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Quality of Life Research

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01.03.2016 | Brief Communication

Well-being and environmental quality: Does pollution affect life satisfaction?

verfasst von: Kati Orru, Hans Orru, Marek Maasikmets, Reigo Hendrikson, Mare Ainsaar

Erschienen in: Quality of Life Research | Ausgabe 3/2016

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Abstract

Purpose

We aimed to explore the effect of ambient air pollution on individual persons’ levels of subjective well-being. Our research question was: to what extent is an individual’s life satisfaction shaped by exposure to PM₁₀?

Methods

We used regression models to analyse data on subjective well-being indicators from the last two waves of the European social survey (ESS) and detailed information on local levels of the air pollutant PM₁₀.

Results

An increase in PM₁₀ annual concentrations by 1 μg/m³ was associated with a significant reduction in life satisfaction of .017 points on the ESS 10-point life satisfaction scale.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that even in cases of relatively low levels of PM₁₀ air pollution (mean annual concentration of 8.3 ± 3.9 μg/m³), in addition to the effects on physical health, exposure negatively affects subjective assessments of well-being.

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Titel: Well-being and environmental quality: Does pollution affect life satisfaction?
verfasst von: Kati Orru
Hans Orru
Marek Maasikmets
Reigo Hendrikson
Mare Ainsaar
Publikationsdatum: 01.03.2016
Verlag: Springer International Publishing
Erschienen in: Quality of Life Research / Ausgabe 3/2016
Print ISSN: 0962-9343
Elektronische ISSN: 1573-2649
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-015-1104-6

Springer Medizin

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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