Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Subjective Well-Being Measures Tested with 12-Year-Olds in Israel

  • Published:
Child Indicators Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Research points to a need to further test subjective well-being (SWB) measures with children, examining their applicability in different languages and cultural contexts. This study begins to fill this gap by presenting a comparative analysis of SWB measures among a large sample of 12-year-old Arab and Israeli children (N = 1081). It tests five SWB measures: overall life satisfaction (OLS); happiness in the last two weeks (HLTW); Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale (SLSS); Brief Multidimensional Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale (BMSLSS); and Personal Well-Being Index (PWI-SC). The results show that the children in this sample score relatively highly in terms of SWB. Although demographics are usually only weakly correlated with SWB, the results here reveal some significant differences by gender, family type, location (rural/urban), and parent’s employment status. Two shorter versions of the SLSS and the PWI-SC show good reliability and good fit at SEM (Structural Equation Modeling) in their ability to predict the global one-item measures (OLS and HLTW). The BMSLSS also showed good fit in models with the OLS and HLTW, but its reliability, while still acceptable, should be further examined for use in Israel.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. Nationality in this context refers to being either a Jew or an Arab. Although this is a more complex dichotomy, we use nationality for simplification while remaining aware of its limitations.

  2. According to the Peripheral Measure of Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics (2004), comparing levels 1 and 2 to levels 4 and 5.

References

  • Al-Haj, M. (2002). Multiculturalism in deeply divided societies: the Israeli case. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 26(2), 169–183.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Axford, N., Jodrell, D., & Hobbs, T. (2014). Objective or subjective well-being. In A. Ben-Arieh, F. Casas, I. Frønes, & J. E. Korbin (Eds.), Handbook of child well-being (pp. 2699–2737). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Ben-Arieh, A. (2005). Where are the children? Children’s role in measuring and monitoring their well-being. Social Indicators Research, 74(3), 573–596.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ben-Arieh, A., Casas, F., Frønes, I., & Korbin, J. E. (2014). Multifaceted concept of child well-being. In A. Ben-Arieh, F. Casas, I. Frønes, & J. E. Korbin (Eds.), Handbook of child well-being (pp. 1–27). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Bradshaw, J., & Keung, A. (2010). Trends in child subjective well-being in the United Kingdom. Paper presented at the Social Policy Association Conference, University of Lincoln.

  • Campbell, A., Converse, P. E., & Rodgers, W. L. (1976). The quality of American life: perceptions, evaluations, and satisfactions (Vol. 3508). New York: Russell Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Casas, F. (2011). Subjective social indicators and child and adolescent well-being. Child Indicators Research, 4(4), 555–575.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Casas, F., & Rees, G. (2015). Measures of children’s subjective well-being: Analysis of the potential for cross-national comparisons. Child Indicators Research.

  • Casas, F., Figuer, C., González, M., Malo, S., Alsinet, C., & Subarroca, S. (2007). The well-being of 12 - to 16-year-old adolescents and their parents: results from 1999 to 2003 Spanish samples. Social Indicators Research, 83(1), 87–115.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Casas, F., Baltatescu, S., González, M., & Hatos, A. (2009). Similarities and differences in the PWI of Romanian and Spanish adolescents aged 13–16 years old. Paper presented in the IX Conference of the International Society for Quality of Life Studies. Florence, Italy.

  • Casas, F., Sarriera, J. C., Abs, D., Coenders, G., Alfaro, J., Saforcada, E., & Tonon, G. (2012a). Subjective indicators of personal well-being among adolescents. Performance and results for different scales in Latin-language speaking countries: A contribution to the international debate. Child Indicators Research, 5(1), 1–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Casas, F., Sarriera, J. C., Alfaro, J., González, M., Malo, S., & Bertran, I. (2012b). Testing the personal wellbeing index on 12–16 year-old adolescents in 3 different countries with 2 new items. Social Indicators Research, 105(3), 461–482.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Casas, F., Bello, A., González, M., & Aligué, M. (2013). Children’s subjective well-being measured using a composite index: What impacts Spanish first-year secondary education students’ subjective well-being? Child Indicators Research, 6(3), 433–460.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Casas, F., Sarriera, J. C., Alfaro, J., González, M., Bedin, L., Abs, D., Valdenegro, B. (2014). Reconsidering life domains that contribute to subjective well-being among adolescents with data from three countries. Journal of Happiness Studies, 1–23.

  • Central Bureau of Statistics. (2004). Localities’ periphery measure. Jerusalem: Central Bureau of Statistics.

    Google Scholar 

  • Central Bureau of Statistics. (2012). Households and Families demographic characteristics 2009–2010 based on labour force surveys. Jerusalem: Central Bureau of Statistics.

    Google Scholar 

  • Children’s Society. (2012). The good childhood report 2012: a review of our children’s well-being. London: The Children’s Society.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cummins, R. A. (1995). On the trail of the gold standard for subjective well-being. Social Indicators Research, 35(2), 179–200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cummins, R. A. (1997). Self-rated quality of life scales for people with an intellectual disability: a review. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 10(3), 199–216.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cummins, R. A. (1998). The second approximation to an international standard for life satisfaction. Social Indicators Research, 43(3), 307–334.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cummins, R. A. (2003). Normative life satisfaction: measurement issues and a homeostatic model. Social Indicators Research, 64(2), 225–256.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cummins, R. A. (2005). On the trail of the gold standard for subjective well-being. Social Indicators Research, 35(2), 179–200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cummins, R. A. (2014). Understanding the well-being of children and adolescents through homeostatic theory. In A. Ben-Arieh, F. Casas, I. Frønes, & J. E. Korbin (Eds.), Handbook of child well-being (pp. 635–661). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Cummins, R., & Lau, A. (2005). Personal wellbeing index–school children. Victoria: Australian Centre on Quality of Life, School of Psychology, Deakin University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dew, T., & Huebner, E. S. (1994). Adolescents’ perceived quality of life: an exploratory investigation. Journal of School Psychology, 32(2), 185–199.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E. (1984). Subjective well-being. Psychological Bulletin, 95(3), 542–575.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E. (2009). Subjective well-being. In P. E. Diener (Ed.), The science of well-being (pp. 11–58). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., & Suh, E. (1997). Measuring quality of life: economic, social, and subjective indicators. Social Indicators Research, 40(1–2), 189–216.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., Suh, E. M., Lucas, R. E., & Smith, H. L. (1999). Subjective well-being: three decades of progress. Psychological Bulletin, 125(2), 276.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eckstein, Z., & Weiss, Y. (2004). On the wage growth of immigrants: Israel, 1990–2000. Journal of the European Economic Association, 2(4), 665–695.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Funk, B. A., Huebner, E. S., & Valois, R. F. (2006). Reliability and validity of a brief life satisfaction scale with a high school sample. Journal of Happiness Studies, 7(1), 41–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gilman, R., & Huebner, E. S. (2000). Review of life satisfaction measures for adolescents. Behaviour Change, 17(03), 178–195.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gilman, R., & Huebner, S. (2003). A review of life satisfaction research with children and adolescents. School Psychology Quarterly, 18(2), 192–205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harel-Fisch, Y., Wolsh, S., Boniel-Nisim, M., Dejaelovsky, A., Amit, S., Tesler, R., & Habib, J. (2013). Youth in Israel—An international perspective: Mental and social well-being and risk behavior trends 2006–2011: Findings from the 6th International HBSC survey. Ramt Gan: Bar-Ilan University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hooper, D., Coughlan, J., & Mullen, M. (2008). Structural equation modelling: guidelines for determining model fit. Electronic Journal of Business Research Methods, 6, 53–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hu, L., & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 6(1), 1–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huebner, E. S. (1991a). Initial development of the student’s life satisfaction scale. School Psychology International, 12(3), 231–240.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huebner, E. S. (1991b). Further validation of the Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale: the independence of satisfaction and affect ratings. Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, 9(4), 363–368.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huebner, E. S. (1994). Preliminary development and validation of a multidimensional life satisfaction scale for children. Psychological Assessment, 6(2), 149–158.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huebner, E. S. (2004). Research on assessment of life satisfaction of children and adolescents. Social Indicators Research, 66(1–2), 3–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huebner, E. S., Laughlin, J. E., Ash, C., & Gilman, R. (1998). Further validation of the multidimensional students’ life satisfaction scale. Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, 16(2), 118–134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huebner, E. S., Suldo, S. M., Smith, L. C., & McKnight, C. G. (2004). Life satisfaction in children and youth: empirical foundations and implications for school psychologists. Psychology in the Schools, 41(1), 81–93.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huebner, E. S., Seligson, J. L., Valois, R. F., & Suldo, S. M. (2006). A review of the brief multidimensional Students’ life satisfaction scale. Social Indicators Research, 79(3), 477–484.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huebner, E. S., Antaramian, S. P., Hills, K. J., Lewis, A. D., & Saha, R. (2011). Stability and predictive validity of the brief multidimensional Students’ life satisfaction scale. Child Indicators Research, 4(1), 161–168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huebner, E. S., Hills, K. J., Jiang, X., Long, R. F., Kelly, R., & Lyons, M. D. (2014). Schooling and children’s subjective well-being. In A. Ben-Arieh, F. Casas, I. Frønes, & J. E. Korbin (Eds.), Handbook of child well-being (pp. 797–819). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Jamal, A. (2002). Beyond “ethnic democracy”: State structure, multicultural conflict and differentiated citizenship in Israel. New Political Science, 24(3), 411–431.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Okun, B. S., & Friedlander, D. (2005). Educational stratification among Arabs and Jews in Israel: Historical disadvantage, discrimination, and opportunity. Population Studies, 59(2), 163–180.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Park, N. (2004). The role of subjective well-being in positive youth development. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 591(1), 25–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peterson, R. A. (1994). A meta-analysis of Cronbach’s coefficient alpha. Journal of Consumer Research, 21(2), 381–391.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raijman, R., & Semyonov, M. (1995). Modes of labor market incorporation and occupational cost among new immigrants to Israel. International Migration Review, 29(2), 375–394.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rees, G., Bradshaw, J., Goswami, H., & Keung, A. (2010a). Understanding children’s well-being: A national survey of young people’s well-being. London: The Children’s Society.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rees, G., Goswami, H., & Bradshaw, J. (2010b). Developing an index of children’s subjective well-being in England. London: The Children’s Society.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rees, G., Goswami, H., & Pople, L. (2013). The good childhood report 2013. London: The Children Society.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seligson, J. L., Huebner, E. S., & Valois, R. F. (2003). Preliminary validation of the brief multidimensional students’ life satisfaction scale (BMSLSS). Social Indicators Research, 61(2), 121–145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Soen, D. (2005). Israel: From welfare state to social Darwinism. Tel Aviv: Cherikover.

    Google Scholar 

  • Terry, T., & Huebner, E. S. (1995). The relationship between self-concept and life satisfaction in children. Social Indicators Research, 35(1), 39–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tomyn, A. J., & Cummins, R. A. (2011). The subjective wellbeing of high-school students: Validating the personal wellbeing index—school children. Social Indicators Research, 101(3), 405–418.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • UNICEF. (1989). Convention on the Rights of the Child. United Nations.

  • Veenhoven, R. (1988). The utility of happiness. Social Indicators Research, 20(4), 333–354.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yonah, Y. (2005). Israel as a multicultural democracy: challenges and obstacles. Israel Affairs, 11(1), 95–116.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Paul Baerwald School of Social Work and Social Welfare, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel

    Daphna Gross-Manos & Edna Shimoni

  2. The Haruv Institute, The Paul Baerwald School of Social Work and Social Welfare, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel

    Asher Ben-Arieh

Authors
  1. Daphna Gross-Manos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Edna Shimoni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Asher Ben-Arieh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daphna Gross-Manos.

Appendix

Appendix

Table 11 Percents of missing values for items of SWB multi-item measures
Full size table

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Gross-Manos, D., Shimoni, E. & Ben-Arieh, A. Subjective Well-Being Measures Tested with 12-Year-Olds in Israel. Child Ind Res 8, 71–92 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12187-014-9282-2

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12187-014-9282-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation