Demographic and socio-economic inequalities in subjective wellbeing: analysis of repeated cross-sectional health surveys in England 2010–2019.

This article examines inequalities in subjective wellbeing (SWB) in England from 2010 to 2019, focusing on five demographic and socio-economic factors: sex, age, educational level, household income, and living alone. Using data from the Health Survey for England and the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS), the study found significant and stable inequalities in SWB related to income, education, and living alone, with lower socio-economic status and living alone associated with higher risk of low SWB. No significant trends over time were observed in these inequalities, and men generally reported lower prevalence of low SWB than women, while the 65–74 age group showed the best SWB outcomes. The findings suggest that socio-economic factors and living arrangements are important determinants of SWB in England and highlight the need for targeted policies to address these persistent inequalities.