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Dimensions of Subjective Well-Being.
Arie Kapteyn1, Jinkook Lee2, Caroline Tassot1
1Center for Economic and Social Research (CESR), University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, CA USA.
Social Indicators Research
|August 29, 2015
Summary
This study reveals that how well-being is measured impacts results. Finer response scales improve reliability, and experienced well-being, unlike evaluative well-being, shows no consistent link to income.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Economics
Background:
- Well-being research often uses diverse measures.
- Understanding the relationship between evaluative and experienced well-being is crucial.
- Survey methodology can influence well-being assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between various evaluative and experienced well-being measures.
- To examine the impact of different response scales on well-being measurement.
- To compare the demographic correlates of evaluative versus experienced well-being.
Main Methods:
- Utilized two waves of the RAND American Life Panel survey data.
- Employed factor analysis to assess measurement structures.
- Randomly assigned participants to survey versions with varying response scales.
Main Results:
- Evaluative well-being measures consistently loaded on a single factor.
- Positive and negative experienced affect measures loaded on separate factors.
- Response scale granularity affected factor structure and demographic relationships.
Conclusions:
- Finer response scales enhance the reliability of well-being measures.
- Evaluative well-being is strongly associated with income, unlike experienced well-being.
- Measurement choices significantly impact the understanding of well-being and its correlates.
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