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A Population-Based Study of Children’s Well-Being and Health: The Relative Importance of Social Relationships, Health-Related Activities, and Income

Author

Listed:
  • Anne M. Gadermann

    (University of British Columbia)

  • Martin Guhn

    (University of British Columbia)

  • Kimberly A. Schonert-Reichl

    (University of British Columbia)

  • Shelley Hymel

    (University of British Columbia)

  • Kimberly Thomson

    (University of British Columbia)

  • Clyde Hertzman

    (University of British Columbia)

Abstract

This study investigated how various risk and protective factors interface with child health and well-being at the population level. Specifically, we examined the association of income, social-contextual variables, and indicators of health-related habits and activities to children’s life satisfaction and perceived overall health. Child data were collected via a self-report survey, the Middle Years Development Instrument, which was administered in three demographically diverse Canadian school districts to 5026 grade 4 students (83 % of the students had complete data and were included in the analyses). Multiple regression and mediation analyses were conducted to examine the joint associations of social relationships with adults and peers, nutrition and sleep habits, and after school sports activities with children’s satisfaction with life and perceived health. Results indicate that peer belonging and relationships with adults at home and school were the strongest predictors of life satisfaction. Furthermore, the (small) association between income and life satisfaction was mediated by social relationship variables. Child reports of perceived health were predicted by peer belonging, adult relationships (home, school, neighborhood), after-school team sports, and nutrition habits. The (small) association between income and health was mediated by social relationships and team sports participation. Findings are discussed in light of previous research on social determinants and socio-economic gradients of children’s health and life satisfaction.

Suggested Citation

  • Anne M. Gadermann & Martin Guhn & Kimberly A. Schonert-Reichl & Shelley Hymel & Kimberly Thomson & Clyde Hertzman, 2016. "A Population-Based Study of Children’s Well-Being and Health: The Relative Importance of Social Relationships, Health-Related Activities, and Income," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 17(5), pages 1847-1872, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:17:y:2016:i:5:d:10.1007_s10902-015-9673-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-015-9673-1
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    2. Kyoungmi Park & Shun Wang, 2019. "Youth Activities and Children’s Subjective Well-Being in Korea," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 20(7), pages 2351-2365, October.
    3. Gundi Knies, 2022. "Effects of Income and Material Deprivation on Children’s Life Satisfaction: Evidence from Longitudinal Data for England (2009–2018)," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 1469-1492, April.
    4. Luciana Castelli & Jenny Marcionetti & Alberto Crescentini & Luca Sciaroni, 2018. "Monitoring Preadolescents’ Well-being: Italian Validation of the Middle Years Development Instrument," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 11(2), pages 609-628, April.
    5. Yuki Ninomiya & Mariko Matsumoto & Asuka Nomura & Lauri Kemppinen & Dandii Odgerel & Soili Keskinen & Esko Keskinen & Nergui Oyuntungalag & Hiroko Tsuboi & Nobuko Suzuki & Chie Hatagaki & Yutaka Fukui, 2021. "A Cross-Cultural Study of Happiness in Japanese, Finnish, and Mongolian Children: Analysis of the Sentence Completion Test," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 14(2), pages 871-896, April.
    6. Ditzel, Loreto & Casas, Ferran & Torres-Vallejos, Javier & Reyes, Fernando & Alfaro, Jaime, 2022. "Children participating in after-school programs in Chile: Subjective well-being, satisfaction with free time use and satisfaction with the program," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 132(C).
    7. T. Gregory & E. Dal Grande & M. Brushe & D. Engelhardt & S. Luddy & M. Guhn & A. Gadermann & K.A. Schonert-Reichl & S. Brinkman, 2021. "Associations between School Readiness and Student Wellbeing: A Six-Year Follow Up Study," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 14(1), pages 369-390, February.
    8. Irina V. Leto & Svetlana V. Loginova & Aleksandra Varshal & Helena R. Slobodskaya, 2021. "Interactions between Family Environment and Personality in the Prediction of Child Life Satisfaction," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 14(4), pages 1345-1363, August.
    9. Knies, Gundi, 2017. "Income effects on children’s life satisfaction: longitudinal evidence for England," ISER Working Paper Series 2017-02, Institute for Social and Economic Research.

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