The Ties that Bind Us: How Social Cohesion and Institutional Quality Shape Subjective Well-Being in Africa

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.