Page No 207-213
Silvia Exenberger and Barbara Juen
University of Innsbruck, Austria
This paper presents the first work-package of the project “Post-tsunami” funded
by the European Commission. It aims to develop indicators of children’s well-being
living in the affected areas and focuses on contextual influences on children’s wellbeing.
Fifty-six caregivers participated in focus group discussions in order to answer
questions regarding their children’s well-being. 112 children spoke in same-sex
and same-age groups for themselves what makes them feel happy and sad, and
what helps them to feel better when they feel unpleasant. On the basis of the
qualitative research methodology “Grounded Theory” the transcribed interviews
are analysed. The children are single and double orphans, either living with their
biological parent or in an out-of-home care organisation providing family based
care. Out of caregivers’ and children’s statements five domains of well-being are
distinguished: cognitive, social, psychological, physical and economic. Especially
in the social, psychological and economic domains the context plays an important
role in determining children’s subjective well-being