Perceptions of human well-being across diverse respondents and landscapes in a mountain-basin system, China. (August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Bojie; Tang, Haiping; Xu, Ying
• Is Part Of: Applied geography. Volume 85(2017:Dec.)
• Page Start: 176
• Page End: 183
• Publication Date: 2017-08
• Subjects: Subjective well-being -- Landscape management -- Natural-human system -- Sustainability -- Socio-demographic characteristics; Geography -- Periodicals; Human geography -- Periodicals; Human ecology -- Periodicals; 910
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apgeog.2017.05.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0143-6228

Abstract

Abstract: Human well-being is an important concept for human-nature interactions and affected by social, ecologic, and personal factors. There is increasing consensus about the importance of public perceptions of human well-being, but studies on this are still scarce. Here, we conducted 445 face-to-face interviews to assess subjective well-being across diverse respondents and landscapes in the Huailai mountain-basin system, China. The results suggest the actualization process of human well-being is similar to Maslow's hierarchy of needs. We found that mental health was disregarded by most respondents, while basic material for a good life was most valued. Moreover, our results show differences of well-being across different socio-demographic and landscapes characteristics. Apart from good social relations, elderly respondents had highest levels of human well-being in all other four dimensions; respondents from mountainous land with a high level of ecological conservation had the lowest level of well-being. We discuss the factors contribution to well-being and its implications for local management and policies. Understanding the implications of respondents and landscapes characteristics on human well-being can help managers to develop efficient and specific policies. Highlights: Subjective well-being was assessed through interviews in a mountain-basin area. The actualization process of human well-being is similar to Maslow's hierarchy of needs. There were differences of well-being among different socio-demographic and landscapes characteristics. Linkages between human well-being and landscape has management and policy implications of sustainable well-being realization.