The social context of well-being.
Large samples of data from the World Values Survey, the US Benchmark Survey and a comparable Canadian survey are used to estimate equations designed to explore the social context of subjective evaluations of well-being, of happiness, and of health. Social capital, as measured by the strength of family, neighbourhood, religious and community ties, is found to support both physical health and subjective well-being. Our new evidence confirms that social capital is strongly linked to subjective well-being through many independent channels and in several different forms. Marriage and family, ties to friends and neighbours, workplace ties, civic engagement (both individually and collectively), trustworthiness and trust: all appear independently and robustly related to happiness and life satisfaction, both directly and through their impact on health.
Helliwell
John F
JF
Department of Economics, University of British Columbia, 997-1873 East Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z1, Canada.
Putnam
Robert D
RD
D000367:Age Factors; D003710:Demography; D005190:Family; D006240:Happiness; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D012067:Religion; D012737:Sex Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D035502:Trust