Social Structural Differences in Qualitative Perspectives on Well-Being

Abstract

Well-being (WB) is associated with healthier and longer lives, more social connections, and workplace success. However, assessment of WB is primarily based on self-report measures. This mixed-methods research examined how diverse adults described the sources of their WB and whether such views differed by education, race, and gender. Data came from midlife and older adults from the Midlife in the United States Study who responded to the question “What do you do to make your life go well?” (N = 2,118; 54% some college or less; 19% Black). We used directed content analysis to develop a codebook comprising 20 code groups. Three judges evaluated the presence of each code group within each open-ended response. Percent agreement among judges was strong (M = 0.91; range = 0.80-0.98). The most frequently mentioned sources of WB were Relationships, Positive Attitude, and Faith. Self-Awareness, Work, Coping, and Health themes were also common. Those with a bachelor’s degree or higher endorsed all code groups more than those with less education (ps < 0.01), except for Faith (p = .41). White adults endorsed all code groups more than Black adults (ps < 0.001), except Black adults endorsed Faith more than White adults (p < .001). Gender differences in WB code groups and correlations between code groups and self-reported WB are also reported. Findings point to key sources of WB and patterning by social structural forces, suggesting that social structural factors relate to how WB is experienced and described.