Skip to main content
Log in

Subjective evaluation of health: A theoretical review

  • Published:
Social Indicators Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A broad range of empirical and theoretical studies relevant to subjective evaluation of health are reviewed. Five major areas of activity are distinguished: (1) Analysis of lay conceptions of health. (2) Development of comprehensive subjective health indicators. (3) Investigation of the role of social comparison processes in the selfassessment of health and illness. (4) Empirical studies of life satisfaction and the contribution of health to global well-being. (5) Theoretical studies of life satisfaction and its conponents and correlates.

Pointers to the most potentially fruitful channels along which to direct future research are noted — specifically involving a detailed investigation of Multiple Discrepancies Theory.

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

Access this article

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Bibliography

  • AndrewsF. M. and A. C.McKennell: 1980, ‘Measures of self-reported well-being: Their affective, cognitive and other components’, Social Indicators Research 8, pp. 127–155.

    Google Scholar 

  • AndrewsF. M. and S. B.Withey: 1976, Social Indicators of Well-Being (Plenum Press, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • AtkinsonT., B.Blishen, and M.Murray: 1980, Physical Status and Perceived Health Quality (Institute for Behavioural Research, York University, Downsview, Ontario).

    Google Scholar 

  • BharadwajL. and E. A.Wilkening: 1977, ‘The prediction of perceived well-being’, Social Indicators Research 4, pp. 421–440.

    Google Scholar 

  • BlaxterM. and E.Patterson: 1982, Mothers and Daughters: A Three-Generational Study of Health Attitudes and Behaviour (Heinemann, London).

    Google Scholar 

  • BradburnN. M.: 1969, The Structure of Psychological Well-Being (Aldine, Chicago).

    Google Scholar 

  • BrownJ. S., B. S.Perman and J. L.Dobbs: 1981, ‘The will to live: dependence on a prosthesis for survival’, Research on Aging 3, pp. 182–201.

    Google Scholar 

  • CampbellA., P. E.Converse, and W. L.Rodgers: 1976, The Quality of American Life: Perceptions, Evaluations and Satisfactions (Russell Sage, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • CutlerN. E.: 1979, ‘Age variations in the dimensionality of life satisfaction’, Journal of Gerontology 34, pp. 573–578.

    Google Scholar 

  • d'HoutaudA. and M. G.Field: 1984, ‘The image of health: variations in perception by social class in a French population’, Sociology of Health and Illness 6, pp. 30–59.

    Google Scholar 

  • FillenbaumG. G.: 1979, ‘Social context and self-assessments of health amongst the elderly’, Journal of Health and Social Behaviour 20, pp. 45–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • HallJ.: 1976, ‘Subjective measures of quality of life in Britain: 1971–1975-some developments and trends’, Social Trends 7 (H.M.S.O., London).

    Google Scholar 

  • HerzlichC.: 1973, Health and Illness (Academic Press, London).

    Google Scholar 

  • HuntS. M. and J.McEwan: 1980, ‘The development of a subjective health indicator’, Sociology of Health and Illness 2, pp. 231–246.

    Google Scholar 

  • KaplanR. M., J. W.Bush and C. C.Berry: 1976, ‘Health status: types of validity and the index of well-being’, Health Services Research 11, pp. 478–507.

    Google Scholar 

  • LazarusR. S.: 1982, ‘Thoughts on the relations between emotion and cognition’, American Psychologist 37, pp. 1019–1024.

    Google Scholar 

  • LazarusR. S.: 1984, ‘On the primacy of cognition’, American Psychologist 39, pp. 124–129.

    Google Scholar 

  • MichalosA. C.: 1980, ‘Satisfaction and happiness’, Social Indicators Research 8, pp. 385–422.

    Google Scholar 

  • MichalosA. C.: 1982, ‘The satisfaction and happiness of some senior citizens in rural Ontario’, Social Indicators Research 11, pp. 1–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • MichalosA. C.: 1983, ‘Satisfaction and happiness in a rural Northern resource community’, Social Indicators Research 13, pp. 225–252.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rose, B. J.: 1980, The relatice contributions of physical, mental and social components to an overall measure of health, Unpublished doctoral dissertation (University of California, Los Angeles).

  • WilliamsR. G. A.: 1983, ‘Concepts of health: An analysis of logic’, Sociology 17, pp. 185–205.

    Google Scholar 

  • WylerA. R., M.Masuda, and T. H.Holmes: 1971, ‘Magnitude of life events and seriousness of illness’, Psychosomatic Medicine 33, pp. 115–121.

    Google Scholar 

  • ZajoncR. B.: 1980, ‘Feeling and thinking: preferences need no inferences’, American Psychologist 35, pp. 157–175.

    Google Scholar 

  • ZajoncR. B.: 1984, ‘On the primacy of affect’, American Psychologist 39, pp. 117–123.

    Google Scholar 

  • ZborowskiM.: 1952, ‘Cultural components in responses to pain’, Journal of Social Issues 8, pp. 16–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • ZolaI. K.: 1973, ‘Pathways to the doctor: from person to patient’, Social Science and Medicine 7, pp. 677–689.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wright, S. Subjective evaluation of health: A theoretical review. Soc Indic Res 16, 169–179 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00574616

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00574616

Keywords

Navigation