Pretty in Prozac: The role of social connectedness in explaining the declining life satisfaction of Australian females

Abstract

This paper investigates if social connectedness presents a possible explanation for declining in female life satisfaction in Australia. In doing so, the results indicate that female and male life satisfaction are declining in much the same way; that males and females collectively and separately report higher levels of life satisfaction for greater levels of almost all measures of social connectedness; that the percentage of individuals undertaking a hobby or engaging in frequent social interactions has declined for both sexes, while sense of belonging and tangible support have both increased on average for both sexes and; that social connectedness may mitigate declining life satisfaction of both males and females to a very similar end. Fostering social connectedness would appeal to be one channel through which social welfare might be promoted.