1
Sobey School of Business, Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, NS, Canada
2
School of Health Administration, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
Abstract
There are relatively few studies that have measured and explained socioeconomic inequalities in the wellbeing of populations. Using unique information available in the 2019 Nova Scotia Quality of Life Survey (NSQL, n=9,388), this study provides analysis of the determinants of socioeconomic inequalities in wellbeing of adults aged 18 and above in Nova Scotia, Canada. The population's wellbeing was measured using the Canadian Index of Wellbeing (CIW), which encompasses quality of life across eight domains. The Concentration index (C) approach was utilized to quantify and identify factors explaining socioeconomic inequality in wellbeing. A positive value of the C (0.0294; 95% confidence interval: 0.0267 to 0.0321) indicated pro-rich inequality in wellbeing among Nova Scotian residents. Results of the decomposition analysis indicated that the concentration of favorable mental health, education levels, and income among high socioeconomic status groups accounted for over 86% of the observed socioeconomic inequality in the population's wellbeing. Our findings demonstrated that inequalities in mental health, education, and income are significant obstacles to reducing inequality in wellbeing in Nova Scotia, Canada. Thus, policies aimed at alleviating inequalities in these factors may help to reduce socioeconomic inequality in wellbeing in Nova Scotia, Canada.
Keays, D. and Hajizadeh, M. (2025). Determinants of Socioeconomic Inequalities in Well-being in Canada: Evidence for Nova Scotia Quality of Life Survey. International Journal of Health Policy and Management, (), -.
MLA
Keays, D. , and Hajizadeh, M. . "Determinants of Socioeconomic Inequalities in Well-being in Canada: Evidence for Nova Scotia Quality of Life Survey", International Journal of Health Policy and Management, , , 2025, -.
HARVARD
Keays, D., Hajizadeh, M. (2025). 'Determinants of Socioeconomic Inequalities in Well-being in Canada: Evidence for Nova Scotia Quality of Life Survey', International Journal of Health Policy and Management, (), pp. -.
CHICAGO
D. Keays and M. Hajizadeh, "Determinants of Socioeconomic Inequalities in Well-being in Canada: Evidence for Nova Scotia Quality of Life Survey," International Journal of Health Policy and Management, (2025): -,
VANCOUVER
Keays, D., Hajizadeh, M. Determinants of Socioeconomic Inequalities in Well-being in Canada: Evidence for Nova Scotia Quality of Life Survey. International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 2025; (): -.
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