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. 2021 Aug 11:12:696184.
doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.696184. eCollection 2021.

Drivers of Subjective Well-Being Under Different Economic Scenarios

Rubén Arrondo  1 , Ana Cárcaba  1 , Eduardo González  1
Affiliations

Drivers of Subjective Well-Being Under Different Economic Scenarios

Rubén Arrondo et al. Front Psychol. .

Abstract

This paper explores the evolution of the driving forces that shape individual subjective well-being (SWB) in Spain from 2013 to 2018. Several socio-demographic, material conditions and quality of life (QoL) variables are considered as potential drivers of SWB. The data come from a large survey carried in two different time periods. The first one (2013) is characterized by a negative economic scenario as a result of the global financial crisis of 2008. The second one (2018) is characterized by fast economic recovery. Our results suggest that the material conditions variables, especially unemployment, have a much deeper impact on SWB during economic downturns than during economic recovery periods. Social connections and health status are determinant factors behind SWB, especially if the economy is working well. Our results also point to changes in gender effects. While women were happier than men in 2013, this effect disappears in 2018. Paradoxically, this suggest an increase in female expectations about their own lives during this period.

Keywords: Spain; economic downturn; life satisfaction; quality of life; subjective well-being.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Main drivers of SWB.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Geographic distribution of SWB by regions in 2018 (change in brackets).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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