Table 4 Descriptive statistics (obtained from the testing dataset, n = 1695) for observed and predicted wellbeing variables.

From: Using machine learning to explore the efficacy of administrative variables in prediction of subjective-wellbeing outcomes in New Zealand

Outcome variable

Observed mean ± SD

Predicted mean ± SD

Stepwise regression

Elastic net regression

Random forest

Life satisfaction

7.75 ± 1.65

6.23 ± 1.48

6.09 ± 1.19

7.76 ± 0.23

Life worthwhileness

8.15 ± 1.54

6.68 ± 1.42

6.61 ± 1.35

8.14 ± 0.21

Family wellbeing

7.86 ± 1.61

6.69 ± 1.97

6.67 ± 1.65

7.87 ± 0.21

Mental wellbeing

63.16 ± 17.75

55.41 ± 13.58

54.55 ± 10.57

63.23 ± 2.32

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