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Subjective Well-Being and SecurityThe Linkages Between Insecurity, Health, and Well-Being in Latin America: An Initial Exploration Based on Happiness Surveys

Subjective Well-Being and Security: The Linkages Between Insecurity, Health, and Well-Being in... [This chapter explores the effects of crime and insecurity on well-being – both happiness and health – in Latin America and the Caribbean. We posited that crime victimization would have negative effects on both and, at the same time, tested the extent to which those effects were mitigated by people’s ability to adapt to those phenomena. The effects of victimization also varied across cohorts, with being mugged – which is typically a more threatening experience than having something stolen – having stronger effects for more vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, and/or for groups for whom they are rare – e.g., the wealthy – and likely produce more stigma. The effects were typically greater for happiness than for health, although the general direction of the findings is similar. At the same time, we also found significant evidence of adaptation. (An “adaptation” is defined herein as the unconscious adjustments in one’s perception of the issues in question.) Using the unexplained possibility of being victimized as a proxy for adaptation, we were able to mitigate the negative effects of victimization on life satisfaction, but not on health satisfaction. We also found that victimization had negative effects on both friendships and confidence in public institutions, suggesting that it has aggregate, society-wide costs in addition to individual welfare costs. Our results are an initial exploration into a new area of research and should be treated as such.] http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png

Subjective Well-Being and SecurityThe Linkages Between Insecurity, Health, and Well-Being in Latin America: An Initial Exploration Based on Happiness Surveys

Part of the Social Indicators Research Series Book Series (volume 46)
Editors: Webb, Dave; Wills-Herrera, Eduardo
Graham, Carol; Chaparro, Juan Camilo
Subjective Well-Being and Security — Nov 12, 2011
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References (14)

Publisher
Springer Netherlands
Copyright
© Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2012
ISBN
978-94-007-2277-4
Pages
197 –252
DOI
10.1007/978-94-007-2278-1_9
Publisher site
See Chapter on Publisher Site

Abstract

[This chapter explores the effects of crime and insecurity on well-being – both happiness and health – in Latin America and the Caribbean. We posited that crime victimization would have negative effects on both and, at the same time, tested the extent to which those effects were mitigated by people’s ability to adapt to those phenomena. The effects of victimization also varied across cohorts, with being mugged – which is typically a more threatening experience than having something stolen – having stronger effects for more vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, and/or for groups for whom they are rare – e.g., the wealthy – and likely produce more stigma. The effects were typically greater for happiness than for health, although the general direction of the findings is similar. At the same time, we also found significant evidence of adaptation. (An “adaptation” is defined herein as the unconscious adjustments in one’s perception of the issues in question.) Using the unexplained possibility of being victimized as a proxy for adaptation, we were able to mitigate the negative effects of victimization on life satisfaction, but not on health satisfaction. We also found that victimization had negative effects on both friendships and confidence in public institutions, suggesting that it has aggregate, society-wide costs in addition to individual welfare costs. Our results are an initial exploration into a new area of research and should be treated as such.]

Published: Nov 12, 2011

Keywords: Life Satisfaction; Crime Rate; EQ5D Index; Homicide Rate; Happiness Level

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