Things that Make Up Quality of Life
The term “quality of life” is used to indicate the general well-being of people and societies. It often is associated with the term “standard of living,” but the two do not necessarily mean the same. A standard of living merely is the evaluation of the wealth and employment status of a person. Though both are factors to determine quality of life, these are not its sole indicator. A person’s environment, physical and mental health, education, recreation, social well-being, freedom, human rights and happiness also are significant factors. Quality of Life is the product of the interplay among social, health, economic and environmental conditions which affect human and social development and thus, community development.
The following list (in no particular order of importance) is what most people value in order to have good quality of life:
- Climate and geography
- Community life…helping and encouraging others; volunteering; having close friends and socializing with people
- Family life…relationships with family, spouse or partner ; having and raising children
- Gender equality
- Good health and personal safety
- Material wellbeing…material comforts, including appropriate, affordable housing
- Opportunities for ongoing learning
- Political stability and security; political freedom
- Reading, listening to music, watching sports events, and other entertainment; participating in active recreation
- Understanding oneself; expressing oneself in a creative manner
- Work…job security, job satisfaction
The City of Vancouver measures quality of life using the following indicators: Community Affordability Measure, Quality of Employment Measure, Quality of Housing Measure, Health Community Measure, Community Social Infrastructure, Human Capital Measure, Community Stress Measure, Community Safety Measure, Community Participation Measure.
What do you think is the relationship between quality of life and community economic development?