Analyzing the Effect of Factors on Individuals’ Subjective Well-Being with Quantile Bayesian Structural Equation Modeling Approach

Abstract

This study investigates factors influencing individuals’ levels of subjective well-being by examining fundamental variables, called life domains, such as satisfaction with health, education, marriage, housing district, work life, social life, relationships, and public services. The aim is to understand how these domains affect various quantile values of subjective well-being. To achieve this, the Life Satisfaction Survey dataset for 2020, obtained from the Turkish Statistical Institute, was utilized, and Bayesian Quantile Structural Equation Modeling and Bayesian Structural Equation Modeling methods were applied. The empirical study indicates that all life domains were found to have a positive impact on subjective well-being, except for housing-district satisfaction and education satisfaction. In particular, for individuals with low subjective well-being, satisfaction with work life, relationships, and public services has a stronger effect on subjective well-being compared to those in higher quantiles. Conversely, marriage satisfaction has a stronger effect on subjective well-being among individuals in the higher quantiles. This study’s unique contribution is that examining subjective well-being according to quantile values provides detailed information on how the factors influencing individuals’ subjective well-being vary across different levels.