Exploring The Determinants of Subjective Well-Being :

A Study of Children in India

Tithi Bhatnagar (Research Scholar) & Prof. Meenakshi Gupta

Department of Humanities & Social SciencesIndian Institute of Technology, Bombay, India

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Organization

Introduction Objective Method Results Discussions Conclusion

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Introduction

What is Subjective Well Being (SWB)?

Components of SWB

Stages of SWB Stage I – Research on SWB

Stage II- Research Theory

Stage III- Combining Processes, Approaches of the SWB theory

Research Topics in the Psychology of Well-Being

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Introduction contd.

School children have a level of SWB even if they do not consciously think about it. The psychological system offers virtually a constant evaluation of what is happening to the individual (Diener, 1997)

Measuring & documenting SWB can help advance children’s mental , emotional and spiritual qualities which are essential for individual happiness and responsible citizenship (Richmond, 1950)

The Foundation for Child Development Index of Child Well Being (CWI), 1975-2002, with Projections for 2003 (Duke University 2004)

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Introduction contd.

Purpose and Need for the Study

Understanding Subjective Well-Being in the Indian

Context

Research Objective

To explore the factors that determine the SWB

amongst children in India

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Method

Sample

46 Children of ages 9 and 10 years (M=24,

F=22, U=22, US=8, R=16)

U U + US R Total

M 8 4 + 4 = 8 8 24

F 8 2 + 4 = 6 8 22

Total 16 6 + 8 = 14 16 46

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Method contd.

Variables of the Study

Research Tool Used

What in general gives you happiness?

What type of things or experiences (emotional/material)

lead to your greatest well-being?

What makes you feel unpleasant?

Procedure

Analysis – Content Analysis

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Results

▫ On the basis of Location

▫ On the basis of Gender

▫ Overall Findings

▫ Domain Classification and Distribution

▫ Positive Domains

▫ Negative Domains

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Location wise Results

Urban - Positive Determinants

02468

10121416

Hea

lth

Rec

reat

ion

Aff

iliat

ion

Ach

ieve

men

t

Em

otio

ns

Male Female

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Location wise Results contd.

Urban- Negative Determinants

02468

1012

Bea

ting

Sco

ldin

g

Hur

ting/

Bei

ngH

urt

Get

ting

Hur

tP

hysi

cally

Fai

lure

s

Male Female

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Location wise Results contd.

Urban + Urban Slums - Positive Determinants

02468

10

Em

otio

ns

Aff

iliat

ion

Ach

ieve

men

t

Edu

catio

n

Hea

lth

Rec

reat

ion

Mon

ey

App

reci

atio

n

Mat

eria

lism

Em

ploy

men

t/C

aree

rS

ense

of

Sat

isfa

ctio

n

Urban Urban Slums

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Location wise Results contd.

Urban + Urban Slums - Negative Determinants

02468

Tea

sing

Fai

lure

s an

dD

isap

poin

tmen

ts

Bea

ting

Sco

ldin

g an

dS

crea

min

g

Fig

htin

g/B

ully

ing

/Hur

ting/

Har

assi

ng o

ther

s

Urban Urban Slums

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Location wise Results contd.

Rural - Positive Determinants

0

5

10

15

20H

ealth

Mon

ey

Ach

ieve

men

t

Mat

eria

lism

Aff

iliat

ion

Em

ploy

men

t

Rec

reat

ion

Edu

catio

n

Em

otio

ns

Sen

se o

fS

atis

fact

ion

Male Female

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Location wise Results contd.

Rural - Negative Determinants

0

4

8

12

16

Failu

res

&D

isap

poin

tmen

ts

Sco

ldin

g

Bea

ting

Ill -

Hea

lth

Figh

ting

Male Female

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Gender wise Results

Male - Positive Determinants

0

5

10

15

20

25

Hea

lth

Aff

iliat

ion

Rec

reat

ion

Ach

ieve

men

t

Em

otio

ns

Mat

eria

lism

Mon

ey

Edu

catio

n

Em

ploy

men

t/

Car

eer

Sen

se o

fS

atis

fact

ion

App

reci

atio

n

U U+US R

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Gender wise Results contd.

Female - Positive Determinants

0

5

10

15

20

25

Ach

ieve

men

t

Hea

lth

Aff

iliat

ion

Rec

reat

ion

Em

otio

ns

Edu

catio

n

Mat

eria

lism

Mon

ey

Em

ploy

men

t/

Car

eer

App

reci

atio

n

Sen

se o

fS

atis

fact

ion

U U+US R

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Gender wise Results contd.

Gender - Comparative Positive Determinants

0

5

10

15

20

25

Health

Aff

ilia

tion

Recre

ation

Achie

vem

ent

Em

otions

Mate

rialism

Money

Education

Em

plo

ym

ent

/

Care

er

Sense o

f

Satisfa

ction

Appre

cia

tion

Male

Female

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Overall Results for Positive Determinants

05

101520253035404550

He

alth

Affi

liatio

n

Ach

ieve

me

nt

Re

cre

atio

n

Em

otio

ns

Ma

teri

alis

m

Ed

uca

tion

Mo

ne

y

Em

plo

yme

nt

/ Ca

ree

r

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Domain Classification - Positive Domains

Health

Recreation

Education

Work

ValuesSocietal

Emotions

Sense of Satisafaction

Achievement

Resources

Relationships

Personality

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Domain Classification - Negative Domains

Values

Emotions

Attitude

Individual

Society Health

Achievement

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Discussion

SWB is a combination of both cognitive and affective components

Context is very important in determining SWB

Theory of Utility and Depravity

Children’s concept of well being varies from that of adult’s concept of well being

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Implications for Policy and Practice

Implications for teachers, policy planners, health care providers and economists

Facilitation of improved allocation of limited resources, new methods of teaching and parenting

Implications for managing classroom behaviors

Prediction of happiness levels of future generations and formulation of intervention strategies to improve SWB at age appropriate levels

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Conclusion

Examining the entire range of well being gives us an insight about factors that can increase quality of life for the children

Limitations of the present research

Implications for future research

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Questions and Suggestions!