an article by Mara S. Aruguete (Lincoln University of Missouri, Jefferson City, USA), Ho Huynh (Texas A&M University-San Antonio, USA), Lynn E. McCutcheon (North American Journal of Psychology, Winter Garden, USA), Blaine L. Browne (Valdosta State University, USA), Bethany Jurs (Transylvania University, Lexington, USA) and Emilia Flint (Black Hills State University, Spearfish, USA) pubvlished in Mind & Society Volume 18 Issue 1 (June 2019)
Abstract
A pattern of research findings indicates that excessive devotion to a favorite celebrity is linked to attitudes and behaviors that are psychologically unhealthy and may predict low life satisfaction.
This study examines whether four common measures of life satisfaction (i.e., curiosity, meaning in life, gratitude, and flexibility) predict admiration for celebrities in two university samples and one community sample of young adults.
Our results showed significant correlations between celebrity admiration and two measures of life satisfaction (curiosity and gratitude). We also found that the predictors of life satisfaction correlate with each other in ways that are consistent with previous research in positive psychology.
Our research suggests an inverse relationship between celebrity admiration and life satisfaction. In addition, the results contribute to establishing the validity of four contemporary life satisfaction measures.
Showing posts with label life_satisfaction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label life_satisfaction. Show all posts
Thursday, 18 July 2019
Friday, 26 April 2019
Unemployment, wellbeing and the power of the work ethic: Implications for social policy
an article by Daniel Sage (Edge Hill University, England) published in Critical Social Policy Volume 39 Issue 2 (May 2019)
Abstract
Unemployment is associated with a range of health and social problems, such as poor physical health and well-being. Welfare state research has recently considered how social policies can ameliorate the harmful effects of unemployment.
This article argues that such policy suggestions disregard the role of the work ethic in shaping the experience of unemployment. In societies that glorify employment as a signifier of identity and status, it is unsurprising that those without employment suffer.
Previous research supports this view, showing how subscription to the work ethic is associated with wellbeing amongst unemployed people. Original analysis of the European Values Study confirms the importance of the work ethic, showing how unemployed people with weaker work ethics have significantly higher life satisfaction than those with stronger work ethics.
The article concludes that the most effective way of dealing with the deleterious effects of unemployment is to challenge the centrality of employment in contemporary societies.
Abstract
Unemployment is associated with a range of health and social problems, such as poor physical health and well-being. Welfare state research has recently considered how social policies can ameliorate the harmful effects of unemployment.
This article argues that such policy suggestions disregard the role of the work ethic in shaping the experience of unemployment. In societies that glorify employment as a signifier of identity and status, it is unsurprising that those without employment suffer.
Previous research supports this view, showing how subscription to the work ethic is associated with wellbeing amongst unemployed people. Original analysis of the European Values Study confirms the importance of the work ethic, showing how unemployed people with weaker work ethics have significantly higher life satisfaction than those with stronger work ethics.
The article concludes that the most effective way of dealing with the deleterious effects of unemployment is to challenge the centrality of employment in contemporary societies.
Thursday, 28 February 2019
Countries with more butter have happier citizens
REALLY??
a post by Frank Jacobs for the Big Think blog
Butter supply and life satisfaction are linked — but by causation or correlation?
Continue reading
a post by Frank Jacobs for the Big Think blog
Butter supply and life satisfaction are linked — but by causation or correlation?
- Haiti and other countries with low butter supply report low life satisfaction.
- The reverse is true for countries such as Germany, which score high in both categories.
- As the graph below shows, a curious pattern emerges across the globe. But is it causation or correlation?
Continue reading
Wednesday, 13 February 2019
Surprising Link Between Social Media And Happiness
a post for ScienceBlog [via ResearchBuzz: Firehose with thanks]
People flock to Facebook to see the latest wedding news, vacation photos, new baby arrival, or home purchase. Most people, research indicates, head to their newsfeeds to passively watch and compare, much more often than post their own news or updates.
But, it turns out, some of us prefer to look at and compare ourselves to certain types of individuals: those who make us feel better about ourselves. And that, in turn, can lead to an increase in happiness and life satisfaction.
That’s according to new research from Lee Farquhar, Butler University Associate Professor of Entertainment Media and Journalism in the College of Communication. Humans continually observe those around them to see how they fit in, a process called social comparison theory. This innate concept holds true in the world of social media, according to Farquhar’s research. It not only holds true, but the more individuals engage in that type of behavior on Facebook – comparing themselves to others in various ways – the happier and more satisfied they were with their life.
Continue reading
People flock to Facebook to see the latest wedding news, vacation photos, new baby arrival, or home purchase. Most people, research indicates, head to their newsfeeds to passively watch and compare, much more often than post their own news or updates.
But, it turns out, some of us prefer to look at and compare ourselves to certain types of individuals: those who make us feel better about ourselves. And that, in turn, can lead to an increase in happiness and life satisfaction.
That’s according to new research from Lee Farquhar, Butler University Associate Professor of Entertainment Media and Journalism in the College of Communication. Humans continually observe those around them to see how they fit in, a process called social comparison theory. This innate concept holds true in the world of social media, according to Farquhar’s research. It not only holds true, but the more individuals engage in that type of behavior on Facebook – comparing themselves to others in various ways – the happier and more satisfied they were with their life.
Continue reading
Friday, 16 November 2018
The mediation effect of political interest on the connection between social trust and wellbeing among older adults
an article by Giovanni Piumatti (University of Oxford, UK) and Deniele Magistro, Massimiliano Zecca and Dale W. Esliger (Loughborough University, UK) published in Ageing & Society Volume 38 Issue 11 (November 2018)
Abstract
Previous research has established significant positive associations between social trust and well-being among older adults. This study aimed to obtain a deeper understanding of the relationship between different sources of social trust and well-being by examining the mediational role of political interest.
A sample of 4,406 Italian residents aged 65 years and over was extracted from a national cross-sectional survey during 2013 in Italy, representative of the non-institutionalised population. Measures included trust in people, trust in institutions, political interest, life satisfaction and self-perceived health.
Mediation path analysis and structural equation modelling were used to test the mediation effects of political interest on the relationship between trust in people and trust in institutions with life satisfaction and self-perceived health. Associations between trust in people, life satisfaction and self-perceived health, and between trust in institutions and life satisfaction were partially mediated by political interest, while the association between trust in institutions and self-perceived health was fully mediated by political interest.
Having high levels of political interest may thus enhance the relationship between social trust and well-being among older adults. These results suggest that interventions to enhance well-being in older adults may benefit from examining individuals’ levels of political interest.
Abstract
Previous research has established significant positive associations between social trust and well-being among older adults. This study aimed to obtain a deeper understanding of the relationship between different sources of social trust and well-being by examining the mediational role of political interest.
A sample of 4,406 Italian residents aged 65 years and over was extracted from a national cross-sectional survey during 2013 in Italy, representative of the non-institutionalised population. Measures included trust in people, trust in institutions, political interest, life satisfaction and self-perceived health.
Mediation path analysis and structural equation modelling were used to test the mediation effects of political interest on the relationship between trust in people and trust in institutions with life satisfaction and self-perceived health. Associations between trust in people, life satisfaction and self-perceived health, and between trust in institutions and life satisfaction were partially mediated by political interest, while the association between trust in institutions and self-perceived health was fully mediated by political interest.
Having high levels of political interest may thus enhance the relationship between social trust and well-being among older adults. These results suggest that interventions to enhance well-being in older adults may benefit from examining individuals’ levels of political interest.
Monday, 6 November 2017
By the sweat of their brow? The effects of starting work again after pension age on life satisfaction in Germany and the United Kingdom
an article by Thomas Lux (SOCIUM, University of Bremen, Germany and Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany) and Simone Scherger (University of Bremen, Germany)
published in Ageing & Society
Volume 3, Issue 2 (February 2017)
Abstract
In recent years, the employment rates of people of pension age have increased considerably. However, longitudinal evidence on the effects of this employment on well-being which might contribute to an evaluation of this late-life work is scarce. Based on empirical findings so far and on theoretical approaches to well-being, work and retirement, both negative and positive effects of post-retirement work on life satisfaction are plausible.
In this paper, we investigate the effects of taking up work again between the ages of 65 and 75 on life satisfaction in different occupational classes in Germany and the United Kingdom.
We expect that not only the heterogeneous conditions and experiences of working are crucial for the consequences that post-retirement work has for life satisfaction, but also the institutional arrangements surrounding this form of work. We use data from the German Socio-Economic Panel and the British Household Panel Survey, covering the 1990s and 2000s.
Based on fixed-effects regression modelling, we find positive effects of working in both countries, although not all effects are significant.
Differentiating by the class of the job in which the older person works, we find mainly positive effects and no significant differences between those who work in a lower-class job and all others. In addition, we find that the positive effect of working on life satisfaction is partly explained by increased satisfaction with household income for those working in a lower-class job in the United Kingdom.
We conclude that many of the pessimistic assumptions about people working after pension age cannot be confirmed for our time of observation.
However, there are several reasons for believing that the results will be different in the future or for differently defined populations of people working past pension age.
Abstract
In recent years, the employment rates of people of pension age have increased considerably. However, longitudinal evidence on the effects of this employment on well-being which might contribute to an evaluation of this late-life work is scarce. Based on empirical findings so far and on theoretical approaches to well-being, work and retirement, both negative and positive effects of post-retirement work on life satisfaction are plausible.
In this paper, we investigate the effects of taking up work again between the ages of 65 and 75 on life satisfaction in different occupational classes in Germany and the United Kingdom.
We expect that not only the heterogeneous conditions and experiences of working are crucial for the consequences that post-retirement work has for life satisfaction, but also the institutional arrangements surrounding this form of work. We use data from the German Socio-Economic Panel and the British Household Panel Survey, covering the 1990s and 2000s.
Based on fixed-effects regression modelling, we find positive effects of working in both countries, although not all effects are significant.
Differentiating by the class of the job in which the older person works, we find mainly positive effects and no significant differences between those who work in a lower-class job and all others. In addition, we find that the positive effect of working on life satisfaction is partly explained by increased satisfaction with household income for those working in a lower-class job in the United Kingdom.
We conclude that many of the pessimistic assumptions about people working after pension age cannot be confirmed for our time of observation.
However, there are several reasons for believing that the results will be different in the future or for differently defined populations of people working past pension age.
Monday, 23 October 2017
The midlife low in human beings
a post by David Blanchflower and Andrew Oswald for VOX: CEPR’s Policy Portal
Most textbooks in social psychology teach students the idea that happiness and psychological well-being are essentially independent of age. Based on data on 1.3 million randomly sampled individuals across a large number of countries, this column argues instead that humans have a fundamental tendency to a midlife low which is apparently substantial and not minor. This puzzling phenomenon seems an important and fundamental one, and its existence should not be ignored.
Continue reading
I found this article fascinating. It explained me to me!! I've not totally recovered from the midlife low because there are other mental health factors to be considered but I am certainly more contented and satisfied with my life than I was twenty years ago.
Most textbooks in social psychology teach students the idea that happiness and psychological well-being are essentially independent of age. Based on data on 1.3 million randomly sampled individuals across a large number of countries, this column argues instead that humans have a fundamental tendency to a midlife low which is apparently substantial and not minor. This puzzling phenomenon seems an important and fundamental one, and its existence should not be ignored.
Continue reading
I found this article fascinating. It explained me to me!! I've not totally recovered from the midlife low because there are other mental health factors to be considered but I am certainly more contented and satisfied with my life than I was twenty years ago.
Wednesday, 29 March 2017
Unpacking the determinants of life satisfaction: a survey experiment
an article by
Viola Angelini (University of Groningen and Netspar, Tilburg, The Netherlands) Marco Bertoni (University of Padova, Italy) and Luca Corazzini (University of Messina and Bocconi University, Milan, Italy)
published in Royal Statistical Society Series A: Statistics in Society Volume 180 Issue 1 (January 2017)
Summary
We present results of a survey experiment aimed at assessing context effects on reporting life satisfaction, exerted by raising awareness of fundamental life domains before eliciting overall life satisfaction, through questionnaire manipulations.
Psychologists refer to similar context effects, generated by providing more details about the object of a subsequent evaluation, as ‘unpacking effects’.
The longitudinal structure of our experimental design allows us to assess the effects of the questionnaire manipulation both between and within subject. In our sample of university students, asking subjects to report satisfaction with life domains before reporting overall satisfaction with life generates a robust unpacking effect, as it shifts upwards the subsequent mean overall life satisfaction evaluations.
In addition, raising awareness about life domains significantly increases reliability and validity of self-reported life satisfaction, by reducing the dispersion of responses and increasing the association between life satisfaction and life domain evaluations.
We also detect heterogeneous effects across subgroups of our sample – such as people with children or in bad health – and discuss implications of these findings for research on life satisfaction.
Full text (PDF)
Summary
We present results of a survey experiment aimed at assessing context effects on reporting life satisfaction, exerted by raising awareness of fundamental life domains before eliciting overall life satisfaction, through questionnaire manipulations.
Psychologists refer to similar context effects, generated by providing more details about the object of a subsequent evaluation, as ‘unpacking effects’.
The longitudinal structure of our experimental design allows us to assess the effects of the questionnaire manipulation both between and within subject. In our sample of university students, asking subjects to report satisfaction with life domains before reporting overall satisfaction with life generates a robust unpacking effect, as it shifts upwards the subsequent mean overall life satisfaction evaluations.
In addition, raising awareness about life domains significantly increases reliability and validity of self-reported life satisfaction, by reducing the dispersion of responses and increasing the association between life satisfaction and life domain evaluations.
We also detect heterogeneous effects across subgroups of our sample – such as people with children or in bad health – and discuss implications of these findings for research on life satisfaction.
Full text (PDF)
Wednesday, 7 January 2015
Life satisfaction effects of unemployment in Europe: The moderating influence of labour market policy
an article by Melike Wulfgramm (University of Bremen, Germany; IZA, Germany) published in Journal of European Social Policy Volume 24 Number 3 (July 2014)
Abstract
Public policy shapes the lives of individuals, and even more so if they depend on state support.
In the case of unemployment, the financial situation is largely determined by cash transfers and daily routines depend on the involvement in active labour market policy measures. To what extent, however, can subjective well-being differences of European unemployed be traced back to the national design and generosity of labour market policy?
This article applies multilevel and panel estimation techniques to identify the moderating effect of unemployment benefit generosity and active labour market policy on life satisfaction of the unemployed.
While unemployment has strong negative life satisfaction effects in all 21 European countries under study, the generosity of passive labour market policy moderates this effect to a surprisingly large extent: the adverse effect of unemployment is almost doubled if unemployment benefits are meagre.
This moderating effect can be explained both by a resource as well as a non-pecuniary mechanism. The positive moderating effect of active labour market policy is less robust across model specifications.
Abstract
Public policy shapes the lives of individuals, and even more so if they depend on state support.
In the case of unemployment, the financial situation is largely determined by cash transfers and daily routines depend on the involvement in active labour market policy measures. To what extent, however, can subjective well-being differences of European unemployed be traced back to the national design and generosity of labour market policy?
This article applies multilevel and panel estimation techniques to identify the moderating effect of unemployment benefit generosity and active labour market policy on life satisfaction of the unemployed.
While unemployment has strong negative life satisfaction effects in all 21 European countries under study, the generosity of passive labour market policy moderates this effect to a surprisingly large extent: the adverse effect of unemployment is almost doubled if unemployment benefits are meagre.
This moderating effect can be explained both by a resource as well as a non-pecuniary mechanism. The positive moderating effect of active labour market policy is less robust across model specifications.
Tuesday, 4 June 2013
The Effects of International Migration on the Well-Being of Native Populations in Europe
IZA Discussion Paper No. 7368 by William Betz (Colgate University, USA) and Nicole B. Simpson (Colgate University, USA and IZA) published by IZA April 2013
Abstract
With worldwide migration becoming increasingly prevalent in policy agendas over the past several decades, understanding the effects that migrants have on a host country’s population continues to be an important research agenda. There is a large literature documenting the effects that migrants have on native wages, tax burden, unemployment, etc.
However, very little is understood about how migrants affect the happiness, or subjective well-being, of natives.
This paper uses the European Social Survey to analyse the effects of aggregate immigration inflows on the subjective well-being of native-born populations in a panel of 26 countries between 2002 and 2010.
We find that recent immigrant flows have a nonlinear, yet overall positive impact on the well-being of natives. Specifically, we find that immigrant flows from two years prior have larger positive effects on natives’ well-being than immigrant inflows from one year prior. Our findings are very small in magnitude and in practical application; only large immigrant flows would affect native well-being significantly.
JEL classification: F22, I31, O15
Full text (PDF 44pp)
Abstract
With worldwide migration becoming increasingly prevalent in policy agendas over the past several decades, understanding the effects that migrants have on a host country’s population continues to be an important research agenda. There is a large literature documenting the effects that migrants have on native wages, tax burden, unemployment, etc.
However, very little is understood about how migrants affect the happiness, or subjective well-being, of natives.
This paper uses the European Social Survey to analyse the effects of aggregate immigration inflows on the subjective well-being of native-born populations in a panel of 26 countries between 2002 and 2010.
We find that recent immigrant flows have a nonlinear, yet overall positive impact on the well-being of natives. Specifically, we find that immigrant flows from two years prior have larger positive effects on natives’ well-being than immigrant inflows from one year prior. Our findings are very small in magnitude and in practical application; only large immigrant flows would affect native well-being significantly.
JEL classification: F22, I31, O15
Full text (PDF 44pp)
Tuesday, 19 March 2013
Happier and less isolated: internet use in old age
an article by Orsolya Lelkes (European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research) published in Journal of Poverty and Social Justice Volume 21 Number 1 (February 2013)
Abstract
This paper explores the impact of internet use in old age on social isolation and on subjective well-being. Does internet use make older people less or more lonely? Does it crowd out face-to-face contacts or enhance them?
We found that social isolation is lower among internet users aged 65 or over. Using a European multi-country cross-sectional dataset with over 11000 observations, we found that those who use the internet regularly have a lower chance of being isolated, more so for those who use the internet every day, controlling for personal characteristics such as income, marital status, gender and health condition. Thus, personal social meetings and virtual contacts are complementary, rather than substituting for each other. Internet use may be a useful way of reducing social isolation.
We also found a positive relationship between regular internet use and self-reported life satisfaction, all else being equal. Our findings were robust in alternative specifications as well.
Full text (PDF 16pp)
Abstract
This paper explores the impact of internet use in old age on social isolation and on subjective well-being. Does internet use make older people less or more lonely? Does it crowd out face-to-face contacts or enhance them?
We found that social isolation is lower among internet users aged 65 or over. Using a European multi-country cross-sectional dataset with over 11000 observations, we found that those who use the internet regularly have a lower chance of being isolated, more so for those who use the internet every day, controlling for personal characteristics such as income, marital status, gender and health condition. Thus, personal social meetings and virtual contacts are complementary, rather than substituting for each other. Internet use may be a useful way of reducing social isolation.
We also found a positive relationship between regular internet use and self-reported life satisfaction, all else being equal. Our findings were robust in alternative specifications as well.
Full text (PDF 16pp)
Thursday, 15 November 2012
Calling and Well-Being Among Adults: Differential Relations by Employment Status
an article by Carrie L. Torrey and Ryan D. Duffy (Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA) published in Journal of Career Assessment Volume 20 Number 4 (November 2012)
Abstract
With a sample of 194 adults, approximately half of which were involuntarily unemployed, the present study explored:
For both groups, calling was a significant, moderate predictor of core self-evaluations.
Further, core self-evaluations was found to fully mediate in the link between calling and life satisfaction among the involuntarily unemployed group and partially mediate this relation among the employed/voluntarily unemployed group.
The results of the present study suggest that higher levels of calling (regardless of employment status) relates to life satisfaction via a more positive sense of self. For the employed/voluntarily unemployed group, there may be benefits of a calling beyond positive self-evaluations.
Abstract
With a sample of 194 adults, approximately half of which were involuntarily unemployed, the present study explored:
- how calling related to core self-evaluations and life satisfaction,
- whether core self-evaluations mediated the relation of calling to life satisfaction, and
- how these relations differed for employed/voluntarily unemployed and involuntarily unemployed adults.
For both groups, calling was a significant, moderate predictor of core self-evaluations.
Further, core self-evaluations was found to fully mediate in the link between calling and life satisfaction among the involuntarily unemployed group and partially mediate this relation among the employed/voluntarily unemployed group.
The results of the present study suggest that higher levels of calling (regardless of employment status) relates to life satisfaction via a more positive sense of self. For the employed/voluntarily unemployed group, there may be benefits of a calling beyond positive self-evaluations.
Friday, 6 July 2012
Whistle While You Work: A Review of the Life Satisfaction Literature
an article by Berrin Erdogan, Talya N. Bauer, Donald M. Truxillo and Layla R. Mansfield (Portland State University) published in Journal of Management Volume 38 Number 4 (July 2012)
Abstract
Life satisfaction is a key indicator of subjective well-being. This article is a review of the multidisciplinary literature on the relationship between life satisfaction and the work domain.
A discussion of top-down and bottom-up theories of life satisfaction is included, and the literatures on work-related antecedents of life satisfaction, the proximal mediators (quality of work life, quality of nonwork life, and feelings of self-worth), and consequences of life satisfaction were reviewed.
A meta-analysis of life satisfaction with respect to career satisfaction, job performance, turnover intentions, and organizational commitment was performed. Each major section of the article concludes with a future opportunities subsection where gaps in the research are discussed.
Abstract
Life satisfaction is a key indicator of subjective well-being. This article is a review of the multidisciplinary literature on the relationship between life satisfaction and the work domain.
A discussion of top-down and bottom-up theories of life satisfaction is included, and the literatures on work-related antecedents of life satisfaction, the proximal mediators (quality of work life, quality of nonwork life, and feelings of self-worth), and consequences of life satisfaction were reviewed.
A meta-analysis of life satisfaction with respect to career satisfaction, job performance, turnover intentions, and organizational commitment was performed. Each major section of the article concludes with a future opportunities subsection where gaps in the research are discussed.
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