Subjective Wellbeing and National Policy

Transcription

1 Subjective Wellbeing and National Policy Robert A. Cummins President, ISQOLS and Australian Centre on Quality of Life Deakin University

2 Quality of Life Objective Conditions e.g. Physical wealth, health, etc Subjective Perceptions e.g. Satisfaction with wealth, health, etc Objective QOL? Subjective Wellbeing [happiness]

3 Subjective Wellbeing A positive state of mind that involves the whole life experience How do we measure it?

4 Personal Wellbeing Index International Wellbeing Group (2006) How satisfied are you with your-----? Standard of living Health Achieving in life Relationships Safety Community connectedness Future security Spirituality/Religion

5 We code all data to lie on a range from Complete dissatisfaction Complete satisfaction 0 100

6 In 2000 Deakin University and Australian Unity formed a partnership Purpose: to create a quarterly index of subjective wellbeing for the Australian population. As an adjunct to the traditional economic indicators such as GDP

7 The Australian Unity Wellbeing Index Surveys Geographically representative sample N = 2,000 Telephone interview #1: April #21: May 2009

8 Personal Wellbeing Index >S11 >S2, S4, S Strength of satisfaction Scores above this line are significantly higher than S This represents a 3.0 percentage point variation Maximum = 76.3 Current = 75.6 Minimum = 73.2 Major events preceding survey 72 a b c d e f g h i j k Survey Date

9 Essential for Policy Relevance To establish the SWB normal range using population sample mean scores as data Very satisfied 100 Subjective Wellbeing Very dissatisfied N = 21 survey mean score Mean = Standard deviation = 0.75 Normal range =

10 Very satisfied Policy relevance: group mean scores can be compared against the SWB normal range Subjective Wellbeing Group mean score is too low Normal range Very dissatisfied 0

11 Very satisfied Policy relevance: group mean scores can be compared against the SWB normal range Subjective Wellbeing Very dissatisfied Group mean score Normal range A group at this level needs more resources

12 The normative range can be used to identify geographic regions at risk

13 New South Wales Above average Average Below average

14 The Personal Wellbeing Index can be used to determine the optimal size of towns

15 Personal Wellbeing Index How satisfied are you with your-----? Standard of living Health Achieving in life Relationships Safety Community connectedness Future security Spirituality/Religion Each domain has its own normal range

16 PWI Normal range for the domain of Community Connection SWB Normal range Town/City Size

17 Community connection PWI Normal range Largest Town/City Size Smallest

18 Community connection 76 30,000 to 40, PWI Normal range Largest Town/City Size Smallest

19 The normal range can be used to measure the effect of policy on the SWB of the population

20 Report 19.1 SWB vs geographic areas rated on---- % of people not born in Australia

21 % of people not born in Australia PWI Normal range % not born in Australia

22 Normal ranges for domains Level of satisfaction PWI Living Standard Health Achieving Relations Safety Community Future Security

23 <6% not born in Australia Level of satisfaction PWI Living Standard Health Achieving Relations Safety Community Future Security

24 <6% not born in Australia Level of satisfaction PWI Living Standard Health Achieving Relations Safety Community Future Security

25 36-40% not born in Australia Level of satisfaction PWI Living Standard Health Achieving Relations Safety Community Future Security

26 40-55% not born in Australia 85 Level of satisfaction PWI Living Standard Health Achieving Relations Safety Community Future Security

27 Summary 1. The measurement of Subjective Wellbeing is simple, quick, reliable and valid 2. A crucial aspect for policy usefulness is to establish a normal range for each country. 3. Areas of disadvantage can be identified by reference to the normal range 4. Data from the Personal Wellbeing Index can be analysed either in combination or as separate domains