Nine Using health and subjective wellbeing for quality of life measurement: a review
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Robert A. Cummins
Abstract
This chapter focuses on the relevance of SWB as a possible policy goal, and examines issues of measurement. It reviews and critiques different measures of health and well-being and explains the relevance of a measure of SWB for social policy. It describes how the concepts of mental health and quality of life have evolved within medicine and the social sciences. It then offers a critique of two of the most commonly used measures, Quality Adjusted Life Years and Health-related Quality of Life. It goes on to describe the concept of SWB and its measurement, drawing on the work as part of the International Wellbeing Group in developing the ‘Personal Wellbeing Index’. It explores the relevance of SWB measurement for social policy and argues that the development of new measures can inform policy decisions by providing comparable data about perceived quality of life across different groups in the population and between different communities.
Abstract
This chapter focuses on the relevance of SWB as a possible policy goal, and examines issues of measurement. It reviews and critiques different measures of health and well-being and explains the relevance of a measure of SWB for social policy. It describes how the concepts of mental health and quality of life have evolved within medicine and the social sciences. It then offers a critique of two of the most commonly used measures, Quality Adjusted Life Years and Health-related Quality of Life. It goes on to describe the concept of SWB and its measurement, drawing on the work as part of the International Wellbeing Group in developing the ‘Personal Wellbeing Index’. It explores the relevance of SWB measurement for social policy and argues that the development of new measures can inform policy decisions by providing comparable data about perceived quality of life across different groups in the population and between different communities.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- List of figures and tables v
- List of contributors vi
- Introduction 1
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Key areas of social policy
- Personal social services: developments in adult social care 15
- Creating a patient-led NHS: empowering ‘consumers’ or shrinking the state? 33
- A ‘pivotal moment’? Education policy in England, 2005 49
- Strategic pragmatism? The state of British housing policy 65
- Social security policies in 2005 83
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Health and well-being
- More than a matter of choice? Consumerism and the modernisation of health care 101
- Being well and well-being: the value of community and professional concepts in understanding positive health 121
- Happiness and social policy: barking up the right tree in the wrong neck of the woods 145
- Using health and subjective wellbeing for quality of life measurement: a review 165
- Community well-being strategy and the legacies of new institutionalism and New Public Management in third way New Zealand 193
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Ageing and employment
- Extending working life: problems and prospects for social and public policy 221
- Age discrimination in history 249
- Training and learning in the workplace: can we legislate against age discriminatory practices? 269
- Ageing and employment: looking back, looking forward 293
- Index 313
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- List of figures and tables v
- List of contributors vi
- Introduction 1
-
Key areas of social policy
- Personal social services: developments in adult social care 15
- Creating a patient-led NHS: empowering ‘consumers’ or shrinking the state? 33
- A ‘pivotal moment’? Education policy in England, 2005 49
- Strategic pragmatism? The state of British housing policy 65
- Social security policies in 2005 83
-
Health and well-being
- More than a matter of choice? Consumerism and the modernisation of health care 101
- Being well and well-being: the value of community and professional concepts in understanding positive health 121
- Happiness and social policy: barking up the right tree in the wrong neck of the woods 145
- Using health and subjective wellbeing for quality of life measurement: a review 165
- Community well-being strategy and the legacies of new institutionalism and New Public Management in third way New Zealand 193
-
Ageing and employment
- Extending working life: problems and prospects for social and public policy 221
- Age discrimination in history 249
- Training and learning in the workplace: can we legislate against age discriminatory practices? 269
- Ageing and employment: looking back, looking forward 293
- Index 313
