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Study on the Effect of Social Cohesion on Individual Well-Being in Senegal

Received: 17 August 2025     Accepted: 4 October 2025     Published: 27 October 2025
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Abstract

Introduction: Social cohesion, a key pillar of sustainable development and social harmony, is increasingly recognized for its impact on population well-being. In Senegal, where poverty, inequality, and structural vulnerabilities persist, analyzing social cohesion provides insight into potential drivers for improving individual well-being. This study assessed the effect of social cohesion on subjective well-being among the Senegalese population. Methodology: A descriptive and analytical cross-sectional household survey was conducted from July 23 to August 9, 2023. Six individuals per household, aged five years and above, were randomly selected, producing a nationally representative sample. Social cohesion was measured through trust, solidarity, civic participation, and social inclusion, while well-being was assessed using subjective indicators such as mood, energy, calmness, and life satisfaction. Results: Findings showed that 35.5% of respondents reported feeling energetic most of the time, 35.4% felt calm and peaceful, and 34.6% reported good mood and overall well-being. Marked disparities emerged by age, gender, location, education, and poverty status, with lower well-being levels in rural, poorer, and less-educated groups. Higher social cohesion was consistently associated with greater well-being. Conclusion: These results underscore the role of social cohesion as a determinant of individual well-being in Senegal. Public policies should integrate solidarity, inclusion, and civic participation into poverty reduction strategies and initiatives to strengthen mental and social health.

Published in Science Journal of Public Health (Volume 13, Issue 5)
DOI 10.11648/j.sjph.20251305.15
Page(s) 296-311
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Social Cohesion, Well-Being, Social Factors, Inequalities, Senegal

References
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[6] Demographic Change and Healthy Ageing (DHA), Maternal, Newborn, Child & Adolescent Health & Ageing (MCA), Mental Health, Brain Health and Substance Use (MSD), et al. Summary slide deck: Report of the WHO Commission on Social Connection. WHO, CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. 2025.
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[10] WANEP SENEGAL, GRADEC, Femmes Africa Solidarité (FAS), et al. Forum sur le renforcement de la cohésion sociale et la prévention des conflits au Sénégal. UNDP. 2024.
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Tine, J. A. D., Eliassou, A. A., Sokhna, N. M., Diarra, K., Ndiaye, M., et al. (2025). Study on the Effect of Social Cohesion on Individual Well-Being in Senegal. Science Journal of Public Health, 13(5), 296-311. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20251305.15

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    ACS Style

    Tine, J. A. D.; Eliassou, A. A.; Sokhna, N. M.; Diarra, K.; Ndiaye, M., et al. Study on the Effect of Social Cohesion on Individual Well-Being in Senegal. Sci. J. Public Health 2025, 13(5), 296-311. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20251305.15

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    AMA Style

    Tine JAD, Eliassou AA, Sokhna NM, Diarra K, Ndiaye M, et al. Study on the Effect of Social Cohesion on Individual Well-Being in Senegal. Sci J Public Health. 2025;13(5):296-311. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20251305.15

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  • @article{10.11648/j.sjph.20251305.15,
      author = {Jean Augustin Diegane Tine and Abdoul-Bast Akram Eliassou and Ndeye Marie Sokhna and Kadidiatou Diarra and Mbayang Ndiaye and Ibrahima Seck},
      title = {Study on the Effect of Social Cohesion on Individual Well-Being in Senegal
    },
      journal = {Science Journal of Public Health},
      volume = {13},
      number = {5},
      pages = {296-311},
      doi = {10.11648/j.sjph.20251305.15},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20251305.15},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjph.20251305.15},
      abstract = {Introduction: Social cohesion, a key pillar of sustainable development and social harmony, is increasingly recognized for its impact on population well-being. In Senegal, where poverty, inequality, and structural vulnerabilities persist, analyzing social cohesion provides insight into potential drivers for improving individual well-being. This study assessed the effect of social cohesion on subjective well-being among the Senegalese population. Methodology: A descriptive and analytical cross-sectional household survey was conducted from July 23 to August 9, 2023. Six individuals per household, aged five years and above, were randomly selected, producing a nationally representative sample. Social cohesion was measured through trust, solidarity, civic participation, and social inclusion, while well-being was assessed using subjective indicators such as mood, energy, calmness, and life satisfaction. Results: Findings showed that 35.5% of respondents reported feeling energetic most of the time, 35.4% felt calm and peaceful, and 34.6% reported good mood and overall well-being. Marked disparities emerged by age, gender, location, education, and poverty status, with lower well-being levels in rural, poorer, and less-educated groups. Higher social cohesion was consistently associated with greater well-being. Conclusion: These results underscore the role of social cohesion as a determinant of individual well-being in Senegal. Public policies should integrate solidarity, inclusion, and civic participation into poverty reduction strategies and initiatives to strengthen mental and social health.
    },
     year = {2025}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Study on the Effect of Social Cohesion on Individual Well-Being in Senegal
    
    AU  - Jean Augustin Diegane Tine
    AU  - Abdoul-Bast Akram Eliassou
    AU  - Ndeye Marie Sokhna
    AU  - Kadidiatou Diarra
    AU  - Mbayang Ndiaye
    AU  - Ibrahima Seck
    Y1  - 2025/10/27
    PY  - 2025
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20251305.15
    DO  - 10.11648/j.sjph.20251305.15
    T2  - Science Journal of Public Health
    JF  - Science Journal of Public Health
    JO  - Science Journal of Public Health
    SP  - 296
    EP  - 311
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-7950
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20251305.15
    AB  - Introduction: Social cohesion, a key pillar of sustainable development and social harmony, is increasingly recognized for its impact on population well-being. In Senegal, where poverty, inequality, and structural vulnerabilities persist, analyzing social cohesion provides insight into potential drivers for improving individual well-being. This study assessed the effect of social cohesion on subjective well-being among the Senegalese population. Methodology: A descriptive and analytical cross-sectional household survey was conducted from July 23 to August 9, 2023. Six individuals per household, aged five years and above, were randomly selected, producing a nationally representative sample. Social cohesion was measured through trust, solidarity, civic participation, and social inclusion, while well-being was assessed using subjective indicators such as mood, energy, calmness, and life satisfaction. Results: Findings showed that 35.5% of respondents reported feeling energetic most of the time, 35.4% felt calm and peaceful, and 34.6% reported good mood and overall well-being. Marked disparities emerged by age, gender, location, education, and poverty status, with lower well-being levels in rural, poorer, and less-educated groups. Higher social cohesion was consistently associated with greater well-being. Conclusion: These results underscore the role of social cohesion as a determinant of individual well-being in Senegal. Public policies should integrate solidarity, inclusion, and civic participation into poverty reduction strategies and initiatives to strengthen mental and social health.
    
    VL  - 13
    IS  - 5
    ER  - 

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