Happiness and Social Well-Being in the Estimates of Russians – the Problem of Differentiation of Concepts

Abstract

The article analyzes subjective assessments of social well-being and happiness in the context of their relationship with the characteristics of individuals in various areas of the social system. The similarities and differences in assessments of these categories are analyzed in the context of age, socioprofessional and income groups. It is shown that in older age groups, as well as in low-income groups engaged in low-skilled physical and non-physical labor, the categories of happiness and well-being are not actually divided in subjective assessments. On the contrary, in younger age groups, as well as those who belong to the middle and high-income groups mainly engaged in highly skilled non-physical labor, a discrepancy is found in assessments of social well-being and happiness. In the first case, the similar perception of the categories studied is evidence of weak motives for achievement and of focus on the reference groups in assessments. In these groups, the principle of “living no worse than others” prevails. In the second case, the difference in the estimates of well-being and happiness can be explained by the more stable position of these groups in the social system. They are better aware of the possible levels of social well-being that one can strive for. The empirical basis for the analysis was the 26th wave of the annual RLMS-HSE survey monitoring the Russian population’s economic status and health, which was conducted in 2017.