Showing papers in "Social Indicators Research in 2015"

The International Wealth Index (IWI)

Abstract: This paper presents the International Wealth Index (IWI), the first comparable asset based index of household’s material well-being, or economic status, that can be used for all low and middle income countries. IWI is similar to the widely used wealth indices included in the Demographic and Health Surveys and UNICEF MICS surveys, but adds the property of comparability across place and time. IWI is based on data from 2.1 million households in 97 developing countries. With IWI we provide a stable and understandable yardstick for evaluating and comparing the situation of households, social groups and societies among all regions of the developing world. A household’s ranking on IWI indicates to what extent the household possesses a basic set of assets, valued highly by people across the globe. IWI is tested thoroughly and turns out to be a stable index that hardly depends on the inclusion of specific items or on data for specific regions or time periods. National IWI values are highly correlated with human development, life expectancy, and national income, and IWI-based poverty measures with poverty headcount ratios.

Assessing the Relationship Between Social Vulnerability and Community Resilience to Hazards.

Abstract: This article contributes to the disaster literature by measuring and connecting two concepts that are highly related but whose relationship is rarely empirically evaluated: social vulnerability and community resilience. To do so, we measure community resilience and social vulnerability in counties across the United States and find a correlation between high levels of vulnerability and low levels of resilience, indicating that the most vulnerable counties also tend to be the least resilient. We also find regional differences in the distribution of community resilience and social vulnerability, with the West being particularly vulnerable while the Southeast is prone to low levels of resilience. By looking at both social vulnerability and community resilience, we are able to map communities’ social risks for harm from threats as well as their capacities for recovering and adapting in the aftermath of hazards. This provides a more complete portrait of the communities that might need the most assistance in emergency planning and response, as well as whether such interventions will need to be tailored toward reducing damage or finding the path to recovery.

The Effect of Work Stress on Job Burnout Among Teachers: The Mediating Role of Self-efficacy

Abstract: The psychological pressure of high strength, often cause teachers teaching dissatisfaction, absenteeism and employee turnover. The current study examined the impact of work stress on job burnout, mainly focused on confirmation of the mediator role of self-efficacy. A total of 387 middle school teachers were as participants involving in this research. Data were collected by using the Perceived Stress Scale, General Self-Efficacy Scale and Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey. The results revealed that both work stress and self-efficacy were significantly correlated with job burnout. Structural equation modeling indicated that self efficacy partially mediated work stress to job burnout. The final model also revealed significant both paths from work stress to job burnout through self efficacy. The findings extended prior researches and provided valuable evidence on how to promote mental health of teachers at the workplaces.

The Mental Health Continuum–Short Form (MHC–SF) as a Measure of Well-Being in the Italian Context

Abstract: We examined the structure, reliability, construct validity, and gender invariance of the Italian version of the Mental Health Continuum–Short Form (Italian MHC–SF), a self-report questionnaire for positive mental health assessment developed by Keyes. The scale was administered to 1,438 Italian respondents, mainly from central and southern Italy, between the ages of 18 and 89 years (m = 47.12; SD = 19.56). Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the three-factors solution (emotional, psychological, and social) and a latent factor consisting of the three dimensions of well-being, and that the structure of the scale was the same for males and females. Results revealed a high internal reliability and moderate test–retest reliability. The subscales correlated positively with corresponding aspects of well-being and functioning, showing convergent validity. The scale correlated negatively and moderately with measures of mental illness, showing divergent validity. Exploratory factor analysis supported the hypothesis of two separate, but correlated, factors for mental health and mental illness, showing discriminant validity and support for the two-continua model. A categorical diagnosis of the presence of mental health and the absence of mental health was applied to the sample. The Italian MHC–SF is a reliable and valid instrument to measure well-being and the positive aspects of mental health.

Dimensions of Subjective Well-Being

Abstract: We use two waves of a population based survey (the RAND American Life Panel) to investigate the relations between various evaluative and experienced well-being measures based on the English Longitudinal Study of Aging, the Gallup Wellbeing Index, and a 12-item hedonic well-being module of the Health and Retirement Study. In a randomized set-up we administered several versions of the survey with different response scales. Using factor analysis, we find that all evaluative measures load on the same factor, but the positive and negative experienced affect measures load on different factors. We find evidence of an effect of response scales on both the estimated number of underlying factors and their relations with demographics. We conclude that finer response scales allowing more nuanced answers offer more reliability. The relation of evaluative and experienced measures with demographics are very different; perhaps the most striking aspect is the lack of a consistent relation of experienced well-being measures with income, while evaluative well-being is strongly positively related with income.

Immigrants’ Sense of Belonging to the Host Country: The Role of Life Satisfaction, Language Proficiency, and Religious Motives

Abstract: This paper focuses on a significant concept in migration studies: immigrants’ sense of belonging to the host society. Drawing upon the literature of immigration and subjective well-being, we proposed a model in which life satisfaction is a major predictor of immigrants’ sense of belonging, and is explained by background variables including religious affiliation, religious motivation, native language proficiency and ethnic segregation. The study was based on a survey of two groups of highly skilled migrants in Israel; immigrants from France and the Former Soviet Union who moved to Israel in the last two decades. The findings suggest that, as expected, life satisfaction had a significant influence on immigrants’ sense of belonging and served as a mediator variable in the model. Whereas ethnic segregation was not found to be a significant parameter in the model, religious motivation and Hebrew language proficiency were found to be prominent. In light of the literature, we also discuss the importance of religious motivations to immigrants’ subjective well-being, identity, and sense of belonging.

Time Period and Birth Cohort Differences in Depressive Symptoms in the U.S., 1982–2013

Abstract: Across four surveys (N = 6.9 million), Americans reported substantially higher levels of depressive symptoms, particularly somatic symptoms, in the 2000s–2010s compared to the 1980s–1990s. High school students in the 2010s (vs. the 1980s) reported more somatic symptoms (e.g., trouble sleeping, thinking, and remembering; shortness of breath) and were twice as likely to have seen a professional for mental issues. College students in recent years (vs. the 1980s) were more likely to report feeling overwhelmed and to believe they were below average in mental and physical health, but were less likely to say they felt depressed. Total Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scores were higher among adults in 2000 (vs. 1988), especially somatic symptoms. Teens displayed less suicidal ideation in 2011 versus 1991 and were slightly less likely to commit suicide. Thus, more subtle symptoms of depression became more prevalent even as some overt indicators of depression became less prevalent.

The Impact of Person–Job Fit on Job Satisfaction: The Mediator Role of Self Efficacy

Abstract: The current study examined the impact of person–job fit on job satisfaction, with a primary focus on confirmation of the mediator role of self efficacy among a sample of 455 staffs. Participants completed a questionnaire packet containing Person–Job Fit Scale, The General Self-Efficacy Scale, and Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire. The results revealed that both person–job fit and self efficacy were significantly correlated with job satisfaction. Structural equation modeling indicated that self efficacy partially mediated person–job fit to job satisfaction. The final model also revealed significant both paths from person–job fit to job satisfaction through self efficacy. The findings extended prior researches and shed light on how person–job fit influence job satisfaction; this provides valuable evidence on how to promote subjective well-being at the workplaces.

Financial Satisfaction and the Influence of Financial Literacy in Malaysia

Abstract: Achieving a state of being financially satisfied is a more feasible aim than becoming debt-free, which requires well strategized economic behaviors over one’s life cycle. Furthermore, financial satisfaction can describe an individual’s perception concerning his/her current financial situation. In this study, we developed and tested a conceptual model to predict the level of financial satisfaction among Malaysian working individuals. Specifically, the model explains how financial planning (FP) directly affects financial satisfaction and mediates the effects of financial literacy (FL) and basic money management (BMM). The hypotheses were tested using survey data from 1,957 respondents who attended investment seminars across Malaysia. The results from partial least squares analyses suggest that FP is an important determinant of financial satisfaction, whereas BMM does not affect satisfaction directly. In addition, FL and attitude towards money were found to be significant antecedent variables of FP. The study also found that the current FL level in Malaysia is moderately high at 66.7 % based on tier one financial quiz questions. From the findings, with the increasingly complex financial systems, we conclude that everyone should manage and plan their financial activities well ahead because people will face many differing financial commitments at certain points in their lives.

Culture and Happiness.

Abstract: Culture is an important factor affecting happiness. This paper examines the predictive power of cultural factors on the cross-country differences in happiness and explores how different dimensions of cultural indices differ in their effects on happiness. Our empirical results show that the global leadership and organizational behavior effectiveness nine culture indices are all significantly related with happiness. Out of these nine indices, power distance (PDI) and gender egalitarianism (GEI) play the most important and stable role in determining subjective well-being (SWB). We further examine the relative importance of the various variables in contributing to the R-squared of the regression. The results show that PDI is the most important, accounting for 50 % of the contributions to R-squared of all variables, or equalling the combined contributions of income, population density and four other traditional variables. The contribution of GEI is 37.1 %, also well surpassing other variables. Our results remain robust even taking account of the different data for culture and SWB.

Overqualification and Subjective Well-Being at Work: The Moderating Role of Job Autonomy and Culture

Abstract: Overqualification is a form of underemployment wherein people have more skills, experience, knowledge, and abilities than required for a job. Past research has shown that overqualification is negatively related to subjective well-being at work, such as lower job satisfaction. To mitigate this negative impact, drawing on a job design perspective, the authors proposed that job autonomy can buffer overqualification’s negative effects. Based on the model of culture fit in managerial practice, as well as regulatory fit theory, the authors further proposed that the buffering effects of job autonomy apply only to employees from individualistic (vs. collectivistic) cultures. Data from the 5th European Working Conditions Survey were analyzed. Results of a two-level multilevel modeling analysis showed a three way interaction between overqualification, job autonomy, and national culture in predicting subjective well-being at work. Job autonomy buffered the negative effects of overqualification on subjective well-being at work, but only in individualistic cultures.

The Impact of Drought on Mental Health in Rural and Regional Australia

Abstract: While the economic and environmental impacts of drought have been widely studied, there are few large-scale studies that have examined the impact of drought on mental health. This paper is one of the first to provide estimates of the impact of drought on mental health using a large-scale representative survey. The analysis is based upon a 2007 survey of 8,000 people living in rural and regional areas of Australia. At the time the survey was conducted a substantial part of the Australian continent was experiencing severe drought. The impacts of drought are estimated using regression models which allow for the effects of demographic and geographic variables to be held constant. A novel feature of this paper is that the impact of drought on the mental health is estimated separately for a range of people in rural areas—including non-farmers as well as farmers and farm workers. The paper finds that drought does have negative mental health impacts and that those who are most impacted upon are farmers and farm workers. There do not appear to be substantial flow-on effects of drought on the mental health of those employed outside of agriculture. There is evidence that the more severe the agricultural impact of drought the greater the impact on mental health. Farmers who reported that the drought had eliminated or reduced their farm’s productivity to the lowest point ever had significantly higher rates of mental health problems and lower mental health wellbeing scores than those who did not report they were in drought or reported that the drought had little or no effect. The findings are notable given that recent climate change scenarios suggest that the frequency and severity of drought will increase in many countries.

Involuntary Temporary and Part-Time Work, Job Quality and Well-Being at Work

Abstract: This paper studies the impact of job contract types on perceived job quality, using the Finnish 2008 Quality of Work Life Surveys (QWLS) from the years 1997, 2003 and 2008. In the analysis, job contract types are adjusted to take into account the motive for doing temporary and part-time work. Our results from the Finnish QWLS imply that there are clear differences in job quality and work well-being by the type of job contract. Our results also show the importance of distinguishing between types of temporary and part-time work by the contract preference, i.e. whether these nonstandard employment arrangements are exercised involuntarily or not. Almost without exception, involuntary temporary and involuntary part-time workers’ experiences of their job quality are weaker with respect to core job quality indicators studied in this paper, such as training possibilities, participation in employer-funded training, career possibilities, possibilities to learn and grow at work, job insecurity, and job autonomy.

Financial Development and Income Inequality: Is There Any Financial Kuznets Curve in Iran?

Abstract: This paper deals with the investigation of the relationship between financial development and income inequality in case of Iran. In doing so, we have applied the ARDL bounds testing approach to examine the long-run relationship in the presence of structural break in the series. The unit root properties have been tested by applying Zivot and Andrews (in J Bus Econ Stat 10:251–270, 1992) and Clemente et al. (in Econ Lett 59, 175–182, 1998) structural break tests. The VECM Granger causality approach is used to detect the direction of the causal relationship between financial development and income inequality. Moreover, Greenwood–Jovanovich (GJ) hypothesis has also been tested for Iranian economy. Our results confirm the long run relationship between the variables. Furthermore, financial development reduces income inequality. Economic growth worsens income inequality, but inflation and globalization improve income distribution. Finally, GJ hypothesis is found as well as U-shaped relationship between globalization and income inequality in case of Iran. This study might provide new insights for policy makers to reduce income inequality by making economic growth more fruitful for poor segment of population and directing financial sector to provide access to financial resources of poor individuals at cheaper cost.

Development and Validation of the Brief Adolescents’ Subjective Well-Being in School Scale (BASWBSS)

Abstract: Adolescents report differing subjective experiences across various life domains necessitating the development of domain-specific measures of subjective well-being. This study aimed to develop a brief, specialized, comprehensive measure of adolescents’ subjective well-being (SWB) in school and assess its psychometric properties in Chinese adolescents. Toward this aim, we first developed eight items for the Brief Adolescents’ Subjective Well-Being in School Scale (BASWBSS) based on the theoretical frame of SWB in school proposed by Tian in the measurement model for her Adolescents’ Subjective Well-Being in School Scale (ASWBSS; Tian in Psychol Dev Edu 24(3):100–106, 2008). Second, we conducted exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis to investigate the structure of the BASWBSS. Third, we tested its measurement invariance across gender using multigroup analyses. Last, we examined its internal consistency reliability, convergent and discriminant validity, test–retest reliability, and predictive validity. The results revealed that the BASWBSS has promising psychometric properties. Overall, the findings offered preliminary support for the BASWBSS as a useful alternative to the longer ASWBSS, especially for studies with adolescents when brevity is an important consideration.

The Effect of Gratitude on Elementary School Students’ Subjective Well-Being in Schools: The Mediating Role of Prosocial Behavior

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the mediational role of prosocial behavior on the relationship between gratitude and subjective well-being (SWB) in school (school satisfaction, positive affect in school, and negative affect in school) in elementary school students. We also explored the moderating effect of gender. A total of 706 Chinese elementary school students (375 males and 331 females) from classes in Grades 4 through 6 completed a packet of questionnaires. This packet consisted of the Gratitude Questionnaire, the Elementary School Students’ Subjective Well-Being in School Scale, and the Prosocial Dimension adapted from the Mental Health Scale of Primary and Secondary School Students. The results showed that individual differences in elementary school students’ (1) gratitude significantly related to SWB in school; (2) prosocial behavior partially mediated the relations between gratitude and school satisfaction and positive affect in school; (3) gender moderated the relation between gratitude and school satisfaction, with boys showing greater benefits of gratitude. Limitations and practical applications of the study are discussed.

Measuring and Predicting Student Well-Being: Further Evidence in Support of the Flourishing Scale and the Scale of Positive and Negative Experiences

Abstract: An increased focus on well-being in university settings has spurred the development of brief scales of both functioning well and feeling good. The objectives of the current study were to generate descriptive findings concerning psychometric properties (e.g., factor structure; reliability) of the recently devised Flourishing Scale (FS) and Scale of Positive and Negative Experiences (SPANE; Diener et al., Soc Indic Res 97:143–156, 2010) with an English-speaking university student sample, and to test associations between the scales and potential predictors of eudaimonic and hedonic aspects of well-being. The FS and SPANE scales were completed by 478 undergraduate students, along with scales measuring 10 human values and both time and material affluence. Descriptive statistics (e.g., means, standard deviations, reliability coefficients) for the FS and SPANE scales were highly similar to those reported by Diener et al. (Soc Indic Res 97:143–156, 2010) and confirmatory factor analysis supported the hypothesized three-factor model (i.e., flourishing, positive feelings, and negative feelings). Self-transcendence and conservation value types were significant predictors of FS scores, whereas only the conservation value type predicted affect balance scores from the SPANE. Time and material affluence were significant predictors of both FS and affect balance scores. Results are discussed in relation to the distinction between eudaimonic and hedonic aspects of well-being.

The Influence of Social Capital on Individual Health: Is it the Neighbourhood or the Network?

Abstract: We examined the influence of both individual and neighbourhood social capital on individual health and analysed whether effects of one type of social capital are contingent upon the other. The Dutch ‘Housing and Living Survey’ (WoON 2006, n = 53,269) was used and combined with information on neighbourhoods (n = 3,273). Using an ecometric approach to estimate neighbourhood social capital, we found that both types of capital were associated with health. In addition, those who have only few contacts with friends and relatives have nevertheless a good health if they have much neighbourhood social capital. The findings demonstrate the potential importance of both types of social capital and the possibility of compensation of one type of social capital by the other one.

Social Participation and Subjective Well-Being Among Retirees in China

Abstract: The current study examined the predictive roles of social participation for subjective well-being among Chinese retirees. The Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale and the self-developed Social Participation Questionnaire were employed to assess subjective well-being and social participation, respectively. Social participation included four aspects: frequency of social activities, roles in social activities, working state, and participation in activities of former employing units (these activities often include all kinds of parties for festivals, meetings and recreations arranged by former employing units). Ultimately, 22,019 city retirees ranging in age from 50 to 99 (M = 69.7, SD = 8.1) completed the questionnaires. Results indicated that retirees tend to report positive subjective well-being; the effects of social participation, excluding work state, on subjective well-being were significant. That is, individuals with more frequent participation in social activities, more active roles in social activities, and more frequent participation in activities of former employing units reported higher subjective well-being, even when controlling for the roles of physical health, income, and other socio-demographic variables. Physical health and income were two robust factors in predicting subjective well-being in analysis models. The effects of other socio-demographic variables were also analyzed. The current study provides further empirical support for the role of social participation in quality of life of the elderly.

The Contribution of R&D Expenditure to Economic Growth in Developing Economies

Abstract: This paper examines the role of RD upper-middle-income economies and lower middle-income economies. The result reveals a beneficial impact of R&D spending on economic growth in developing countries. The effect of R&D spending on growth is positive for upper middle-income economies while insignificant in lower income economies. R&D spending has different short and long run effects on growth. Using simultaneous equation models to account for simultaneity and endogeneity, R&D spending remains beneficial to growth and the results remain consistent with the dynamic system estimator.

The Impact of Income Inequality on Individual Happiness: Evidence from China

Abstract: Using survey data from China, this paper tests the association between individual self-reported happiness and income inequality. The hypothesized relationship between income inequality and individual happiness is an inverted-U shaped association based on the tunnel effect theory proposed by Hirschman and Rothschild (Q J Econ 87(4):544–566, 1973). Using the Chinese General Social Survey data, we empirically investigate the relationship between income inequality and individual happiness and we find evidence confirming the tunnel effect hypothesis. Specifically, individual happiness increases with inequality when county-level inequality measured by the Gini coefficient is less than 0.405, and decreases with inequality for larger values of the Gini coefficient, where approximately 60 % of the counties in the study have a Gini coefficient larger than 0.405. The inverted U-shaped association exists in both urban and rural China; however, the turning points for urban and rural areas are 0.323 and 0.459, respectively. Between the rich and poor groups, the inverted-U shape relationship exists only in the poor subsample.

The Economic Crisis and its Effects on the Quality of Life in the European Union

Abstract: The economic crisis to hit a number of countries, particularly European Union countries, since late 2007 has triggered many unpleasant effects that are still being felt today. Faced with such a situation, the question arises as to whether the negative economic consequences of the crisis have impacted the quality of life in said countries and to what extent. A further point of interest is to ascertain which countries have been most adversely affected and which have been able to weather the storm without serious difficulties. Comparing the quality of life in countries in 2007 and 2011 allows us to analyse and quantify the impact of the economic crisis on people’s quality of life. As expected, the conclusions to emerge from the study point to significant changes in both the individual as well as relative situation in European countries and evidence that in many, there has been a substantial decline in citizens’ quality of life.

Relationships Between Identity and Well-Being in Italian, Polish, and Romanian Emerging Adults

Abstract: The main aim of our research was to describe the comprehensive picture of relationships between identity and well-being with a cross-national perspective. We examined identity considering the interplay of three processes (i.e., commitment, in-depth exploration, and reconsideration of commitment) and we treated well-being as a multidimensional latent variable, whose indicators were subjective well-being, psychological well-being, and social well-being. Participants were 1,086 (60.6 % female) emerging adults from Italy, Poland, and Romania. They completed self-report measures of identity and well-being. We adopted a structural equation modeling approach and we tested associations between identity and well-being for university students (taking into account educational identity) and working emerging adults (considering job identity). For all countries and in both identity domains findings indicated that well-being was consistently associated with high commitment, high in-depth exploration, and low reconsideration of commitment. Implications of these findings are discussed.

Determinants of Life Satisfaction in Asia

Abstract: While many studies on life satisfaction have been conducted in Western countries, there is still a dearth of such studies in Asia and other parts of the less developed world. To fill the lacuna in research, we used data from the Asia Barometer survey to examine the differentials in life satisfaction across Asian countries, and analyse the determinants of life satisfaction in the four sub-regions of Asia. We found that many other factors such as marital status, standard of living, and role of government have a greater influence than income on life satisfaction in Asia. The importance of marital status on life satisfaction in Asia can be attributed to Asian culture which places great emphasis on family values. The standard of living is probably a better measure of quality of life than income, as it takes into account non-monetary benefits such as better facilities provided by state. In low resource countries, good governance and efficient utilization of resources for the benefit of the citizens contributes to life satisfaction. However, education, gender and age are not significant determinants of life satisfaction in Asian countries. Be that as it may, education may have an indirect role as it tends to improve the job status of an individual and hence one's income and standard of living. Policies that are formulated to enhance life satisfaction should be geared towards strengthening the family institution, improving the standard of living and good governance, while pursuing socioeconomic development and increasing the country's GDP.

Attachment Relationships and Life Satisfaction During Emerging Adulthood

Abstract: The present study examined peer attachment (friend attachment and romantic attachment) as potential mediator in the relationship between parental attachment (attachment to mother and father) and life satisfaction in emerging adulthood. The sample comprised 385 Italian emerging-adults aged from 18 to 25 years. The technique of structural equation modeling was applied to investigate the hypothesized model. Results indicated that both parental and peer attachment were positively related to life satisfaction, with romantic attachment being the stronger unique predictor. Further, only romantic attachment wholly mediates the association between attachment to mother and life satisfaction. Findings are reviewed in relation to past research and implications for professional practice are discussed.

Pre- and Post-crisis Life-Satisfaction and Social Trust in Transitional Countries: An Initial Assessment

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to assess changes of life-satisfaction and trust in transitional countries as well as their interaction resulting from the global economic and financial crisis of 2007, and its aftermath. For all indicators used, the level of life-satisfaction significantly decreased in transitional countries after the crisis. The smallest reduction can be observed in general life-satisfaction, while the reduction was larger for economic satisfaction and for confidence in better life of children. However, change in post-crisis trust experienced a mixed picture. Levels of institutional trust decreased after crisis, while the degree of interpersonal trust increased. Interpersonal trust continued to have a positive impact on life-satisfaction after the crisis, but the magnitude of its effect stagnated during the post-crisis period. Conversely, the significant magnitude of institutional trust effect grew after crisis for all types of indicators used. These findings suggest that both interpersonal and institutional trust, which are used here as indicators of social capital, are powerful resources that can directly improve life-satisfaction during transition. Most importantly, these resources can be employed to mitigate the outcomes of the crisis.

Social Support, Self-efficacy, Trauma and Well-Being in Emergency Medical Dispatchers

Abstract: Emergency medical dispatchers (EMDs) respond to crisis calls for ambulance; they dispatch paramedics and provide emotional and medical assistance to callers. Despite the stressful nature and exposure to potentially traumatising events in this role, there has been no published research specifically investigating well-being or posttraumatic growth among EMDs. Extrapolating from research conducted among other emergency services workers (e.g., paramedics, police), literature attests to the importance of self efficacy and social support in promoting mental health in emergency service workers. Therefore, this study assessed the impact of self efficacy, and giving and receiving social support on psychological well-being, posttraumatic growth (PTG), and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Sixty EMDs (50 % response rate) completed an online questionnaire. Three hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted to ascertain predictors of well-being, PTG and PTSD. Receiving social support emerged as a significant positive predictor of well-being and PTG, and a significant negative predictor of PTSD. Self efficacy was found to significantly and positively predict well-being, and shift-work was found to significantly and negatively predict PTSD. These results highlight that self efficacy and receiving social support are likely to be important for enhancing well-being within this population, and that receiving social support is also likely to facilitate positive post-trauma responses. Such findings have implications for the way emergency service personnel are educated with reference to aspects of mental health and how best to support personnel in order to achieve optimal mental health outcomes for all.

Measuring Trust in European Public Institutions

Abstract: The problem of measuring the general level of trust in public institutions is addressed. A very general framework to compute an index of trust in public institutions is proposed and it is shown how to perform an uncertainty analysis of an index of trust to test its robustness. An application to data from the sixth round of the European Social Survey is presented. It is found that Scandinavian countries are the most trustful European countries in public institutions, whereas former communist countries as well as Iberian and Mediterranean ones are much less trustful. The governments of the least trustful countries in public institutions should be very careful in monitoring this issue and should think about introducing reforms to improve citizens’ trust. Improving trust in public institutions is central to improve social capital, participation in civic activities and law-abiding behavior and then governmental legitimacy.

Toward a Theory of Child Well-Being

Abstract: Assuring the well-being of children has emerged over the past several decades as an important goal for health and social policymakers. Although the concept of child well-being has been operationalized and measured in different ways by different child-serving entities, there are few unifying theories that could undergird and inform these various conceptual and measurement efforts. In this paper, we attempt to construct a theory of child well-being. We first review the social and policy history of the concept of child well-being, and briefly review its measurement based on these conceptualizations. We then examine three types of theories of well-being extant in philosophy—mental states theories, desire-based theories and needs-based theories—and investigate their suitability to serve as prototypes of a theory of child well-being. We develop a constraint that child well-being is important in and of itself and not merely as a way station to future adult well-being (we call this a non-reduction constraint). Using this constraint, we identify the limitations of each of the three sets of theories to serve as a basis for a theory of child well-being. Based on a developmentalist approach, we then articulate a theory of child well-being that contains two conditions. First, a child’s stage-appropriate capacities that equip her for successful adulthood, given her environment; and, second, an engagement with the world in child-appropriate ways. We conclude by reviewing seven implications of this theoretical approach for the measurement of child well-being.

The Relationship Between Perceived Stress and Adolescent Depression: The Roles of Social Support and Gender

Abstract: In this study, we explored the roles of differential social support in strengthening capability to cope with stress for positive responding against depressive symptoms and further explored the moderating role of gender with a sample of 1,674 junior high school students. Participants responded to a series of scales including their levels of perceived stress, depressive symptoms, and quality of social supports. The results evidenced the mediating roles of family and others’ support in the relationship between perceived stress and depression and the mediating effects were found to fit only boys instead of girls. What’s more, the moderating effect of social support between perceived stress and depression was only found in the subcategory of friend support. The moderating effect of friend support between perceived stress and depression was found to have significant gender differences. The significance and limitations of the results were discussed.