Family functioning and life satisfaction and happiness in South African households
SOURCE: Social Indicators Research
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2014
TITLE AUTHOR(S): F.Botha, F.Booysen
KEYWORDS: FAMILY PARTICIPATION, FAMILY WELL-BEING, HAPPINESS, SOUTH AFRICAN SOCIAL ATTITUDES SURVEY (SASAS)
DEPARTMENT: Developmental, Capable and Ethical State (DCES)
Print: HSRC Library: shelf number 9909
HANDLE: 20.500.11910/11182
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11910/11182
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2014
TITLE AUTHOR(S): F.Botha, F.Booysen
KEYWORDS: FAMILY PARTICIPATION, FAMILY WELL-BEING, HAPPINESS, SOUTH AFRICAN SOCIAL ATTITUDES SURVEY (SASAS)
DEPARTMENT: Developmental, Capable and Ethical State (DCES)
Print: HSRC Library: shelf number 9909
HANDLE: 20.500.11910/11182
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11910/11182
If you would like to obtain a copy of this Research Output, please contact Hanlie Baudin at researchoutputs@hsrc.ac.za.
Abstract
Families form an integral part of society and in fostering individual well-being. Despite the acknowledged importance of family, the association between family functioning and individual well-being outcomes have remained unexplored in the current body of knowledge. This paper explores the association between family functioning and reported levels of life satisfaction and happiness in South Africa. The paper employs the Family Attachment and Changeability Index (FACI8) to measure family functioning, using data from the 2011 South African Social Attitudes Survey. Four measures of family functioning are utilised, namely the aggregate FACI8 scale, the attachment and changeability subscales, and family functioning type. Improvements in the level of family functioning as well as in the levels of attachment and changeability are positively associated with life satisfaction and happiness. In addition, individuals living in midrange or balanced family functioning types are more satisfied with life and happier compared to persons living in extremely or moderately dysfunctional families. The findings highlight the importance of supportive intra-family dynamics in fostering greater individual well-being. This in turn places emphasis on the investigation of likely correlates of family functioning and impact evaluations of family-focused social work interventions' impact on family functioning as areas for future research.-
Related Research Outputs:
- Happiness, socioeconomic status, and family functioning in South African households: a structural equation modelling approach
- South African social attitudes: family matters: family cohesion, values and strengthening to promote wellbeing
- Satisfaction with family relationships and overall quality of family life
- Patterns of alcohol consumption in South Africa: implications of harmful drinking for families
- Introduction
- Attitudes towards marriage in postapartheid South Africa
- Understanding the social determinants of self-rated health: a basis for addressing health inequalities and strengthening families
- From weather changes to climate shifts: the experience of developing a social attitudes survey for South Africa
- Family and community interventions for children affected by AIDS
- Containment and contagion: how to strengthen families to support youth HIV prevention in South Africa
- CHAMPioning families to fight AIDS
- Migrancy, family dissolution and fatherhood
- Going to scale: family- and school-based support for children affected by HIV/AIDS
- Social and behavioral aspects of child and adolescent participation in HIV vaccine trials
- Mediating social representations using a cartoon narrative in the context of HIV/AIDS: the AmaQhawe family project in South Africa
- Create better life now: your manual for creating success and happiness
- Home truths about living and loving in South Africa, Healther Downie
- Enhancing resilience in children affected by HIV and AIDS: children's views and experiences of resilience enhancing family and community practices
- Confidentiality or continuity?: family caregivers' experiences with care for HIV/AIDS patients in home-based care in Lesotho
- No small issue: children and families: universal action now