Anthony F. Jorm|Sheila Ryan
Cross-national and historical differences in subjective well-being
University of Melbourne|University of Melbourne
growing body population survey data national subjective wellbeing allows comparisons across countries across periods key issues work follows response questions wellbeing meaningfully compared across countries periods social conditions associated greater wellbeing countries across periods lessons global wellbeing might improved review aims give overview area relevance psychiatric epidemiologysystematic searches literature carried using eight academic databases august 2012 january 2013subjective wellbeing involves multiple components including cognitive evaluation satisfaction life emotional state separable mental ill health although difficulties measuring subjective wellbeing comparable ways crossculturally sufficient evidence validity make comparisons meaningful subjective wellbeing nations increases income per capita gains smaller higherincome countries national factors affect wellbeing include income inequality social welfare individualism democracy freedom social capital physical healtheconomic growth lowerincome nations improve global subjective wellbeing however needs sustainable reduce wellbeing future generations higherincome nations need focus determinants wellbeing research crossnational wellbeing suggests number directions may profitably pursued psychiatric epidemiology