Wellbeing - need for social support
Kroll 2010
Demands for a gendered analysis of social capital (Gidengil and O’Neill 2006; van Staveren 2002)
Good overview of previous research on wellbeing and gender and parental status (i.e. not much of it):
In fact, social science research has shown a positive effect of social capital, defined as ‘‘connections among individuals—social networks and the norms of reciprocity and trustworthiness that arise from them’’ (Putnam 2000: 19), on SWB. The idea has been reiterated more recently by psychology (e.g. Myers 1999), social production function theory (Ormel et al. 1999), and the network theory of social capital (Lin 2001a, b). In modern happiness research, a range of studies have empirically confirmed the link between social capital and SWB (e.g. Bjørnskov 2008; Helliwell 2003; Helliwell and Putnam 2004; Kroll 2008).
Kroll 2010
The overwhelming majority of empirical studies (see introduction of this paper) concluded that social capital is a source of well-being for every member of society. Given the results presented here, however, it may be necessary to take into account that the context under which social capital is accumulated may have a strong effect on outcomes.
Deeming 2013
The idea that the happiness and wellbeing of individuals should shape government policy has been around since the enlightenment; today such thinking has growing practical policy relevance as governments around the world survey their populations in an effort to design social policies that promote wellbeing.
Deeming 2013
Work helps to promote wellbeing, as we observe here: the odds of ‘dissatisfaction’ amongst adults not in work are nearly three times greater than those in work, according to the survey data
Deeming 2013
For instance, two-thirds of lone parents now targeted by ‘activation’ policy, claim that taking a paid job is not appropriate in their circumstances (Rafferty and Wiggan, 2011).
we found little evidence to suggest that income makes an independent contribution to SWB across our four dimensions.
Women are more stressed and anxious - This is as a result of combining employment
and family care, as Lewis (2009) argues.
Ensuring that families, especially single parent families, are able to both support themselves and to care for their dependants without material disadvantage continues to be a major challenge for social policy in the UK
Kearns 2015
The associations between social contact, social support and loneliness throw light on what have been termed the “situational determinants of loneliness” (Heinrich & Gullone, 2006) for people in deprived areas. They indicate that situational loneliness (Young, 1982) can exist without being triggered by a crisis, transition or disruption, and is related to the possibility of contact with others, particularly family and neighbours
We have shown an association between feelings of loneliness and mental health
and well-being
SOCIAL BUFFERING appreciation of the importance of social buffering to dealing with stressors (Cohen & Wills, 1985). Social buffering may be particularly important to groups living in deprived areas, where stressors include poverty, unstable family circumstances
Creed 2003
Males and females also reported similar
access to the latent and manifest benefits of employment
While maintaining regular activity may be important for all unemployed people, the results here suggest that middle-aged females and mature males are especially disadvantaged, and may benefit from interventions that encourage this.
f Financial Strain in predicting well-being in the unemployed, and lends credence to Fryer’s (1995) assertions that poverty, rather than the loss of the latent benefits of employment, is the most important variable associated with poor well-being in the unemployed.
Diener 2002
Thus, more money may enhance SWB when it means avoiding poverty but not when you are already well-off
Cairney 2003
Compared to married mothers, single mothers were more likely to have suffered an episode of depression (12-month prevalence), to report higher levels of chronic stress, more recent life events and a greater number of childhood adversities. Single mothers also reported lower levels of perceived social support, social involvement and frequency of contact with friends and family than married mothers.
Langeland 2009
The results show that while social support predicted change in sense of coherence
Lindstrom 2006
Aaron Antonovsky introduced his salutogenic theory ‘sense of coherence’ as a global orientation to view the world, claiming that the way people view their life has a positive influence on their health.
Helliwell 2004
Our new evidence confirms that social capital is strongly linked to subjective well–being through many independent channels and in several different forms. Marriage and family, ties to friends and neighbours, workplace ties, civic engagement (both individually and collectively), trustworthiness and trust: all appear independently and robustly related to happiness and life satisfaction, both directly and through their impact on health.
Gallie 2010
The article concludes that there is strong evidence that poverty contributes to a vicious circle of exclusion. Unemployment increases the risks of poverty and poverty in turn makes it more difficult for people to return to work.
However, there is no clear support for the view that social isolation is directly caused by unemployment. Rather the risk of social isolation is contingent upon broader cultural patterns with respect to household structure and local sociability,
Stewart 2009
Income was a consistent predictor of measures of isolation and sense of belonging to the community: lower-income people experienced greater isolation and a lower sense of belonging than did higher-income people.
Osborne 2013
Mothers who exit cohabiting or marital relationships encounter decreases in perceived social support and increases in material hardship, depression, and parenting stress.