Abstracts
Résumé
L’objectif du présent texte est de démontrer les effets de l’inégalité de revenus sur la santé mentale et le bonheur dans les pays riches. La première section fait état du niveau élevé d’inégalité de revenus aux États-Unis et, à un degré moindre, dans les autres pays riches. Les résultats présentés dans la seconde partie font voir des corrélations positives de l’inégalité de revenus avec la maladie mentale, avec un indice de consommation de drogues et avec un indice composite de 10 problèmes psychosociaux. De plus, il existe une corrélation négative entre l’inégalité de revenus et un indice de bien-être des enfants mis au point par l’UNICEF. La troisième partie aborde l’association négative élevée entre l’inégalité de revenus et le bonheur, concrétisée ici par la satisfaction de vivre, dans les pays riches. De nombreux arguments appuient l’idée de la causalité selon laquelle l’inégalité de revenus est une source importante des problèmes psychosociaux, comme un « virus » qui affecte le bien-être de toute la population. Enfin, les praticiens des sciences humaines sont invités à s’impliquer dans l’élaboration des politiques sociales, dans les efforts d’éducation pour contrer les coûts de l’inégalité et dans des programmes susceptibles de favoriser une santé mentale « florissante ».
Mots-clés :
- inégalité de revenus,
- santé mentale,
- bonheur
Abstract
Aim. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the impact of income inequality on various indexes of mental health and on happiness in wealthy nations. Initially, the unequal distribution of income is documented in wealthy nations, especially in the United States of America. After the World War II, income equality was at a level never reached before, but since the eighties, income inequality has raised dramatically in many industrialized countries. The 2008 crisis has worsened the situation in many of them, particularly in the United States. Furthermore, prejudices have increased against women, Blacks, Spanish-speakers and those who receive social welfare. Method. A selective review of the literature is made in order to document the impact of income inequality on a few indicators of mental health (from WHO, UN, UNICEF, OCDE and World Bank) and on happiness, defined here as life satisfaction. Results. Income inequality is positively related to the following indexes: Index of Mental Illness from the WHO (0.73), Index of the United Nations’ Office on Drug Consumption (0.63) and a composite Index of ten psychosocial problems, constituted by Wilkinson and Pickett, 2013 (0.87). On the other hand, income inequality is negatively associated to the UNICEF Index of Child Well-Being (-0.71). Furthermore, the level of anxiety and of depression is higher in countries where income inequality is greater. The correlation between happiness and income inequality in the 23 wealthy nations is -0.48; this correlation becomes -0.41 after control of the effect of the GNP (Gross National Product). These results support the idea that it is relative income – not absolute income – which matters in the evaluation of our life and of our happiness. In underdeveloped nations, any increase in GNP promotes the well-being of the citizens; whereas in wealthy nations, it is the equality of the distribution that is more important. Many arguments supporting the causal relation from income inequality to psychosocial problems and unhappiness are presented. In reality, this income inequality is like a “virus” which affects the well-being of the entire population. Conclusion. Even if the increase of mental problems may be explained by many factors – historical, cultural, ethnic, social, and societal – these factors do not eliminate the effect of income inequality. In order to counter the effects of income inequality and to promote a “flourishing” mental health, the professionals of human sciences are invited to take into account this reality in the implementation of their interventions and to participate to the elaboration of social politics as well as in the education process of the general population.
Keywords:
- Income inequalty,
- mental health,
- happiness
Appendices
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