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Research has shown that curiosity plays a crucial role in human performance and well-being. Based on multi-dimensional models of curiosity, we examined potential underlying mechanisms for this relationship. Extending prior research, we expected state and trait variants of curiosity to predict more challenge and less threat appraisals for novel tasks (i.e., joyous exploration dimension), stronger dissatisfaction when denied opportunities to do something interesting (i.e., deprivation sensitivity dimension), and persist longer under stress states (i.e., stress tolerance). We asked 123 participants to prepare and deliver a speech titled "Why are you a good friend?" After preparation, participants were informed that they were randomly selected not to perform the task. Throughout the experiment, we recorded heart rate reactivity as a physiological indicator of task engagement. We found that individuals curious about the upcoming task felt more challenged, less threatened, and presented longer physiological engagement than less curious individuals. Curious individuals expressed more disappointment about the missed opportunity to deliver the speech. In summary, this study revealed theoretically derived mechanisms that partially account for associations between curiosity and positive life outcomes while also indicating adverse effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Life satisfaction, through the cultivation of happiness and the avoidance of misery, is one of the ultimate outcomes of interest for the public generally. This study uses Social Production Function (SPF) theory to investigate the factors (e.g. endowments, conditions, experiences, and characteristics) impacting life satisfaction. A key contribution of this study is that a comprehensive model is developed, with a focus on the contribution of universal goals of physical well-being and maintenance (i.e. (1) stimulation, (2) comfort) and social approval (i.e. (3) status, (4) behaviour confirmation, and (5) affection) to life satisfaction; further, the factors include family, work, or social domains, with a focus on both working and non-working populations (working age (25 to 64), n = 12,022). Within a multivariate framework, using cross-sectional survey data, the key findings reveal the substantive roles of social class, having work, being married, being satisfied with personal appearance, being part of community, having good health, and available leisure time in contributing to life satisfaction. Emerging implications suggest that personal decisions over behaviours and actions that optimize resources can be associated with higher levels of life satisfaction, and there are possible roles for employers and governments in enabling individual behaviour and action, while minimizing constraints and maximizing choice options, which could all work toward empowering individuals to pursue their happiness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perception of mattering, the feeling of being important to others (Rosenberg & McCullogh in Community Ment Health J 2:163–182, 1981), is receiving increasing attention as a factor that promotes well-being. Individual well-being has been defined in different ways, such as hedonic, as in a deep satisfaction with life (Diener & Lucas in Well-being: Foundations of Hedonic Psychology 213, 1999), eudaimonic, as in the realization of the true self (Ryff in Curr Dir Psychol Sci 4(4):99–104, 1995), and holistic, which is satisfaction across all domains of life (Prilleltensky et al., in J Community Psychol 43(2):199–226, 2015). The present study aims to systematize this body of literature on mattering and well-being to clarify whether the two constructs are linked independently from their conceptualization; to this end, a meta-analysis of 30 studies, following the PRISMA framework, was conducted. A significant medium effect size emerged between mattering and well-being (r = 0.41*** [95% CI 0.33, 0.49]), with eudaimonic well-being showing a higher effect size in association with mattering (r = 0.55*** [95% CI 0.46, 0.64]). The results indicate that mattering is a relevant construct when studying the positive functioning of individuals; in particular, mattering was found to be a key factor in the process of defining one's sense of worth and purpose in life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People often expect a future brighter than the present. However, expectations of steep improvement have been linked to worse psychological functioning, perhaps because rosy predictions often do not come to pass. Should we conclude that expecting a highly satisfying future is maladaptive? We wondered instead whether the adaptiveness of these trajectories may depend on other belief systems which accompany them. Across three studies we found that although individuals high and low in depressive symptoms both expected a better future, they differed in their beliefs about whether satisfaction comes from primarily controllable or uncontrollable sources. People lower in depressive symptoms believed that satisfaction is impacted by controllable behaviors which predicted motivation to engage in well-being supportive behaviors. In contrast, those higher in depressive symptoms believed satisfaction came from uncontrollable factors, accounting for less inclination to engage in well-being facilitating behaviors. These insights may help clarify how people's expectations for a better tomorrow may only sometimes be accompanied by adaptive beliefs about how to get there. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last two decades financial well-being (FWB) has attracted considerable attention. However, many studies use ad hoc instruments to measure the construct, with may lead to mistaken conclusions. This review aims to identify and assess the psychometric properties of the instruments available to measure FWB. We also assess the dimensions (theoretical and empirical) and FWB definitions used by these instruments. Seven databases (PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, Embase, Virtual Health Library, Scielo, and Web of Science) were searched for construction, validation, or adaption studies of FWB instruments. This review protocol has been registered on PROSPERO. A total of 15 records were found eligible. Findings showed that there are 10 scales with good psychometric properties available to measure FWB, five of those are multidimensional and three have ≥ 6 types of validity evidence. The Multidimensional Subjective Financial Well-Being Scale (MSFWBS) seems to be the most complete instrument, although it only assesses the subjective aspect of FWB. All the instruments found in this review have some limitations, therefore, the use of a combination of at least two scales it is advised during FWB assessments. In the discussion section, future research directions to guide the definition of FWB, the construction, cross-cultural adaptation and the use of psychometric instruments are suggested. PROSPERO Registration: CRD42022372804, https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022372804 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cornerstone of well-being research is that the resource-rich are happier with their lives than the resource-poor and better positioned to cope with stressful life events. This paper addresses the role of various resources—human, economic, social, and psychological capital—in life satisfaction during the coronavirus pandemic, using panel data from Germany and the United Kingdom for 2020 and 2021. Cross-sectionally, we find life satisfaction to be clearly related to all these forms of capital, with psychological capital being the strongest predictor of life satisfaction. Longitudinally, the capital endowments in 2020 did not predict changes in life satisfaction within individuals from 2020 to 2021, except for psychological capital. Our results suggest two things: first, the unfolding pandemic did not heighten well-being inequalities; and second, weathering the pandemic required psychological resources in the first place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today's society appears prosperous, but it faces the challenges of unbalanced development due to climate change, economic growth, social equality, and a growing gap between the rich and the poor. A good government can help people and enterprises continue to progress and develop sustainably in the country and at the same time make the people happy. Therefore, the ruling party's governance should not only take into account the issue of efficiency, but also consider the needs and feelings of the people. Based on the three dimensions of society, economy, and environment in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) proposed by the United Nations, using the three parallel network Dynamic Directional Distance Function, and considering the interdependent network structure composed of interrelated sub-units, this research evaluates and analyzes the government efficiency and public satisfaction efficiency of local governments in 22 counties and cities in Taiwan from 2016 to 2019 as well as the correlation between public evaluation and governance effectiveness. The empirical results show from the performance of government efficiency of county and city governments in Taiwan that there are large differences in economic and environmental aspects, but small differences in social aspects. The correlation coefficients of the social, economic, and environmental efficiencies are all positive, but the correlation coefficients of public satisfaction efficiency with these same three aspects are all negatively correlated. These results show first that local governments should review the inefficient aspects to improve their resource allocation. Second, they reflect the network characteristics that society, economy, and environment are linked and complement each other, which follow the need for sustainable development by the United Nations after taking into account social, economic, and environmental factors. Third, the performance of government efficiency is not reflected in the public satisfaction rate, and the satisfaction of the people is a subjective rather than an objective decision of local government efficiency. Therefore, to achieve the goal of improving efficiency and happiness, local governments must also understand the expectations of the people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research has suggested that, among adolescents, clarity about one's self-concept is closely related to subjective well-being. However, longitudinal studies are scarce, and whether a clear self-concept is the cause or effect of subjective well-being remains unclear. This study examined the dynamic longitudinal associations between self-concept clarity and subjective well-being at the between- and within-person levels over a one-year time span among adolescents (baseline Mage = 16.01 years; 57.0% girls) from China. The data were collected in three waves (each at a six-month interval), in which adolescents reported their self-concept clarity and well-being (i.e., positive and negative affect and personal satisfaction with life). Both Random Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel Models (RI-CLPMs) and Cross-Lagged Panel Models (CLPMs) were applied to examine the stability, cross-sectional relationships, and cross-lagged effects between adolescents' self-concept clarity and subjective well-being over time. The CLPMs provided unique support for a reciprocal relations model of self-concept clarity and subjective well-being (including both cognitive and emotional well-being) across three time points, although the results of traditional CLPM might represent an unknown blend of between- and within-person effects. However, the RI-CLPM analyses provided tentative support only for cross-sectional correlations between self-concept clarity and well-being outcomes. Our findings advance the literature by elucidating longitudinal relationships between self-concept clarity and subjective well-being in collectivist cultural contexts using CLPM and RI-CLPM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many studies have shown that economic and political freedom better predict overall satisfaction than income or material consumption. However, in the context of post-disaster reconstruction, whether freedom of choice in reconstruction is a better predictor of satisfaction with newly reconstructed houses than the extent of material reconstruction per se is much less clear. In this paper, employing ordinal logistic regression analysis to data collected in the aftermath of Nepal's 7.8 Mw 2015 earthquake, we find that freedom of choice in the reconstruction process predicts households' post-disaster satisfaction with newly reconstructed houses better than the extent of physical reconstruction per se. Interestingly, many seemingly important predictors such as income, education, location, occupation, household size and age of respondents that we investigated are not statistically significant. Apart from freedom of choice, only gender and ethnicity are significant in explaining satisfaction with newly reconstructed houses. We also find a negative correlation between satisfaction level and inequality in such levels among ethnic groups; the reverse is true in the case of gender. These findings underscore the importance of freedom, and ethnic or gender-specific policies, in promoting well-being in post-disaster recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whether perceived importance can be used as a weighting factor for the aggregation of domain satisfaction is an important issue in the literature on subjective well-being (SWB) measures with multidimensional domains. This paper extends the weighting approach proposed by Benjamin et al. (Am Econ Rev 104:2698–2735, 2014) and uses it to weight domain satisfaction. The weights estimated by this approach can be interpreted as marginal utility, and the weighted average of the domain satisfaction of each individual can be interpreted as the individual's utility. Using a data set collected from a 2015 survey that we conducted with residents of all Japanese prefectures, we show that this weighted average improves the goodness of fit for overall SWB measures compared with the unweighted averages of domain satisfaction. This finding supports incorporating perceived importance measures into SWB measures. Moreover, we show that, although there are differences in perceived importance among some domains that are less relevant to specific sub-populations, such as work for people above 65 years or relations with family for those who live alone, the relative importance of most domains is similar across the different categories of gender, household income, age, and household composition. Allowing for heterogeneity in the importance weights across these demographic groups provides only negligible improvements to the validity of the domain importance. The approach suggested in this paper can be considered a resident-oriented approach in the sense that the weights are derived from the perceived importance of residents themselves and are thus expected to contribute to resident-oriented policymaking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research indicates that identifying character strengths in oneself is beneficial. The present study investigated whether interventions focused on assisting individuals in recognizing strengths in romantic partners would influence relationship satisfaction. A randomized experimental design was used to assign a total of 243 participants (mean age = 37.3, SD = 12.1) to one of the following three conditions: identification of partner strengths, a curiosity prime followed by identification of partner strengths, and a control condition consisting of reflecting on neutral partner preferences. Participants in each condition rated their current relationship satisfaction and curiosity regarding their partners' strengths. Participants in the recognition of partner character strengths condition reported significantly more relationship satisfaction compared to participants the control group. There were no other significant differences between groups. The findings suggest that character strength interventions could be used to improve partner relationship quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explains the puzzle why subjective well-being (SBW) declined in Kazakhstan and increased in Kyrgyzstan from 2011 to 2018. It examined the predictors of the change in SWB in two Central Asian states over this period. We found that freedom of choice and financial satisfaction are powerful factors that predict the change in SWB in the two states. In addition, we observed that SWB has changed differently for various social groups. In Kazakhstan SWB has increased for financially satisfied people and it has diminished for the financially dissatisfied people. In Kyrgyzstan, for both groups we observe the increase in life satisfaction. These results show that even within one state the change in SWB might vary from one group to another. As such, scholars should disaggregate various factors to understand a more nuanced dynamics of life satisfaction over time. In addition, the differences in economic and political contexts are important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine the stability of satisfaction with eight domains of life as well as satisfaction with life in general. The study used a nationally representative Australian sample collected during 20 years between 2001 and 2020 (N = 33,341). Using the Multi-Trait-Multi-State model, the total variance in each item was partitioned into three components: common consistency (proportion of variance attributable to stable influences), occasion specificity (proportion of variance attributable to situational influences or person-situation interactions), and measurement error (proportion of variance attributable to random and nonsystematic influences). The consistency, specificity, and error estimates for the nine items averaged about 48%, 11%, and 41%, respectively. Satisfaction with health, financial situation, and general life was more stable than variable, whereas the other domains were more variable than stable. The most stable item was satisfaction with health and the least stable was satisfaction with the home in which one lives. On average, domain satisfaction was less stable than general life satisfaction. Satisfaction with housing, safety, and health were the best predictors of general life satisfaction. A supplementary analysis showed that life evaluations were less stable in young adulthood than in older age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to examine the associations between subjective well-being (SWB) and risk of all-cause dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and vascular dementia (VD). We adopted a multidimensional approach to SWB that included the level and breadth of SWB, the latter indicating the extent to which SWB spreads across life domains. Participants (N = 171,197; mean age = 56.78; SD = 8.16 years) were part of the UK Biobank and were followed up to 8.78 years. Domain-general and domain-specific SWB were measured by single items, and the breadth of SWB was indexed with a cumulative score of satisfaction across domains. Dementia incidence was ascertained through hospital and death records. Cox regression was used to examine the association between SWB indicators and risk of all-cause dementia, AD, and VD. General happiness, health and family satisfaction, and satisfaction breadth (satisfaction in multiple domains) were associated with lower risk of all-cause dementia. The associations held after accounting for socio-demographics, health, behavioral, and economic covariates, and depressive symptoms. Health satisfaction and the breadth of satisfaction were also associated with lower risk of AD and VD, with a pattern of slightly stronger associations for VD compared to AD. Some life domains (e.g., health) may be more fruitfully targeted to promote well-being and help protect against dementia, but it is also important to enhance well-being across multiple domains to maximize the protective effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most research investigating inequality as a moderator of the effect of income on wellbeing focuses on inequality within geographic contexts. This study asks whether the association of income with subjective wellbeing varies with level of inequality within groups defined by the intersection of dichotomized race (white versus non-white) and gender. Two dimensions of subjective wellbeing are investigated—life (dis)satisfaction, and disappointment in one's life achievements. Results of partial proportional odds and logistic regression analyses of data from the study of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS) indicate that the association of individual earnings with life (dis)satisfaction varies by level of inequality within intersectional groups. No evidence for moderation is observed in the analysis of disappointment. Within-group inequality varies much more by gender than race, and the results can be interpreted as indicating a gender difference in the effect of income on life satisfaction. The results are also consistent with the income rank hypothesis, which proposes that income effects will be larger among those in lower inequality groups than those in higher inequality groups. Although the statistical power to evaluate race differences is limited by the size and composition of the MIDUS sample, additional analyses suggest that the income-rank pattern might extend to race differences in (dis)satisfaction. The results can be broadly interpreted as suggesting that intersectional inequality does not influence the aspirations that provide the comparative standard for disappointment, but it does shape the way that the contemporaneous earnings differences relevant to life (dis)satisfaction are framed in social comparisons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Framed by need to belong theory, this study considers the role of communication modality, geographic proximity, and the number of close relationship partners to predict life satisfaction and loneliness. A quota sample of American adults (N = 1,869) completed four name generation tasks to identify up to 16 alters, resulting in four alters per participant (n = 7,471). Participants reported the frequency with which they communicated with each alter in the past year in person and through eight interpersonal media. Results suggest that number of relationship partners and frequency of face-to-face interaction were robust predictors of life satisfaction and loneliness. Those living alone faced significant threats to well-being. Video chat and voice call frequency were also associated with greater life satisfaction. Mediation analyses showed voice call frequency was indirectly associated with less loneliness through greater relationship maintenance satisfaction, while lean media was indirectly associated with greater loneliness through relationship maintenance frustration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Covid-19 pandemic has had many negative consequences on the general public mental health. The aim of this study was to test the effectiveness of and satisfaction with an app with gratitude exercises to improve the mental health of people with reduced mental well-being due to the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as potential mechanisms of well-being change and dose–response relationships. A two-armed randomized controlled trial design was used, with two groups receiving the 6-week gratitude intervention app either immediately (intervention group, n = 424) or after 6 weeks (waiting list control group, n = 425). Assessments took place online at baseline (T0), six weeks later (T1) and at 12 weeks (T2), measuring outcomes (i.e., mental well-being, anxiety, depression, stress), and potential explanatory variables (i.e., gratitude, positive reframing, rumination). Linear mixed models analyses showed that when controlled for baseline measures, the intervention group scored better on all outcome measures compared to the control group at T1 (d =.24–.49). These effects were maintained at T2. The control group scored equally well on all outcome measures at T2 after following the intervention. Effects of the intervention on well-being were partially explained by gratitude, positive reframing, and rumination, and finishing a greater number of modules was weakly related to better outcomes. The intervention was generally appealing, with some room for improvement. The results suggest that a mobile gratitude intervention app is a satisfactory and effective way to improve the mental health of the general population during the difficult times of a pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During 2007 and 2008 smoking bans were gradually implemented in all of Germany's sixteen federal states to prohibit smoking in bars, restaurants, and dance clubs. Aimed at reducing smoking and improving health, tobacco control policies are often controversially discussed as they entail potential side effects. We exploit regional variation to identify effects of smoking bans on life satisfaction and leisure time satisfaction. Difference-in-differences estimates reveal that predicted smokers who used to visit bars regularly are less satisfied with life and leisure time, following the enforcement of a smoking ban. We show that changes in use of leisure time likely explain these findings. On the contrary, predicted non-smokers who did not visit bars and restaurants frequently benefit from the smoking bans, as their satisfaction with leisure time increases. They show an increase in hours spent on free-time activities and are more likely to go out with smoking bans in effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The belief that home ownership makes people happy is probably one of the most widespread intuitive theories of happiness. However, whether it is accurate is an open question. Based on individual panel data, we explore whether home buyers systematically overestimate the life satisfaction associated with moving to their privately owned property. To identify potential prediction errors, we compare people's forecasts of their life satisfaction in 5 years' time with their current realizations. We find that home buyers for whom the purchase of the home is a main reason for moving, on average, systematically overestimate the long-term satisfaction gain of living in their dwelling. The misprediction therein is driven by home buyers who follow extrinsically-oriented life goals, highlighting biased beliefs regarding own preferences as a relevant mechanism in the prediction errors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing well-being is a prominent worldwide goal that can be achieved primarily through social support and environmental factors. However, in times of social distancing or isolation, it is important to also rely on self-managed activities. This study aimed to (a) test the effectiveness of a seven-week well-being intervention, in increasing need satisfaction, self-compassion, emotion regulation, and grateful disposition by curbing need frustration, self-derogation, and emotional suppression, and (b) examine the maintenance and long-term effects of the practices based on recall, elaboration, and writing. One hundred and twenty university students weekly recalled and elaborated for seven consecutive weeks on three recent episodes of gratitude, self-affirmation, goal setting, or meaningful things, according to the group to which they were assigned. Before the intervention, immediately after and one month later, they filled in questionnaires to assess need satisfaction/frustration, self-compassion/derogation, emotion regulation and grateful disposition. The results confirmed an increase in well-being and a decrease in ill-being for all groups (Cohen d for the significant differences ranging from 0.18 to 0.53). The effects were maintained one month later and even increased for self-compassion, self-derogation, need frustration, and emotional reappraisal. A follow-up assessment revealed that a third of the participants continued with the well-being practices. Implications and suggestions for future well-being interventions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While there is plenty of research linking the effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic to a drastic reduction of life satisfaction in the population, there is little information on the functional form of this relationship. Until now, one could suspect that this association is linear and a higher number of COVID-19 infections in a region leads to a continuous decline of satisfaction. However, there are reasons to assume that this interrelation is indeed more complex and deserves further attention. To resolve this question, high-quality panel data of the first wave of COVID-19 from Germany are analysed in a fixed-effect multilevel framework. With information from more than 6,000 respondents (after imputation) nested in 339 federal districts, we estimate linear models with higher-order terms up to the fifth degree of median COVID-19 incidence rates and random intercepts for districts to describe the functional form. The results indicate that even regions with very low incidences are affected and a linear decline of satisfaction is only apparent for rather low incidence levels, quickly reaching a plateau, which is then quite constant, even for higher incidence levels. These findings indicate that at least in rich and industrialized countries like Germany, assuming a strictly linear relation between incidences and change of satisfaction is not appropriate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

First empirical results indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic has a negative impact on adolescents' and adults' subjective well-being. In the present study we focus on the subjective well-being of elementary school children before and after the first pandemic-related school lockdown and examine if possible declines in subjective well-being are especially pronounced for some groups, considering socio-economic status, migration background, and gender as moderators. We tested N = 425 elementary school students (mean age: M = 8.19; SD = 1.04) longitudinally with four measurement points (three before the school lockdown and one after) regarding their general life satisfaction, mood, and domain satisfaction regarding peers, family, and school. Piecewise growth curve models revealed a significant decline in positive mood and in satisfaction with the family. Decline in life satisfaction and satisfaction with peers nearly missed significance. The investigated moderators had no impact on the changes in subjective well-being. We conclude that the pandemic had detrimental effects on young children's subjective well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strength interventions at work have been shown to influence workers' optimal functioning and well-being. To increase the accessibility of these interventions in the workplace, relying on digital platforms would be a realistic idea. Akin to the Character Strengths 360-degree feedback activity, a smartphone (and computer) application allows users to send or receive anonymous strength-oriented descriptive feedback to/from colleagues, hence disseminating the identification and use of each other's signature strengths associated with their enacted behaviors. Drawing on Self-Determination Theory, an intervention was developed to investigate if the use of the online platform may impact psychological well-being, by increasing psychological need satisfaction and autonomous motivation and decreasing need frustration and controlled motivation. A sample of full-time workers (n = 112) experienced the application, while participants who did not use the platform were assigned to the a posteriori control condition (n = 54). Data were collected before and after the 4-weeks intervention. Results showed (1) that participants from the experimental group reported significantly higher levels of strength use, need satisfaction, autonomous motivation, and psychological well-being compared to the a posteriori control group, and (2) that increases in the levels of need satisfaction reported by participants from the experimental group were related to increases in autonomous motivation, which in turn resulted in higher levels of well-being. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality of individuals' social relationships consistently predicts greater well-being. But little is known about the relative importance of different relationship types for life satisfaction, including the relative importance of friendships compared to other types of relationships. Some have theorized that one intimate relationship is all you need. However, romantic partners, family, and friends may contribute uniquely or interactively to well-being. The current study assessed life satisfaction and relationship satisfaction in survey data collected from a large, diverse sample of respondents. Satisfaction with each type of relationship was significantly and independently associated with life satisfaction, over and above other variables in the model. Friendship (not family) interacted with intimate relationships: when respondents were highly satisfied with their intimate relationships, they were happy with their lives regardless of friendship quality. But when they were unhappy with their intimate relationships, they were only happy with their lives if they had good friends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes how people's subjective well-being adapts to income poverty in Switzerland and Germany and presents two empirical findings. First, financial satisfaction (FS) does not adapt in either country. However, life satisfaction fully adapts in Switzerland but not in Germany. Second, people in income poverty have income lower than their reference income. In the long run, those who remain in income poverty are trapped in the situation of insufficient income. Therefore, FS has limited, if any, adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Life satisfaction is a key indicator of children's healthy development. Although the developmental changes of life satisfaction during adolescence have been investigated, the developmental trajectories of life satisfaction and related predictors during childhood remain unclear. Thus, the current study aimed to identify the developmental trajectories of life satisfaction covering the period from middle to late childhood as well as to examine the predictive roles of environmental factors (i.e., family dysfunction and basic psychological needs satisfaction at school), personality factors (i.e., neuroticism and extraversion), and their interactions in these developmental trajectories. An accelerated longitudinal design was used with Chinese elementary school students (N = 1069, 45.8% girls, Mage = 9.43, SD = 0.95) of 3 cohorts (grade 3, grade 4, and grade 5) on 4 occasions at 6-month intervals. Growth mixture modeling analyses revealed three distinct trajectories of life satisfaction: "High-Stable" (88.8%), "High-Decreasing" (6.8%), and "Low-Increasing" (4.4%). Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that family dysfunction and neuroticism served as risk factors for adverse developmental trajectories of life satisfaction; whereas basic psychological needs satisfaction at school served as a protective factor. Furthermore, the interaction between family dysfunction and extraversion suggested that higher levels of extraversion buffered children against the negative effect of family dysfunction on the development of life satisfaction. The identification of three heterogeneous trajectory groups of children's life satisfaction and key personality and environmental predictors associated with the trajectories suggests that specific interventions need to be tailored to the unique characteristics of the relevant trajectory groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A development imperative emphasising the economic benefits of mineral extraction has led researchers to speculate about whether minerals inflate citizens' economic expectations and, due to an upward shift in aspirations, cause a degree of dissatisfaction. Using survey data from 18 Latin American countries, this study finds evidence of the 'euphoric effect' of minerals materialising among household expectations concerning future changes in the economic situation of their country. Similarly, it also finds a positive and significant relationship with expectations concerning future changes in respondents' personal economic situation. However, it does not detect a significant relationship between minerals and citizens' life satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flow is a mental state of thorough absorption and concentration in an activity, in which intrinsic motivation and enjoyment are maximized, and the individual achieves optimal performance. This study investigated how daily flow experiences during parents' interactions with their children contribute to parental well-being. The Day Reconstruction Method was completed by 832 employed Israeli parents of children aged 2 to 12, who reconstructed their experiences on three different working days over three weeks, and rated their levels of flow, as well as positive and negative affect for each experience. Participants also completed measures of subjective well-being and parental satisfaction and efficacy. The results indicated that parents' flow experiences during interactions with their children were positively related to parents' positive affect, self-efficacy and satisfaction, and greater subjective well-being. The findings underscore the importance for parental well-being of daily optimal experiences with their children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aimed to identify the determinants of life satisfaction in the four regions of Asia. Because the determinants of life satisfaction may differ between people who are at a different level of life satisfaction, quantile regression was used to yield more accurate inferences. An earlier study using ordinary least square regression found that the standard of living, marital status, education and the role of government were the most significant determinants of life satisfaction in Asia. Results from the present study also show that these three factors were significant determinants of life satisfaction, but their effects varied considerably across the quantiles. Gender and age were significant determinants of life satisfaction only in Central & West Asia, but the education factor was relatively less significant here as compared to the other regions. In all the four Asia regions, the income variable was a less significant predictor of life satisfaction as compared to the standard of living. This paper further found that employment was more influential in South and Southeast Asia as compared to the other two regions. The effects of these variables varied substantially across the quantiles. Some of these variables had a positive effect on life satisfaction for some quantiles, but a negative effect for other quantiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study examined the associations between time perspective, dispositional gratitude, and life satisfaction. The aim of the study was to check if gratitude mediates the relationship between time perspectives and life satisfaction. The participants were 591 Polish people aged 18–73 (M = 30, SD 5.45). We used several measures: the Satisfaction with Life Scale, the Gratitude Questionnaire, the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory, the Carpe Diem Scale, and the Present-Eudaimonic Time Perspective Scale. We found that gratitude played a mediating role between the dimensions of time perspective and life satisfaction. The presented results were interpreted in the context of the Pollyanna effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a recent genome-wide association study (GWAS), three polymorphisms (rs3756290, RAPGEF6; rs2075677, CSE1L; rs4958581, NMUR2) were suggested as potentially being related to subjective-well-being and life satisfaction. Additionally, associations between the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism (serotonin transporter) and subjective well-being have been reported in other previous studies. In the current study, we therefore sought to further investigate the findings of the GWAS and examine the association between 5-HTTLPR and subjective well-being. A total of 1174 participants (821 females) were recruited and asked to provide information on their demographics, life satisfaction, and positive affect. All participants provided a genetic sample. We found associations between one SNP derived from the GWAS (rs4958581, NMUR2) and life satisfaction. We also replicated findings involving 5-HTTLPR and life satisfaction, but only for the housing, leisure and family life satisfaction variables, and not for overall life satisfaction or positive affect. Our study underlines that research investigating complex traits in the field of behavioral genetics is challenging due to their (a) pleiotropic and (b) polygenic effects, resulting in tiny effect sizes of each marker investigated. The current study also highlights the importance of investigating genetic markers of distinct areas of life satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meaning in life can be understood as how much people experience life meaning (i.e., presence of meaning, POM) and how intensely they seek life meaning (i.e., search for meaning, SFM). Previous research has related POM and SFM to the subjective well-being (SWB) of individuals, but the findings are inconsistent. This meta-analysis investigates the overall relationship between POM/SFM and SWB by examining previous studies that have used Steger et al.'s (J Couns Psychol 53:80–93, 2006. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.53.1.80) Meaning in Life Questionnaire to assess POM and SFM. Results of 147 studies, reporting 726 effect sizes (N = 92,169), suggest the effect size for the "POM–SWB" relationship is close to medium (ESz =.418, p <.001, 95% CI [.390,.446]). The effect is larger in life satisfaction and cross-sectional studies. The effect size for the "SFM–SWB" association is small (ESz = −.121, p <.001, 95% CI [−.155,−.087]), with the effect being larger for negative affect, cross-sectional studies, and older participants. Interestingly, SFM is related to more SWB in participants from countries that are more collectivistic. This study shows a robust link between presence of life meaning and greater SWB, and that while search for life meaning may be adverse to SWB, the effect is small and conditional. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The appraisal of job satisfaction and life satisfaction has been the focus of attention of work-family research. Despite being frequently regarded as a non-work variable, life satisfaction plays an important role in organizational behaviour and human resource management. Previous research has ascertained that workers' life satisfaction is inherently a multidimensional concept. We extend this line of work by analysing the main factors that might have an influence on the trade-offs among four different aspects of workers' life satisfaction (satisfaction with education, present job, family life, and social life) in reaching compromises between them. A methodological approach that combines econometric and multiobjective interval programming techniques has been used. This methodological framework allows evaluating the compromises of specific aspects of workers' personal and working conditions in different scenarios given as intervals. Our findings suggest that female workers must generally spend more time at their jobs than men to reach the highest balanced levels of satisfaction across all aspects under evaluation. Additionally, one child is sufficient to reach the highest levels of life satisfaction (among all factors considered in its assessment) for both men and women. One possible policy implication of these results may be that existing work-family arrangements are not sufficient in the current context of falling birth rates all over Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extant literature has shown that authenticity is positively related with life satisfaction and psychological well-being. Nonetheless, most of the previous research has been conducted in Western and European individualistic countries. The association of authenticity with life satisfaction and psychological well-being in the Asian collectivist context remains unexplored. In addition, previous research has not investigated the psychological processes that link authenticity to life satisfaction and well-being. To void these gaps, the current research investigated the association of authenticity with life satisfaction and psychological well-being, while examining the mediating role of emotional expressiveness in these associations. For the present study, data were collected from 254 employees from India, a predominantly collectivist culture. Standardized measures were used to assess the research constructs. The results of the study show positive associations between authenticity, life satisfaction, and psychological well-being. Specifically, the results show that the greater the individuals' authenticity, the higher their life satisfaction and psychological well-being. In addition, the research shows that individuals high on authenticity are more emotionally expressive than individuals who are low on authenticity. This research provides evidence regarding the implications of authenticity for individuals' psychological health and well-being in Asian collectivist context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Violence related Australian statistics reveal a higher prevalence of violence among indigenous Australians than non-indigenous Australians. Using the latest National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey (2014/2015) available from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, this study investigates the socio-economic and demographic factors that influence the likelihood of physical violence among indigenous Australians and the effects of physical violence on life satisfaction, with a special focus on gender differences in such effects. The results indicate that while gender is an important determinant of violence victimisation, homelessness, alcohol and substance consumption, a victim of the stolen generation and remote living increase the likelihood of physical violence victimisation. Our results also reveal that, while physical violence negatively affects the life satisfaction of both women and men, exposure to physical violence reduces the life satisfaction of indigenous women more than indigenous men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main focus of this study is to examine the moderating role of coping strategies in relation to work–family spillover and subjective well-being. We hypothesized that work–family spillover has a predictive effect on work and family domain satisfaction, which in turn are positively predictive of subjective well-being. We also hypothesized that the effect of negative work–family spillover on life domain satisfaction is mitigated with problem-focused coping strategies more so than emotion-focused coping strategies. Data were collected through a survey of a representative sample of American adults who are fully employed (N = 827). Hypotheses were tested using SEM and regression. The results indicate that work–family spillover has predicted subjective well-being, as hypothesized. We also found that the strength of the negative association between negative work–family spillover and life domain satisfaction is significantly reduced when individuals use problem-focused coping strategies, as hypothesized. This effect was not found when individuals use emotion-coping strategies. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this paper is to report a study that tested the moderation effect of materialism on the relationship between household income and satisfaction with standard of living (SOL) and subjective well-being. Through a study among 5240 employed members of a representative survey panel in Germany, we found that household income has a positive influence on satisfaction with SOL (as hypothesized), which in turn has a positive impact on subjective well-being (as hypothesized). We also found that the positive income-SOL satisfaction relationship is negatively moderated by happiness materialism (as hypothesized) and that happiness materialism is positively associated with frequent SOL evaluations based on ideal expectations (also as hypothesized). Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyze well-being effects of minimum wages, using the introduction of the minimum wage in Germany as a quasi-experiment. Based on representative data, a difference-in-differences design compares the development of life, job, and pay satisfaction between employees who are affected by the reform according to their pre-intervention wages and those who have marginally higher wages at outset. We find significantly positive effects on all considered dimensions of well-being. The results hold for at least 1 year after the reform, are more pronounced in East Germany, and hold if those who are not employed anymore after the reform are included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benevolent and corrective humor are two comic styles that have been related to virtue, morality, and character strengths. A previous study also supported the viability of measuring these two styles with the BenCor in 22 countries. The present study extends the previous one by including further countries (a total of 25 countries in 29 samples with N = 7813), by testing the revised BenCor (BenCor-R), and by adding two criterion measures to assess life satisfaction and four broad humor dimensions (social fun/entertaining humor, mockery, humor ineptness, and cognitive/reflective humor). As expected, the BenCor-R showed mostly promising psychometric properties (internal consistency and factorial validity). Consistent with previous studies, benevolent humor correlated positively with life satisfaction in most countries, while corrective humor was uncorrelated with life satisfaction. These relationships were only slightly changed when controlling for social fun/entertaining humor and mockery, respectively. Benevolent humor was mostly positively associated with cognitive/reflective humor, followed by social fun/entertaining humor and mockery. Corrective humor was mostly positively associated with mockery, followed by cognitive/reflective and social fun/entertaining humor, although these relationships differed between the countries. Overall, the present study supports the viability of benevolent and corrective humor, which has yet received insufficient attention in psychology, for cross-cultural investigations and applications of humor, well-being, and morality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research has frequently found a positive relation between religiosity compared to non-religiosity and psychological well-being. Recent studies have demonstrated differences between types of non-religious individuals and the relevance of a fit between individual (non-)religiosity and characteristics of the country a person is living in. This study combined the previous (partially) competing lines of research for the first time and examined the connection between self-identifying as specifically atheist, non-religious without further distinction, weakly religious, or highly religious and life satisfaction. World Values Survey data of 24 countries worldwide that vary in their social norms of religiosity and societal levels of development were used for a quantitative intercultural comparison (N = 33,879). In contrast to most previous research, a multilevel regression analysis showed no differences between highly religious, indistinct non-religious, and atheist individuals' level of life satisfaction when the fit between individual (non-)religiosity and country characteristics was included. Weakly religious individuals though were significantly less satisfied with life than highly religious individuals. Thus, our results indicate that only in religious societies, identifying as non-religious/atheist is related to lower life satisfaction. When controlling for the context, a curvilinear relation between (non-)religiosity and life satisfaction emerged. Additionally, atheists differed in their sensitivity towards the social norm of religiosity from indistinct non-religious individuals—their well-being varied dependent on living in a country with many other secular individuals or not. These results demonstrate differences between subgroups of (non-)religious individuals and they call into question a general benefit of religiosity for subjective well-being independent of societal context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gender differences in life satisfaction (LS) have been studied for a long time, and the first meta-analysis on this issue was conducted almost 40 years ago. Since then, the social status of females has changed considerably across different nations and cultures. The individual studies in this area continued to show inconsistent results concerning gender group differences in their respective perception of LS. In this study, 46 empirical studies from 1980 to 2017 (with a cumulated total N = 11,772) were meta-analyzed to examine potential gender differences in LS among children and adolescents, and to explore if some study features could be moderators that could account for the observed inconsistencies in the findings across studies. The findings revealed that LS remains invariant across gender groups, but with a slight difference in favor of male children and adolescents. Our results further suggested that four study features were shown to contribute to the variations of the reported gender difference in LS across individual studies: geographical region, population type, age, and domain specific LS measurements. Such different features across the individual studies could have led to the observed inconsistency of the findings. Understanding how gender differences in LS vary by these study features could allow us to consider more targeted support to increase LS of children and adolescents in different situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study involving a large-scale social survey was administered to a representative German sample provided evidence demonstrating three information processing principles associated with life satisfaction judgments: (1) judgments of domain satisfaction tend to influence judgments of domain importance; (2) the effect of domain satisfaction on domain importance tends to be moderated by depressive realism; and (3) depression tends to influence domain satisfaction judgments. Specifically, depression mitigates the influence of domain satisfaction on domain importance. Nondepressed individuals tend to use compensation (an ego-enhancing strategy) to inflate the importance of domains they experience high satisfaction as well as deflate the importance of those domains they experience low satisfaction. As such, the effect of domain satisfaction on domain importance is accentuated for the nondepressed compared to the depressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emotional intelligence (EI) has been found to generally predict subjective wellbeing (SWB) indicators such as life satisfaction and happiness. Concerning the specific abilities of trait EI, i.e., mood attention, emotional clarity and mood repair, research has largely demonstrated that emotional clarity and mood repair are the strongest predictors of SWB indicators, whereas mood attention has been relegated to a secondary role. To clarify previous inconsistencies, we tested EI by means of the bifactor model because it allows for a better comprehension of the complex nature of EI. The current paper was composed of two studies: Study 1 examined the prediction of SWB indicators by EI and its dimensions in the bifactor model; and Study 2 analysed the differences in EI and SWB indicators across university students and employees. Results of Study 1 demonstrated that the structure of EI is best represented by the bifactor model with a general e(motional)-factor and three specific emotional abilities. Mood attention was a negative predictor of SWB indicators, whereas mood repair was a positive predictor, and emotional clarity was non-significant. Study 2 showed that employees and university students did not differed in how EI predicted SWB indicators. These findings evidenced a shift in the study and measurement of EI. Further implications of this paper are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article deals with the modeling of life-satisfaction, and estimating the impact of age on it. We investigate how findings and the interpretation of empirical studies hinge on the respectively assumed model. Assuming a specific model comprises various hypothesis made on the data generating process, like indicator selection, measurement, or functional form specifications. In this study we focus on the latter two issues. In particular, we show how different response behaviors (optimistic, pessimistic, extreme averse, etc.) lead to seemingly contradictory conclusions if the researcher does not address them adequately. In fact, we show that one can reproduce any shape found in the literature simply by modifying the way respondents rank life satisfaction on a bounded scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using recent national longitudinal survey data from the China Family Panel Studies in 2012 and 2014 and a combination of propensity score matching and difference-in-differences methods, this article examines the association between China's rural Dibao program participation and recipients' life satisfaction and explore how perceived social status and confidence about future might mediate this relationship. We also investigate and compare these effects and mediation pathways across young, middle-aged, and older adults. We find robust positive effect of rural Dibao participation on recipients' life satisfaction and persistent mediation effects of both perceived social status and confidence about future in this relationship in the full sample. The analysis among different age groups revealed heterogenous life satisfaction effects of rural Dibao participation and different psychological mediation effects in this relationship. The empirical evidence from this article suggests that welfare programs such as rural Dibao can help improve recipients' subjective well-being. Nevertheless, measures to remove welfare stigma and enhance in-kind supports are needed to help the poor achieve greater subjective well-being, especially among middle-aged adults whose work and family support needs are often difficult to be met. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of improving adolescents' quality of life is widely known, especially with the proliferation of so-called "diseases of civilization" (e.g., stress, anxiety, depression, tension, panic). According to numerous previous studies, personality is a very important influencer of life satisfaction, and altruistic personality is considered an important and positive personality type. Altruism might, therefore, be an effective way to improve adolescents' life satisfaction. However, under a market economy, it is difficult to form widespread social customs of altruism. Will helping others also benefit you, representing a win–win situation? Against this background, we conduct the first exploration of the relationship between altruistic personality and life satisfaction. A sample of 428 adolescents completed measures of altruism, life satisfaction, and emotion. The main findings were as follows: (1) adolescents with higher levels of altruism have more positive emotions, fewer negative emotions, and higher life satisfaction; (2) emotions mediated the relationship between altruistic personality traits and life satisfaction; (3) empathy predicted life satisfaction not only directly but also indirectly through positive and negative emotions; (4) social responsibility predicted life satisfaction not only directly but also indirectly through positive emotions; (5) interpersonal trust predicted life satisfaction through negative emotions; (6) sociability predicted life satisfaction through positive emotions. In a word, helping others will benefit yourself as well. These findings are of great practical and theoretical significance for improving adolescents' quality of life, enriching their personality, and enhancing their positive psychological experience. This study's results can also contribute to instilling the positive social custom of "one for all, all for one". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study's primary purpose was to examine the hypothesis that there would be a positive association between acculturation and life satisfaction for English-speaking diaspora immigrants to Israel regardless of country of origin (after adjusting for demographic characteristics including gender, age, years in the host country, reason for immigration and family support). Informed by Bornstein's Specificity Principle in Acculturation Science, acculturation was defined by levels of: language acquisition, having realised/met expectations, and self-identification with host country. Using a cross-sectional study design, a convenience sample of English-speaking participants was recruited through a link on a well-known English-language internet site targeting immigrants to Israel. Due to the diversity of respondents, only questionnaires completed by immigrants from the following four countries were included (n = 641): Canada (n = 40), South Africa (n = 66), the United Kingdom (n = 132) and the United States (n = 403). Life satisfaction only was linked to the acculturation variable of having a higher level of realised expectations for life after immigration and reporting good health, but not associated with the other acculturation variables of language acquisition or self-identification with host country. While having realised expectations was related to life satisfaction, the number of years in the host country and language acquisition was not. Having realistic expectations (related to greater life satisfaction) may be increased by providing prospective immigrants information on the new country's culture while they are still in the host country and planning their immigration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the effect of having children on parents' life satisfaction and happiness in Europe. We utilize four waves of the European Values Survey (EVS) from 1981 to 2008. To identify causality, we use instrumental variables estimation. We exploit time and country level variation in five family policies as instruments for having children. For parents who have had children due to the generosity of family policies, having children increases parent's life satisfaction by 0.33–0.41 points on a 10 point scale. This effect is significantly more pronounced when parents are over the age of 50. Yet, children's effects on life satisfaction and happiness is negative for single and full-time working parents. The positive effect of having children on life satisfaction and happiness has substantially eroded over the EVS waves which explains the reductions in the fertility rate in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Work–life balance, as an effort to achieve a balance between work and personal (family) life, has been a key area of concern in labor policies since the early 2000s. One factor contributing to this trend is the implicit assumption that implementing a work–life balance policy increases people's life satisfaction. The association between work–life balance and life satisfaction, however, is not self-evident. In this article, we investigate the effect of work–life balance on life satisfaction using data on men and women in OECD countries. A cross-sectional analysis suggests that implementing work–life balance policy leads to the improvement of life satisfaction for both men and women. However, the work–life balance elasticity of life satisfaction—the percentage change in life satisfaction in response to a 1% change in the level of work–life balance—is greater for men than for women. Conventionally, work–life balance issues have predominantly been thought to concern women rather than men. The present results imply that institutional design that adequately incorporates the work–life balance of both men and women is important for increasing life satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]