Sustainable Quality of Life: A Conceptualization That Integrates the Views of Inhabitants of Swiss Rural Regions
Abstract
:1. Introduction
- What are the essential components of SQoL in the view of inhabitants of Swiss rural regions?
- How do inhabitants’ perspectives on SQoL differ from perspectives discussed in research literature?
- What concept of SQoL results when inhabitants’ perspectives are linked with perspectives compiled from the literature?
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Preliminary Definition of Sustainable Quality of Life (SQoL)
2.2. Study Areas and Sampling
2.3. Qualitative Interviews
2.4. Transcription and Content Analysis
3. Results
3.1. The Interview Participants’ Views on SQoL
“Family, my parents, my siblings—if there is anything you need help with, you know where you can go. This is probably a basic trust, and it is clearly quality of life for me. That I somehow know that this will always be dependable. And then to be here in nature also provides a quality of life that might be a little less available in the city and which is certainly one reason why we are here.”(IP 44, female, 30–59 years, services, completed upper secondary education)
“Safety is certainly very important for life. But it is a bit more abstract in Switzerland, because the issue isn’t pressing, at least not for me. At least not concerning physical, legal, or financial safety, or that I will find a job later. In these regards, I feel safe. But it is important.”(IP 94, male, 16–29 years, agriculture, tertiary degree)
“Health is very valuable, but you wouldn’t think of it as long you are healthy. Only if you or somebody else in your family is ill, do you become aware of it. But we should appreciate it more when we are healthy.”(IP 71, male, over 60 years, retired, completed secondary school)
“Very important, I indeed have something to say (laughs). And it is also important to me that we move ahead together, be it because you are in an association, I am in the women’s sports club, and there, too, I think it is important that one is asked or that one can contribute ideas. And particularly in our business, of course, which my husband and I lead and direct together.”(IP 08, 30–59 years, female, agriculture, completed upper secondary education)
“I would not want to live in a place where others would decide for me. I think this would reduce the quality of life for me personally and certainly also for many others. At work there is of course a certain reality that you can’t determine everything yourself, and that’s okay. But even there, simply to choose a job and not be forced to do one, this means a lot.”(IP 82, male, 16–29 years, undergoing education, completed upper secondary education)
“But being rooted in the village... Rather in the surroundings, in nature here. I regularly go running, you can put on your shoes and go running across the fen. That’s what I mean.”(IP 23, female, 30–59 years, services, tertiary degree)
“I don’t think I could ever work 100 percent. [...] We’ve reached a point in Switzerland where many people no longer have to work to survive, and I think it’s a pity if we don’t make use of this privilege to do what we want or find another purpose in life than getting a lot of money and a house.”(IP 94, male, 16–29 years, agriculture, tertiary degree)
“I don’t know whether I could live in the city, because I’m not used to it. And I think it’s quite nice actually, just quiet, coming home, no stress and no hectic.”(IP 90, female, 16–29 years, undergoing education, completed upper secondary education)
3.2. Discrepancies between Inhabitants’ and Theoretical Perspectives on SQoL
“We no longer need to improve our quality of life. Of course, we have to look after the environment. See that people have good cars, that they cycle more, or travel by train. I think such things are okay. But quality of life, that we should be even better off—we are far too well off as it is.”(IP 73, male, 30–59 years, services, tertiary degree)
Somehow gender equality hasn’t arrived here yet. We’re a bit slower here.(IP 04, female, 16–29, undergoing education, completed upper secondary education)
“Basically, I think that we need to look after Swiss people first. And if things go well for us here, you can still look after those from abroad, because that’s exactly what I think the idea of the nation state is [...]. Refugee policy should also be approached more restrictively [...].”(IP 15, male, 16–29 years, undergoing education, completed upper secondary education)
My neighbor installed these photovoltaic panels on his roof. But that’s no use to me and I’m not allowed to do that because I don’t own the house.(IP 11, female, 30–59 years, housewife, completed compulsory school)
3.3. An Integrated Concept of SQoL
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
- Given the importance of family, friends, and social relationships for SQoL, we propose that regional development actors strengthen social relationships, for example by offering more sports and cultural activities as well as leisure activities in nature. The latter could also function as awareness-raising programs.
- Our results concerning nature and landscape suggest that by preserving the quality of nature and landscapes, regional development actors can simultaneously promote other components of SQoL, especially leisure and recreation, living, health and safety, as well as social relations and equality. This does not mean, however, that measures related to nature and landscapes should be the only priority. Our findings indicate that the majority of respondents considered all nine components to be important for SQoL.
- Since some of the interview participants expressed views or described situations that are not compatible with equality, regional development actors could focus on raising awareness of equality issues and equal rights of minorities to promote SQoL.
- The discrepancy between high levels of environmental concern and lower levels of actual pro-environmental behavior can be addressed by promoting infrastructures and social innovations that enable more ecological behavior. This includes widely accessible supply of renewable energies, targeted spatial planning, the expansion of public transport services along with more attractive pricing, and support of electric mobility and alternative mobility concepts such as car-sharing.
- All of the above starting points are connected to knowledge, sensitization, innovative action, and the development of projects and measures of various kinds. Therefore, knowledge on sustainability—including a wide range of topics from green technologies to human rights—seems essential. We propose that regional development actors further expand environmental and sustainability education as a cross-cutting way of promoting SQoL.
Supplementary Materials
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Sociodemographic Factors | n | % |
---|---|---|
Sex | ||
Male | 44 | 48.8 |
Female | 46 | 51.1 |
Total | 90 | |
Occupation | ||
Forestry/agriculture | 13 | 14.4 |
Trade/industry | 9 | 10.0 |
Services | 36 | 40.0 |
Undergoing education | 15 | 16.6 |
Unemployed | 1 | 1.1 |
Retired | 16 | 17.7 |
Total | 90 | |
Education | ||
Lower secondary education | 11 | 12.2 |
Upper secondary education | 61 | 67.7 |
Tertiary degree | 18 | 20.0 |
Total | 90 | |
Age | ||
16–29 years | 26 | 28.8 |
30–59 years | 38 | 42.2 |
≥60 years | 26 | 28.8 |
Total | 90 |
Component | Target | Justification |
---|---|---|
Social relations and equality | The greatest possible freedom and equal opportunities. Intra- and intergenerational justice. Opportunities for social relations. No discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, religion, species, or other affiliation. Recognition of potentially excluded groups as a basis for (environmental) justice. | Justice and recognition are fundamental to living a self-determined life with equal opportunities, in freedom, without environmental pressures, and with sufficient resources. Living in a society, having relationships, and thus feeling empathy for other people and other living beings satisfies the human need for closeness and enables joint development. |
Nature and landscape | High quality of nature and landscapes for all present and future generations. | High-quality nature and landscapes stimulate positive emotions and have a positive influence on physical and mental health. Nature and landscape enable recreation and community experiences outdoors. |
Education and knowledge | A good general and specific education and knowledge. Education on the environment and sustainability. The ability to absorb and process information, think critically, and use one’s personal knowledge. | A good education and knowledge is essential to individual development, to shaping one’s own life, and to participating in social life. Education on the environment and sustainability enables people to increase sustainability in their own lives and to contribute to development. |
Living | Appropriate, environmentally friendly, and resource-efficient living conditions that are not impaired by environmental pollution. | Living conditions appropriate to the individual situation that are not impaired by environmental pollution are essential to well-being. To reduce environmental pollution, it is important that living should be as environmentally friendly and resource-efficient as possible for everyone. |
Participation, identification, and collective emotions | Freedom of choice, the right to have a say, and effective participation in social processes. Identification with one’s social environment and home area and a positive collective mood. | Participation and freedom of choice are important for self-determination and the control over one’s personal well-being. Identification promotes participation in social processes and reduces the likelihood of conflict. Positive collective emotions are essential for mental well-being as well as for trust and freedom in a society. Membership in associations enables social and intercultural networking and integration. |
Mobility | Environmentally friendly and resource-efficient mobility for everyone, including efficient and frequent access to cities. | Mobility is fundamental for the supply of goods and services, for accessing appropriate employment and education, for cultural activities, for individual freedom, and for the maintenance of social relationships. |
Health and safety | A long and healthy life without fear and without the danger of conflicts or negative environmental and climatic influences. Availability to all individuals of fresh and locally produced food, without overuse of resources. | A good physical and mental individual constitution, safety, and an intact environment are essential conditions for a successful life. Fresh food is essential for health and enjoyment. Local, ecological production and moderate consumption enable a fair distribution of food while keeping nature intact. |
Leisure and recreation | Leisure activities, recreation, and cultural activities that are as environmentally friendly as possible and compatible with the conservation of renewable natural resources. | Leisure activities, recreation, and cultural activities satisfy the need for expression, social life, entertainment, and education. Culture and art offer opportunities for sharing, creativity, and an understanding of common values that can promote sustainable development. |
Income and employment | Employment within a resource-efficient and environmentally friendly economy. Employment that is freely chosen, meaningful, and provides sufficient income, a good work-life balance, and the option of working part-time. | Sufficient income and meaningful work are essential for a successful life. Sufficient time, and hence part-time employment, can benefit the environment and increases personal satisfaction. To counteract scarcity of natural resources and existing environmental and social problems, it is important that income and work are generated within a resource-efficient and environmentally friendly economy that ensures fair distribution. |
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Wiesli, T.X.; Liebe, U.; Hammer, T.; Bär, R. Sustainable Quality of Life: A Conceptualization That Integrates the Views of Inhabitants of Swiss Rural Regions. Sustainability 2021, 13, 9187. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169187
Wiesli TX, Liebe U, Hammer T, Bär R. Sustainable Quality of Life: A Conceptualization That Integrates the Views of Inhabitants of Swiss Rural Regions. Sustainability. 2021; 13(16):9187. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169187
Chicago/Turabian StyleWiesli, Thea Xenia, Ulf Liebe, Thomas Hammer, and Roger Bär. 2021. "Sustainable Quality of Life: A Conceptualization That Integrates the Views of Inhabitants of Swiss Rural Regions" Sustainability 13, no. 16: 9187. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169187
APA StyleWiesli, T. X., Liebe, U., Hammer, T., & Bär, R. (2021). Sustainable Quality of Life: A Conceptualization That Integrates the Views of Inhabitants of Swiss Rural Regions. Sustainability, 13(16), 9187. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169187