Global Life Satisfaction Research Articles

Reliability of Physician-Level Measures of Patient Experience in Primary Care.

Patient experience measures are widely used to compare performance at the individual physician level. To assess the impact of unmeasured patient characteristics on visit-level patient experience measures and the sample sizes required to reliably measure patient experience at the primary care physician (PCP) level. Repeated cross-sectional design. Academic family medicine practice in California. One thousand one hundred forty-one adult patients attending 1319 visits with 56 PCPs (including 45 resident and 11 faculty physicians). Post-visit patient experience surveys including patient measures used for standard adjustment as recommend by the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) Consortium and additional patient characteristics used for expanded adjustment (including attitudes toward healthcare, global life satisfaction, patient personality, current symptom bother, and marital status). The amount of variance in patient experience explained doubled with expanded adjustment for patient characteristics compared with standard adjustment (R2 = 20.0% vs. 9.6%, respectively). With expanded adjustment, the amount of variance attributable to the PCP dropped from 6.1% to 3.4% and the required sample size to achieve a reliability of 0.90 in the physician-level patient experience measure increased from 138 to 255 patients per physician. After ranking of the 56 PCPs by average patient experience, 8 were reclassified into or out of the top or bottom quartiles of average experience with expanded as compared to standard adjustment [14.3% (95% CI: 7.0-25.2%)]. Widely used methods for measuring PCP-level patient experience may not account sufficiently for influential patient characteristics. If methods were adapted to account for these characteristics, patient sample sizes for reliable between-physician comparisons may be too large for most practices to obtain.

The effects of basic psychological need satisfaction during leisure and paid work on global life satisfaction

We investigated whether satisfaction of employees’ basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and/or relatedness during leisure positively impacted their leisure domain satisfaction (LSAT) and, in turn, whether LSAT positively influenced their global life satisfaction (GLS). To better understand the above, we simultaneously examined these same relationships in the paid work domain. Useable data were collected from 395 adults employed at least 20 h per week. Structural equation modeling indicated that satisfaction of all three needs positively affected LSAT; with autonomy having the greatest effect. In comparison, although autonomy and relatedness need satisfaction positively affected work domain satisfaction (WSAT), competence’s effect was not significant. LSAT and WSAT positively, and age negatively, affected GLS; collectively explaining 48.6% of the total variance. Our findings largely support basic psychological needs theory in both the leisure and work domains and, furthermore, suggest these two contexts are equally effectual in regard to GLS.

Examining the within-person effect of affect on daily satisfaction

Assessments of global life satisfaction capture beliefs about overall well-being; state satisfaction assessments focus on short-term or “in-the-moment” appraisals of current life circumstances. Prior research has examined how trait measures of life satisfaction and affect are related at between-person and within-person levels of analysis. At the state level, however, a lack of clarity exists about the nature and magnitude of the association between satisfaction and affect. In a diary study involving assessments of both affect and satisfaction at the daily level (N=350 with 6024 assessments), we found a consequential effect of affect on state satisfaction due to greater within-person variance over time.

The questionnaire for Eudaimonic well-being (QEWB): Psychometric properties in a non-western adolescent sample

In the present study, we examined the reliability and validity of the Questionnaire for Eudaimonic Well-Being (QEWB; Waterman et al., 2010) in a sample of 708 adolescent students belonging to one of the southern states in India, Kerala. The internal consistency reliability estimate suggested that the QEWB was reliable. Results of confirmatory factor analysis provided support for factorial validity of the QEWB. Results of bivariate correlational analyses provided support for convergent validity (relations with global and domain-specific life satisfaction), discriminant validity (relations with Big Five personality traits), and construct validity (relations with global self-esteem and social anxiety) of the QEWB. The test-retest reliability coefficient demonstrated the temporal stability of the QEWB (n=526). Results of multi-group confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the QEWB was invariant across genders.

Psychoeducational groups for adults with ADHD and their significant others (PEGASUS): A pragmatic multicenter and randomized controlled trial

ObjectiveTo examine the feasibility, efficacy, and effectiveness of PEGASUS, a group-based structured psychoeducation for adults with ADHD and their significant others. MethodA pragmatic parallel group add-on design multicenter randomized controlled trial was conducted, comparing an 8-session treatment with PEGASUS (allocated n=97; 48 with ADHD and 49 with significant others) to treatment as usual (TAU, allocated n=82; 39 with ADHD and 43 significant others). Participants (individuals with ADHD and significant others) were recruited from five psychiatric outpatient departments and block randomized to PEGASUS or TAU. Knowledge about ADHD was measured using the ADHD 20 scale pre- and post-intervention and served as primary outcome. ResultsKnowledge about ADHD (d=0.97 [95% CI: 0.61–1.31]) increased following PEGASUS participation compared to TAU. Improvements were also observed in secondary outcomes e.g. global life satisfaction (d=0.25 [95% CI: from –0.09 to 0.59]). Overall treatment satisfaction was good. Over 90% of the participants completed the program. Post-intervention data was obtained from n=89 in PEGASUS group and n=70 in TAU group and analyses were conducted per protocol. No important adverse effects or side effects were observed. ConclusionsGroup-based structured psychoeducation PEGASUS for adults with ADHD and their significant others is a feasible, efficacious, and effective treatment option to increase ADHD knowledge and general life satisfaction in psychiatric outpatient care.

Reliability of Life Satisfaction Measures in Middle School Students

A total of 248 students from one Southeastern U.S. middle school responded to measures of global and domain-based life satisfaction on three occasions, reflecting 5-month, 7-month, and 1-year time intervals. Alpha coefficients were all above .80 for each global and domain-based score on each occasion. The test–retest coefficients were variable, underscoring the importance of contextual factors in life satisfaction reports. Nevertheless, with the exception of the Friends domain, the retest coefficients for the global and domain-based scores all exceeded .50 across all three intervals, suggesting a moderate degree of stability yet potential sensitivity to changing life circumstances.

Relation entre l’intérêt et le bien-être au collège et au lycée

This research examines the relationship between interest and well-being based on data collected from 1,192 high school and school students in four different grades (6th, 9th, 10th, 12th). Three dimensions of interest (school, French, mathematics) are measured using the multidimensional scale of academic interest (EMIA). These three dimensions are related to school satisfaction and global life satisfaction. The results show a decline in interest from grade 6th to grade 9th for academic interest and French interest. A similar decrease in interest in mathematics is also observed but continues to 10th grade. A significant burst of the three forms of interest is measured in 12th grade compared to the 10th or 9th grade. A pathway model also validates the link between interest and well-being. It shows that the effect of the specific interests of the two subjects taken into account by the EMIA is mediated by the academic interest (Interest in learning).

Relation entre l’intérêt et le bien-être au collège et au lycée

Cette recherche étudie la relation entre l’intérêt et le bien-être en s’appuyant sur des données récoltées auprès de 1 192 élèves de collèges et de lycées appartenant à quatre classes différentes (6éme, 3 éme , seconde, terminale). Trois dimensions de l’intérêt (scolaire, français, mathématiques) sont mesurées au moyen de l’Échelle multidimensionnelle d’intérêt académique (EMIA) et sont mises en relation avec la satisfaction de vie scolaire et la satisfaction de vie générale de l’élève. Les résultats mettent en évidence un déclin de l’intérêt de la 6 éme à la 3 éme pour l’intérêt scolaire et l’intérêt en français. Une diminution similaire de l’intérêt en mathématiques est également observée mais cette dernière se poursuit jusqu’en seconde. Un sursaut significatif des trois formes d’intérêt est mesuré en terminale par rapport à la seconde ou à la troisième, mais il reste en deçà de l’intérêt en 6ème. Un modèle en piste causale valide également le lien entre l’intérêt et le bien-être. Il montre que l’effet des intérêts spécifiques aux deux matières prises en compte par l’EMIA est médiatisé par l’intérêt scolaire qui renvoie plus globalement à l’intérêt pour l’apprentissage.

Confirmation of Subjective Wellbeing Set-Points: Foundational for Subjective Social Indicators

The usefulness of subjective wellbeing (SWB) as a social indicator rests on understanding what controls its level when measured through self-report data. While the theory of SWB homeostasis provides a cogent explanatory framework for the control processes, this theory relies on set-points, and direct evidence for their existence rests on a single study. Cummins et al. (J Happiness Stud 15:183–206, 2014. doi: 10.1007/s10902-013-9444-9) demonstrated a normal range of set-points between 71 and 90 points on a 0–100 scale, using data on global life satisfaction (GLS). These findings are consistent with homeostasis theory, which proposes that set-points account for the normal positivity of SWB while its stability is accounted for by homeostatic processes. The current paper extends the first report in two ways. First, by replicating the range of set-points using a different data set. Second, by extending the findings to homeostatically protected mood (HPMood), which is proposed to be the basic psychological molecule that homeostasis seeks to protect. Participants completed between 5 and 10 surveys. Data preparation involved the iterative elimination of scores based on significant deviation from their over-time mean score. It is confirmed that GLS and HPMood set-points are both normally distributed between 75 and 90 points. These results offer further support for the usefulness of SWB as a social indicator.

Are there differences in the mental health status of adolescents in Puducherry?

The present study assessed the mental health of adolescents in Puducherry, India. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 291 students (121 male and 170 female) in the 14-17year old age group, grades IX and XI. The students were recruited from private, public, co-ed and single sex schools. Along with a Structured Questionnaire, the Mental Health Inventory was administered. We sought to investigate as to whether there would be differences in mental health status of adolescents based on age, class, gender and other demographic variables. There were significant age differences with respect to global mental health, psychological distress, anxiety and loss of behavioural/emotional control. Family type-wise significant differences in global mental health, life satisfaction and loss of behavioural/emotional control were also found. Significant differences were observed with respect to global mental health, psychological well-being, positive effects, psychological distress and depression across socio-economic groups. Number of siblings also accounted for differences in anxiety and emotional ties. However, no significant gender differences were observed across mental health sub-scales. Results suggest the need for promotion of mental health awareness and intervention programs for adolescents, their parents and teachers. There is also a need for advocacy in children and adolescent rights regarding welfare, well-being and protection from violence. The objective is to enhance psychological well-being and reduce psychological distress in students across different social strata.

主观幸福感度量研究进展及其对智慧城市建设的启示 = Measures of subjective well-being: A review

In recent years, subjective well-being has attracted increasing attention in psychology, economics, and sociology. Geographical studies on the topic in English language is also growing rapidly. Since measurement is the foundation of empirical studies, this article reviews the major approaches to measuring subjective well-being.We first provide a theoretical framework of subjective well-being, in which two major components are identified: the cognitive component which is mainly known as life satisfaction; and the affective well-being which is usually termed as positive affect and negative affect. Each component can be further divided according to its temporal span. Previous studies mainly adopt self-reported scales to measure different components of subjective well-being, while some facial or ecological indicators are also developed to measure short-term emotions. The self-reported scales are quite flexible and probably provide the most proper insights into individuals' subjectively experienced well-being. These scales can be classified into two types: while the reflective scales select items based on a latent model, the formative scales consider the items as different facets which can be aggregated within an aggregate model or profile model. In general, more reflective scales of subjective well-being have been developed as compared to formative scales. The most widely used scales to measure life satisfaction include the single-item self-anchoring scale and the 5-item Satisfaction with Life Scale.Some formative scales such as the 8-item Personal Well-Being Index(PWI) were also developed to assess one's global life satisfaction. The most often applied measures of affective well-being include the single-item Gurin scale, the multi-item core affect model, and PANAS. Special methods such as the Experience Sampling Method and Day Reconstruction Method and artificial indicators such as U-index were also developed to measure emotional experiences in activity episodes. The current article also reviews the strengths and weakness of those measures. In order to reduce the biases and errors of measurement caused by respondents' cognitive process and the artificially assigned weights for various sub-domains, the multi-item reflective scales are recommended.However, future studies should develop better understanding of the convergence among various measures of subjective well-being. It is also necessary to pay more attention to the cognitive mechanism of evaluating global well-being and select proper models in empirical analysis. Based on the review of measures of subjective wellbeing and empirical studies in English literature, this article proposes some important topics and issues for future studies in Chinese human geography. This review article mainly contributes to existing literature by providing a framework to understand and design measures of subjective well-being and introducing some widely adopted scales which are readily available for the Chinese geographers to collect data in future studies. This article also points out that existing studies about smart cities mainly focus on the application of information technologies in the analysis of urban built environment and human activities. However, not many studies have investigated the question to what extent smart cities may promote people's subjective well-being. Therefore, the measures of subjective well-being summarized in this article may provide a pool of indicators to monitor national well-being and facilitate the development of smarter cities.

Life dissatisfaction is associated with depression and poorer surgical outcomes among lumbar spinal stenosis patients: a 10-year follow-up study

Life satisfaction is associated with overall somatic health and the short-term surgical outcome in lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) patients. In this study, the long-term relationship between life satisfaction and the surgical outcome in LSS patients was investigated in a 10-year follow-up. This prospective clinical study included 102 LSS patients who underwent decompressive surgery. They completed a set of questionnaires first preoperatively and then 6 times postoperatively (at 3 and 6 months, and at 1, 2, 5 and 10 years). The final study population at the 10-year follow-up comprised 72 patients. A four-item life satisfaction scale was used to measure global life satisfaction. The sum of all seven life satisfaction scores provided a measure of the life dissatisfaction burden over the entire 10-year follow-up. Depression was measured using the Beck Depression Inventory. The surgical outcome was evaluated using the Oswestry Disability Index, pain evaluation (visual analogue scale), self-reported walking capacity and overall satisfaction with the surgery. Both preoperative life dissatisfaction and the long-term life dissatisfaction burden were associated with poorer 10-year surgical outcomes (i.e. Oswestry Disability Index and visual analogue scale) in logistic regression analyses. Life dissatisfaction was also associated with symptoms of depression. Monitoring subjective well-being, especially life satisfaction and mood, in LSS patients before and after surgery may help in detecting those at risk of a poorer long-term surgical outcome.

Orthostatic cardiovascular profile of subjective well-being

Previous clinical and elderly population studies have found that affective well-being can be assessed by clino-orthostatic cardiovascular reactivity. This study explored this relationship in a young healthy sample, and with respect to cognitive appraisals of well-being. Four successive readings of blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) after lying down (clinostatic probe) followed by four successive readings after standing up (orthostatic probe) were obtained from 52 healthy students along with questionnaire-reported well-being. Analyses indicated that a deeper drop of systolic BP (SBP) and mean arterial (MAP) pressure during supine was related to higher positive mood, but higher and more stable orthostatic MAP and HR response were related to lower negative mood. A higher diastolic BP while standing upright and lower SBP in general were associated with higher optimism and higher global life satisfaction, respectively. The findings confirm previous results and indicate that cognitive appraisals of well-being are also related to BP regulation.

Global life satisfaction predicts ambulatory affect, stress, and cortisol in daily life in working adults.

Global life satisfaction has been linked with long-term health advantages, yet how life satisfaction impacts the trajectory of long-term health is unclear. This paper examines one such possible mechanism-that greater life satisfaction confers momentary benefits in daily life that accumulate over time. A community sample of working adults (n=115) completed a measure of life satisfaction and then three subsequent days of ecological momentary assessment surveys (6times/day) measuring affect (i.e., emotional valence, arousal), and perceived stress, and also provided salivary cortisol samples. Multilevel models indicated that people with higher (vs. lower) levels of life satisfaction reported better momentary affect, less stress, marginally lower momentary levels and significantly altered diurnal slopes of cortisol. Findings suggest individuals with high global life satisfaction have advantageous daily experiences, providing initial evidence for potential mechanisms through which global life satisfaction may help explain long-term health benefits.

Employment Guarantee and Other Determinants of Subjective Wellbeing in Rural India: A Case Study from Tamil Nadu

Large-scale socially oriented interventions that rely on monetary transfers have recently become something of a development mantra. These cash-based schemes are founded on the implicit assumption that extra income will translate into improvements in other domains of wellbeing. This paper examines this assumption by focusing on the effects of the Indian Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), a large social-security oriented and legally grounded public works intervention, on subjective wellbeing. It provides a case study from Tamil Nadu which draws on our own field research comprising 1,264 structured interviews in rural households. It was designed as a quasi-counterfactual study to compare the effects of MGNREGS in a region where it was widely implemented (in Sivaganga district) with a similar region (in Thanjavur district) with a population largely unaffected by MGNREGS at the time of our survey. The secondary objective of the paper is to examine the extent to which variables of subjective wellbeing, self-reported poverty, and income (and their predictors) overlap. The results suggest that wide implementation of MGNREGS is associated with higher global (absolute) life satisfaction but not with higher (relative) local life satisfaction. It is also associated with lower self-reported poverty and higher probability of escaping from poverty but not with lower probability of declining into poverty. In addition, the analysis confirms that income, global life satisfaction, local life satisfaction, and self-reported poverty are discrete, though correlated, concepts.

Global Life Satisfaction in Adolescence

Abstract. Positive levels of global life satisfaction are associated with a broad range of positive personal, psychological, and social outcomes both in the present and future. However, for adolescents, little is known about the underlying personal characteristics that predict global life satisfaction. Thus, the aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between personality traits, self-esteem, self-efficacy, and global life satisfaction in a sample of 437 Swiss adolescents attending the second last year of compulsory school. Results have shown that conscientiousness, neuroticism, extraversion, self-esteem, and self-efficacy are significantly associated with global life satisfaction. Moreover, self-esteem seems to be a mediator of the relationship between personality traits and global life satisfaction, suggesting that it might be considered as a process variable regulating behaviors, feelings, and thoughts that are related to personality dimensions.

Exploring the Contributions of School Belonging to Complete Mental Health Screening

Considering the many positive outcomes associated with adolescents’ sense of school belonging, including psychological functioning, it is possible that including an assessment of school belonging within a complete mental health screening process could contribute to the prediction of students’ future mental health status. This exploratory study used complete mental health screening data obtained from a central California high school (N = 1,159). At Time 1 (T1) schoolwide screening was used to identify complete mental health groups by applying a dual-factor strategy and concurrently measuring students’ school belonging. One year later at Time 2 (T2), social-emotional wellbeing and internal distress were assessed. Cross-sectional T1 results indicated that there were significant differences in school belonging between students who reported low global life satisfaction and those who reported average or high global life satisfaction, regardless of reported level of psychological distress. A comparison of T1 to T2 data revealed that global life satisfaction and psychological distress were predictive of wellbeing and internal distress. However, contrary to study expectations, school belonging at T1 added little to the prediction of T2 psychological distress beyond the information already provided by the T1 dual-factor screening framework. Implications for practice and future directions are discussed.

Children as Saviors? A Propensity Score Analysis of the Impact of Teenage Motherhood on Personal Transformation

Teenage mothers often report immense personal benefits of children, claiming that motherhood reordered their priorities, provided a sense of purpose, and prevented a worse fate, yet the potentially beneficial impacts of early motherhood receive little empirical attention. This study employs propensity score analysis using nearest neighbor matching to assess the causal effect of teenage motherhood on personal transformation (i.e., self-worth, life satisfaction, and orientation toward risk, the future, and relationships) using first- and third-wave National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health data from 7,563 female respondents. The study finds that teenage mothers are more risk averse than similarly situated non-mothers. Contrary to qualitative narratives, though, adolescent mothers express lower global life satisfaction than their counterparts and do not differ from them in self-worth, future orientation, or relationship orientation. Excepting risk aversion, these results imply that accounts of transformation may be less about realized transformation than projecting competent identities that counter stigma.

Gender Differences in the Relationship Between Domain-Specific and General Life Satisfaction: A Study in Iran and Serbia

Although the associations between satisfaction with life domains (DS) and global life satisfaction (GLS) are well-documented, the roles of culture and gender in this relationship remain largely unknown. The main aim of the present study was to examine the relationships between DS and GLS among women and men in Iran and Serbia, after establishing measurement invariance across groups. In addition, we investigated gender and country differences in DS and GLS. The sample was comprised of 623 undergraduate students from Iran and Serbia. Participants completed measures of GLS and satisfaction with the following seven domains: standard of living, health, achieving in life, relationships, safety, community-connectedness, and future security. Satisfaction with achieving in life and standard of living had similar unique contributions to GLS among Iranian women and men, whereas satisfaction with achieving in life was a stronger predictor of GLS than satisfaction with standard of living among Serbian women and men. These two domains were the only significant predictors of GLS in Serbian women and men, whereas gender-specific predictors of GLS were found in Iran. The results demonstrated that students in Serbia reported higher GLS and DS than Iranian students. Furthermore, we found that women reported higher GLS and DS than men did, with the exception of satisfaction with standard of living for which no significant gender differences were found. The present study provides new insights into the role of gender in the relationship between DS and GLS across cultures.

The relationship between children's perceptions of the natural environment and their subjective well-being

The overarching aim of the study was to ascertain the relationship between children's perceptions of the natural environment and their subjective well-being. More specifically the study aimed to fit a structural model depicting the nature of the relationship between children's environmental views and their global, and domain-specific life satisfaction. The sample included 1004 twelve-year-old participants randomly selected from 15 primary schools in Cape Town, South Africa. The measuring instrument included the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) Scale for children, the Students' Life Satisfaction Scale and the Personal Well-Being Index-School Children. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to test the validity of the NEP Scale which showed appropriate fit structure. A good fit structure was also found for the overall structural equation model. However, the overall model showed that children's environmental views were not related to their global life and domain-specific life satisfaction. At a foundational level, more research is required to allow for a better understanding of how children in differing circumstances construct and assign meaning to nature, and what their perceptions of nature are before we can begin to ask them when, how or why they engage in nature.