The Importance of Different Forms of Social Capital for Happiness in Europe: A Multilevel Structural Equation Model (GSEM)

Gómez-Balcácer, Lucía; Arechavala, Noelia Somarriba; Costilla, Patricia Gómez

doi:10.1007/s11482-022-10097-1

Cited by 14 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 81 publications

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“…Regarding well-being, severe social isolation was consistently associated with low levels of happiness and planning for the future. These results are consistent with previous studies [ 62 , 63 ] revealing the importance of social participation and interaction for happiness. Furthermore, our findings confirm the importance of external support for future planning probably due to increased self-efficacy and perceived control [ 64 , 65 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 94%

Estimating the prevalence and characteristics of people in severe social isolation in 29 European countries: A secondary analysis of data from the European Social Survey round 9 (2018–2020)

Amendola,

Cerutti,

von Wyl

2023

PLoS ONE

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The main aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of people in severe social isolation as a proxy for high risk of hikikomori using data from 29 European countries. The relationship between the presence/absence of severe social isolation and demographic and psychosocial variables was also investigated. Publicly available data from the European Social Survey (ESS) round 9 collected between August 2018 and January 2020 were used. Data from the ESS round 1 (September 2002 –December 2003) and round 10 (September 2020 –May 2022) were also examined to investigate changes in the prevalence of severe social isolation over time. Analyses were restricted to the working-age population (15–64 years). A complex sampling design to obtain weighted prevalence and results was used. The study protocol was preregistered online on the Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/6a7br/). The weighted prevalence of severe social isolation was 2.01% for the sample from the ESS 1, 1.77% for the sample from the ESS 9, and 1.71% for the sample from the ESS 10, indicating a decrease over time, mainly in males. Logistic regression models showed that different sociodemographic factors (e.g., being retired, being permanently sick or disabled, doing housework, living in Central and Eastern Europe, living uncomfortably on household income, having no income) were associated with severe social isolation. Further, feeling unsafe when walking alone in the neighbourhood after dark, low social trust, and support, decreased happiness and lack of future planning correlated with severe social isolation after adjustment for the effect of sociodemographic factors was made. In this study, the prevalence of severe social isolation as a proxy for hikikomori in European countries is in line with that found by previous representative studies conducted in Asian countries. The novelty of the findings as well as implications for hikikomori research are discussed according to recent scientific literature.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 94%

Estimating the prevalence and characteristics of people in severe social isolation in 29 European countries: A secondary analysis of data from the European Social Survey round 9 (2018–2020)

Amendola,

Cerutti,

von Wyl

2023

PLoS ONE

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“…Note that LS is the only variable calculated by averaging information obtained by surveys at the individual level (i.e., each individual can properly assess his or her life satisfaction only) by adopting a representative individual approach at the country level (i.e., the multilevel approach is problematic due to the regional differences within each country) (e.g., [ 23 , 25 ]). Indeed, LS is the proper variable with which to estimate the impacts of ethics (i.e., it measures whether life is worthwhile rather than happy).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…EDU and REL provide social capital and ethics about happy attitudes. For example, institutional and social trust, social ties, sense of belonging, civic mindedness, social norms, and social networks could work to bring people together in communities at a national level, while religion could work to bring people together in communities at a level lower than the national level (e.g., [23][24][25][26]).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Both religious and secular ethics to achieve both happiness and health: Panel data results based on a dynamic theoretical model

Zagonari

2024

PLoS ONE

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This paper evaluates the direct and indirect impacts (and their interactions) of individual and social ethics from (primary, secondary, tertiary) education and religion (Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism) on health and happiness in alternative religious contexts (majority and minority religions) and for alternative education policies (gross enrolment and per-student expenditure). It also specifies the time lag for the short-run indirect impact (and its size) of happiness on health and the long-run equilibria of both happiness and health. The statistical results show that there is no religious or secular ethics with beneficial impacts on both happiness and health at both the individual and social levels. Next, education policies have similar impacts on both happiness and health in all religious contexts, while most religious ethics have larger beneficial impacts on health and happiness if coupled with social and individual education policies, respectively. Combined statistical and analytical results show that the largest short-run indirect impact of happiness on health occurs after 4 years, where 1 out of 10 points of happiness produces approximately 3 additional years of healthy life expectancy at birth. Next, the long-run equilibria of both happiness and health are globally stable and are achieved after 8 years through oscillation dynamics.

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“…Incorporating contextual variables in measuring self-reported happiness in a multilevel framework is crucial for more accurate analyses and informed policymaking (Ballas and Tranmer 2012;Gómez-Balcácer et al 2023). Analytically, incorporating contextual variables like macroeconomic and socio-economic conditions enhances research depth and accuracy.…”

Section: Rq2mentioning

confidence: 99%

Happiness amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia: exploring gender, residence type, and pandemic severity

Pattinasarany

2024

Humanit Soc Sci Commun

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This study delves into the dynamics shaping happiness levels in Indonesia before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically emphasizing gender and residence-type disparities. Using data from the 2017 and 2021 Happiness Level Measurement Survey, it offers insights into how different population segments were affected. The analysis employs a multilevel mixed-effects ordered logistic model, considering individuals nested within provinces, and measures pandemic severity using positive COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents. This study evaluates pandemic-related happiness shifts using nationwide cross-sectional survey data from two timeframes. It derives substantial statistical strength from data involving 137,000+ respondents gathered through comprehensive face-to-face interviews. It mitigates recall bias by capturing happiness at two distinct time points, avoiding retrospective measures. The study examines and validates four research questions. First, higher COVID-19 cases in provinces correlate with lower happiness. Second, though women were happier than men, the pandemic reduced this gender-based gap. Third, urban residents were generally happier than rural residents, but the pandemic narrowed this difference. All the estimates exhibit statistical significance at the 1 percent level. Finally, while provincial poverty showed minimal happiness impact, a negative association between unequal per capita expenditure and happiness emerged, providing partial backing for investigating the role of macroeconomic conditions. This study reveals that the COVID-19 pandemic altered happiness dynamics in Indonesia, narrowing gender and residence-based gaps. It also emphasizes the role of socioeconomic factors, particularly unequal per capita expenditure, in influencing individual happiness, highlighting implications for targeted policy interventions.

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The Importance of Different Forms of Social Capital for Happiness in Europe: A Multilevel Structural Equation Model (GSEM)

Cited by 14 publications

References 81 publications

Estimating the prevalence and characteristics of people in severe social isolation in 29 European countries: A secondary analysis of data from the European Social Survey round 9 (2018–2020)

Estimating the prevalence and characteristics of people in severe social isolation in 29 European countries: A secondary analysis of data from the European Social Survey round 9 (2018–2020)

Both religious and secular ethics to achieve both happiness and health: Panel data results based on a dynamic theoretical model

Happiness amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia: exploring gender, residence type, and pandemic severity

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