Living Alone in the City: Differentials in Subjective Well-Being Among Single Households 1995–2018

Abstract Over the past decades, number of single households is constantly rising in metropolitan regions. In addition, they became increasingly heterogeneous. media, individuals who live alone are sometimes still presented as deficient. Recent research, however, indicates a way more complex picture. Using example Vienna, this paper investigates quality life different groups city. Based on five waves Viennese Quality Life Survey covering almost quarter century (1995–2018), we analyse six domains subjective well-being (satisfaction with financial situation, housing main activity, family life, social contacts, and leisure time activities). Our analyses reveal that, most domains, average satisfaction has hardly changed over time. However, among those living senior people (60+) increased while younger (below age 30) decreased. Increasing differences housing, or situation reflect general societal developments labour markets. The old clichéd images “young, reckless, happy single” “lonely, poor, dissatisfied reverse reality.