Well-being as an Indicator of Subjective Mobility

Abstract

This article investigates into the relatively new research area of subjective mobility. It examines existing theoretical approaches to defining and studying subjective mobility, identifying two primary directions: subjective mobility as the consequence of objective mobility experienced by an individual, and subjective mobility as an evaluation of mobility experiences. A brief overview of the main empirical studies in each direction is provided. The article also explores common methods of measuring subjective mobility, such as success, comparing achieved professional status to parental status and living standards. It analyzes the potential of using subjective well-being as an indicator for measuring subjective mobility. Drawing from data collected by an all-Russian survey conducted in 2020 as part of the “Factors of Social Well-being in Changing and Stable Societies” study, the article identifies four types of subjective mobility, each distinguished by the individual perception of mobility experience and a parental well-being assessment. Binary logistic regression models calculated for each mobility type allowed the researchers to determine the influence of different factors on the perception of subjective mobility. The findings corroborated some trends identified in studies based on international data. The conclusion highlights that, for the subjective perception of mobility, the most significant factors are not structural indicators but the assessment of relationships with parents and emotional well-being.