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Children's subjective well-being in relation to gender — What can we learn from dissatisfied children?

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  • Kaye-Tzadok, Avital
  • Kim, Sun Suk
  • Main, Gill

Abstract

Gender differences in subjective well-being (SWB) are a common finding in studies of children, but the nature, causes and effects of these differences remain unclear. This article draws on data from the Children's Worlds study, an international survey of child well-being across countries, to examine the structure of SWB drawing on different life domains, and comparing the effects of these domains on SWB for boys and girls. Structural equation modelling is used to examine differences between 12year old boys and girls who reported low subjective well-being (bottom 25% of the sample). Findings reveal that the structure of SWB is comparable across the genders; girls' SWB was lower than boys'; and different domains of SWB vary in their importance for boys and girls. Specifically, girls' SWB appears to be more driven by relational factors, whilst boys' SWB is more driven by perceived academic achievement.

Suggested Citation

  • Kaye-Tzadok, Avital & Kim, Sun Suk & Main, Gill, 2017. "Children's subjective well-being in relation to gender — What can we learn from dissatisfied children?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 96-104.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:80:y:2017:i:c:p:96-104
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.06.058
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    8. Yochay Nadan & Avital Kaye-Tzadok, 2019. "The Virtual Arena: A Call for a New Domain of Child Subjective Well-Being," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 12(2), pages 461-477, April.
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    14. L. Migliorini & T. Tassara & N. Rania, 2019. "A Study of Subjective Well-Being and Life Satisfaction in Italy: how are Children doing at 8 years of Age?," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 12(1), pages 49-69, February.
    15. Mari Corominas & Mònica González-Carrasco & Ferran Casas, 2020. "The Importance of Feeling Adequately Heard by Adults and Enjoying Time with Family in Relation to Children’s Subjective Well-Being," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 13(1), pages 193-214, February.
    16. Sabolova, Klara & Birdsey, Nicola & Stuart-Hamilton, Ian & Cousins, Alecia L., 2020. "A cross-cultural exploration of children’s perceptions of wellbeing: Understanding protective and risk factors," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    17. Mary F. Zhang & Julie Selwyn, 2020. "The Subjective Well-Being of Children and Young People in out of Home Care: Psychometric Analyses of the “Your Life, your Care” Survey," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 13(5), pages 1549-1572, October.
    18. Maria Aymerich & Ramon Cladellas & Antoni Castelló & Ferran Casas & Mònica Cunill, 2021. "The Evolution of Life Satisfaction Throughout Childhood and Adolescence: Differences in Young People’s Evaluations According to Age and Gender," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 14(6), pages 2347-2369, December.
    19. Carla González-García & Alba Águila-Otero & Carme Montserrat & Susana Lázaro & Eduardo Martín & Jorge Fernandez del Valle & Amaia Bravo, 2022. "Subjective Well-Being of Young People in Therapeutic Residential Care from a Gender Perspective," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 15(1), pages 249-262, February.
    20. Hanita Kosher, 2023. "The Relation Between Children's Participation in Their Daily life and Their Subjective Well-Being," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 16(5), pages 1827-1850, October.
    21. Larisa Lam & Julie Comay, 2020. "Using a Story Completion Task to Elicit Young children’s Subjective Well-Being at School," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 13(6), pages 2225-2239, December.
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    23. Flavia Izzo & Roberto Baiocco & Jessica Pistella, 2022. "Children’s and Adolescents’ Happiness and Family Functioning: A Systematic Literature Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-28, December.
    24. Emilly Cavalheiro Esidio & Marco Túlio Aniceto França & Gustavo Saraiva Frio, 2023. "Differences between genders in the subjective well-being of students participating in PISA 2018," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 16(4), pages 1781-1809, August.
    25. Jose Marquez & Gill Main, 2021. "Can Schools and Education Policy Make Children Happier? A Comparative Study in 33 Countries," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 14(1), pages 283-339, February.

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