The Australian Unity Wellbeing Index - Satisfaction with Relationships

The Australian Unity Wellbeing Index monitors the subjective wellbeing of the Australian population. The survey was first conducted in 2001 with the latest survey undertaken in April 2012 (survey 27). The intervening period is marked by an increasing apprehension at the unstable international financial situation, with serious problems in Europe. The Australian economy, however, appeared stable.

Each survey involves a telephone interview with a new sample of 2,000 Australians, selected to represent the geographic distribution of the national population. These surveys comprise the Personal Wellbeing Index, which measures people’s satisfaction with their own lives, and the National Wellbeing Index, which measures how satisfied people are with life in Australia.

Other items include a standard set of demographic questions and other survey-specific questions. The specific topic for Survey 27 was the consequence of sleep patterns on wellbeing.

The Theory

The theoretical framework for the interpretation of data is the theory of Subjective Wellbeing Homeostasis. This proposes that each person has a ‘set-point’ for personal wellbeing that is internally maintained and defended. This set-point is genetically determined and, on average, causes personal wellbeing to be held at 75 points on a 0-100 scale.

The normal level of individual set-point variation is between about 60-90 percentage points. The provision of personal resources, such as money or relationships, cannot normally increase the set-point on a long term basis due to the genetic ceiling. However, they can strengthen defences against negative experience. Moreover, for someone who is suffering homeostatic defeat, the provision of additional resources may allow them to regain control of the wellbeing. In this case the provision of resources will cause personal wellbeing to rise until the set-point is achieved.

It’s proposed that low levels of personal resources, such as occasioned by low income or absence of a partner, weakens homeostasis. If personal challenges such as stress or pain exceed resources, homeostasis is defeated, and subjective wellbeing decreases below its normal range.

The Personal Wellbeing index includes standard of living, health, achieving, how safe we feel, community connection, future security, spiritual fulfillment as well as  Satisfaction with Relationships. Below is the survey outcomes for Satisfaction with Relationships

Satisfaction with Relationships

Satisfaction with Relationships, has not changed over the past 12 months, falling by a non-significant 0.5 points to 79.4. It is at a level no different than it was in survey 1 (78.2 points). The most sustained trend of increasing satisfaction for this domain began with the lowest level (77.2 points) in February 2008 and peaked at 81.5 points in April 2010, an overall rise of +4.3 points.

flirting at work

University of Surrey researchers asked over 200 men and women between the ages of 21 and 68 about whether they flirt at work – or engage in ambiguous goal-motivated behaviours that can be, but are not restricted to being, interpreted as sexually motivated.

The lawyers, stockbrokers, charity workers and public servants were also asked questions about their personalities, how satisfied they were in their jobs and how hard they worked.

The results revealed a clear difference between the sexes. Women who flirted were just as happy in their jobs as those who kept relationships on a strictly business basis. Males, however, who flirt tended to be less satisfied with their role.

Previous research has shown that people flirt for various reasons, which include increasing their self-esteem, fun and romance. If men are feeling unsatisfied in their roles, then they may resort to flirting to keep them entertained and this would partially explain the negative relationship.

The survey, commissioned by Harper’s Bazaar, found that women see other females as the main competition in the workplace.

Undertones run deep and coffee sets the mood

Today I was talking to a work colleague when the subject turned to preferred lifestyles – how would it be to have an open door, friends wonder in to say hello, stay for a drink and another.  There is enough food for all so might as well stay on for dinner.

Conversations are mixed, random and often contentious. Philosophy excuses politics, literature, music and art injured by ready-made critics with facetious resolve, wine abundant, as is, wit, savvy and pseudo-Intellecta.

Undertones run deep and coffee sets the mood....

Nothing excites us anymore

We all get to a point when our days seem monotonous, flat and a blur. The things that we once enjoyed so much seem so far away. Nothing excites us, no one makes our heart skip a beat.

Some describe us as hot and cold. Other’s say we're snappy and curt. Certainly their demands seem overwhelming and tough. All we really want is time and space; clear our minds and clear our wrongs.

As the dawn appears 
and the night slips away 
we get this feeling 
it's going to start again
. The same as yesterday 
and the day before 
when this feels like a circle all over again.

As the dawn appears 
and the night slips away 
we think it's going to start again. The same as yesterday 
and the day before, but the circle may have run it’s day; and the promise to stay away tears at our heart in so many ways. For a gorgeous girl...

Symbols of rebirth

It is a classical anthropological paradox that symbols of rebirth and fertility are frequently found in funerary rituals throughout the world. 

After the very recent death of a close friend and neighbor - sitting back now to write the eulogy makes the contrast of a one-year baby’s babble and playful screams even more pointed.