Bruce Hunter, Robert Cummins, Melanie Davern, School of Psychology, Deakin University Richard Eckersley, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University Sing Kai Lo, Institute for International Health, University of Sydney & Erik Okerstrom Australian Unity The Importance of Work and Relationships for Subjective Wellbeing: Findings from the seventh survey of the Australian Unity Wellbeing Index

Australian Unity Wellbeing Index SURVEY 7 “The Wellbeing of Australians – The Effects of Work” May-June 2003

The Importance of Earning Money from Work.

Earners and non-earners did not differ in the Personal Wellbeing Index.

Earning money from work is important for maintaining wellbeing between the ages of years, irrespective of income.

The personal wellbeing of non-earning males drops down significantly below equivalently-aged earning males.

Non-earning males aged have low wellbeing putting them at risk. Normative lower limit

A slight drop is also evident for non-earning females. Wellbeing remains within the normal range. Strength of Satisfaction (PWI) Age

Non-earning males years and males aged over 55 maintain wellbeing in normal range. Normative lower limit

Males who live alone and who are not earning money have a very low level of wellbeing. Normative lower limit

Overall, confidence in finding another job decreases with age for both sexes.

Balancing Work and Family is difficult for all.

Both genders find balancing work and family difficult between the ages of

The presence of children in a household is associated with a lower level of adult wellbeing,

Decreased wellbeing largely due to the low wellbeing of adults 56+, who have children in the household.

Interestingly, females with children at home have higher wellbeing if they are earning money MaleFemaleMaleFemale Earn MoneyNon-earning Strength of satisfaction (PWI)

Males have a lower level of wellbeing if they are not earning money, irrespective of presence of children.

Single parents have a very low wellbeing, …irrespective of gender, age, or employment status. Normative lower limit

Young adults are more likely to remain living with their parents if the household income is high… <$15K15-30K30-60K60+K Income ($) Distribution %

<30K>30K Household Income ($) Strength of satisfaction (PWI) Normative lower limit …and their wellbeing is higher if the household income is greater.

However, males who live with their parents have lower wellbeing than males who do not.

Relationships can be good for your wellbeing.

Marriage is a gamble – if it works, it leads to higher wellbeing than if never married,

...but if it doesn’t work, and ends in divorce, it can reduce wellbeing below normal. Normative lower limit

Non-earning females living only with their partner have one of the highest levels of wellbeing recorded… MaleFemaleMaleFemale Earn MoneyDo not earn money Strength of satisfaction (PWI)

In Conclusion

Males aged who are not earning money have lower than normal levels of wellbeing. Males appear to be responding to the traditional gender roles of breadwinners.

Females’ wellbeing is reduced by the presence of children, but earning money can buffer that. Both genders are struggling with balancing work and family.

Personal wellbeing is highest for people who are married and lowest for those who are divorced. Relationships are important for wellbeing.

Single parents have the lowest wellbeing of all household groupings. Males living alone are at risk, especially if not earning money. Relationships are important for wellbeing.

Thank You.