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Wellbeing in Two Nova Scotia Communities

Wellbeing in Two Nova Scotia Communities. CPHA June 2008 Mike Pennock Martha Pennock Ronald Colman GPI Atlantic. GPI Community Surveys. 2002/2003 Glace Bay (1,708) Kings County (1,898) Wellbeing in two contrasting communities in same political jurisdiction Wide range of variables.

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Wellbeing in Two Nova Scotia Communities

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  1. Wellbeing in Two Nova Scotia Communities CPHA June 2008 Mike Pennock Martha Pennock Ronald Colman GPI Atlantic

  2. GPI Community Surveys • 2002/2003 • Glace Bay (1,708) • Kings County (1,898) • Wellbeing in two contrasting communities in same political jurisdiction • Wide range of variables

  3. Glace Bay Older industrial area Mining and primary industries History of economic instability Kings County Diversified economy Agriculture Manufacturing Government Economic Stability Contrasting Communities

  4. Economic Determinants

  5. Life-Satisfaction

  6. Potential for Improved Satisfaction

  7. Wellbeing • Despite pronounced economic differences Glace Bay and Kings respondents equally satisfied with life • But Glace Bay felt there was more room for improvement

  8. Importance of Core Values

  9. Importance of Own Values

  10. Factor Analysis of Values Scales • Social factor (family life, friendship, generosity, spiritual) • Materialistic factor (material wealth, financial security, career, pleasure) • Factor scores

  11. Values and Life Satisfaction

  12. Distribution of Material value Scores

  13. Wellbeing and Values • Majority in both communities reported that they were motivated by pro-social values but living in a materialistic society • Pro-social values associated with higher levels of life-satisfaction • Glace Bay slightly more materialistic

  14. Self-Reported Stress

  15. Kings Too many demands Too many hours Insufficient autonomy Interpersonal conflict Glace Bay Too few hours Risk Fear of layoffs Sources of Stress

  16. Activity and Stress

  17. Stress and Employment • More two-income families in Kings (contributes to higher incomes) • Two-income families much more highly stressed than one income families • Two income families on Kings more highly stressed than in Glace Bay • No differences between one-income families

  18. Stress and household income

  19. The Downside of Success Greater prosperity and financial security of Kings comes at a cost with respect to higher levels of stress.

  20. Wellbeing is more inequitable in Glace Bay % Very Satisfed

  21. Wellbeing and Economy • No significant difference in life-satisfaction between GB and Kings, despite differences in income and economic security • But GB more likely to believe that there life-satisfaction could be improved by improved material circumstances • Therefore- more materialistic values

  22. Great Expectations • Already have rates of life-satisfaction that are similar to Kings • Yet they expect a greater increase from improved determinants • Does GB expect more from income gains than can be delivered?

  23. Example of “focusing illusion” “When people consider the impact of any single factor on their wellbeing- not only income- they are prone to exaggerate its importance. We refer to this tendency as the focusing illusion… Despite the weak relation between income and global life satisfaction or experienced happiness, many people are highly motivated to increase their income.” Daniel Kahneman- Economist, Princeton University

  24. Daniel Gilbert: Stumbling on Happiness (2006) “Economies thrive when individuals strive, but because individuals will only strive for their own happiness, it is essential that they mistakenly believe that producing and consuming are routes to personal wellbeing”

  25. Higher Inequities in Glace Bay • Is the greater emphasis on material values in Glace Bay linked to the greater reported inequities- • High income GB are more satisfied and low income are less satisfied than their counterparts in Kings

  26. Kings Higher stress Too much work Two-income families (more of them and more highly stressed than GB) 25% would trade increases for less time Unemployment more stressful Glace Bay Too little work Job insecurity 14% would trade increases for less time Both employment and unemployment are less stressful Stresses reflect local realities

  27. Catch 22 • Higher incomes in Kings are associated with higher stress levels but their life-satisfaction is no higher than the lower income, less stressed Glace Bay residents • Less likely to expect improvements in life-satisfaction due to material improvements than Glace bay residents • “Been there, done that”

  28. Value Alienation? Large majority of respondents in both communities believe they are socially motivated individuals living in a materialistic society.

  29. Wellbeing and Values • Positive social values intrinsically related to wellbeing while materialistic values are not • Consistent with growing research literature demonstrating that positive social action is associated with higher levels of wellbeing

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