Objective Objective of this study was to investigate the impact of the recent economic crisis of 2007/2008 on the subjective well-being and health status in thirteen European countries. Methods The European Social Survey (ESS) database was searched for individual health and wellbeing indicators and the database of the European Commission Eurostat for economic indicators. Data representing social determinants like education, housing and employment status and others before, during and after the crisis were retrieved. Eurostat data were used to analyse economic indicators and health outcomes on country level. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the changes in the different parameters over time. Regression analysis was performed to demonstrate relations between subjective well-being and different social determinants. Results Between 2006 and 2012 all countries experienced changes in their populations' subjective well-being. From 2006 to 2010 (crisis) the number of people with good or very good subjective well-being increased in France, Ireland, Belgium and Portugal by 0.6%, 1.0%, 1.2% and 6.5%, respectively. In Denmark and Spain this number remained basically stable. In Sweden, the United Kingdom, Finland and Germany the percentage of the population with good or very good subjective well-being decreased by 1.1%, 2.7%, 1.7% and 2.8%, respectively. Regression analysis demonstrated a significant relation between good and very good subjective well-being and level of education, main activity during the last 7 days, satisfaction with life, satisfaction with household income, main source of household income, gender and age. This relation differed for various factors and countries. In none of the countries satisfaction with national health services and satisfaction with current state of economy within the country was found significantly related to subjective well-being. The main amendable determinant correlating with a higher degree of subjective well-being is good education. The correlation between education and subjective well-being got stronger after the crisis than before or during the crisis. Conclusion Economic development does not have a uniform impact on subjective well-being. Education is a major amendable determinant influencing individual well-being. We could not find evidence for any significant impact of the organization of the healthcare services or social system on the subjective well-being.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:nusl.cz/oai:invenio.nusl.cz:196994 |
| Date | January 2014 |
| Creators | Scheier, Samuel |
| Contributors | Štěrbová, Ludmila, Mevenkamp, Nils |
| Publisher | Vysoká škola ekonomická v Praze |
| Source Sets | Czech ETDs |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | info:eu-repo/semantics/masterThesis |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess |
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