ERIC Number: EJ749099
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2005-Nov
Pages: 13
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0303-8300
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Well-Being in an Adult Swedish Population
Hansson, Anna; Hilleras, Pernilla; Forsell, Yvonne
Social Indicators Research, v74 n2 p313-325 Nov 2005
Objectives: The aim of this study was to see if earlier findings about factors associated with well-being could be replicated in a large population-based sample in Sweden. To the best of our knowledge, no research on well-being has been conducted on such a large population in a country, which by most standards is regarded as one of the most fortunate in the world. With its economic wealth and highly developed social welfare and health care system, Sweden is a country where the conditions for a high level of well-being would appear to be met. Methods: 10,441 randomly selected Swedish citizens, aged between 20 and 64 years, living in Stockholm County, completed a questionnaire covering issues such as demographics, social network and psychological well-being. The data were collected during the years 1998-2000. Results: Male gender, greater age, cohabiting, good childhood conditions, support from friends, sound financial situation and absence of negative life events were positively associated with well-being and explained 20% of the variance. Conclusion: The findings replicated earlier studies. Factors associated with well-being seem to remain the same, and are still explaining only a small part of the total variance, despite different measurements, time, sample sizes or country of origin. Therefore, research on well-being needs to take a new turn, by placing less focus on external factors and more focus on the internal factors, such as a person's personality and coping strategies.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Social Networks, Adults, Well Being, Demography, Psychological Patterns, Coping, Gender Differences, Age Differences, Family Influence, Child Rearing, Social Support Groups, Friendship, Income, Socioeconomic Status, Personality Traits
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Sweden; Sweden (Stockholm)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A