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Positive Affect and its Relationship with General Life Satisfaction among 10 and 12-Year-Old Children in 18 Countries

Author

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  • Ferran Casas

    (University of Girona
    Universidad Andrés Bello)

  • Xavier Oriol

    (Universidad Andrés Bello)

  • Mònica González-Carrasco

    (University of Girona)

Abstract

Based on the Children’s Worlds sample of N = 41,599 children and adolescents from 18 countries, aims that have seldom been addressed in the scientific literature are considered: (a) an analysis of positive affect (PA) among 10 and 12-year-old children in 18 countries; (b) an analysis of the comparability of PA across countries, genders and age groups; and (c) a cross-country analysis of the relationship between PA and a measure of cognitive subjective well-being (SWB). A Confirmatory Factor Analysis of a PA measure (PA4), comprising the affects satisfied, happy, relaxed and active, was tested for the above purposes and displayed excellent fit indexes. Multi-group Structural Equation Models were tested by gender, age group and country. The results suggest all statistics are comparable across age groups and genders. Differences according to gender displayed very small effect size in the case of Romania and small effect size in the other 17 countries. A medium effect size was found for age differences in eleven of the countries, a small effect in six and a very small effect in the remaining one. Correlations and regressions are comparable across countries, whereas mean scores are only comparable among 12 out of 18 countries. A detailed analysis displays clear diversities among countries, but also outstanding similarities in children’s PA. A strong positive correlation (.735) was identified between Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita and the relationship between PA and OLS (Overall Life Satisfaction), while the GDP per capita correlation was not statistically significant with the PA or OLS individually.

Suggested Citation

  • Ferran Casas & Xavier Oriol & Mònica González-Carrasco, 2020. "Positive Affect and its Relationship with General Life Satisfaction among 10 and 12-Year-Old Children in 18 Countries," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 13(6), pages 2261-2290, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:chinre:v:13:y:2020:i:6:d:10.1007_s12187-020-09733-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s12187-020-09733-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Robert Cummins, 2010. "Subjective Wellbeing, Homeostatically Protected Mood and Depression: A Synthesis," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 11(1), pages 1-17, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Aline Lopes Moreira & Jorge Castellá Sarriera & Leonardo Fernandes Martins & Lívia Maria Bedin & Maria Angela Mattar Yunes & Luciana Cassarino Perez & Murilo Ricardo Zibetti, 2022. "Psychometric Properties of Children’s Subjective Well-Being Scales: a Multigroup Study Investigating School Type, Gender, Age and Region of Children in the South and Southeast Regions of Brazil," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 15(2), pages 657-679, April.
    2. Claudia Bacter & Sergiu Bălṭătescu & Cristiana Marc & Sorana Săveanu & Raluca Buhaṣ, 2021. "Correlates of Preadolescent Emotional Health in 18 Countries. A Study Using Children’s Words Data," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 14(4), pages 1703-1722, August.
    3. Marija Džida & Toni Babarović & Andreja Brajša-Žganec, 2023. "The Factor Structure of Different Subjective Well-Being Measures and its Correlates in the Croatian Sample of Children and Adolescents," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 16(5), pages 1871-1888, October.
    4. Stephanie Hess, 2024. "The Impact of Cultural Values on the Association Between Family Relations and Children’s Life Satisfaction. A Comparison of Children in Two-Parent Families Across 39 Countries," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 17(5), pages 1891-1917, October.
    5. Jose Marquez & Ferran Casas & Laura Taylor & Jan-Emmanuel Neve, 2024. "Economic Development and Adolescent Wellbeing in 139 Countries," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 17(4), pages 1405-1442, August.
    6. Moreira, Aline Lopes & Yunes, Maria Angela Mattar & Martins, Leonardo Fernandes, 2023. "Children's subjective well-being and the protective role of friendships, school satisfaction and neighborhood in the face of peer victimization," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    7. Andrés Rodríguez-Pose & Alexandra Sandu & Chris Taylor & Jennifer May Hampton, 2024. "Children’s Subjective Well-Being During the Coronavirus Pandemic," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 17(1), pages 309-347, February.
    8. Ferran Casas & Mònica González-Carrasco, 2021. "Children’s Aspirations, Societal Development and Cultural Sensitivity. Aspirational Profiles Emerging From Data Provided By Children in 22 Countries," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 14(4), pages 1315-1344, August.
    9. Ferran Casas & Mònica González-Carrasco & Xavier Oriol & Sara Malo, 2022. "Economic and Children’s Subjective Well-Being Indicators at the National Level in 35 Countries," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 15(5), pages 1539-1563, October.
    10. Ana Blasco-Belled & Claudia Tejada-Gallardo & Cristina Torrelles-Nadal & Carles Alsinet, 2020. "The Costs of the COVID-19 on Subjective Well-Being: An Analysis of the Outbreak in Spain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-14, August.
    11. Veljko Jovanović & Maksim Rudnev & Naved Iqbal & Sean P. M. Rice & Magdalena Żemojtel-Piotrowska, 2022. "Cross-Cultural Measurement of Positive and Negative Emotions in Adolescence: Evidence from Three Countries," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(7), pages 3143-3160, October.
    12. Jiang, Chaoxin & Song, Hao, 2024. "Feeling adequately heard by Adults, perceived safety and Children’s life Satisfaction: A multinational comparison of individualist and collectivist cultures across 18 countries," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).

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