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Well-Being in an Adult Swedish Population

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Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to see if earlier findings about factors associated with well-being could be replicated in a large population-based sample in Sweden. To the best of our knowledge, no research on well-being has been conducted on such a large population in a country, which by most standards is regarded as one of the most fortunate in the world. With its economic wealth and highly developed social welfare and health care system, Sweden is a country where the conditions for a high level of well-being would appear to be met. Methods: 10,441 randomly selected Swedish citizens, aged between 20 and 64 years, living in Stockholm County, completed a questionnaire covering issues such as demographics, social network and psychological well-being. The data were collected during the years 1998–2000. Results: Male gender, greater age, cohabiting, good childhood conditions, support from friends, sound financial situation and absence of negative life events were positively associated with well-being and explained 20% of the variance. Conclusion: The findings replicated earlier studies. Factors associated with well-being seem to remain the same, and are still explaining only a small part of the total variance, despite different measurements, time, sample sizes or country of origin. Therefore, research on well-being needs to take a new turn, by placing less focus on external factors and more focus on the internal factors, such as a person’s personality and coping strategies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health Sciences, Division of Social Medicine Norrbacka plan 2, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 76, Stockholm, Sweden

    Anna Hansson

  2. Stockholm Gerontology Research Center, Stockholm, Sweden

    Pernilla Hillerås

  3. Department of NEUROTEC, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

    Pernilla Hillerås

  4. Sophiahemmet University College, Stockholm, Sweden

    Pernilla Hillerås

  5. Department of Public Health Sciences, Division of Social Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

    Yvonne Forsell

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  1. Anna Hansson
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  2. Pernilla Hillerås
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  3. Yvonne Forsell
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Correspondence to Anna Hansson.

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Hansson, A., Hillerås, P. & Forsell, Y. Well-Being in an Adult Swedish Population. Soc Indic Res 74, 313–325 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-004-6168-6

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