The impact of life events on the subjective well-being (SWB) of young people: analysis of the British Household Panel Survey

Publication type

Book Chapter

Series

Towards Quality of Life Improvement

Author

Publication date

June 1, 2006

Abstract:

Research on young people’s subjective mental state is limited. Traditionally mental health was objectively assessed by clinical professionals, little was known about the mental well-being from the perspective of the assessed individual. This research aims to fill the knowledge gap of the mental-health-related quality of life of young people.
The study focuses on the subjective well-being (SWB) of young people aged 11-15 in Britain and investigates whether the type and circumstances of the family is associated with young people’s SWB. Secondary data analyses of the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) and its Youth Survey (BYPS) were conducted. SWB was quantified by indicators generated from the survey questions regarding happiness, feeling troubled, and self-esteem.
The empirical findings from the cross-sectional analysis and the multiple-regressions of young people’s SWB are presented with respect to their demographic and households’ characteristics. Multiple-regression models show that all these factors predicted about 10 to 22 per cent of the variation in young people’s SWB. Furthermore, longitudinal analysis (including samples from wave 4 to 13 of the BYPS) suggests no association between changes in parents' marital status and the SWB of young people. Further research, investigating the factors, which may interact with the changes in household types, is also proposed.

Subjects

Notes

by Walenty Ostasiewicz (ed.)

not held in Res Lib - bibliographic reference only

#513497

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