The Ties that Bind Us
How Social Cohesion and Institutional Quality Shape Subjective Well-Being in Africa
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 7147363 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Frederich Kirsten (0000-0003-1682-6379, University of Johannesburg, corresponding author), Lumengo Bonga‐bonga (0000-0001-7905-0438, University of Johannesburg), Lumengo Bonga-Bonga |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 20 |
| Issue | 6 |
| Pages | 2183-2200 |
| Publication date | 2025-12-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Applied Research in Quality of Life (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1871-2576 • E-ISSN: 1871-2584 |
| Publisher | Springer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1007/s11482-025-10514-1 |
| OpenAlex | W4416135362 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 39 |
Social cohesion is essential for nearly all aspects of society. Often regarded as one of the pillars of a decent life and the glue that holds society together, social cohesion has attracted significant scholarly attention. Although it remains a complex construct—particularly in Africa, where multiethnicity is abundant—understanding the causes and consequences of social cohesion is crucial. One possible consequence of social cohesion is improved overall well-being, a link that has been made by various studies. However, in an African context, studies remain limited. Using the Afrobarometer dataset and multilevel mixed-effects regression analysis, we assess the association between social cohesion and subjective well-being across a sample of African countries. Our findings indicate that social cohesion has a positive and significant association with subjective well-being, even when controlling factors such as perceived corruption. Furthermore, we examine the moderating role of institutional quality and find that social cohesion has a stronger association in countries with low institutional quality. This highlights the importance of social cohesion for well-being in weak institutional settings, where a more cohesive social environment may help compensate for institutional deficiencies. These findings also emphasize the diverse dynamics of cohesion and subjective well-being across Africa, offering policymakers valuable insights into how fostering social cohesion can contribute to long-run economic growth and improved quality of life
Group cohesiveness · Interpersonal ties · Multilevel model · Quality of Life Research · Income, Poverty, and Inequality · Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction · Social Capital and Networks
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| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |