Complexity and diversity of quality of life-related research

Robert J. Stimson, Robert W. Marans and Noah J. Webster

Chapter 1 in Handbook of Quality of Life Research, 2024, pp 2-12 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Quality of life (QOL) is a term or concept that may be traced back to ancient times. It is characterised by complexity and diversity, being an elusive and even ambiguous term devoid of agreed-upon definition with precise measurement. It is a term that has been used interchangeably with others such as well-being, subjective well-being and happiness. It has attracted the attention of researchers from a wide range of disciplines, with research investigating the interrelationships between people’s subjective assessments/evaluations and objective indicators and characteristics about individuals and the overall economic, social and physical environment in which people live. Thus, the situational or space and place context- including spatial scale- in which people live is an important part of QOL/well-being research, and is the overall context used to investigate QOL in this Handbook, with an emphasis on measurement and modelling the interrelationships between people’s subjective satisfaction with their life and how this is mediated by individual characteristics and the situational/environmental context of where they live. As such, this may influence policymakers and planners to implement interventions seeking to enhance people’s QOL/well-being.

Keywords: Economics and Finance; Geography; Sociology and Social Policy; Sustainable Development Goals; Urban and Regional Studies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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