Wellbeing in Two Nova Scotia Communities CPHA June 2008 Mike Pennock Martha Pennock Ronald Colman GPI Atlantic

GPI Community Surveys 2002/2003 Glace Bay (1,708) Kings County (1,898) Wellbeing in two contrasting communities in same political jurisdiction Wide range of variables

Contrasting Communities Glace Bay Older industrial area Mining and primary industries History of economic instability Kings County Diversified economy Agriculture Manufacturing Government Economic Stability

Economic Determinants Glace-BayKings Unemployment Part-time Discouraged Long-term Multiple Jobs % Households <$20,

Life-Satisfaction GBKingsChi- Sqaure Very Satisfied df=2 P<.32 Somewhat Satisfied Dissatisfied9.38.2

Potential for Improved Satisfaction % who would be more satisfied if: Glace BayKingsp More time with family and friends P<.001 Less stress P<.001 Make a difference to community P<.001 More money P<.001 More Possessions8.73.3P<.001 Financially secure P<.001

Wellbeing Despite pronounced economic differences Glace Bay and Kings respondents equally satisfied with life But Glace Bay felt there was more room for improvement

Importance of Core Values % rating 8+ on 10 pt. scale SelfOthersp Family P<.000 Responsibility P<.000 Freedom P<.000 Friendship P<.000 Financial Security NS Generosity P<.000 Pleasure P<.000 Spiritual P<.000 Career Success P<.000 Material Wealth P<.000

Importance of Own Values % rating 8+ on 10 pt. scale GBKingsp Family NS Responsibility93.2 NS Freedom NS Friendship NS Financial Security P<.000 Generosity P<.000 Pleasure NS Spiritual P<.000 Career Success6858.3P<.000 Material Wealth P<.000

Factor Analysis of Values Scales Social factor (family life, friendship, generosity, spiritual) Materialistic factor (material wealth, financial security, career, pleasure) Factor scores

Values and Life Satisfaction % Describing Self as Very Satisfied With Life Quartile Value Score Low Score on Value Factor 23High Score on Value Factor Social Values P<.000 Material Values ns

Distribution of Material value Scores

Wellbeing and Values Majority in both communities reported that they were motivated by pro-social values but living in a materialistic society Pro-social values associated with higher levels of life-satisfaction Glace Bay slightly more materialistic

Self-Reported Stress

Sources of Stress Kings Too many demands Too many hours Insufficient autonomy Interpersonal conflict Glace Bay Too few hours Risk Fear of layoffs

Activity and Stress

Stress and Employment More two-income families in Kings (contributes to higher incomes) Two-income families much more highly stressed than one income families Two income families on Kings more highly stressed than in Glace Bay No differences between one-income families

Stress and household income

The Downside of Success Greater prosperity and financial security of Kings comes at a cost with respect to higher levels of stress.

Wellbeing is more inequitable in Glace Bay % Very Satisfed

Wellbeing and Economy No significant difference in life- satisfaction between GB and Kings, despite differences in income and economic security But GB more likely to believe that there life-satisfaction could be improved by improved material circumstances Therefore- more materialistic values

Great Expectations Already have rates of life- satisfaction that are similar to Kings Yet they expect a greater increase from improved determinants Does GB expect more from income gains than can be delivered?

Example of “focusing illusion ” “When people consider the impact of any single factor on their wellbeing- not only income- they are prone to exaggerate its importance. We refer to this tendency as the focusing illusion… Despite the weak relation between income and global life satisfaction or experienced happiness, many people are highly motivated to increase their income.” Daniel Kahneman- Economist, Princeton University

Daniel Gilbert: Stumbling on Happiness (2006) “Economies thrive when individuals strive, but because individuals will only strive for their own happiness, it is essential that they mistakenly believe that producing and consuming are routes to personal wellbeing”

Higher Inequities in Glace Bay Is the greater emphasis on material values in Glace Bay linked to the greater reported inequities- High income GB are more satisfied and low income are less satisfied than their counterparts in Kings

Stresses reflect local realities Kings Higher stress Too much work Two-income families (more of them and more highly stressed than GB) 25% would trade increases for less time Unemployment more stressful Glace Bay Too little work Job insecurity 14% would trade increases for less time Both employment and unemployment are less stressful

Catch 22 Higher incomes in Kings are associated with higher stress levels but their life- satisfaction is no higher than the lower income, less stressed Glace Bay residents Less likely to expect improvements in life- satisfaction due to material improvements than Glace bay residents “Been there, done that”

Value Alienation? Large majority of respondents in both communities believe they are socially motivated individuals living in a materialistic society.

Wellbeing and Values Positive social values intrinsically related to wellbeing while materialistic values are not Consistent with growing research literature demonstrating that positive social action is associated with higher levels of wellbeing