Abstract
This paper explores the effects of health on wellbeing in a sample of 2,909 Algerians who participated in a survey using the Personal Wellbeing Index in 2005. The survey took place 3 years after the end of a violent civil war and the start of an economic recovery based on oil and gas. Survey participants were divided into two groups on the basis of their yes/no responses to a question about the existence of a chronic health condition. Their scores were then compared for the Personal Wellbeing Index, objective self-report health questions, and additional items relating to culture, environment and social networks. Correlational analyses and regressions were conducted to explore the relationship between health status, measures of health, and subjective wellbeing. Significant differences are found between the two groups in feelings of pain, anxiety and level of normal sleep, which further validate the comparison. The results show a marginal difference in Personal Wellbeing Index score in favour of the healthier group, due principally to the effect of the Health Domain. Moreover, the healthier group showed significantly higher satisfaction with marriage, friendship and family relationships, which raises the question of the direction of causation between the state of health and social relationships. Findings are discussed in relation to health provision in Algeria and previous SWB research.
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Notes
The importance of health was supported by further WeD research in Ethiopia, Peru, and Bangladesh; see Camfield 2006.
Degree of physical pain: t(2343, 534) = −10.94, p = .000; daily anxiety t(2356, 537) = −5.06, p = .000; daily normal sleep t(2357, 537) = 2.74, p = .006; and satisfaction with health: t(2356, 539) =12.14, p = .000.
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Acknowledgements
I thank the members of the Laboratory of Educational Processes and Social context (Labo-PECS) of the University of Oran, Algeria for their assistance in field work, and appreciate the help received during my sabbatical stay at Deakin University, Australia. Many thanks also to l’Agence Nationale pour le Développement de la Recherche en Santé (ANDRS), Algeria for partly financing our 3rd Survey.
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Tiliouine, H. Health and Subjective Wellbeing in Algeria: A Developing Country in Transition. Applied Research Quality Life 4, 223–238 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-009-9073-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-009-9073-y