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Revisiting Subjective Wellbeing to Stimulate Empirical Research in Sub-Saharan Africa

Received: 9 February 2017     Accepted: 22 February 2017     Published: 7 March 2017
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Abstract

This review article focuses on conceptualization, measurement and determinants of Subjective Wellbeing to shade light among researchers in the field of development studies, psychology, sociology, philosophy and economics in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), herein also referred to as a sub-continent. The aim is to revitalize empirical research on Subjective Wellbeing in the sub-continent where there is dearth information about this concept. Such scanty information is attributed to, among others, low interest among researchers to conduct researches on Subjective Wellbeing. The article argues that, although Subjective Wellbeing is difficult to define, researchers in SSA should strive to come up with a common definition that enables cross-country as well as cultural context analysis. In addition, the concept is determined by many variables, such that researches should be conducted in the sub-continent, between and within countries, to find out which ones are the most explanatory variables of Subjective Wellbeing. This is important as it can inform development policy to improve Subjective Wellbeing and development more generally in SSA.

Published in Social Sciences (Volume 6, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.ss.20170601.15
Page(s) 28-34
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2017. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Subjective Wellbeing, Empirical Research, Sub-Saharan Africa

References
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[2] McGillivray, M and Clarke, M. (editors) (2006). Human well-being: concepts and measures, Tokyo: United Nations University Press.
[3] Dodge, R., Daly, A., Huyton, J., & Sanders, L. (2012). The challenge of defining wellbeing. International Journal of Wellbeing, 2(3), 222-235. doi:10.5502/ijw.v2i3.4.
[4] Wills-Herrera, E., Islam, G and Hamilton, M. (2009). Subjective wellbeing in cities: a multidimensional concept of individual, social and cultural variables. Applied Research Quality Life. DOI 10.1007/s11482-009-9072-z.
[5] Conceição, P and Bandura, R. (n. d). Measuring Subjective Wellbeing: A Summary Review of the Literature. Office of Development Studies, United Nations Development Programme. 24pp.
[6] Bérenger, V and Verdier-Chouchane, A (2007). Multidimensional measures of wellbeing: standard of living and quality of life across countries. World Development 35 (7): 1259-1276.
[7] Deneulin, S and McGregor, J. A. (2009). Wellbeing in Developing Counctries: The Capability Approach and the Politics of a Social Conception of Wellbeing. WeD Working Paper 09/43, University of Bath. pp. 24.
[8] Smyth, R., Nielsen, I and Zhai, Q. (2010). Personal wellbeing in urban China. Soc Indic Res 95: 231-251. DOI 10.1007/s11205-009-9457-2.
[9] World Bank (2011). Africa’s Future and the World Bank’s Support to it. The World Bank African Region. 37pp.
[10] Alkire, S., Chatterjee, M., Conconi, A., Seth, S and Vaz, A. (2014). Destitution Who and where are the poorest of the poor? Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiatives accessed from http://www.ophi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Destitution-Who-and-Where-are-the-Poorest-of-the-Poor.pdf on 21/02/2017.
[11] Mwanyangala, M. A., Mayombana, C., Urassa, H., Charles, J., Mahutanga, C., Abdullah, S and Nathan, R. (2010). Health status and quality of life among older adults in rural Tanzania. Global Health Action Supplement 2: 36-44.
[12] National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Tanzania (2014). Tanzania Household Budget Survey 2011/12. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: NBS. 160pp.
[13] Mashindano, O and Shepherd, A. (2013). Translating Growth into Poverty Reduction. In: Translating Growth into Poverty Reduction Beyond Numbers. (Edited by Kessy, F., Mashindano, O., Shepherd, A and Scott, L), Mkuki na Nyota Publishers Limited, Dar Es Salaam. pp. 1-9.
[14] White, A. G. (2007). A global projection of subjective wellbeing: a challenge to positive psychology? Psychlk 56: 17-20.
[15] Muzindutsi, P. F and Sekhampu, T. J. (2014). Determinants of wellbeing in a South African Township. International Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities 6 (1): 47-57.
[16] Minkov, M. (2009). Predictors of differences in subjective wellbeing across 97 nations. Cross-Cultural Research 43 (2): 152-179.
[17] Misra, S. K and Puri, V. K. (1986). Economics of Development and Planning: theory and practice 1st edition. Mumbai, Himalaya Publishing House, PVT LTD.
[18] International Wellbeing Group (2013). Personal Wellbeing Index 5th edition. Melbourne: Australian Centre on Quality of Life, Deakin University.23p.
[19] Sarracino, F. (2010). Determinants of Subjective Well-Being in High and Low Income ountries: do happiness equations differ across countries? Working Paper No 2010-19. 33pp.
[20] Diener, E. (2000). Subjective wellbeing: the science of happiness and a proposal for a national index. American Psychologist 55 (1): 34-43.
[21] Hansen, T and Slagsvold, B. (2012). The age and subjective wellbeing paradox revisited: a multidimensional perspective. Norsk Epidemiologi 22 (2): 187-195.
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Samwel J. Kabote. (2017). Revisiting Subjective Wellbeing to Stimulate Empirical Research in Sub-Saharan Africa. Social Sciences, 6(1), 28-34. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20170601.15

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    ACS Style

    Samwel J. Kabote. Revisiting Subjective Wellbeing to Stimulate Empirical Research in Sub-Saharan Africa. Soc. Sci. 2017, 6(1), 28-34. doi: 10.11648/j.ss.20170601.15

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    AMA Style

    Samwel J. Kabote. Revisiting Subjective Wellbeing to Stimulate Empirical Research in Sub-Saharan Africa. Soc Sci. 2017;6(1):28-34. doi: 10.11648/j.ss.20170601.15

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ss.20170601.15,
      author = {Samwel J. Kabote},
      title = {Revisiting Subjective Wellbeing to Stimulate Empirical Research in Sub-Saharan Africa},
      journal = {Social Sciences},
      volume = {6},
      number = {1},
      pages = {28-34},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ss.20170601.15},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20170601.15},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ss.20170601.15},
      abstract = {This review article focuses on conceptualization, measurement and determinants of Subjective Wellbeing to shade light among researchers in the field of development studies, psychology, sociology, philosophy and economics in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), herein also referred to as a sub-continent. The aim is to revitalize empirical research on Subjective Wellbeing in the sub-continent where there is dearth information about this concept. Such scanty information is attributed to, among others, low interest among researchers to conduct researches on Subjective Wellbeing. The article argues that, although Subjective Wellbeing is difficult to define, researchers in SSA should strive to come up with a common definition that enables cross-country as well as cultural context analysis. In addition, the concept is determined by many variables, such that researches should be conducted in the sub-continent, between and within countries, to find out which ones are the most explanatory variables of Subjective Wellbeing. This is important as it can inform development policy to improve Subjective Wellbeing and development more generally in SSA.},
     year = {2017}
    }
    

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    AB  - This review article focuses on conceptualization, measurement and determinants of Subjective Wellbeing to shade light among researchers in the field of development studies, psychology, sociology, philosophy and economics in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), herein also referred to as a sub-continent. The aim is to revitalize empirical research on Subjective Wellbeing in the sub-continent where there is dearth information about this concept. Such scanty information is attributed to, among others, low interest among researchers to conduct researches on Subjective Wellbeing. The article argues that, although Subjective Wellbeing is difficult to define, researchers in SSA should strive to come up with a common definition that enables cross-country as well as cultural context analysis. In addition, the concept is determined by many variables, such that researches should be conducted in the sub-continent, between and within countries, to find out which ones are the most explanatory variables of Subjective Wellbeing. This is important as it can inform development policy to improve Subjective Wellbeing and development more generally in SSA.
    VL  - 6
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Author Information
  • Department of Development Studies, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania

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