Thesis (M.S.)--Springfield College, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references.

abstract: Life satisfaction in people with physical disabilities is on average lower than people without disabilities. This reduction in life satisfaction may be due to a reduction in domain control. This study examines how domain control predicts life satisfaction when added to a model of other salient life satisfaction predictors. Using email survey methodology, five separate scales where used on two separate populations; people with (n= 44) and without (n= 43) a physical disability to determine each groups life satisfaction. It was found that when domain control is added to the bottom-up theory of life satisfaction, the independent direct relationships of domain control, domain importance, positive affect, and negative affect are eliminated from a stepwise multiple regression equation with domain satisfaction being the only significant predictor (â = 4.38, p< .001 for people with a physical disabilities and â = 5.48, p< .001 for people without a physical disability) of life satisfaction. The study results demonstrate that life satisfaction is predicted the same way for people with and without disabilities. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Recreation and Tourism Studies 2010

This master thesis focuses on values and life satisfaction of young adults. Theoretical part defines the concept of the terms "values", "life satisfaction", and "early adulthood". After that, results of the existing research on the topic of values and life satisfaction are introduced. Quantitative section of the empirical part examines the correlation between the level of importance of 23 values and the level of satisfaction in 23 different areas of life. Data sample consisted of 726 young adults. Quantitative section is followed by a qualitative research to compensate for deficiencies of the quantitative method. Results showed that 19 out of 23 areas have a statistically significant correlation between the level of value's importance and the level of satisfaction in the relevant area of life. One area of life manifested a statistically significant negative correlation. This research initiates a challenge to examine the relationship between the level of values' importance and the level of satisfaction in the respective areas of life more thoroughly. Keywords: values, life satisfaction, early adulthood

Abstract The main research objective was to ascertain ageing persons’ life satisfaction and associated health factors in a cross-sectional setting and its permanence and changes in a longitudinal setting. A secondary objective was to clarify the link between self-evaluated life satisfaction and mortality. The invited cohort was 55-years old persons born in 1935, not in permanent care, living in Oulu on 1.10.1990. In the first phase of data collection, in 1990–92 780 of 1008 persons invited participated. In the follow-up in 1996–97 previous participants were invited and 593 took part. In a second follow-up in 2007–08, 538 persons participated. This number-based on resources oriented study, formed the material N=744(55-yrs), N=572(62-yrs), N=527(72-yrs) in the cross-section, and N=445 in the longitudinal studies. In the research life satisfaction, its permanence and linked positive subjective and health factors of ageing persons was studied. Data was collected with questionnaires on health and well-being. In the cross-section setting, 65% of the 55-years old were life satisfied or very satisfied, the corresponding figure for 62-years old was 76% and for 72-years old 79%. Life satisfaction was linked with physical condition, experienced and mental health and, in addition, for 72-years old social support. In the longitudinal setting the participants’ life satisfaction in the same class was 54% for the first period and 59% for the following. The experienced life satisfaction of the 72-years old reflected the health factors of the 55-years old with almost the same emphasis on physical condition, experienced health and social support and most strongly on previous life satisfaction. Life satisfaction was also reflected in mortality in that there was a statistically significant difference in the survival between healthy persons who were satisfied or dissatisfied with life in the initial phase. The research showed that life satisfaction in mid-life is strongly associated with physical well-being and a lack of depression symptoms and that mid-life life satisfaction forecasts satisfaction as age increases. In health studies investigations it is important to take note of life satisfaction in well-being questions. / Tiivistelmä Tämän tutkimuksen päätavoitteena oli kuvata ikääntyvien henkilöiden elämäntyytyväisyyttä ja siihen liittyviä terveystekijöitä poikkileikkausasetelmissa sekä tyytyväisyyden muutoksia pitkittäisasetelmassa. Toisena tavoitteena oli selvittää elämäntyytyväisyyden yhteyttä kuolleisuuteen. Tutkimuskohorttiin kutsuttiin vuonna 1935 syntyneet, Oulussa 1.10.1990 asuneet ja pysyvän laitoshoidon ulkopuolella olleet 55-vuotiaat henkilöt (N=1012). Aineiston keruuseen eli ensimmäiseen vaiheeseen 1990–92 osallistui 831 henkilöä 1008 kutsutusta. Ensimmäiseen seurantavaiheeseen 1996–97 kutsuttiin aiemmin osallistuneet. Heistä 593 noudatti kutsua. Toiseen seurantatutkimukseen 2007–08 osallistui 538 tutkittavaa. Tämän määrällisen, tarkastelutavaltaan voimavarasuuntautuneen tutkimuksen aineiston muodostivat poikkileikkausasetelmissa elämäntyytyväisyyskyselyyn kaikissa vaiheissa vastanneet henkilöt (N=774 55-vuotiasta, N=572 62-vuotiasta, N=527 72-vuotiasta) ja pitkittäisasetelmassa kaikkiin vaiheisiin osallistuneet 445 henkilöä. Aineisto kerättiin haastatteluin, strukturoiduin kysymyslomakkein ja kliinisin mittauksin. Elämään tyytyväisiä oli poikkileikkausasetelmissa 55-vuotiaina 65&#160;%, 62-vuotiaina 76 % ja 72-vuotiaina 79&#160;%. Elämäntyytyväisyys liittyi fyysiseen kuntoon, koettuun ja psyykkiseen terveyteen ja 72-vuotiaana lisäksi sosiaaliseen tukeen. Pitkittäisasetelmassa elämäntyytyväisyys pysyi samassa tyytyväisyyden luokassa ensimmäisessä seurantavaiheessa 54&#160;%:lla ja toisessa seurantavaiheessa 59&#160;%:lla. Fyysinen kunto, koettu terveys ja sosiaalinen tuki, psyykkinen terveys sekä aiempi elämäntyytyväisyys korreloivat elämäntyytyväisyyteen. Elämäntyytyväisyys heijastui myös kuolleisuuteen niin, että alkuvaiheen elämään tyytyväisten ja tyytymättömien ei-vakavasti sairaiksi luokiteltujen henkilöiden eloonjäämisero oli merkitsevä. Tutkimus osoitti myös, että elämäntyytyväisyys 55-vuotiaana on vahvasti yhteydessä fyysiseen kuntoon ja masennusoireiden puuttumiseen. Keski-iän elämäntyytyväisyys ennustaa elämäntyytyväisyyttä iän karttuessa.

This study addresses the problem of reading among older adults and the relation of such reading to their sense of life satisfaction. The study also considers the relation between reading interests and activity of older adults and the availability to them of reading materials and services.

Magister Artium - MA / An extensive literature review on child well-being has signified a dearth in relevant South African research on the current topic. It has been established that the interplay of hope, life satisfaction and income level exerts a great impact on the well-being of children. Hence, this study aims to investigate the relationship between hope and life satisfaction among children in low and middle income communities in Cape Town. More specifically, the study aims to ascertain the moderating effect of income level on the relationship between hope and life satisfaction. The 3P Model of Subjective Well-Being (SWB) was used as a theoretical position conceptualising this study. The model categorizes the components of subjective well-being under temporal states of the Past, the Present and the Prospect (future), and therefore proposes that we evaluate our lives across these temporal states. The study used secondary data from the Children’s Worlds: International Survey on Children’s Well Being (2012). Data was collected across all 12 year old participants, within each participating school, by means of purposive sampling, with a total of 1004 participants. The questionnaire administered, incorporated Huebner’s (1991) Student Life Satisfaction Scale (SLSS) and Snyder’s et al. (1997) Children’s Hope Scale. Data was analysed by means of correlational analysis and results revealed that there is a significant relationship between hope and life satisfaction for both low and middle income communities. The Process Tool for Moderation Analysis revealed that income level moderates the relationship between hope and life satisfaction. Moreover, this relationship appeared to be stronger for the low income group than for the middle income group. Hence, this finding suggests that hope has a more pronounced impact on life satisfaction for the low income group than for the middle income group.

Few studies apply the Eriksonian model of identity formation to cross-cultural samples (3), even though issues of ethnicity and culture may inform a Hispanic woman’s self-concept (Phinney, 1996). Hispanic women may also be influenced by traditional gender role behaviors such as passivity or dependence that are outlined by marianismo (Stevens, 1973). A recent study of a multiethnic sample of emerging adult women and men found that purpose commitment mediated the effects of identity commitment on hope and life satisfaction (Burrow & Hill, 2011). The current research consists of two studies that replicate and expand upon the work of Burrow and Hill (2011). Study I replicated the work of Burrow and Hill (2011) among a sample of emerging adult Hispanic women, in order to assess the extent to which the original findings would replicate in a culturally distinct sample. Study II examined the role of marianismo, ethnic identity, and acculturation on identity commitment among emerging adult Hispanic women. Both studies utilized a sample of 532 female undergraduate psychology students, age 18 to 25, who self-identified as Hispanic and submitted data via online surveys. Both studies used self-report, quantitative data, which was analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results from Study I indicated good model fit and replicated the findings from Burrow and Hill (2011). Specifically, the direct effect of identity commitment on hope was fully contingent upon an individual’s level of purpose commitment, while the effect of identity commitment on life satisfaction was not contingent upon an individual’s level of purpose commitment. Results from Study II indicated that marianismo, Spanish proficiency, familiarity with Latino culture, and familiarity with American culture demonstrated statistically significant direct effects on identity commitment among emerging adult Hispanic women. Results indicated cultural convergence regarding the association of an individual’s identity with well-being through a sense of purpose. Findings also revealed the role of cultural factors in the extent to which Hispanic women commit to a personal identity. Future studies should employ mixed method research designs as a means to better ascertain implications of findings.

The main purpose of this dissertation is to establish happiness as a sociological research topic and examine the effects of economic inequality and marriage on happiness in cross-national contexts. Following a critical review on previous happiness studies, two cross-national studies and one longitudinal study focusing on Korean data are conducted for this purpose. In the first study, I examine the effects of objective and subjective inequality on happiness across 26 countries. Data from the International Social Survey Program 1999 and the World Values Surveys 1994-1999 are used for analyses. The results indicate that subjective inequality, not objective inequality, has a strong negative influence on happiness. In the second study, I examine the relationship between marriage and happiness across 72 countries, focusing on a comparison of marrieds, cohabitors, and never-married singles. Data from the World Value Surveys 1999-2008 are used for analyses. The results indicate that the relationship between marriage and happiness varies across nations. In the majority of countries, marriage is positively associated with happiness, but there are many countries where the relationship is non-existent or negative. Cohabitors are happier than never-married singles, but only in countries where marrieds are also happier than the never-married singles. Multi-level analyses show that the positive relationship between marriage and happiness is stronger in countries characterized by economic development and secular-rational culture. In the third study, I examine the continuation of the marriage effect on life satisfaction in Korea. Longitudinal data from the Korean Labor and Income Panel Study 1998-2008 are used for analyses. The results indicate that the selection effect (i.e., People with greater life satisfaction are more likely to get married.) exists in general but is moderated by the age effect. The increase of life satisfaction caused by marriage is maintained at least for 6 years or more. Thus, the positive relationship between marriage and life satisfaction in Korea is explained by both of the selection effect and the causal effect of marriage.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(エネルギー科学) / 甲第20015号 / エネ博第338号 / 新制||エネ||68(附属図書館) / 33111 / 京都大学大学院エネルギー科学研究科エネルギー社会・環境科学専攻 / (主査)教授 石原 慶一, 教授 宇根﨑 博信, 准教授 MCLELLAN Benjamin / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Energy Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

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