Determinants of life satisfaction among teenagers in the United States

PREAND POST-MIGRATION ATTITUDES AMONG GHANAIAN INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES: A STUDY OF ACCULTURATION AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING Nicole L. Fischer, Ph.D. A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2012 Major Director: Shawn O. Utsey, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology Department of Psychology This qualitative study investigated attitudes among international students prior to their departure and following their arrival in the United States through a phenomenological research approach. Eight participants completed individual interviews in Accra, Ghana, and four participants completed follow-up email correspondence. The purpose of the study was to explain pre-migration expectations, post-migration experiences, and compare similarities and differences between perceptions and actual encounters. The researcher investigated five principle components of pre-migration: satisfaction with life prior to departure from the country of origin, impressions and expectations of the host country and predominate influences, awareness of discrimination in the host country, and culture-specific coping strategies used to overcome challenges related to acculturation. The researcher also investigated similar components of post-migration. The results of this study are consistent with those of prior acculturation research. Regarding pre-migration, participants acknowledged the following: the importance of preparation prior to departure, the likelihood of an adjustment period upon arrival, specific goals to strive for during the time abroad, and the emotional impact of discrimination and racism. Regarding post-migration, participants acknowledged the following: stress related to unfamiliar experiences with discrimination, stress related to overwhelming academic responsibilities, and the importance of culture-specific coping strategies, (e.g. family support and religiosity). The results of this study also identified new information regarding preand post-migration. Participants discussed a yearning to meet new people and gain exposure to foreign perspectives and viewpoints; however, they also expressed a strong desire to return home afterward and impart knowledge to others. Upon their arrival, participants recalled unanticipated causes of stress including transportation, time management, and communication with foreign counterparts. This study draws attention to the steadily increasing population of international students from Ghana living in the United States. The findings indicate that mental health professionals and academic advisors must consider the geographic and cultural context from which international students arrive and gather insight to enhance social, emotional, and academic resources prior to departure and immediately following arrival. This study also makes the case that current resources do not adequately account for the array of cultural differences between the United States and West African countries.

Previous studies have shown that the values essential to well-being vary across individuals and cultures. Most cross-cultural well-being studies have focused on cultural differences related to the importance of specific values such as achievement and universalism. Recently, however, some researchers focusing on East Asian cultures have noted the importance of wholeness, integration, and balance in well-being, where individual, social, and environmental factors are harmoniously integrated. The current study focuses on the balance individuals strike among each of the following values: (1) intrapersonal values, which they fulfill personally; (2) interpersonal values, which they fulfill in their relationships with others; and (3) extra-personal values, which they fulfill in their relationships with society as a whole and the greater world. Specifically, two aspects of the balance of values: (A) Value Diversity: the extent of diversity in value selection by identifying how many of the three predefined value categories were chosen, (B) Value Proportion: the relative emphasis placed on each value category by identifying which of the three value categories was selected more frequently. Using a large-scale online survey, we explored the relationship between the balance of values and life satisfaction (satisfaction with one’s current life) and resilience (the tendency to recover from negative events) among participants in Japan (n = 5,219) and the United States (n = 4,818), spanning various age and socioeconomic groups. The results indicated that, regardless of country, individuals with greater Value Diversity exhibited higher resilience. Those who placed greater emphasis on extra-personal values also tended to be more resilient. In Japan, but not in the United States, a stronger emphasis on extra-personal values was associated with higher life satisfaction. These findings suggest that while the relationship between Value Proportion and life satisfaction differs across cultures—being observed in Japan but not in the United States—the balance of multiple values, rather than reliance on a single value type, appears to contribute to the resilience that supports future well-being in both countries, and thus not only in East Asian cultures.

This study explores the potential impact of cultural orientation on the relationship between financial satisfaction, life satisfaction, and political action within the United States and South Korea. The total sample size was 3,432 individuals (United States = 2,232, South Korea = 1,200). 1 confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) model and a path analysis model were assessed using a maximum likelihood estimation. The findings showed a strong positive relationship between financial satisfaction and life satisfaction in both countries. Also, in both countries, more progressive individuals participated in more political actions. When exploring political action, we find an inverse relationship—with greater political action among lower‐income individuals in the United States and greater political action among higher‐income in South Korea. In South Korea (culturally “collectivistic”), middle‐income individuals were also found to participate in political actions that likely benefit larger segments of society. From a cultural dimensions theory perspective, these data suggest political actions in the United States (classified as “individualistic”) were largely conducted by low‐income individuals, potentially as means to enhance their individual well‐being.

The present study tested preregistered predictions regarding the prospective associations between level and change in subjective well-being (SWB) and physical health. In two large longitudinal panel studies conducted in the United States (N = 3294) and Japan (N = 657), we used multilevel growth curve models to estimate level and change in components of SWB (i.e., life satisfaction, positive affect, and negative affect). Next, we used random intercepts and slopes to predict subsequent self-reported general health and number of chronic health conditions (in the United States and Japan) and mortality risk (in the United States). Greater life satisfaction, higher positive affect, and lower negative affect were associated with better health (0.22 < |β values| < 0.46) and longer survival. Above and beyond SWB level, longitudinal increases in life satisfaction and positive affect and longitudinal decreases in negative affect were associated with better health (0.06 < |β values| < 0.20). Moreover, all three SWB components independently predicted health, and life satisfaction and negative affect independently predicted survival. The preregistration and analysis scripts are available at osf.io/mz9gy. The present findings suggest that being happy and becoming happier across time are independently associated with better physical health in the United States and Japan.

Background:Despite having one of the highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita levels, United States (US) ranks lower in subjective well-being, including happiness and life satisfaction, compared with European countries. Studies of the impact of happiness and life satisfaction on life expectancy and mortality in the US are limited or non-existent. Using a national longitudinal dataset, we examined the association between levels of happiness/life satisfaction and US life expectancy and all-cause mortality.Methods:We analyzed the 2001 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) prospectively linked to 2001-2014 mortality records in the National Death Index (NDI) (N=30,377). Cox proportional hazards regression was used to model survival time as a function of happiness, life satisfaction, and sociodemographic and behavioral covariates.Results:Life expectancies at age 18 among adults with high levels of happiness and life satisfaction were, respectively, 7.5 and 8.9 years higher compared to those with low levels of happiness and life satisfaction. In Cox models with 14 years of mortality follow-up, all-cause mortality risk was 82% higher (hazard ratio [HR]=1.82; 95% CI=1.59,2.08) in adults with little or no happiness, controlling for age, and 36% higher (HR=1.36; 95% CI=1.17,1.57) in adults with little/no happiness, controlling for sociodemographic, behavioral and health characteristics, when compared with adults reporting happiness all of the time. Mortality risk was 107% higher (HR=2.07; 95% CI=1.80,2.38) in adults who were very dissatisfied with their life, controlling for age, and 39% higher (HR=1.39; 95% CI=1.20,1.60) in adults who were very dissatisfied, controlling for all covariates, when compared with adults who were very satisfied.Conclusions and Global Health Implications:Adults with higher happiness and life satisfaction levels had significantly higher life expectancy and lower all-cause mortality risks than those with lower happiness and satisfaction levels. These findings underscore the significance of addressing subjective well-being in the population as a strategy for reducing all-cause mortality.

This is a descriptive comparative study which by definition is concerned with describing similarities and differences that exist across large population groups across national boundaries (J. S. Jackson, 2002). This study explores the differences and similarities of perceptions of aging among five countries and analyzes how the age, gender, marital status, income levels, and country of residence of the participants influence those perceptions. According to the literature review, demographic variables such as age, gender, and income level influence how people perceive aging and older adults. This study was designed first to determine if people in other countries have differing perceptions of aging and older adults, and second to determine if and how these demographic variables influence perceptions of aging and older adults in different cultures.The overall research question driving this study is people from differing countries, and therefore cultures, view aging and older people And based on the findings discussed in the literature review, the additional questions are as follows:a. Do older participants in different countries perceive having a higher life satisfaction than younger people?b. Do males in different countries have a higher life satisfaction than females?c. Do participants with lower income levels have less positive perceptions of quality of life for people older than 65 years than do participants with higher income levels?d. Does marital status influence how participants in different countries perceive aging and older adults?In addition to answering these research questions, the findings from this study can answer some commonly held beliefs about perceptions of aging in other countries, such as the following:1. Do younger participants in Japan perceive that people older than 65 years receive the right amount of respect?2. Do participants in the Dominican Republic perceive having poor life satisfaction?3. Do participants in the United States perceive that the impact of the quality of life after age 75 years will be determined by decisions made by themselves?4. Are there more similarities in the perceptions of aging and older people among participants in the developed countries of the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, and France than with a developing country such as the Dominican Republic?FINDINGS FROM THE STUDYAlthough each of these questions has been answered in previous chapters, this section is an opportunity to bring the findings together in answer to the research questions posed at the start.The answer to the main research question Do people from differing countries, and therefore cultures, view aging and older people differently? has already been answered in the affirmative. There are differences among respondents in the five countries regarding perceptions of aging and older people.The following are the answers to the specific questions posed as a result of the literature review.1. Do older participants in different countries perceive having a higher life satisfaction than younger people? This study found that in Japan, the older the participants, the more they perceive having greater life satisfaction. However, in the United States and France, the younger the participants, the more they perceive having greater life satisfaction. The statistical analysis determined that age neither have an influence on the perception of life satisfaction in the United Kingdom nor in the Dominican Republic.2. Do males in different countries have a higher life satisfaction than females? This study found that in the United States and Japan, female participants have higher life satisfaction than male participants. However, in the Dominican Republic, male participants have higher life satisfaction than female participants. The statistical analysis found that gender neither have an influence on the perception of life satisfaction in the United Kingdom nor in France. …

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Being grateful has been associated with many positive outcomes, including greater happiness, positive affect, optimism, and self-esteem. There is limited research, however, on the associations between gratitude and different domains of life satisfaction across cultures. The current study examined the associations between gratitude and three domains of life satisfaction, including satisfaction in relationships, work, and health, and overall life satisfaction, in the United States and Japan. A total of 945 participants were drawn from two samples of middle aged and older adults, the Midlife Development in the United States and the Midlife Development in Japan. There were significant positive bivariate associations between gratitude and all four measures of life satisfaction. In addition, after adjusting for demographics, neuroticism, extraversion, and the other measures of satisfaction, gratitude was uniquely and positively associated with satisfaction with relationships and life overall but not with satisfaction with work or health. Furthermore, results indicated that women and individuals who were more extraverted and lived in the United States were more grateful and individuals with less than a high school degree were less grateful. The findings from this study suggest that gratitude is uniquely associated with specific domains of life satisfaction. Results are discussed with respect to future research and the design and implementation of gratitude interventions, particularly when including individuals from different cultures.

Residents of the United States and China have responded very differently to the implementation of COVID-19 preventive measures. This study introduces the uncertainty reduction theory and the need for cognitive closure (NFC) framework into the context of a public health crisis and compares models across the United States and China. Specifically, we collected survey data to examine how NFC, trust in government, and attitudes toward preventive measures predicted pandemic compliance behaviors, depressive symptoms, and life satisfaction among 745 college students (399 from China and 346 from the United States). Chinese participants trusted their government more, believed COVID preventive measures to be more beneficial, and reported more pandemic compliance and fewer depressive symptoms than U.S. participants. Trust in government and attitudes towards preventive measures mediated the relationships between NFC and pandemic compliance behaviors among Chinese participants but not U.S. participants. NFC predicted better mental health outcomes among participants in China compared to U.S. participants. Trust in government mediated NFC and mental health outcomes among Chinese participants. Trust in government predicted better mental health (fewer depressive symptoms and more life satisfaction) in both the United States and China. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings for promoting mental health and pandemic compliance behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic are discussed.

Diminished returns of educational attainment on life satisfaction among Black and Latino older adults transitioning into retirement

The contribution of leisure to overall satisfaction with life was investigated among older adults from Australia and the United States. Leisure variables included leisure activity participation, leisure satisfaction, and leisure constraints. Life satisfaction was evaluated as a global outcome using Life Satisfaction Index-Z. Cross-sectional, representative samples based on age (50–90 years), gender, and socio-demographic variables were developed within countries (Australia, N = 404, Mage = 67.9 years; US, N = 424, Mage = 67.7 years). Multivariate analysis of variance was employed to examine the effects of age, gender, and country on the leisure variables and global measure of life satisfaction. The two countries were significantly different from one another on all dependent measures, gender effects were found for leisure activity participation, and age cohorts differed significantly on perceived life satisfaction and leisure activity participation. Findings from hierarchical regression analysis showed that age plus all leisure variables, collectively, explained 32.8% of the variance in life satisfaction in the Australia sample and 28% of the variance in life satisfaction in the U.S. sample. Findings are discussed regarding the contribution of the multi-dimensional attributes of leisure to overall life satisfaction in old age. It appeared from this exploratory study that satisfaction with leisure is at least as important as activity participation and, perhaps, even more important in contributing to overall life satisfaction.

Attachment insecurity can interfere with the experience, expression, and benefits of positive emotions, including happiness and life satisfaction (LS). However, both the pattern and effects of insecure attachment orientations on LS vary across cultures. Considering that attachment anxiety is higher in collectivist cultures and attachment avoidance is relatively high in individualistic cultures, the present chapter elaborates on the idea that anxious and avoidant attachment would have varying effects on LS in individualistic and collectivistic cultural contexts. Study 1 (N = 2456) involved a community sample of married couples in Turkey and demonstrated that attachment avoidance was a stronger predictor of LS than attachment anxiety in Turkish collectivist context. Study 2 tested the hypothesis that the roles of attachment anxiety and avoidance in predicting LS would vary between collectivistic and individualistic cultures. Mothers’ adult attachment dimensions and LS in Turkey (N = 89) and the United States (N = 91) were measured. As expected, results indicated that LS was predicted only by attachment avoidance in Turkey and by attachment anxiety in the United States. These findings are in line with the cultural fit hypothesis, suggesting that culturally incongruent attachment orientations have a stronger negative impact on individuals’ LS.

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