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The social context of well-being
John F Helliwell1, Robert D Putnam
1Department of Economics, University of British Columbia, 997-1873 East Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z1, Canada.
Summary
Social capital, encompassing family, community, and religious ties, significantly enhances subjective well-being and physical health. Strong social connections across various aspects of life robustly contribute to happiness and life satisfaction.
Area of Science:
- Social Sciences
- Sociology
- Health Studies
Background:
- Subjective well-being, happiness, and health are influenced by social factors.
- Understanding the specific components of social capital is crucial for public health and policy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the social context of subjective well-being, happiness, and health.
- To investigate the relationship between social capital and health outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized large datasets from the World Values Survey, US Benchmark Survey, and a Canadian survey.
- Employed econometric methods to estimate equations linking social capital to well-being and health.
Main Results:
- Social capital, measured by family, neighborhood, religious, and community ties, positively impacts physical health and subjective well-being.
- Evidence confirms social capital's strong, multi-channel link to subjective well-being.
- Marriage, family, friendships, neighborhood ties, workplace connections, civic engagement, trustworthiness, and trust are independently and robustly associated with happiness and life satisfaction, both directly and indirectly through health.
Conclusions:
- Social capital is a significant determinant of both health and happiness.
- Policies and initiatives aimed at strengthening social capital can improve population health and life satisfaction.