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Associations Between Demographic Variables, Psychosocial Health, Quality of Life, and Happiness in the Context of COVID-19

Author

Listed:
  • Amy K. Østertun Geirdal

    (Oslo Metropolitan University)

  • Janni Leung

    (The University of Queensland)

  • Daicia Price

    (University of Michigan)

  • Isaac Kabelenga

    (University of Zambia)

  • Gary Lamph

    (Edge Hill University)

  • Hilde Thygesen

    (University of South-Eastern Norway (USN)
    Oslo Metropolitan University)

  • Mary R. Ruffolo

    (University of Michigan)

  • Tore Bonsaksen

    (Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences
    VID Specialized University)

Abstract

Purpose The purpose was to examine the association between demographic variables, psychosocial health, quality of life, and happiness in the context of COVID. The hypothesis was that psychosocial health variables have mediating roles between demographic variables and experienced quality of life (QoL) and happiness. Methods Cross-sectional surveys were conducted across four countries: Norway, USA, UK, and Australia among 1649 individuals. Multiple regression analysis identified those variables that made independent statistically contributions onto the QoL and happiness outcome variables, and the analysis of psychological distress, fatigue and loneliness as mediational variables was performed. Results Not having a spouse/ partner was associated with poorer QoL, and older age was associated with lower happiness. The psychosocial health variables made the highest variance in QoL (R2 change = 0.51) and happiness (R2 change = 0.46) and poorer psychosocial health had a mediating role between civil status and QoL (p

Suggested Citation

  • Amy K. Østertun Geirdal & Janni Leung & Daicia Price & Isaac Kabelenga & Gary Lamph & Hilde Thygesen & Mary R. Ruffolo & Tore Bonsaksen, 2024. "Associations Between Demographic Variables, Psychosocial Health, Quality of Life, and Happiness in the Context of COVID-19," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 19(2), pages 603-617, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ariqol:v:19:y:2024:i:2:d:10.1007_s11482-023-10255-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s11482-023-10255-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. repec:plo:pone00:0078693 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Amy K. Østertun Geirdal & Daicia Price & Mariyana Schoultz & Hilde Thygesen & Mary Ruffolo & Janni Leung & Tore Bonsaksen, 2021. "The Significance of Demographic Variables on Psychosocial Health from the Early Stage and Nine Months after the COVID-19 Pandemic Outbreak. A Cross-National Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-18, April.
    3. Lepinteur, Anthony & Clark, Andrew E. & Ferrer-i-Carbonell, Ada & Piper, Alan & Schröder, Carsten & D'Ambrosio, Conchita, 2022. "Gender, loneliness and happiness during COVID-19," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    4. Sarah B Andrea & Jerzy Eisenberg-Guyot & Kieran J Blaikie & Shanise Owens & Vanessa M Oddo & Trevor Peckham & Anita Minh & Anjum Hajat, 2022. "The Inequitable Burden of the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Marginalized Older Workers in the United States: An Intersectional Approach [Beyond the nurses and doctors: Structural racism and the unseen fr," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 77(10), pages 1928-1937.
    5. Monira I. Aldhahi & Shahnaz Akil & Uzma Zaidi & Eman Mortada & Salwa Awad & Nisreen Al Awaji, 2021. "Effect of Resilience on Health-Related Quality of Life during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-16, October.
    6. Daicia Price & Tore Bonsaksen & Mary Ruffolo & Janni Leung & Vivian Chiu & Hilde Thygesen & Mariyana Schoultz & Amy Ostertun Geirdal, 2021. "Perceived Trust in Public Authorities Nine Months after the COVID-19 Outbreak: A Cross-National Study," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-14, September.
    7. K. Levin & C. Currie, 2014. "Reliability and Validity of an Adapted Version of the Cantril Ladder for Use with Adolescent Samples," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 119(2), pages 1047-1063, November.
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