Cultureel-religieuze verschillen in de rapportage van het subjectief welbevinden bij Brusselse jongeren.

Abstract

Objective: This article focuses on the subjective wellbeing of Brussels youth. This focus is driven by two observations. First, it is important in line of ‘well-becoming’. Youth who develop into well-balanced and integrated adults will take more responsibility en try to mean something in society. Second, adolescence is also a developmental stage in itself. Hence, the study of wellbeing among adolescents has an intrinsic goal and is important. In particular, this article analyses possible (a) structural and (b) cultural-religious differences in subjective wellbeing among Brussels youth.

Methods: In order to measure the subjective wellbeing, the authors use the JOP-monitor Brussels with data from 2513 young people following Dutch secondary education in Brussels. Following measures gauging the subjective wellbeing are included in the analyses: overall life satisfaction, satisfaction with physical characteristics, self-esteem and future aspirations. Cultural-religious differences are measured trough religion and religiosity.

Results:
– There is a strong relationship between subjective wellbeing and religiosity. Young people who report a high religiosity, score also high on the different measures of subjective well-being (except future aspirations).
– In particular Muslim youth with a high religiosity score high on the different measures of subjective wellbeing.

Conclusions: The results indicate the importance of cultural-religious factors in the explanation of differences in subjective well being. More then structural differences, religion and religiosity seem to relate to subjective well being.