Socio-Environmental Determinants of Well-Being Perception: A Comparative Analysis of Two Communities in Charo, Michoacán

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20091283

Abstract

The influence of socio-environmental factors on well-being is essential for understanding development dynamics and the conditions required to achieve sustainable development. This study compared how the variables of employment, income, education, social cohesion, migration, agriculture, and the environment affect the perception of well-being in two communities in Charo, Michoacán, Mexico. A non-experimental, cross-sectional, correlational, and comparative research design was employed, using statistical regression and factor analysis. A total of 120 surveys were conducted (60 in La Goleta and 60 in Zurumbeneo). The results revealed significant differences between the two communities. In La Goleta, perceived well-being was primarily associated with decent employment, income, education, and social cohesion. The findings suggest that the determinants of well-being vary across communities, highlighting the importance of further exploring the cultural factors that underpin local development, particularly given the significant differences observed in the social cohesion variable.