Measuring Subjective Well-Being in Refugee Households: Evidence From the Multi-purpose Cash Assistance Program in Jordan

• In Event: Sociology of Migration

Abstract

This study contributes to the understanding of refugee well-being in crisis settings by examining the subjective well-being of forcibly displaced households in Jordan, a major host country for refugees from across Asia. Employing baseline data from the impact evaluation of IOM’s Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance program, we explore key dimensions of well-being, including life satisfaction, social cohesion, and female decision-making power, through a novel survey instrument grounded in Amartya Sen’s capability approach. The paper discusses innovations in survey design and implementation in the context of displacement, including enumerator training, linguistic adaptation, sequencing strategies, and managing perceived aid linkage. Descriptive findings reveal significant heterogeneity, with higher household income and food security being associated with greater subjective well-being. Households including members with disabilities report lower well-being and greater exposure to discrimination. Female-headed households show greater financial agency. Syrian refugees report higher life satisfaction and perceived safety, but lower female autonomy compared to non-Syrians. We also integrate the baseline data within a Regression Discontinuity Design, using a standardised composite vulnerability score to define treatment and control groups. McCrary and covariate balance tests confirm the continuity assumption and the absence of significant differences between beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries. These results provide insights into the characteristics of refugee households prior to program implementation, highlighting the importance of measuring subjective well-being alongside economic indicators. By documenting the lived experiences of refugee households and proposing tools to evaluate support interventions, this study informs the design of migration policies and programs across regions that face the challenges of transnational displacement.

Author

• Rodrigo L Chenú, Instituto Desarrollo