Methodologies used in the construction of composite child well-being indices

Abstract

The focus of this chapter is on conceptual frameworks and methodologies used in the study of composite indices of overall child well-being rather than well-being studies with specific emphases in areas such as life satisfaction and subjective well-being, deprivation and poverty, or health. In order to understand the methodologies utilized in the construction of indices of overall child well-being, one must first consider the specific theoretical perspectives or motivations for studying child well-being. Such perspectives and motivations highly influence the methodologies used to measure and define overall child well-being. Overviews of four methodological perspectives were examined in this chapter: The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s KIDS COUNT Index, The Foundation for Child Development Child and Youth Well-Being Index, The Child Development perspective guiding research at Child Trends, and the United Nations Convention for the Rights of the Child.