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Individuals’ Assessments of Their Own Wellbeing, Subjective Welfare, and Good Life: Four Exploratory Studies

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  • Micael Dahlen

    (Stockholm School of Economics, P.O. Box 6501, SE-113 83 Stockholm, Sweden
    Norwegian School of Economics, Helleveien 30, 5045 Bergen, Norway)

  • Helge Thorbjørnsen

    (Norwegian School of Economics, Helleveien 30, 5045 Bergen, Norway)

Abstract

This paper reports on four exploratory online studies of how wellbeing and welfare are valued and perceived from a subjective, individual perspective. Study 1 ( n = 707) compares individuals’ subjective ratings and correlations of the importance of the three wellbeing dimensions happiness, meaning in life, and a psychologically rich life, as well as their welfare. Study 2 ( n = 679) factor-analyses the same four (five-item) wellbeing and subjective welfare constructs. Study 3 ( n = 710) gauges how individuals’ global assessments of the three dimensions of wellbeing and of subjective welfare contribute to their assessments of living a good life, using stepwise regression analysis. Study 4 ( n = 663) replicates the stepwise regression analysis with global measures of relative, rather than absolute, wellbeing and subjective welfare.

Suggested Citation

  • Micael Dahlen & Helge Thorbjørnsen, 2022. "Individuals’ Assessments of Their Own Wellbeing, Subjective Welfare, and Good Life: Four Exploratory Studies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-10, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:19:p:11919-:d:920531
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    References listed on IDEAS

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