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Measuring Subjective Well-Being in Taiwan

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  • Chu-Chia Lin
  • Tsung-Chi Cheng
  • Shu-Chen Wang

Abstract

This paper explores the measurement of subjective well-being (SWB) in Taiwan through survey data as a result of 13 self-reported SWB questions. We illustrate the findings using multivariate data analysis approaches. First, by taking the first two principal component scores extracted from all SWB measurements, the biplot presents a relatively “even” society for SWBs, in which the plot depicts all data-points radiating from the center. Second, we employ factor analysis to juxtapose these 13 SWB measurements into three factors: health-related, prosperity-related, and social-related. Third and finally, this paper applies the seemingly unrelated regression model to verify the determinants of SWB. The SWB measurements are mostly increasing in higher education and (disposable) income, while falling with unemployment. Volunteering, donating more money to charities, having more leisure time, spending more hours on sports, and being involved in more arts-related activities all enhance an individual’s well-being. Gender and age may matter, but they are indecisive in the direction for various SWBs. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014

Suggested Citation

  • Chu-Chia Lin & Tsung-Chi Cheng & Shu-Chen Wang, 2014. "Measuring Subjective Well-Being in Taiwan," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 116(1), pages 17-45, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:116:y:2014:i:1:p:17-45
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-013-0269-z
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    Cited by:

    1. Xuechen Leng & Jinfeng Han & Yingcan Zheng & Xiaoyong Hu & Hong Chen, 2021. "The Role of a “Happy Personality” in the Relationship of Subjective Social Status and Domain-Specific Satisfaction in China," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 16(4), pages 1733-1751, August.
    2. Tsung-Chi Cheng & Chao-Yin Lin & Shu-Chen Wang, 2023. "Exploring factors related to agreement between importance and satisfaction of subjective well-being indicators: evidence from Taiwan," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 57(3), pages 2811-2839, June.
    3. Derek T. Tharp & Elizabeth J. Parks‐Stamm, 2021. "Examining gender differences in predictors of financial satisfaction: Evidence from Taiwan," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(4), pages 1505-1539, December.
    4. Tharp, Derek & Parks-Stamm, Elizabeth, 2020. "Examining Gender Differences in Predictors of Financial Satisfaction: Evidence from Taiwan," SocArXiv 2yvjs, Center for Open Science.
    5. M. Pilar Matud & Marisela López-Curbelo & Demelza Fortes, 2019. "Gender and Psychological Well-Being," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-11, September.

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