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Subjective Wellbeing on the Tibetan Plateau: An Exploratory Investigation

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Abstract

While working on a project to build a school for Tibetan nomad children in a remote part of the Tibetan plateau, the author carried out the first empirical exploration of personal wellbeing with a small (n = 102) sample of ethnic Tibetans. Using the PWI survey instrument, significant age, gender, and education differences with respect to satisfaction with life were revealed. In addition, the magnitude of overall satisfaction with life was found to be more consistent with Western rather than Asian populations and, future security, standard of living, gender and age were identified as the strongest predictors of life satisfaction. This paper reports on the findings drawing on the literature, Buddhist philosophy and the author’s observations for explanation.

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Notes

  1. This income figure was reported to the author in conversation with local nomads. No official income statistics are published for this region.

  2. The Tibetan language version of the survey can be seen at: http://acqol.deakin.edu.au/inter_wellbeing/index.htm.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia

    David Webb

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  1. David Webb
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Correspondence to David Webb.

Appendix: Scale Items

Appendix: Scale Items

Part 1: Life satisfaction overall

  1. 1.

    “Thinking about your own life and personal circumstances, how satisfied are you with your life as a whole?”

Part 2: Domain life satisfaction

  1. 1.

    “How satisfied are you with your standard of living?”

  2. 2.

    “How satisfied are you with your health?”

  3. 3.

    “How satisfied are you with what you are achieving in life?”

  4. 4.

    “How satisfied are you with your personal relationships?”

  5. 5.

    “How satisfied are you with how safe you feel?”

  6. 6.

    “How satisfied are you with feeling part of your community?”

  7. 7.

    “How satisfied are you with your future security?”

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Webb, D. Subjective Wellbeing on the Tibetan Plateau: An Exploratory Investigation. J Happiness Stud 10, 753–768 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-008-9120-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-008-9120-7

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