IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v17y2020i8p2732-d345947.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Investigation of Gender Differences in Subjective Wellbeing in Children and Adolescents: The UP&DOWN Study

Author

Listed:
  • Sara Esteban-Gonzalo

    (Faculty of Biomedicine, Psychology Department, Universidad Europea de Madrid, 28670 Madrid, Spain)

  • Laura Esteban-Gonzalo

    (Faculty of Biomedicine, Nursing Department, Universidad Europea de Madrid, 28670 Madrid, Spain
    Faculty of Medicine, Nursing Department, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28029 Madrid, Spain)

  • Verónica Cabanas-Sánchez

    (CEI UAM + CSIC, IMDEA Food Institute, 28049 Madrid, Spain)

  • Marta Miret

    (Department of Psychiatry, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, 28029 Madrid, Spain
    Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, CIBERSAM, 28029 Madrid, Spain
    Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Princesa (IIS-Princesa), 28006 Madrid, Spain)

  • Oscar L. Veiga

    (Department of Physical Education, Sport and Human Movement. Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain)

Abstract

Objective: Based on a three-factor model of subjective wellbeing (evaluative, hedonic and eudemonic), the purpose of this study was to analyze gender differences in children and adolescents through three different subjective wellbeing indicators. Method: The sample comprised 1.407 children and adolescents from Cadiz and Madrid (Spain), in the framework of the UP&DOWN study. Life satisfaction was measured with the subjective happiness scale, positive and negative affect were measured with the positive and negative affect schedule, and purpose in life was assessed with the children’s hope scale. Results: Linear regression models indicate the existence of significant gender differences only in adolescents, with higher scores among girls in positive affect ( p = 0.016) and negative affect ( p < 0.001) but with lower scores in purpose in life ( p = 0.024). Conclusions: These results highlight the role of gender as an important factor in explaining differences in subjective wellbeing. Additionally, results indicate that gender differences in subjective wellbeing are observed in adolescents, but not in children, suggesting that the gender gap in subjective wellbeing begins at the age of 12. Mental health practitioners should pay attention to these findings in order to implement screening methods and interventions focused on these needs.

Suggested Citation

  • Sara Esteban-Gonzalo & Laura Esteban-Gonzalo & Verónica Cabanas-Sánchez & Marta Miret & Oscar L. Veiga, 2020. "The Investigation of Gender Differences in Subjective Wellbeing in Children and Adolescents: The UP&DOWN Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-11, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:8:p:2732-:d:345947
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/8/2732/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/8/2732/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Meyer, Ilan H. & Schwartz, Sharon & Frost, David M., 2008. "Social patterning of stress and coping: Does disadvantaged social statuses confer more stress and fewer coping resources?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(3), pages 368-379, August.
    2. Courtenay, Will H., 2000. "Constructions of masculinity and their influence on men's well-being: a theory of gender and health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 50(10), pages 1385-1401, May.
    3. Irene Moor & Thomas Lampert & Katharina Rathmann & Benjamin Kuntz & Petra Kolip & Jacob Spallek & Matthias Richter, 2014. "Explaining educational inequalities in adolescent life satisfaction: do health behaviour and gender matter?," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 59(2), pages 309-317, April.
    4. Sonja Lyubomirsky & Heidi Lepper, 1999. "A Measure of Subjective Happiness: Preliminary Reliability and Construct Validation," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 46(2), pages 137-155, February.
    5. Natalio Extremera & Pablo Fernández-Berrocal, 2014. "The Subjective Happiness Scale: Translation and Preliminary Psychometric Evaluation of a Spanish Version," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 119(1), pages 473-481, October.
    6. D. Shin & D. Johnson, 1978. "Avowed happiness as an overall assessment of the quality of life," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 5(1), pages 475-492, March.
    7. Demakakos, Panayotes & Nazroo, James & Breeze, Elizabeth & Marmot, Michael, 2008. "Socioeconomic status and health: The role of subjective social status," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(2), pages 330-340, July.
    8. Paul Dolan & Richard Layard & Robert Metcalfe, 2011. "Measuring Subjective Wellbeing for Public Policy: Recommendations on Measures," CEP Reports 23, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Sylwia Jaskulska & Barbara Jankowiak & Mateusz Marciniak & Michal Klichowski, 2022. "Assessment of Physical Well-Being and Leisure Time of Polish Students during the COVID-19 Outbreak," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-14, July.
    2. Beatriz Sánchez-Hernando & Raúl Juárez-Vela & Isabel Antón-Solanas & Ángel Gasch-Gallén & Pedro Melo & Tam H. Nguyen & José Ramón Martínez-Riera & Elisa Ferrer-Gracia & Vicente Gea-Caballero, 2021. "Association between Life Skills and Academic Performance in Adolescents in the Autonomous Community of Aragon (Spain)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-12, April.
    3. Marcin Gierczyk & Edyta Charzyńska & Dagmara Dobosz & Hewilia Hetmańczyk & Ewa Jarosz, 2022. "Subjective Well-Being of Primary and Secondary School Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Latent Profile Analysis," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 15(6), pages 2115-2140, December.
    4. Son, Woo-Jung & Bae, Sung-Man, 2022. "The relationship between human rights, negative affect, bullying victimization, and life satisfaction among Korean adolescents: A national sample study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Laura Esteban-Gonzalo & Sara Esteban-Gonzalo & Irene Esteban-Cornejo & Rocío Izquierdo-Gómez & Carmen Padilla-Moledo & José Castro-Piñero & Oscar L. Veiga, 2020. "Wellbeing as a Protective Factor of Adolescent Health. The Up & Down Study," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 13(4), pages 1453-1467, August.
    2. Julio Torales & Iván Barrios & Osvaldo Melgarejo & Noelia Ruiz Díaz & Marcelo O’Higgins & Rodrigo Navarro & Diego Amarilla & José Almirón-Santacruz & Israel González-Urbieta & Tomás Caycho-Rod, 2024. "Hope, resilience and subjective happiness among general population of Paraguay in the post COVID-19 pandemic," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 70(3), pages 489-497, May.
    3. Sánchez-Sandoval, Yolanda & Aragón, Claudia & Verdugo, Laura, 2022. "Future expectations of adolescents in Residential Care: The role of self-perceptions," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    4. Antonio Crego & José Ramón Yela & Rita Ozores-Pérez & Pablo Riesco-Matías & María Ángeles Gómez-Martínez, 2022. "Eudaimonic and Uncertainty Metaphors About Life are Associated with Meaningfulness, Experiential Avoidance, Mental Health and Happiness," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(8), pages 4119-4146, December.
    5. Douglas Rhein & Alexander Nanni, 2022. "Assessing Mental Health Among Thai University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(4), pages 21582440221, October.
    6. Massimo Aria & Michelangelo Misuraca & Maria Spano, 2020. "Mapping the Evolution of Social Research and Data Science on 30 Years of Social Indicators Research," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 149(3), pages 803-831, June.
    7. Eirini Karakasidou & Georgia Raftopoulou & Anna Papadimitriou & Anastassios Stalikas, 2023. "Self-Compassion and Well-Being during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Study of Greek College Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-13, March.
    8. Albert Feliu-Soler & Javier de Diego-Adeliño & Juan V. Luciano & Ioseba Iraurgi & Carlo Alemany & Dolors Puigdemont & Víctor Pérez & Maria J. Portella & Joan Trujols, 2021. "Unhappy While Depressed: Examining the Dimensionality, Reliability and Validity of the Subjective Happiness Scale in a Spanish Sample of Patients with Depressive Disorders," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-13, October.
    9. Antonio Crego & José Ramón Yela & María Ángeles Gómez-Martínez & Pablo Riesco-Matías & Cristina Petisco-Rodríguez, 2021. "Relationships between Mindfulness, Purpose in Life, Happiness, Anxiety, and Depression: Testing a Mediation Model in a Sample of Women," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-15, January.
    10. Steven Toepfer & Kelly Cichy & Patti Peters, 2012. "Letters of Gratitude: Further Evidence for Author Benefits," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 13(1), pages 187-201, March.
    11. Chee Hon Chan & Ho Kit Wong & Paul Siu Fai Yip, 2017. "Associations of relative income deprivation with perceived happiness and self-rated health among the Hong Kong Chinese population," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 62(6), pages 697-707, July.
    12. Raquel Lara-Moreno & Ester Lara & Débora Godoy-Izquierdo, 2021. "Exploring Intraindividual Profiles for Home Buildings Based on Architectural Compositional Elements and Psychological Health Factors: A Transdisciplinary Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-20, August.
    13. Mariya A. Yukhymenko-Lescroart & Gitima Sharma, 2019. "The Relationship Between Faculty Members’ Passion for Work and Well-Being," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 20(3), pages 863-881, March.
    14. Julia Brailovskaia & Muyu Lin & Saskia Scholten & Meixia Zhu & Yue Fu & Meihua Shao & Shuqing Hu & Xuan Li & Wenting Guo & Dan Cai & Shan Lu & Jürgen Margraf, 2022. "A Qualitative Cross-Cultural Comparison of Well-Being Constructs: the Meaning of Happiness, Life Satisfaction, and Social Support for German and Chinese Students," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 1379-1402, April.
    15. Ana Blasco-Belled & Radosław Rogoza & Cristina Torrelles-Nadal & Carles Alsinet, 2020. "Emotional Intelligence Structure and Its Relationship with Life Satisfaction and Happiness: New Findings from the Bifactor Model," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 21(6), pages 2031-2049, August.
    16. Antonio Crego & José Ramón Yela & María Ángeles Gómez-Martínez & Ahmed A. Karim, 2020. "The Contribution of Meaningfulness and Mindfulness to Psychological Well-Being and Mental Health: A Structural Equation Model," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 21(8), pages 2827-2850, December.
    17. Salvador Reyes-Martín & Mónica Hernández-López & Miguel Rodríguez-Valverde, 2021. "Spanish Adaptation of the Experiential Approach Scale (EAS)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-11, December.
    18. Ana Blasco-Belled & Radosław Rogoza & Cristina Torrelles-Nadal & Carles Alsinet, 2022. "Differentiating Optimists from Pessimists in the Prediction of Emotional Intelligence, Happiness, and Life Satisfaction: A Latent Profile Analysis," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(5), pages 2371-2387, June.
    19. Lourdes Rey & Natalio Extremera & Nicolás Sánchez-Álvarez, 2019. "Clarifying The Links Between Perceived Emotional Intelligence and Well-Being in Older People: Pathways Through Perceived Social Support from Family and Friends," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 14(1), pages 221-235, March.
    20. Ellis, Katrina R. & Griffith, Derek M. & Allen, Julie Ober & Thorpe, Roland J. & Bruce, Marino A., 2015. "“If you do nothing about stress, the next thing you know, you're shattered”: Perspectives on African American men's stress, coping and health from African American men and key women in their lives," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 107-114.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:8:p:2732-:d:345947. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.