878.3
How to Measure Quality of Life? an Integrated Approach in the Netherlands
The Netherlands Institute for Social Research uses a composite index to describe and monitor developments in the quality of life of the Dutch population. The SCP Life-situation Index (SLI) is used to measure objective aspects of individual quality of life. In constructing the index, we depart from the view that quality of life is a multi-dimensional concept. SLI is composed of indicators from eight domains (dimensions): health, housing, social participation, culturel leisure activity, consumer durables, sport activity, vacation, and mobility. Education, income, paid employment and self-sufficiency are considered as “resources”. They can be used by citizens to improve their life situation.
We use non linear canonical correlation analysis to combine the indicators into the index.
SLI is based on micro-data, stemming from survey research. With these survey data we are able to give a summarizing insight in the different domains of the life situation at the individual level. We can also break down the life situation for different social groups (enabling us to compare income groups, educational levels and household types). In our view quality of life has an objective and a subjective part. Using micro-data also provides the opportunity to explore the relationship between objective wellebing (as measured by the index) and subjective wellbeing (happiness and satisfactions).
The paper focuses on two of the major issues we come across:
1. How to measure quality of life? Why did we choose not to include subjective indicators? Does it change the results if we did?
2. How to combine the indicators. The life situation index is constructed statistically, using nonlinear canonical correlation analysis to get the weights. But there are other ways to do so. Does using alternatives lead to different results?