Defining and Measuring Quality of Life: Theoretical and Empirical Frameworks

Authors

Danijel Davidović
University of Maribor, Faculty of Arts
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3515-6139
Peter Kumer
University of Maribor, Faculty of Arts
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5923-9823
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18690/um.ff.2.2026.1

Synopsis

This chapter introduces the theoretical and empirical framework used in this monograph to analyse quality of life as understood within the context of the Summer School: Quality of Life in a Changing World. It begins with a brief overview of philosophical perspectives on the good life, followed by a review of the main contemporary approaches and key dimensions. Next, the chapter discusses the measurement of quality of life through indicators and outlines current debates. It then examines long-term European trends over the past three decades across economic, social and environmental indicators, showing how these trajectories reflect a rapidly changing world in which gains in economic growth and human development coexist with stagnation or decline in several social and environmental dimensions, revealing clear development paradoxes. Finally, the chapter presents the empirical research reports produced during the Summer School and links the conceptual foundations and long-term trends to the everyday experiences of quality of life in Maribor and other European contexts.

Author Biographies

Danijel Davidović, University of Maribor, Faculty of Arts

Danijel Davidovič is an assistant at the Faculty of Arts, University of Maribor, and an external collaborator at the Department of Primary Education, Faculty of Education, University of Maribor, where he conducts various seminar and field exercises. At the Department of Geography, he also serves as the departmental tutor, Erasmus coordinator, and departmental promoter. In addition, he is employed as a professional associate at the International Centre for Ecoremediation of the University of Maribor, where, since 2019, he has participated in 12 international projects in the field of environmental education and in the preparation of expert materials for municipalities and companies. 

Maribor, Slovenia. E-mail: danijel.davidovic@um.si

Peter Kumer, University of Maribor, Faculty of Arts

Dr. Peter Kumer is an Assistant Professor at the University of Maribor. His work as a critical human geographer focuses on the spatiotemporal negotiation of human-environment interactions. He employs qualitative research methods to delve into social, environmental, and behavioural aspects. He develops and teaches human geography courses at all academic levels and edits an open-access geography journal Revija za geografijo/Journal for Geography. Dr. Kumer’s scholarly contributions are recognized in various peer-reviewed journals. 

Maribor, Slovenia. E-mail: peter.kumer@um.si

Downloads

PDF

Volume

Quality of Life in a Changing World: Spatial, Social and Environmental Perspectives from Maribor and Beyond

Pages

1-26

Published

January 29, 2026

Categories

Copyright (c) 2026 University of Maribor, University of Maribor Press

License

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Davidović, D., & Kumer, P. (2026). Defining and Measuring Quality of Life: Theoretical and Empirical Frameworks. In P. Kumer & D. Davidović (Eds.), Quality of Life in a Changing World: Spatial, Social and Environmental Perspectives from Maribor and Beyond (pp. 1-26). University of Maribor Press. https://doi.org/10.18690/um.ff.2.2026.1