Global Trends of Mean and Inequality in Multidimensional Wellbeing: Analysis of 1.2 Million Individuals From 162 Countries, 2009–2019

Frontiers in Public Health

article

Koichiro Shiba¹  Richard G. Cowden²  Natasha Gonzalez³  Matthew T. Lee²  Tim Lomas²  Alden Yuanhong Lai⁴  Tyler J. VanderWeele¹ 

[1] Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health;Human Flourishing Program, Harvard Institute for Quantitative Social Science;Independent Researcher;School of Global Public Health, New York University;Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

关键词: human flourishing;    multidimensional wellbeing;    life evaluation;    inequality;    epidemiology;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpubh.2022.824960

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Introduction Human flourishing is a multidimensional concept characterized by a state of complete wellbeing. However, much of the prior research on wellbeing has principally focused on population averages assessed using a single item of wellbeing. This study examined trends in population averages and inequalities for a multidimensional index of wellbeing and compared emergent patterns with those found for Cantril's ladder, a measure of life satisfaction commonly used as a unidimensional index of wellbeing. Methods Data were from the Gallup World Poll from the years 2009 to 2019, a repeated cross-sectional survey of nationally representative samples comprising ~1.2 million individuals from 162 countries. We assessed five domains of flourishing: (1) happiness, (2) health, (3) purpose, (4) character, and (5) social relationships. We used the Gini Index to estimate inequalities in wellbeing within populations. We examined and compared country ranking, global and region-specific trajectories of mean and inequality, and relationships with age for flourishing and Cantril's ladder. Results Although all trends were highly correlated across the two metrics of wellbeing, we identified distinct patterns in flourishing concerning geography, time, and age relationships that were not observed for Cantril's ladder. Temporal trends and age relationships were different across domains of flourishing. Evidence of changing inequalities in wellbeing was also found, even when population averages were high or stable over time. Conclusion Comprehensive measures of wellbeing are needed to capture the complex and changing patterns of wellbeing both within and across populations.

【 授权许可】

CC BY