This paper studies the difference of life satisfaction profiles between Canadian immigrants and native-born Canadians. In particular, the thesis asks how years of residence in Canada affect the immigrant life satisfaction profile. Using microdata from the 2007 Canadian Health Community Survey, ordered probit and OLS models are employed to estimate the “life satisfaction equation”. The results show that immigrants reach their turning point in the U-shaped life satisfaction profile at age 50 for men and age 42 for women. This is 5 years later than native-born men, and 2 year earlier than native-born women. Further, the life satisfaction levels for immigrants are significantly lower than their native-born counterparts. The value of the low points from the U-shaped profile is 0.39 (on a 5-point scale) lower for immigrant men and 0.42 lower for immigrant women. Also, long-established immigrants (?10 years), have a slightly higher life satisfaction than recent immigrants (<10 years). / N/A

The thesis investigates methods of evaluating indexes that measure concepts of human values. My understanding of indexes, especially on how they relate to the real world and concepts (that are the objectives of the measurement), is influenced by my study of literature on models used in economic and in physics. We learn from this study of models the following: (1) regularities described in theories do not represent real world phenomena, which consist of many different forces acting simultaneously; (2) but such regularities are true in models, because they describe specific conditions under which regularities in nature are displayed; (3) there are more than one model that can represent the same phenomenon depending on which particular aspect of the phenomenon to focus on; and (4) the success of a model has to be evaluated partly by criteria that are independent from theoretical ones. Since the role indexes play in relation to real world and concepts are similar to the role models play in relation to theories, I have applied the above knowledge to propose the following three criteria to evaluate successful indexes: (1) Purpose-dependent criteria: criteria that are based on particular motivations of the measurement project; (2) Theory-dependent criteria: criteria that are reflected in the theories that expressly or implicitly guide the development of the project of measurement; and (3) Conditions-dependent criteria: criteria that are based on the conditions under which the index measures what it is designed to measure. I apply these three criteria of successful indexes to examine two projects of measuring human values, one called the Human Development Index developed by the United Nations Development Programme and the other called the Life Satisfaction Indicator developed by an officer at the Economic Planning Agency in Japan. Among the findings from the examination of those two indexes are that they can be the products of a mixture of concerns that include convenience, conventions, practicality, politics and consistency with relevant theories, and some of these concerns may conflict with each other. Another important finding is that because there are many assumptions made and simplifications applied in order to choose a quantitative representation of a human value, the application of the measure is limited. I conclude that both in using and in evaluating indexes of human values, it is important that we are aware of such limitations, so that we can more effectively know both how to avoid misusing the indexes and how to improve them over time.

Individuals with burn injuries increasingly survive their injury, but we know little about their psychological outcomes following the injury. This study examines life satisfaction outcomes for 260 individuals who sustained burn injuries and were assessed repeatedly over a five year period post-discharge with the Life Satisfaction Index (LSI), Functional Independence Measure (FIM), and Family Satisfaction Scale (FSS). Structural equation modeling was used to predict life satisfaction (LSI) based on functional impairment (FIM), family satisfaction (FSS), pain, and employment variables. Study participants were assessed at 12 months, 24 months, 48 months, and 60 months post discharge. Each time period assessed was analyzed as a model of life satisfaction predictors; additionally, a prospective model was proposed which combined data from all four time points in one path analysis of predictors of life satisfaction at 60 months post discharge. Results indicate that family satisfaction, functional independence, employment, and pain did not explain the variance associated with life satisfaction scores (variance explained ranged from 4% at 24 months post discharge to 11% at 60 months post discharge). Few paths in all five of the models proposed proved significant, suggesting that other factors influence life satisfaction in individuals with burn injuries. These results constitute an important addition to the limited literature surrounding psychological outcomes of those who suffer burn injury and have implications for future studies to advance research on this issue.

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The current study examined relationships among acculturation, parent-child relationship quality, and selected wellbeing indicators (health-related quality of life, life satisfaction, anxiety, depression, and stress) among a group of young adults from immigrant families of Asian and Hispanic descent. The first goal of the current study was to replicate previous research demonstrating a mixed relationship between acculturation and the wellbeing indicators. The second was to explain this relationship by testing for a moderation effect of parental care on the acculturation-wellbeing relationship. An examination of differences between members of the two ethnic groups on all measured variables served an exploratory purpose. Participants included 204 participants of Asian (N =80) and Hispanic (N = 124) descent who came from an immigrant family, or a family in which at least one parent was born outside of the U.S. Eligible respondents were also current students at the University of the North Texas who fell within the age range of 18-24, and the data for the current study was selected from a larger dataset (N = 1064). Results indicated that higher acculturation levels had a positive effect on each wellbeing indicator. Father Care and Mother Care were found to be significantly positively correlated with most outcome variables but neither parental care variable moderated the acculturation-wellbeing relationship. Asian and Hispanic participants differed on a number of predicting and outcome variables. Implications of the findings, limitations, and future directions are discussed.

I dagens samhälle riktas fokus på individens välbefinnande och olika metoder för att uppnå detta såväl privat som inom yrkeslivet. Emotionell intelligens (EI) har genom tidigare forskningsresultat visat sig ha ett positivt samband med livstillfredställelse, vilket är en komponent i individens subjektiva välbefinnande (SWB). Denna studie syftade till att utforska relationen mellan EI och livstillfredställelse med hänsyn till demografiska bakgrundsvariabler som ålder, kön, etnicitet, studietid och civilstånd. Deltagare var 101 högskolestudenter inom vårdande, pedagogiska, sociologiska och psykologiska studieinriktningar. Deltagarna besvarade självskattningsskalor utifrån instrument om EI (TMMS) och livstillfredställelse (SWLS). Resultatet visade ett positivt samband mellan EI och livstillfredställelse, särskilt vad gäller EI-förmågorna tydlighet och hantering av emotioner, emellertid kunde inte demografiska bakgrundsvariabler visa något betydande samband med livstillfredställelse. Fortsatt framtida forskning är viktig för att vinna djupare kunskaper om hur välmående kan uppnås för människor i olika livssituationer.

The purpose of the present study is to extend our current understanding of the effects of caregiver burden on life satisfaction by examining whether or not there are ethnic differences in coping strategies used to manage caregiving. Several specific hypotheses were tested in order to determine the linkages among age, gender, ethnicity (i.e., familism, filial piety), caregiver burden, coping with caregiving, and life satisfaction. A total of 103 Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White participants ages 60 and older were included in this study (mean age was 67.42; 16.5% male; 83.5 % female; 52.4% Hispanic; 47.6% Non-Hispanic White). The results suggest that demographics and certain coping skills can influence levels of life satisfaction and burden experienced by caregivers. The findings from this study shed light on how to structure effective psychoeducational interventions, facilitate adaptive coping, reduce burden, and improve life satisfaction for older adult caregivers.

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Yes / This study aims to investigate the impact of self and partner experiences of loneliness and social isolation on life satisfaction in people with dementia and their spousal carers. We used data from 1042 dementia caregiving dyads in the Improving the experience of Dementia and Enhancing Active Life (IDEAL) programme cohort. Loneliness was measured using the six-item De Jong Gierveld loneliness scale and social isolation using the six-item Lubben Social Network Scale. Data were analysed using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model framework. Self-rated loneliness was associated with poorer life satisfaction for both people with dementia and carers. The initial partner effects observed between the loneliness of the carer and the life satisfaction of the person with dementia and between social isolation reported by the person with dementia and life satisfaction of the carer were reduced to nonsignificance once the quality of the relationship between them was considered. Experiencing greater loneliness and social isolation is linked with reduced life satisfaction for people with dementia and carers. However, having a positive view of the quality of the relationship between them reduced the impact of loneliness and social isolation on life satisfaction. Findings suggest the need to consider the experiences of both the person with dementia and the carer when investigating the impact of loneliness and social isolation. Individual interventions to mitigate loneliness or isolation may enhance life satisfaction for both partners and not simply the intervention recipient. / ‘Improving the experience of Dementia and Enhancing Active Life: living well with dementia. The IDEAL study’ was funded jointly by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) through grant ES/L001853/2. ‘Improving the experience of Dementia and Enhancing Active Life: a longitudinal perspective on living well with dementia. The IDEAL-2 study’ is funded by Alzheimer’s Society, grant number 348, AS-PR2-16- 001.