R. (2002). Will Money Increase Subjective Well-Being? Social Indicators Research, 57, 119-169.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1014411319119 [15] Diener, E., & Lucas, R. E. (2000). Explaining Differences in Societal Levels of Happiness: Relative Standards, Need Fulfilment, Culture, and Evaluation Theory. Journal of Happiness Studies, 1, 41-78.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1010076127199 [16] Diener, E., Lucas, R., Schimmack, U., & Helliwell, J. (2009). Well-Being for Public Policy. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195334074.001.0001 [17] Eid, M. (2008). Measuring the Immeasurable: Psychometric Modelling of Subjective Well-Being Data. In M. Eid, & R. J. Larsen (Eds.), The Science of Subjective Well-Being (pp. 141-167). New York: The Guilford Press. [18] Fotso, J. C., & Kuate-Defo, B. (2005). Measuring Socioeconomic Status in Health Research in Developing Countries: Should We Be Focusing on Households, Communities or Both? Social Indicators Research, 72, 189-237.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11205-004-5579-8 [19] French, D., Vedhara, K., Kaptein, A. A., & Weinman, J. (2010). Health Psychology. USA: Blackwell Publishing Ltd. [20] Galinha, J., & Pais-Ribeiro, J. L. (2011). Cognitive, Affective and Contextual Predictors of Subjective Wellbeing. International Journal of Wellbeing, 2, 34-53.
http://dx.doi.org/10.5502/ijw.v2i1.3 [21] Gallagher, M. W., Lopez, S., & Preacher, K. J. (2009). The Hierarchical Structure of Well-Being. Journal of Personality, 77, 1025-1050.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.2009.00573.x [22] Gataūlinas, A. (2013). Lietuvos visuomen?s subjektyvioji gerov? Europos S?jungos ?ali? kontekste. Doctoral Thesis, Vilnius: Vilnius University. [23] Headey, B. W., & Wearing, A. J. (1989). Personality, Life Events and Subjective Well-Being: Towards a Dynamic Equilibrium Model. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57, 731-739.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.57.4.731 [24] Headey, B. W., & Wearing, A. J. (1992). A Theory of Subjective Well-Being. Melbourne: Longman Cheshire. [25] Johnston, D. W., Propper, C., & Shields, M. A. (2007). Comparing Subjective and Objective Measures of Health: Evidence from Hypertension for the Income/Health Gradient. IZA DP No. 2737. [26] Kahneman, D., Diener, E., & Schwarz, N. (2003). Well-Being: The Foundations of Hedonic Psychology. New York: Russel Sage Foundation. [27] Killoran, A., & Kelly, M. P. (2010). Evidence-Based Public Health: Effectiveness and Efficiency. Oxford: Oxford University Press. [28] Levenstein, C., & Wooding, J. (1997). Work, Health, and Environment: Old Problems, New Solutions. New York: Guilford Publications. [29] Liu, X. (2012). Survival Analysis: Models and Applications. UK: Higher Education Press.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/9781118307656 [30] Lucas, R. (2004). Top-Down and Bottom-Up Models of Life Satisfaction Judgments. The 6th International German SocioEconomic Panel Study User Conference, 26 June 2004.
http://www.diw.de/documents/dokumentenarchiv/17/41891/paper2004_lucas.pdf [31] Marx, K. (1995). Capital, Volume One. The Buying and Selling of Labour-Power. Marx/Engels Marxist Internet Archive. www.marxists.org [32] Maslow, A. (2006). Motyvacija ir asmenyb?. Vilnius: Apostrofa. [33] McCracken, K., & Phillips, D. R. (2012). Global Health: An Introduction to Current and Future Trends. London: Routledge. [34] McDowel, I. (2006). Measuring Health: A Guide to Rating Scales and Questionnaires. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195165678.001.0001 [35] Pardeck, J. T., Longino, C. F., & Murphy, J. W. (1998). Reason and Rationality in Health and Human Services Delivery. Philadelphia: The Haworth Press. [36] Pavot, W. (2008). The Assessment of Subjective Well-Being: Successes and Shortfalls. In M. Eid, & R. J. Larsen (Eds.), The Science of Subjective Well-Being (pp. 124-140). New York: The Guilford Press. [37] Schimmack, U. (2008). The Structure of Subjective Well-Being. In M. Eid, & R. J. Larsen (Eds.), The Science of Subjective Well-Being (pp. 97-123). New York: The Guilford Press. [38] Siegel, P. Z. (1994). Self-Reported Health Status: Public Health Surveillance and Small-Area Analysis. In S. Schechter (Ed.), Proceedings of the 1993 NCHS Conference on the Cognitive Aspects of Self-Reported Health Status. NCHS Working Paper Series, No. 10. [39] Sīlis, V. (2010). Latvijasiedzīvotājuveselībasuzvedībaundzīveskvalitāte (Promocijasdarbs). Rīga: Rīgas Stradi?uuniversitāte. [40] Snyder, C. R., & López, S. J. (2009). Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology. New York: Oxford University Press. [41] Stewart, A. L., & Ware, J. E. (1998). Measuring Functioning and Well-Being: The Medical Outcomes Study Approach. Durham: Duke University Press. [42] Titterton, M. (2005). Risk and Risk Taking in Health and Social Welfare. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. [43] Veenhoven, R., & Ehrhard, J. (1995). The Cross-National Pattern of Happiness: Test of Predictions Implied in Three Theories of Happiness. Social Indicators Research, 34, 33-68.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01078967 [44] Vitters?, J., & Nilsen, F. (2002). The Conceptual and Relational Structure of Subjective Well-Being, Neuroticism, and Extraversion: Once Again, Neuroticism Is the Important Predictor of Happiness. Social Indicators Research, 57, 89-118.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1013831602280 [45] Wahl, H. W. (2006). The Many Faces of Health, Competence and Well-Being in Old Age: Integrating Epidemiological, Psychological and Social Perspectives. Berlin: Springer.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-4138-1 [46] World Health Organization (1946). Official Records of the World Health Organization. Geneva: World Health Organization.
[1] Bendelow, G. (2009). Health, Emotion and the Today. Cambridge: Polity Press. [2] Beverley, A. S. (2008). Well-Being: In Search of a Good Life? Cambridge: Policy Press. [3] Boarini, R., Comola, M., Smith, C., Manchin, R., & Keulenaer, F. (2012). What Makes for a Better Life: The Determinants of Subjective Well-Being in OECD Countries—Evidence from the Gallup World Poll. OECD Statistical Working Papers, 2012/03. OECD Publishing.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/5k9b9ltjm937-en [4] Bradburn, N. (1969). The Structure of Psychological Well-Being. Chicago: Aldine Pub. Co. [5] Cottam, H. R., & Mangus, A. R. (1942). A Proposed Definition of Standard of Living. Social Forces, 21, 177, 179.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2570553 [6] Cummins, R. A. (1995). On the Trail of the Gold Standard for Life Satisfaction. Social Indicators Research, 35, 179-200.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01079026 [7] Cummins, R. A. (1998). The Second Approximation to an International Standard for Life Satisfaction. Social Indicators Research, 43, 307-334.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1006831107052 [8] Cummins, R. A. (2000). Personal Income and Subjective Well-Being: A Review. Journal of Happiness Studies, 1, 133-158.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1010079728426 [9] Cummins, R. A. (2003). Normative Life Satisfaction: Measurement Issues and a Homeostatic Model. Social Indicators Research, 64, 225-256.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1024712527648 [10] Cummins, R. A. (2010). Subjective Well-Being, Homeostatically Protected Mood and Depression: A Synthesis. Journal of Happiness Studies, 11, 1-17.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10902-009-9167-0 [11] DeSalvo, K. B., Fan, V. S., McDonell, M. B., & Fihn, S. D. (2005). Predicting Mortality and Healthcare Utilization with a Single Question. Health Services Research, 40, 1234-1246.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-6773.2005.00404.x [12] Diener, E. (1984). Subjective Well-Being. Psychological Bulletin, 95, 542-575.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.95.3.542 [13] Diener, E. (2006). Guidelines for National Indicators of Subjective Well-Being and Ill-Being. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 1, 151-157.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11482-006-9007-x [14] Diener, E., & Biswas-Diener, R. (2002). Will Money Increase Subjective Well-Being? Social Indicators Research, 57, 119-169.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1014411319119 [15] Diener, E., & Lucas, R. E. (2000). Explaining Differences in Societal Levels of Happiness: Relative Standards, Need Fulfilment, Culture, and Evaluation Theory. Journal of Happiness Studies, 1, 41-78.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1010076127199 [16] Diener, E., Lucas, R., Schimmack, U., & Helliwell, J. (2009). Well-Being for Public Policy. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195334074.001.0001 [17] Eid, M. (2008). Measuring the Immeasurable: Psychometric Modelling of Subjective Well-Being Data. In M. Eid, & R. J. Larsen (Eds.), The Science of Subjective Well-Being (pp. 141-167). New York: The Guilford Press. [18] Fotso, J. C., & Kuate-Defo, B. (2005). Measuring Socioeconomic Status in Health Research in Developing Countries: Should We Be Focusing on Households, Communities or Both? Social Indicators Research, 72, 189-237.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11205-004-5579-8 [19] French, D., Vedhara, K., Kaptein, A. A., & Weinman, J. (2010). Health Psychology. USA: Blackwell Publishing Ltd. [20] Galinha, J., & Pais-Ribeiro, J. L. (2011). Cognitive, Affective and Contextual Predictors of Subjective Wellbeing. International Journal of Wellbeing, 2, 34-53.
http://dx.doi.org/10.5502/ijw.v2i1.3 [21] Gallagher, M. W., Lopez, S., & Preacher, K. J. (2009). The Hierarchical Structure of Well-Being. Journal of Personality, 77, 1025-1050.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.2009.00573.x [22] Gataūlinas, A. (2013). Lietuvos visuomen?s subjektyvioji gerov? Europos S?jungos ?ali? kontekste. Doctoral Thesis, Vilnius: Vilnius University. [23] Headey, B. W., & Wearing, A. J. (1989). Personality, Life Events and Subjective Well-Being: Towards a Dynamic Equilibrium Model. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57, 731-739.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.57.4.731 [24] Headey, B. W., & Wearing, A. J. (1992). A Theory of Subjective Well-Being. Melbourne: Longman Cheshire. [25] Johnston, D. W., Propper, C., & Shields, M. A. (2007). Comparing Subjective and Objective Measures of Health: Evidence from Hypertension for the Income/Health Gradient. IZA DP No. 2737. [26] Kahneman, D., Diener, E., & Schwarz, N. (2003). Well-Being: The Foundations of Hedonic Psychology. New York: Russel Sage Foundation. [27] Killoran, A., & Kelly, M. P. (2010). Evidence-Based Public Health: Effectiveness and Efficiency. Oxford: Oxford University Press. [28] Levenstein, C., & Wooding, J. (1997). Work, Health, and Environment: Old Problems, New Solutions. New York: Guilford Publications. [29] Liu, X. (2012). Survival Analysis: Models and Applications. UK: Higher Education Press.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/9781118307656 [30] Lucas, R. (2004). Top-Down and Bottom-Up Models of Life Satisfaction Judgments. The 6th International German SocioEconomic Panel Study User Conference, 26 June 2004.
http://www.diw.de/documents/dokumentenarchiv/17/41891/paper2004_lucas.pdf [31] Marx, K. (1995). Capital, Volume One. The Buying and Selling of Labour-Power. Marx/Engels Marxist Internet Archive. www.marxists.org [32] Maslow, A. (2006). Motyvacija ir asmenyb?. Vilnius: Apostrofa. [33] McCracken, K., & Phillips, D. R. (2012). Global Health: An Introduction to Current and Future Trends. London: Routledge. [34] McDowel, I. (2006). Measuring Health: A Guide to Rating Scales and Questionnaires. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195165678.001.0001 [35] Pardeck, J. T., Longino, C. F., & Murphy, J. W. (1998). Reason and Rationality in Health and Human Services Delivery. Philadelphia: The Haworth Press. [36] Pavot, W. (2008). The Assessment of Subjective Well-Being: Successes and Shortfalls. In M. Eid, & R. J. Larsen (Eds.), The Science of Subjective Well-Being (pp. 124-140). New York: The Guilford Press. [37] Schimmack, U. (2008). The Structure of Subjective Well-Being. In M. Eid, & R. J. Larsen (Eds.), The Science of Subjective Well-Being (pp. 97-123). New York: The Guilford Press. [38] Siegel, P. Z. (1994). Self-Reported Health Status: Public Health Surveillance and Small-Area Analysis. In S. Schechter (Ed.), Proceedings of the 1993 NCHS Conference on the Cognitive Aspects of Self-Reported Health Status. NCHS Working Paper Series, No. 10. [39] Sīlis, V. (2010). Latvijasiedzīvotājuveselībasuzvedībaundzīveskvalitāte (Promocijasdarbs). Rīga: Rīgas Stradi?uuniversitāte. [40] Snyder, C. R., & López, S. J. (2009). Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology. New York: Oxford University Press. [41] Stewart, A. L., & Ware, J. E. (1998). Measuring Functioning and Well-Being: The Medical Outcomes Study Approach. Durham: Duke University Press. [42] Titterton, M. (2005). Risk and Risk Taking in Health and Social Welfare. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. [43] Veenhoven, R., & Ehrhard, J. (1995). The Cross-National Pattern of Happiness: Test of Predictions Implied in Three Theories of Happiness. Social Indicators Research, 34, 33-68.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01078967 [44] Vitters?, J., & Nilsen, F. (2002). The Conceptual and Relational Structure of Subjective Well-Being, Neuroticism, and Extraversion: Once Again, Neuroticism Is the Important Predictor of Happiness. Social Indicators Research, 57, 89-118.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1013831602280 [45] Wahl, H. W. (2006). The Many Faces of Health, Competence and Well-Being in Old Age: Integrating Epidemiological, Psychological and Social Perspectives. Berlin: Springer.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-4138-1 [46] World Health Organization (1946). Official Records of the World Health Organization. Geneva: World Health Organization.