The Australian Unity Wellbeing Index: 2004 Update: The Australian Unity Wellbeing Index: 2004 Update Robert A Cummins (Deakin University) Richard Eckersley (Australian National University) Erik Okerstrom (Australian Unity) Sing Kai Lo (University of Sydney) Melanie Davern (Deakin University) Bruce Hunter (Deakin University) Jacqui Woerner (Deakin University NB. Please view via ‘Notes page’. You can then progress through the document using your mouse wheel, Page Down key, or the double-headed arrow to the right of this frame.


Quality of Life: Objective Conditions e.g. Medical Health Subjective Perceptions e.g. Satisfaction with health Quality of Life Objective vs subjective: r = N.S.


What is Subjective Wellbeing?: What is Subjective Wellbeing? A positive state of mind that involves the whole life experience


“How satisfied are you with your life as a whole?”: “How satisfied are you with your life as a whole?” Standard of living Health Achieving Relationships Safety Community connectedness Future security Life Domains


How satisfied are you with your ----?: How satisfied are you with your ----? Completely Dissatisfied Completely Satisfied Mixed [Jones and Thurstone ,1955] 11-point, end-defined scale


‘Percentage of Scale Maximum’: ‘Percentage of Scale Maximum’ Standardized values Original values %SM Converts Likert scale data to a standardized range from 0 - 100


Frequency distribution for subjective QOL: Frequency distribution for subjective QOL Frequency


Gold Standard for Subjective Wellbeing: 75 ± 2.5%SM  Range: 70–80%SM Gold Standard for Subjective Wellbeing


The Australian Unity Wellbeing Index: The Australian Unity Wellbeing Index A new systematic measure of subjective wellbeing An alternative to objective indicators – eg. GDP


The Australian Surveys: The Australian Surveys Geographically representative sample N = 2,000 Telephone interview #1: April 2001 #2: September 2001 (immediately following September 11) ------------ #12: August 2004


So, what has been happening to the subjective wellbeing of Australians over the past 3.5 years?: So, what has been happening to the subjective wellbeing of Australians over the past 3.5 years?


Wellbeing in Australia: Wellbeing in Australia Strength of satisfaction Major Events Preceding Survey Survey Date


Slide13: Strength of satisfaction Major Events Preceding Survey Survey Date September 11 Bali Bombing


Slide14: Strength of satisfaction Major Events Preceding Survey Survey Date September 11 Bali Scores above this line are significantly higher than S1 >S2, S4, S5


Personal Wellbeing Index : Personal Wellbeing Index


Slide16: Strength of satisfaction Major Events Preceding Survey Survey Date September 11 Bali Pre- Post- Iraq Iraq Scores above this line are significantly higher than S1 >S2, S4, S5


Slide17: Strength of satisfaction Major Events Preceding Survey Survey Date September 11 Bali Pre- Post- Iraq Iraq Scores above this line are significantly higher than S1 >S2, S4, S5


Slide18: Strength of satisfaction Major Events Preceding Survey Survey Date September 11 Bali Pre- Post- Olympics Iraq Iraq Scores above this line are significantly higher than S1 >S2, S4, S5


Slide19: Strength of satisfaction Major Events Preceding Survey Survey Date September 11 Bali Pre- Post- Olympics Iraq Iraq Scores above this line are significantly higher than S1 >S2, S4, S5 >S11


Slide20: Subjective wellbeing Homeostasis How is subjective wellbeing held so constant?


Slide21: Subjective Wellbeing Homeostasis Like the internal management of body temperature and blood pressure Our sense of satisfaction with our lives is also internally managed and held constant


Homeostasis can be defeated by:: Homeostasis can be defeated by: Chronic pain (arthritis) Chronic stress (carers) Lack of intimacy Living conditions (street-kids) Incarceration (prisoners) Poverty


The Relationship Between Stress and SWB : The Relationship Between Stress and SWB


The Relationship Between Stress and SWB : The Relationship Between Stress and SWB Dominant Source of SWB Control SWB Stress Homeostasis No stress High stress 75 Level of environmental challenge


Principle 1: Principle 1 Subjective wellbeing is managed by a homeostatic system. This why its measurement is so reliable. Therefore, there will be a non-linear relationship between any source of stress (ill health or physical incapacity) with how people feel about the overall quality of their life


Degree of Stress: PWI: Degree of Stress: PWI satisfaction


Pain x Personal Wellbeing Index: Pain x Personal Wellbeing Index


Slide28: Body Mass Index


Specific Health Conditions x Personal Wellbeing Index: Specific Health Conditions x Personal Wellbeing Index


Principle 2: Principle 2 It CAN NOT be assumed that people who have a chronic medical condition have low subjective wellbeing Even self-reported medical symptoms are extremely poor indicators of how people feel about their lives generally


Slide31: Homeostatic control is all about the balance between the degree of challenge and the level of personal resources Examples of External Resources Money Relationships


Income and the Personal Wellbeing Index(combined surveys): Income and the Personal Wellbeing Index (combined surveys)


Significant Increments in PWI: Significant Increments in PWI Household Income


The cost of purchasing a percentage point of personal wellbeing: The cost of purchasing a percentage point of personal wellbeing 200,000 1,250,000 1,250,000


The Relative Influence of Household Income on the Personal Domains: The Relative Influence of Household Income on the Personal Domains


Slide36: Age Specific- Normative range Income x Age (combined data)


Slide37: Age Specific- Normative range Income x Age (combined data)


Slide38: Age Specific- Normative range Income x Age (combined data)


Slide39: Income x Age (combined data) Age Specific- Normative range


Income x Age x Gender (combined data): Income x Age x Gender (combined data) Age Age Specific- Normative range


Income x Household Structure: Personal Wellbeing Index (combined Surveys 9-12): Income x Household Structure: Personal Wellbeing Index (combined Surveys 9-12)


Income x Household Structure: Personal Wellbeing Index (combined Surveys 9-12): Income x Household Structure: Personal Wellbeing Index (combined Surveys 9-12)


Income x Household Structure: Personal Wellbeing Index (combined Surveys 9-12): Income x Household Structure: Personal Wellbeing Index (combined Surveys 9-12)


Income x Household Structure: Personal Wellbeing Index (combined Surveys 9-12): Income x Household Structure: Personal Wellbeing Index (combined Surveys 9-12)


Income x Household Structure: Personal Wellbeing Index (combined Surveys 9-12): Income x Household Structure: Personal Wellbeing Index (combined Surveys 9-12)


Income x Relationship Status: Income x Relationship Status


Income x Relationship Status: Income x Relationship Status


Income x Relationship Status: Income x Relationship Status


Income x Relationship Status: Income x Relationship Status


Income x Relationship Status: Income x Relationship Status


Income x Relationship Status: Income x Relationship Status


Income x Work Status (combined data): Income x Work Status (combined data)


Income x Work Status (combined data): Income x Work Status (combined data)


Income x Work Status (combined data): Income x Work Status (combined data)


Income x Work Status (combined data): Income x Work Status (combined data)


Income x Work Status (combined data): Income x Work Status (combined data)


Conclusion: Conclusion Personal wellbeing is very stable Most sources of threat do not diminish wellbeing Both money and relationships are effective buffers against homeostatic defeat Household income of <$60,000 places many people at risk of homeostatic defeat If you are sad and rich, earning an extra percentage point of SWB requires a lot of money