Measuring Wellbeing in Developing Countries: The Case of Algeria

Autor/inn/en	Tiliouine, Habib; Cummins, Robert A.; Davern, Melanie
Titel	Measuring Wellbeing in Developing Countries: The Case of Algeria
Quelle	In: Social Indicators Research, 75 (2006) 1, S.1-30 (30 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0303-8300
DOI	10.1007/s11205-004-2012-2
Schlagwörter	Foreign Countries; Marital Status; Developed Nations; Females; Psychometrics; Well Being; Measurement Techniques; Gender Differences; Age Differences; Educational Attainment; Socioeconomic Influences; Cultural Differences; Algeria; Australia; Hong Kong + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Ausland; Familienstand; Developed countries; Industriestaat; Industrieland; Weibliches Geschlecht; Psychometry; Psychometrie; Well-being; Wellness; Wohlbefinden; Messtechnik; Geschlechterkonflikt; Age; Difference; Age difference; Altersunterschied; Bildungsabschluss; Bildungsgut; Sozioökonomischer Faktor; Kultureller Unterschied; Algerien; Australien; Hongkong
Abstract	The International Wellbeing Index (IWI) has been developed as a complementary measure to already well-known economic measures, and as a tool for cross-cultural comparisons. It comprises two subscales: the Personal Wellbeing Index (PWI) and the National Wellbeing Index (NWI). The aims of this paper are two-fold. Firstly, to test the psychometric characteristics of the IWI. Secondly, to study how people of Algeria, a third world country that is yet suffering from a harsh economical and social situation, respond to questions dealing with their own lives and life in their country in general, compared to samples from more developed countries where wellbeing was previously measured. The IWI items were presented to individuals either in a questionnaire form to be self-rated or in interview sessions. The total of 1417 answers were analysed. As was expected, a very low satisfaction on both scales was found, compared to the results that were reported in countries, such as Australia or Hong Kong. Comparisons on the demographic characteristics basis show that women are significantly more satisfied than men with their personal lives, though no differences were found with regard to NWI. Eldest and youngest age groups rated the PWI significantly higher than other age groups. Education groups comparisons showed higher ratings on both subscales in favour of groups with no education and those with university levels. Marginal statistically significant differences were found with regard to the PWI in favour of the higher earning group, but no differences in the NWI. No statistically significant results were found as far as marital status, number of children, and income are concerned. The results add to the evidence of the usefulness of the scale to predict satisfaction of people with their own lives and life in their country. Its psychometric performance was proved to be very high in terms of validity, reliability and sensitivity. The results were interpreted on the light of the Homeostasis Theory and the particular situation of the Algerian society. (Author).
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Update	2017/4/10