Braving the waves: exploring capability well-being patterns in seven European countries during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic considerably impacted the lives of European citizens. This study aims to provide a nuanced picture of well-being patterns during the pandemic across Europe with a special focus on relevant socio-economic sub-groups. This observational study uses data from a repeated, cross-sectional, representative population survey with nine waves of data from seven European countries from April 2020 to January 2022. The analysis sample contains a total of 25,062 individuals providing 64,303 observations. Well-being is measured using the ICECAP-A, a multi-dimensional instrument for approximating capability well-being. Average levels of ICECAP-A index values and sub-dimension scores were calculated across waves, countries, and relevant sub-groups. In a fixed effects regression framework, associations of capability well-being with COVID-19 incidence, mortality, and the stringency of the imposed lockdown measures were estimated. Denmark, the Netherlands, and France experienced a U-shaped pattern in well-being (lowest point in winter 2020/21), while well-being in the UK, Germany, Portugal, and Italy followed an M-shape, with increases after April 2020, a drop in winter 2020, a recovery in the summer of 2021, and a decline in winter 2021. However, observed average well-being reductions were generally small. The largest declines were found in the well-being dimensions attachment and enjoyment and among individuals with a younger age, a financially unstable situation, and lower health. COVID-19 mortality was consistently negatively associated with capability well-being and its sub-dimensions, while stringency and incidence rate were generally not significantly associated with well-being. Further investigation is needed to understand underlying mechanisms of presented patterns.

Mapping EU Member States’ Quality of Life during COVID-19 Pandemic Crisis

“…Generally, the results showed a change in the level of overall quality of life in the EU countries before and after the pandemic period, although on a limited scale, since there is a slight reclassification of the countries' positions. This conclusion is in agreement with previous studies regarding the change in the quality of life in the EU during the pandemic crisis such as the works of Brooks et al (2022), Easterlin and O'Connor (2023) and Himmler et al (2023). Also, the analysis revealed the highest level of quality of life in four EU countries [Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands and Luxembourg] that provided an increased GDP per capita, participation rate in education and training and life expectancy, combining a low level of arrears and a low level of inability to face unexpected financial expenses, whereas four countries show the lowest level of quality of life [Greece, Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia] in both periods, as they present low GDP per capita in combination with a high inability to face unexpected financial expenses and inability to make ends meet, high self-reported unmet needs for medical examination and high levels of arrears.…”

“…The above assumptions constitute the limitations of the analysis. The preferred framework for evaluating the quality of life in the EU countries based on the above variables relies on factors that have been extensively used in similar studies presented in the literature review (Polinesi et al 2023;Violato et al 2023;Unger et al 2023;Himmler et al 2023;van Ballegooijen et al 2021;Sánchez 2022).…”

“…More specifically, Himmler et al (2023) studied European welfare patterns at the level of socioeconomic subgroups during the pandemic. Similarly, Cohrdes et al (2024) investigated factors affecting quality of life in pandemics and their associations with sociodemographic aspects.…”

“…In their research, Himmler et al (2023) investigated patterns of well-being during the pandemic across Europe, with particular emphasis on relevant socioeconomic subgroups, using data from a repeated, cross-sectional, representative population survey with nine waves of data from seven European countries from April 2020 to January 2022, with the aim of understanding changes in well-being during the period of COVID-19 in Europe. Well-being is measured using the ICECAP-A, a multi-dimensional instrument to approach well-being capabilities.…”