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Individual subjective wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic

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  • Long, Trinh Quang

Abstract

This paper examines how contextual and institutional factors are associated with individual subjective wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using data collected in China, Korea, Japan, Italy, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (US) in April 2020, we found that the financial effects (represented by employment and income change) and non-financial effects (representing by experiencing negative feelings and enjoying positive activities) of the pandemic are associated with individual wellbeing. Moreover, the degree to which people agree with their government’s approach to COVID-19 is positively correlated with their happiness. The risks associated with the pandemic, however, are only slightly associated with people’s happiness. We also found that the correlation between above factors and individual wellbeing varied from country to country.

Suggested Citation

  • Long, Trinh Quang, 2020. "Individual subjective wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic," MPRA Paper 104862, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:104862
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    Cited by:

    1. José Ignacio Giménez-Nadal & José Alberto Molina & Jorge Velilla, 2023. "Should We Cheer Together? Gender Differences in Instantaneous Well-being: An Application to COVID-19 Lockdowns," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 24(2), pages 529-562, February.
    2. Gabriela-Mihaela Mureșan & Viorela-Ligia Văidean & Codruța Mare & Monica Violeta Achim, 2023. "Were we happy and we didn’t know it? A subjective dynamic and financial assessment pre-, during and post-COVID-19," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 24(5), pages 749-768, July.
    3. José Ignacio Giménez-Nadal & Jorge Velilla, 2024. "Home-based work, time allocations, and subjective well-being: gender differences in the United Kingdom," Empirica, Springer;Austrian Institute for Economic Research;Austrian Economic Association, vol. 51(1), pages 1-33, February.
    4. Ana Louro & Pedro Franco & Eduarda Marques da Costa, 2021. "Determinants of Physical Activity Practices in Metropolitan Context: The Case of Lisbon Metropolitan Area, Portugal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-19, September.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    wellbeing; happiness; COVID-19;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D01 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Microeconomic Behavior: Underlying Principles
    • D60 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - General
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being

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