What Matters for the Wellbeing of Mothers and Children in Material Hardship? Application of a Modified Indicator Framework

Abstract

We examine determinants of subjective wellbeing (SWB) for mothers of dependent children in material hardship, using a modification of the New Zealand Treasury’s Living Standards Framework (LSF) and data from the General Social Survey. We convert the LSF—an indicator dashboard—into a tool for prioritising social policies by placing SWB at the head of a hierarchy of wellbeing domains. Several determinants of these mothers’ SWB conform to standard findings; however, two important differences stand out. One is the lack of a protective effect from employment on SWB for this group (unlike the protective effect for males). The other is a positive relationship between a mother’s SWB and satisfaction with her own skills/knowledge; this effect is particularly strong for sole mothers in hardship, dominating any effect of qualifications on SWB. The analysis demonstrates both a practical use of a modified LSF, and the value of taking a gender-specific approach to analysing wellbeing.