Increased Life Satisfaction Research Articles

Being Thankful for What You Have: A Systematic Review of Evidence for the Effect of Gratitude on Life Satisfaction.

Many studies suggest a link between gratitude and life satisfaction, including experimental tests of gratitude interventions. This paper presents a systematic review of recent literature on the influence of gratitude on life satisfaction. The aim of this research is to better understand the nature of the relationship between gratitude and life satisfaction and to evaluate the state of literature. A systematic search was conducted using four databases (APA PsycInfo, Scopus, Web of Science, and EBSCO), targeting articles published since 2010. Correlational studies were included if they used the GQ6 measure of gratitude and the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS). Intervention studies were included if they reported effects of a gratitude manipulation on SWLS scores. Forty-four articles (N = 16,529) focusing on gratitude and life satisfaction were ultimately selected. Among the selected studies, 18 employed experimental designs and 26 were cross-sectional studies. Five studies also presented cross-lagged analyses from two or more timepoints. The review indicated a substantial positive correlation between gratitude and life satisfaction. Various potential mediators were also identified, including meaning in life, social support, and self-esteem. Some experimental research suggested that gratitude interventions may increase life satisfaction compared to neutral control conditions, although evidence was mixed. There was stronger evidence for these effects in people from Western countries. However, there is no strong evidence that gratitude interventions outperform positively valenced control conditions. Thus, it is possible that the effects of intervention could be caused by demand- or placebo effects. While it is clear that there is a link between gratitude and life satisfaction, the extent to which gratitude causes life satisfaction and the mechanism underlying that link require further exploration. We suggest that experimental work test effects of changes in gratitude that cannot be explained by placebo- or demand effects. We also encourage more interactive interventions as well as research that investigates third variables that could underlie both gratitude and life satisfaction.

The Impact of Online Social Behavior on College Student's Life Satisfaction: Chain-Mediating Effects of Perceived Social Support and Core Self-Evaluation.

To examine the influence of social behavior on college students' life satisfaction and the mediating effects of perceived social support and core self-evaluation. 779 college students were investigated with the online social behavior scale, life satisfaction scale, core self-evaluation scale and perceived social support scale. Online social behavior significantly positively predicted the perceived social support and life satisfaction; Perceived social support significantly positively predicted the core self-evaluation and life satisfaction; Core self-evaluation significantly positively predicted life satisfaction; Perceived social support and core self-evaluation have a significant chain mediating effect between online social behavior and life satisfaction. This study confirmed the positive effects of online social behavior on college students, through improving college students' level of perceived social support and core self-evaluation to increase life satisfaction.

Investigation of Life Satisfaction in Esports Athletes in Terms of Mindfulness and Gaming Motivation

Purpose: This research aims to examine the life satisfaction of esports players in terms of mindfulness and motivation to play. In this study, in which the relational screening model was used, 
 Material and Methods: T.C. 257 esports athletes who participated in the Esports Literacy project supported by the Ministry of Youth and Sports were included. In this study, as data collection tools "Online Gaming Motivation Scale", "Motivational Playing Scale”, “Life Satisfaction Scale”, “Bergen Insomnia Scale”, and “Conscious Awareness Scale” was used. 
 Results: The findings of the study showed that motivation to play, mindfulness and insomnia explained 13% of the variance in life satisfaction in esports athletes. It has been determined that there is a negative and significant relationship between sleeplessness and life satisfaction of esports athletes, a positive and significant relationship between motivation to socialize in the game and success motivation in the game, mindfulness has a negative relationship with insomnia and a positive and significant relationship with success motivation in the game. 
 Conclusion: As a result, it is thought that increasing life satisfaction, conscious awareness, motivation to socialize in the game and success motivation in the game, and reducing the insomnia of the esports athletes are the factors that need to be improved for the athletes to increase their game performance and be more successful in their careers.

Psychological Distress Mediates the Relationship Between Social Support and Satisfaction with Life

University students are susceptible to psychological issues due to various academic and social stressors. Low life satisfaction among university students can bring about various negative outcomes that can impact their overall well-being and academic success. This study aims at examining the mediating role of psychological distress in the association between social support and life satisfaction. This cross-sectional study included 368 (F= 243, 66%; M= 125, 34%) university students from a public university in Yozgat, Turkey. The data were collected using the Brief Symptom Inventory, Satisfaction with Life Scale and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. The findings demonstrated that social support positively predicted life satisfaction and negatively predicted psychological distress. In addition, psychological distress negatively predicted life satisfaction. Moreover, the SEM analysis indicated that psychological distress played a partial mediating role in the association between social support and life satisfaction. These results highlight the importance of addressing social support and psychological distress in interventions aimed at increasing life satisfaction.

Understanding Key Predictors of Life Satisfaction in a Nationally Representative Sample of Koreans.

The purpose of this study was to examine the factors that predict life satisfaction in a large representative sample of Koreans by analyzing data from the Gallup World Poll. The primary objective was to identify important predictors and suggest strategies to improve quality of life in Korea. The study used available Korean data from 2006 to 2017, which included 14,101 participants (mean age = 46.42). Predictors included demographic and psychological variables, with the Cantril Ladder of Life Scale serving as the outcome variable. The results show a decline in life satisfaction with advancing age, and that the relationship between life satisfaction and age varied by gender. Among the predictors examined, satisfaction with the standard of living and household income emerged as the most influential factors in determining life evaluation; other strong predictors included positive affect and negative affect, social support, gender, and education level. These results imply that, to increase life satisfaction, it is imperative to provide job opportunities and social services specifically targeted to individuals in low-income groups. In addition, it is crucial to implement tailored psychosocial interventions that address the unique developmental tasks and psychological challenges experienced by individuals according to their gender and life cycle stage.

The Effect of Gratitude Intervention on Life Satisfaction of University students: The Role of Self-Esteem

Gratitude education is very common in traditional Chinese education. Gratitude is both an emotion and a trait (Rash et al.,2011). It is a tendency to perceive benefits bestowed by others or by some impersonal source, and accompanied by positive, social emotions (Lin C.C.,2015). As a trait, gratitude draws attention to positive outcomes in life (Emmons et al.,2019). Furthermore, this project chooses life satisfaction and self-esteem as variables in the research. ‘Life satisfaction is a subjective evaluation of overall quality of life’，and is the key dimension of subjective well-being (Proctor et al.,2009). Self-esteem is a sense of individuals’ general value or worth from his or her aspects (Rosenberg, 1979). Self-esteem is commonly considered as the “feeling that one is good enough” (Orth & Robins,2014). Life satisfaction and self-esteem are often used in studies of gratitude，but few of them find the complicated correlations between these three factors. So the purpose of this project is to explore whether gratitude interventions can enhance gratitude and subsequently increase life satisfaction and self-esteem.

노인 당뇨병 환자들의 신체활동이 우울과 삶의 만족에 미치는 영향

Objectives The primary aim of this study is to identify the factors that influence the psychological well-being of elderly individuals with diabetes through the implementation of a physical activity exercise program. Additionally, the study seeks to analyze the changes that occur in these factors.
 Methods A cohort of nine elderly diabetic patients, who received education at the J Diabetes and Hypertension Registration Education Center in J City, participated in an eight-week exercise program conducted on a weekly basis. Pre- and post-program assessments were performed to measure the outcomes. Subsequently, interviews were conducted with the participants upon completion of the program to evaluate its effects and analyze the obtained results.
 Results The findings of study indicated that the exercise program implemented for elderly diabetic patients had some impacts, albeit not statistically significant, on various health indicators. The intervention led to a minor reduction of 0.3 in body mass index and a 0.5 decrease in body fat percentage. However, these changes did not show statistical significance. Similarly, the Berg Balance Scale evaluation showed a moderate increase of 0.44, but this increase did not reach statistical significance either. Nonetheless, when examining specific aspects of balance perception, the study indicated noteworthy and statistically significant results (p<.001). With respect to psychological factors, the findings indicated a slight reduction of 0.25 points in depression scores and a modest increase of 0.2 points in life satisfaction scores. However, similar to the physical health indicators, these changes did not show statistical significance. Notably, during the qualitative interviews conducted with the participants, positive experiences were reported by the participants regarding adecrease in depressive symptoms and an overall improvement in life satisfaction.
 Conclusions The findings of this study indicate that the exercise program leads to a significant reduction in body mass index and body fat, along with an improvement in balance perception. Additionally, it exerts a positive influence on psychological factors by reducing depressive symptoms and increasing life satisfaction among elderly individuals with diabetes. Further research is required to explore the health status, levels of depression, and life satisfaction of elderly diabetic patients in more depth.

Economic freedom and life satisfaction: A moderated mediation model with individual autonomy and national culture

Previous research has shown that economic freedom is associated with life satisfaction. Nonetheless, how economic freedom affects life satisfaction remains relatively unexplored. Test results on a sample of 238,944 observations from 78 countries in the period from 1990 to 2020 show that individual autonomy is a possible channel (so-called mediator): whereas economic freedom is found to foster individual autonomy, individual autonomy in turn increases life satisfaction. The relationship between economic freedom and individual autonomy particularly concerns two subdimensions of economic freedom: sound money and freedom to trade internationally. The test results show that the indirect effect of economic freedom on life satisfaction through individual autonomy is significant and explains 18% of the total relationship between economic freedom and life satisfaction. Furthermore, we find that the strength of the relationship between individual autonomy and life satisfaction increases with individualism, one of Hofstede's dimensions of national culture (i.e., individualism is a moderator). This suggests a so-called moderated mediation model, in which the relationship between economic freedom and life satisfaction is mediated by individual autonomy and moderated by individualism.

COPING STRATEGIES IN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH DIFFERENT LEVELS OF LIFE SATISFACTION

The paper analyses the results of the study of coping behaviour among senior high school students with different levels of life satisfaction. The influence of psychological characteristics of personality, such as “coping strategies”, “life satisfaction” during study in graduating classes, is considered. The results of the empirical research can be used by socio-psychological services of educational institutions that assist students in increasing life satisfaction and developing new adaptive strategies for overcoming difficult life situations.

Social media use, perceived social support, and well-being: Evidence from two waves of surveys peri- and post-COVID-19 lockdown

Numerous studies have suggested that active social media use can promote well-being by enhancing perceived social support. However, the relationship between social media use and perceived social support remains inconsistent across studies. This study explores possible mechanisms underlying the relationship between active social media use, perceived social support, and well-being during and after a COVID-19 lockdown. Using online surveys with Chinese participants during ( N = 1,131) and after ( N = 407) the lockdown period, our findings support a sequential mediation model. Specifically, active social media use was positively associated with perceived online network responsiveness, which in turn, predicted augmented perceived social support. Ultimately, increased social support was linked to reduced loneliness and increased life satisfaction. These findings were consistent both during and after the lockdown, indicating that social media has the potential to complement offline social interactions and effectively fulfill individuals’ social needs.

Employee Life Satisfaction: The Role of COVID-19-Related Fear and Worries and Employee Resources

The aim of the study was to explore the factors that could alleviate the negative consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on employee life satisfaction. We analyzed personal resources such as belief in free will and self-evaluated work efficiency, as well as condition and energy resources related to working conditions (i.e., employment stability, remuneration, and change on mode of work) as moderators of the relationship between COVID-19 fear and COVID-19 worries and life satisfaction. The results showed that life satisfaction among employees was negatively associated with COVID-19 worries, belief in free will and remuneration level. However, it was not associated with COVID-19 fear. The results also indicate that belief in free will may be a personal resource that increases life satisfaction only when the level of this arousal is low in the case of worries of COVID-19.

The foundation of real-world economics: what every student needs to know

The third edition of The Foundations of Real-World Economics updates the two earlier editions published by Routledge, including new chapters on the rise of populism, hidden racism, and the Covid-19 pandemic. The earlier editions were translated into five languages. Within the vast economic literature, the book opens alternative research horizons, providing an innovative look at economic theory which advocates for a major revision of seemingly immutable mainstream economics. The author, Professor Emeritus at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Germany) John Komlos, demonstrates the weaknesses of conventional economic theory, emphasising the need for a paradigmatic change to what he calls Humanistic Economics, in which people and quality of life count instead of focusing primarily on money, income, or GDP and, moreover, where the economy works for everyone, instead of a select few. Offering the reader another perspective on economics and advancing an alternative approach to standard textbooks, he explains why this paradigm shift should focus on the creation of a better society, the improvement of people's lives, and increased life satisfaction.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DISPOSITIONAL MINDFULNESS AND LIFE SATISFACTION AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN MALAYSIA: COGNITIVE REAPPRAISAL AS THE MEDIATOR

Undergraduate students are facing different challenges and stressors in their life, which may lower their life satisfaction. Dispositional mindfulness has been found to increase life satisfaction, and this relationship might include cognitive process namely cognitive reappraisal. Hence, grounded in Mindfulness-to-Meaning Theory, this study examined cognitive reappraisal as the mediator in the relationship between dispositional mindfulness and life satisfaction among 147 undergraduate students (aged 18-25 years old) who were studying in Malaysia. A non-experimental correlational design was used, where the students were required to fill in three questionnaires through Google Form survey, the results were analysed through hierarchical multiple regression. The results supported all four hypotheses, with significant positive relationships found among dispositional mindfulness, cognitive reappraisal and life satisfaction. Cognitive reappraisal partially mediated the relationship between dispositional mindfulness and life satisfaction. The findings provide valuable information for the experts to devise mindfulness interventions by incorporating cognitive reappraisal strategies, allowing students to use cognitive reappraisal to cope with challenges, improving life satisfaction.

Self-experience consistency and life satisfaction: The mediating role of the need for relatedness and the moderating role of Zhong-yong thinking

Self-experience consistency has an important effect on life satisfaction; however, the underlying mechanism of this relationship remains unclear. This study aims to examine why self-experience consistency is related to increased life satisfaction. To do so, we investigated the relationships between self-experience consistency, the need for relatedness, Zhong-yong thinking, and life satisfaction in a sample of 456 undergraduate students. We also tested a moderated mediation model examining Zhong-yong thinking as a moderator. The results suggest that self-experience consistency related to life satisfaction was due, in part, to an increased need for relatedness. However, interpretation of this finding is limited by the use of cross-sectional data. Furthermore, Zhong-yong thinking moderated the self-experience consistency—need for relatedness link, such that the link was stronger for individuals with high/moderate levels of Zhong-yong thinking. Overall, these findings address a major gap in the positive psychology literature. Finally, implications for research are discussed.

Perspectives of Rural Older Women on the Determinants of Successful Ageing in Southeast Nigeria

As the global population of older persons continues to increase, the need for improved quality of life and increased life satisfaction has made successful ageing a critical discourse. The concept of successful ageing is subject to socio-cultural interpretations; thus, our study delved into the perspectives of rural older women on the determinants of successful ageing. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 15 rural older women aged 65years and above in Awgu Local Government Area, Enugu State, Southeast Nigeria. Data collected were analysed thematically, and findings revealed that positive social and spiritual relationships were the most critical determinants of successful ageing. Access to and utilisation of digital technology to maintain social ties were also recognised as crucial to the successful ageing of rural older women. Thus, interventions towards successful ageing should focus on improving healthy spirituality, positive social relations and improved connection with social ties through increased access to digital technology.

Benefits of Mindfulness Training on the Mental Health of Women During Pregnancy and Early Motherhood: A Randomized Controlled Trial

ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the effects of a mindfulness-based psychosomatic intervention on depression, anxiety, fear of childbirth (FOC), and life satisfaction of pregnant women in China. MethodsWomen experiencing first-time pregnancy (n = 104) were randomly allocated to the intervention group or a parallel active control group. We collected data at baseline (T0), post-intervention (T1), 3 days after delivery (T2), and 42 days after delivery (T3). The participants completed questionnaires for the assessment of the levels of depression, anxiety, FOC, life satisfaction, and mindfulness. Differences between the two groups and changes within the same group were analyzed at four time points using repeated-measures analysis of variance. ResultsCompared with the active control group, the intervention group reported lower depression levels at T2 (P = 0.038) and T3 (P = 0.013); reduced anxiety at T1 (P = 0.001) and T2 (P = 0.003); reduced FOC at T1 (P < 0.001) and T2 (P = 0.04); increased life satisfaction at T1 (P < 0.001) and T3 (P = 0.015); and increased mindfulness at T1 (P = 0.01) and T2 (P = 0.006). ConclusionThe mindfulness-based psychosomatic intervention effectively increased life satisfaction and reduced perinatal depression, anxiety, and FOC.

Can’t get no (life) satisfaction: narrative engagement, boundary expansion, and well-being

ABSTRACT This study explored whether boundary expansion is related to increased life satisfaction. In order to examine this possibility, we conducted two studies. In Study 1, we used an experiment to promote either state boundary expansion or state escapism. Although the manipulation was unsuccessful, we did find a positive correlation between expansion and life satisfaction, while escape was not related to life satisfaction. Study 2 examined the relationship between trait boundary expansion and life satisfaction using a large national survey. Results showed that boundary expansion was positively related to life satisfaction and escape was negatively related to life satisfaction.

Estimating the heterogeneous health and well-being returns to social participation.

Social participation is defined as an individual's involvement in activities that provide connections with others in society. Past research has demonstrated links between social participation, improved health and well-being, and reduced social isolation, but has been restricted to older people and has not investigated heterogeneity. Using cross-sectional data from the UK's Community Life Survey (2013-2019; N=50,006), we estimated returns to social participation in the adult population. We included availability of community assets as instruments in a marginal treatment effects model, which allows treatment effects to be heterogeneous and examines whether the effects vary by propensity to participate. Social participation was linked to reduced loneliness and improved health (-0.96 and 0.40 points respectively on 1-5 scales) and increased life satisfaction and happiness (2.17 and 2.03 points respectively on 0-10 scales). These effects were larger for those on low income, with lower education attainment, and who live alone or with no children. We also found negative selection, indicating those less likely to participate have higher health and well-being returns. Future interventions could focus on increasing community asset infrastructure and encouraging social participation for those with lower socio-economic status.

Earthquakes and mental health

Earthquakes may seriously deteriorate mental health by generating fear and stress as a result of economic and human losses. However, mental health has also been found to improve as a result of greater social cohesion in affected communities after such events. We examine the short-run effects of earthquakes on a wide set of mental health outcomes in Ecuador. To this end, we combine hospital admissions, death records, and survey data with precise measures of local seismic activity to exploit the plausibly random spatial and temporal nature of earthquake intensity. We find that damaging earthquakes decrease the propensity to be admitted, the number of days of hospitalisation for mental and behavioural disorders, and deaths to suicides. Estimates from nationally-representative surveys provide evidence of increased life satisfaction, trust, and religious observance, suggesting a possible explanation for the fall in hospital admissions and suicides after an earthquake.

Three years of COVID-19 and life satisfaction in Europe: A macro view

Every country in Europe experienced an adverse impact from the COVID-19 pandemic on life satisfaction, though on average, satisfaction with life in the summer of 2022 is about the same as the pre-pandemic value in the autumn of 2019. Typically, an upsurge in the severity of the pandemic (measured by the number of COVID-related deaths) is associated with declining life satisfaction and an ebbing, with increasing life satisfaction. Of the three waves of the pandemic between March 2020 and the autumn of 2022, the most severe impact typically occurred in 2021 during the second wave; in the third wave, the response declined due to the spread of effective vaccines and the takeover of omicron variants.