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Wealth Inequality as a Predictor of Subjective Health, Happiness and Life Satisfaction among Nepalese Women

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  • Zhifei He

    (School of Politics and Public Administration, Southwest University of Political Science & Law, Chongqing 401120, China)

  • Zhaohui Cheng

    (Chongqing Health Information Center, Chongqing 401120, China)

  • Ghose Bishwajit

    (School of International Development and Global Studies, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada)

  • Dongsheng Zou

    (School of Politics and Public Administration, Southwest University of Political Science & Law, Chongqing 401120, China)

Abstract

Socioeconomic status has shown to be associated with subjective health, well-being, satisfaction with overall life and estimation of happiness. The body of research concerning the question of whether higher economic status leads to better health and well-being are mostly from developed countries. The present study was therefore conducted among women in Nepal with an aim to investigate whether household wealth status is associated with satisfaction about (1) self-reported health, (2) happiness, and (3) life overall. Methods: Subjects were 5226 Nepalese women aged between 15 and 24 years. Cross-sectional data were extracted from round 5 of the Nepal Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (NMICS), conducted in 2014, and analyzed using chi-square tests of association, bivariate and multivariable regression methods. Results: Wealth status was significantly associated with satisfaction about health, estimation of happiness and satisfaction. Compared with women in the poorest households, the odds of positive estimation about overall happiness were respectively 30% higher for poorer ( p < 0.0001; 95% CI = 1.653–3.190), 80% higher for middle ( p = 0.001; 95% CI = 1.294–2.522), 64% higher for richer ( p = 0.006; 95% CI = 1.155–2.326), and 40% higher for richest households. The odds of reporting satisfaction about life were respectively 97% higher for poorer ( p < 0.0001; 95% CI = 1.680–2.317), 41% higher for middle ( p < 0.0001; 95% CI = 1.165–1.715), 62% higher for richer ( p < 0.0001; 95% CI = 1.313–2.003), and 31% higher for richest households ( p = 0.043; 95% CI = 1.008–1.700). Conclusion: Our results conclude that women in households with lower wealth status report poorer subjective health, quality of life and happiness. However, the findings need to be interpreted in light of the existing sociocultural conditions mediating the role of household wealth status on women’s lives.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhifei He & Zhaohui Cheng & Ghose Bishwajit & Dongsheng Zou, 2018. "Wealth Inequality as a Predictor of Subjective Health, Happiness and Life Satisfaction among Nepalese Women," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:12:p:2836-:d:190110
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    1. Yanli Wang & Chao Yang & Xiaoyong Hu & Hong Chen, 2020. "The Mediating Effect of Community Identity between Socioeconomic Status and Sense of Gain in Chinese Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-10, February.
    2. White-Means, Shelley & Gaskin, Darrell J. & Osmani, Ahmad Reshad, 2019. "Intervention and Public Policy Pathways to Achieve Health Care Equity," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 16(14), pages 1-11.
    3. Hyein Shim & Won Seok Lee & Joonho Moon, 2023. "The Relationships between Food, Recreation Expense, Subjective Health, and Life Satisfaction: Case of Korean People with Disability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-11, June.
    4. Kenneth Owusu Ansah & Nutifafa Eugene Yaw Dey & Abigail Esinam Adade & Pascal Agbadi, 2022. "Determinants of life satisfaction among Ghanaians aged 15 to 49 years: A further analysis of the 2017/2018 Multiple Cluster Indicator Survey," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(1), pages 1-18, January.

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