The distribution of well-being in Ireland

Liam Delaney, Orla Doyle, Kenneth McKenzie and Patrick G. Wall

Open Access publications from School of Economics, University College Dublin

Abstract: Objectives: There is a substantial knowledge gap about the distribution of mental heath in community populations. The European Social Survey is particularly useful as it contains information on over 40,000 individuals, including 2,286 Irish adults. The objective of this study is to conduct a large scale statistical analysis to examine the distribution and determinants of mental well-being in a large representative sample of the Irish population. Method: Analysis of the European Social Survey using robust multiple linear and non-linear regression techniques. The data-set contains WHO-5 scores and subjective well-being for a sample of 2,286 Irish people interviewed in their homes in 2005. Results: Ireland has the second highest average WHO-5 score among the 22 countries in the European Social Survey. Multiple linear regression analysis across the distribution of WHO-5 reveals a well-being gradient largely related to education and social capital variables. A probit model examining the determinants of vulnerability to psychiatric morbidity reveals that a similar set of factors predict scores below the threshold point on the WHO-5 scale. Conclusions: The results are consistent with marked differences in mental well-being across education levels and variables relating to social capital factors. Such indicators provide a useful index for policy-makers and researchers. However, much further work is needed to identify causal mechanisms generating observed differences in mental health across different socioeconomic groups.

Keywords: Psychological well-being; WHO-5; Well-being--Ireland; Mental health--Ireland (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2007-01
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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http://hdl.handle.net/10197/578 First version, 2007 (application/pdf)

Related works:
Working Paper: The Distribution of Well-Being in Ireland (2007)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ucn:oapubs:10197/578

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