Understanding Key Predictors of Life Satisfaction in a Nationally Representative Sample of Koreans
Abstract
:1. Introduction
1.1. Introduction
1.2. Sociodemographic Factors and Life Satisfaction
1.3. Psychosocial Factors and Life Satisfaction
1.4. Current Study
2. Methods
2.1. Participants
2.2. Measures
2.3. Data Analysis
3. Results
3.1. Sociodemographic Characteristics of the Sample
3.2. How Does Life Satisfaction Vary in Korea by Age and Gender?
3.3. Explaining Age and Gender Differences in Life Satisfaction
3.4. Other Demographic Predictors of Life Satisfaction
3.5. Comprehensive Prediction of Life Satisfaction
3.6. Relationship between Household Income and Life Satisfaction: A Close Examination
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions and Recommendations
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Variable | Item Used | Response Format |
---|---|---|
Life satisfaction | Please imagine a ladder with steps numbered from zero at the bottom to ten at the top. The top of the ladder represents the best possible life for you and the bottom of the ladder represents the worst possible life for you. On which step of the ladder would you say you personally feel you stand at this time? | 00 Worst possible to 10 best possible |
Enjoyment | Did you experience the following feelings during a lot of the day yesterday? How about Enjoyment? | 1 Yes |
2 No | ||
Worry | Did you experience the following feelings during a lot of the day yesterday? How about Worry? | 1 Yes |
2 No | ||
Sadness | Did you experience the following feelings during a lot of the day yesterday? How about Sadness? | 1 Yes |
2 No | ||
Stress | Did you experience the following feelings during a lot of the day yesterday? How about Stress? | 1 Yes |
2 No | ||
Anger | Did you experience the following feelings during a lot of the day yesterday? How about Anger? | 1 Yes |
2 No | ||
Laughter | Did you smile or laugh a lot yesterday? | 1 Yes |
2 No | ||
Freedom | In (this country), are you satisfied or dissatisfied with your freedom to choose what you do with your life? | 1 Satisfied |
2 Dissatisfied | ||
Safe at night | Do you feel safe walking alone at night in the city or area where you live? | 1 Yes |
2 No | ||
Respect | Were you treated with respect all day yesterday? | 1 Yes |
2 No | ||
Learned | Did you learn or do something interesting yesterday? | 1 Yes |
2 No | ||
Satisfaction with city | Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the city or area where you live? | 1 Satisfied |
2 Dissatisfied | ||
Household income satisfaction | Which one of these phrases comes closest to your own feelings about your household’s income these days? | 1 Living comfortably on present income |
2 Getting by on present income | ||
3 Finding it difficult on present income | ||
4 Finding it very difficult on present income | ||
Health problems | Do you have any health problems that prevent you from doing any of the things people your age normally can do? | 1 Yes |
2 No | ||
Social support | If you were in trouble, do you have relatives or friends you can count on to help you whenever you need them, or not? | 1 Yes |
2 No | ||
Satisfaction with standards of living | Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with your standard of living, all the things you can buy and do? | 1 Satisfied |
2 Dissatisfied | ||
Donated | Have you done any of the following in the past month? Donated money to a charity. | 1 Yes |
2 No | ||
Volunteered | Have you done any of the following in the past month? Volunteered your time to an organization | 1 Yes |
2 No | ||
Helped | Have you done any of the following in the past month? Helped a stranger or someone you didn’t know who needed help | 1 Yes |
2 No | ||
Corruption in business | Is corruption widespread within businesses located in Korea, or not? | 1 Yes |
2 No | ||
Corruption in government | Is corruption widespread throughout the government in Korea, or not? | 1 Yes |
2 No |
M | SD | N | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Employment | Employed full time for an employer | 6.007 | 1.936 | 2952 |
df = 5, 10,803 F = 17.655 p < 0.001 η2 = 0.008 | Employed full time for self | 5.660 | 2.242 | 1256 |
Employed part-time do not want full time | 6.317 | 2.064 | 794 | |
Unemployed | 5.385 | 2.324 | 405 | |
Employed part-time want full time | 5.539 | 2.378 | 406 | |
Out of workforce | 5.956 | 2.255 | 4990 | |
Total | 5.925 | 2.173 | 10,803 | |
Education | Elementary | 4.908 | 2.796 | 1429 |
df = 2, 13,816 F = 320.037 p < 0.001 η2 = 0.044 | Secondary | 5.701 | 2.112 | 7478 |
Tertiary (four years beyond high school) | 6.389 | 1.869 | 4912 | |
Total | 5.864 | 2.161 | 13,819 | |
Location | Rural or farm | 5.231 | 2.399 | 1366 |
df = 3, 13,855 F = 48.936 p < 0.001 η2 = 0.010 | Small town or village | 5.746 | 2.136 | 1767 |
Large city | 5.954 | 2.119 | 6905 | |
Suburb of a large city | 5.978 | 2.116 | 3821 | |
Total | 5.863 | 2.161 | 13,859 | |
Religious affiliation | Christian | 6.142 | 2.162 | 4213 |
df = 3, 11,793 F = 30.909 p < 0.001 η2 = 0.008 | Buddhist | 5.661 | 2.240 | 2184 |
Secular/non-religious | 5.802 | 2.104 | 5073 | |
Other | 5.725 | 2.253 | 327 | |
Total | 5.895 | 2.163 | 11,797 | |
Relationship status | Single | 6.082 | 1.968 | 4164 |
df = 2, 13,484 F = 100.714 p < 0.001 η2 = 0.015 | Married | 5.909 | 2.114 | 8572 |
Widow | 4.895 | 2.742 | 751 | |
Total | 5.907 | 2.126 | 13,487 |
B | 95.0% CI for B | t | p | Beta | Semi-Partial Correlation | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Low | Up | ||||||
(Constant) | 2.341 | 2.034 | 2.649 | 14.920 | 0.000 | - | - |
Female | 0.366 | 0.270 | 0.462 | 7.502 | 0.000 | 0.085 | 0.076 |
Age | −0.008 | −0.011 | −0.005 | −5.782 | 0.000 | −0.072 | −0.059 |
Age-squared | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.949 | 0.342 | 0.011 | 0.010 |
Positive affect | 0.341 | 0.213 | 0.468 | 5.233 | 0.000 | 0.066 | 0.053 |
Negative affect | −0.658 | −0.819 | −0.497 | −8.030 | 0.000 | −0.093 | −0.081 |
Social support | 0.362 | 0.249 | 0.474 | 6.301 | 0.000 | 0.071 | 0.064 |
Helped | 0.124 | 0.031 | 0.216 | 2.622 | 0.009 | 0.028 | 0.027 |
Volunteer | 0.218 | 0.109 | 0.328 | 3.910 | 0.000 | 0.042 | 0.040 |
Donated | 0.096 | −0.001 | 0.193 | 1.937 | 0.053 | 0.021 | 0.020 |
Freedom | 0.230 | 0.135 | 0.324 | 4.771 | 0.000 | 0.052 | 0.048 |
Safe at night | −0.029 | −0.124 | 0.065 | −0.608 | 0.543 | −0.007 | −0.006 |
Respect | 0.153 | 0.050 | 0.257 | 2.894 | 0.004 | 0.034 | 0.029 |
Learning experience | 0.168 | 0.072 | 0.264 | 3.422 | 0.001 | 0.038 | 0.035 |
Health problems | −0.121 | −0.230 | −0.013 | −2.198 | 0.028 | −0.024 | −0.022 |
Satisfaction with city | 0.185 | 0.075 | 0.295 | 3.307 | 0.001 | 0.036 | 0.033 |
Corruption | −0.229 | −0.343 | −0.114 | −3.919 | 0.000 | −0.041 | −0.040 |
Satisfaction w. stand. Of living | 0.956 | 0.846 | 1.066 | 17.032 | 0.000 | 0.206 | 0.172 |
HH income satisfaction | 0.477 | 0.410 | 0.545 | 13.832 | 0.000 | 0.163 | 0.140 |
Education level | 0.292 | 0.216 | 0.368 | 7.548 | 0.000 | 0.085 | 0.076 |
Rural | −0.117 | −0.272 | 0.037 | −1.489 | 0.137 | −0.016 | −0.015 |
Small town or village | −0.104 | −0.252 | 0.045 | −1.372 | 0.170 | −0.014 | −0.014 |
Widow | −0.333 | −0.532 | −0.135 | −3.288 | 0.001 | −0.037 | −0.033 |
Work full time | 0.075 | −0.056 | 0.205 | 1.120 | 0.263 | 0.015 | 0.011 |
Part-time, not looking for full time | 0.175 | −0.008 | 0.358 | 1.877 | 0.061 | 0.022 | 0.019 |
Out of workforce | 0.044 | −0.080 | 0.168 | 0.695 | 0.487 | 0.010 | 0.007 |
Christian | 0.121 | 0.020 | 0.221 | 2.359 | 0.018 | 0.027 | 0.024 |
Buddhist | −0.066 | −0.188 | 0.057 | −1.052 | 0.293 | −0.012 | −0.011 |
Gender | Age | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Male | Female | 15–24 | 25–44 | 45–64 | 65+ | |
(Constant) | 2.239 *** | 2.776 *** | 3.642 *** | 3.480 *** | 1.575 *** | 1.908 *** |
Female | - | - | 0.129 | 0.441 *** | 0.470 *** | 0.196 |
Age | −0.009 *** | −0.008 *** | - | - | - | - |
Age-squared | 0.000 ** | 0.000 | - | - | - | - |
Positive affect | 0.364 *** | 0.316 ** | 0.419 ** | 0.322 ** | 0.405 *** | 0.188 |
Negative affect | −0.664 *** | −0.628 *** | −0.646 *** | −0.986 *** | −0.364 * | −0.610 ** |
Social support | 0.257 ** | 0.477 *** | 0.252 | 0.208 | 0.398 *** | 0.380 ** |
Helped | 0.086 | 0.162 * | 0.160 | −0.010 | 0.197 * | 0.118 |
Volunteer | 0.171 * | 0.267 *** | 0.277 * | 0.367 *** | 0.245 ** | 0.026 |
Donated | 0.080 | 0.104 | 0.134 | 0.042 | 0.019 | 0.242 |
Freedom | 0.219 ** | 0.238 *** | 0.361 *** | 0.308 *** | 0.215 * | 0.036 |
Safe at night | 0.012 | −0.068 | −0.110 | −0.035 | 0.085 | −0.084 |
Respect | 0.096 | 0.212 ** | 0.184 | 0.088 | 0.099 | 0.242 * |
Learning experience | 0.157 * | 0.182 ** | 0.369 *** | 0.149 | 0.068 | 0.215 |
Health problems | −0.143 | −0.101 | −0.046 | −0.224 * | −0.154 | −0.047 |
Satisfaction with city | 0.139 | 0.229 ** | 0.193 | 0.092 | 0.214 * | 0.252 |
Corruption | −0.219 ** | −0.247 ** | −0.285 * | −0.231 * | −0.151 | −0.296 * |
Satisfaction w. stand. Of life | 0.926 *** | 0.986 *** | 0.812 *** | 0.901 *** | 0.916 *** | 1.229 *** |
HH income satisfaction | 0.512 *** | 0.435 *** | 0.345 *** | 0.342 *** | 0.586 *** | 0.551 *** |
Education level | 0.334 *** | 0.248 *** | 0.112 | 0.140 | 0.382 *** | 0.363 *** |
Rural | −0.134 | −0.117 | −0.465 * | −0.240 | −0.166 | 0.088 |
Small town or village | −0.075 | −0.120 | −0.182 | 0.003 | −0.139 | −0.193 |
Widow | −0.552 ** | −0.196 | - | - | - | - |
Work full time | 0.071 | 0.107 | 0.100 | 0.110 | 0.128 | −0.168 |
Happy part-time, not looking for full time | 0.205 | 0.141 | −0.074 | 0.091 | 0.309 * | −0.008 |
Out of workforce | −0.070 | 0.113 | −0.115 | 0.266 * | 0.049 | −0.117 |
Christian | 0.152 * | 0.083 | 0.092 | 0.304 *** | 0.014 | 0.056 |
Buddhist | −0.005 | −0.132 | −0.235 | 0.170 | −0.246 * | −0.035 |
R2 | F | df | Most Important Predictors | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Male | 0.291 | 53.052 *** | 26, 3356 | SWSL, HH income, positive, education, and social support |
Female | 0.310 | 58.290 *** | 26, 3374 | SWSL, HH income, positive, education, and social support |
15–24 | 0.226 | 13.865 *** | 24, 1139 | SWSL, positive, HH income, freedom, and learning experience |
25–44 | 0.317 | 34.337 *** | 24, 1779 | SWSL, positive, HH income, negative, and female |
45–64 | 0.331 | 45.220 *** | 24, 2198 | SWSL, positive, HH income, social support, and education |
65+ | 0.286 | 26.253 *** | 24, 1574 | SWSL, positive, HH income, social support, and education |
Poorest 20% | 0.274 | 19.728 *** | 26, 1356 | SWSL, HH income, positive, age, and social support |
Second 20% | 0.299 | 21.083 *** | 26, 1287 | SWSL, social support, positive, education, and HH income |
Middle 20% | 0.298 | 20.367 *** | 26, 1248 | SWSL, positive, HH income, negative, and age |
Fourth 20% | 0.242 | 16.214 *** | 26, 1324 | SWSL, HH income, positive, respect, and helped |
Richest 20% | 0.245 | 18.006 *** | 26, 1440 | SWSL, HH income, positive, negative, and city satisfaction |
M | SD | N | |
---|---|---|---|
1 Poorest 20% | 5.41 | 2.83 | 1880 |
2 Second 20% | 6.37 | 2.39 | 1991 |
3 Middle 20% | 6.68 | 2.18 | 1991 |
4 Fourth 20% | 6.97 | 2.04 | 2064 |
5 Richest 20% | 7.30 | 2.00 | 2273 |
Total | 6.58 | 2.38 | 10,199 |
Predictor | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
(Constant) | 1.995 *** | 2.222 *** | 3.156 *** | 3.111 *** | 2.778 *** |
Female | 0.151 | 0.554 *** | 0.301 ** | 0.321 ** | 0.337 ** |
Age | −0.020 *** | −0.008 ** | −0.006 * | −0.004 | −0.003 |
Age-squared | 0.000 ** | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
Positive affect | 0.563 ** | 0.274 | 0.358 * | 0.259 * | 0.290 * |
Negative affect | −0.398 * | −0.833 *** | −0.813 *** | −0.583 ** | −0.702 *** |
Social support | 0.412 ** | 0.519 *** | 0.240 | 0.113 | 0.333 * |
Helped | −0.044 | 0.100 | 0.169 | 0.301 ** | 0.093 |
Volunteer | 0.392 * | 0.264 * | 0.116 | 0.148 | 0.139 |
Donated | 0.392 ** | −0.084 | −0.068 | −0.006 | 0.194 * |
Freedom | 0.223 * | 0.110 | 0.182 | 0.268 ** | 0.321 ** |
Safe at night | 0.071 | −0.111 | −0.268 ** | 0.074 | 0.095 |
Respect | 0.134 | 0.164 | 0.132 | 0.285 ** | −0.048 |
Learned | −0.084 | 0.344 ** | 0.029 | 0.198 * | 0.248 * |
Health problems | 0.082 | −0.221 | −0.309 * | −0.142 | −0.048 |
Satisfaction with city | 0.323 * | −0.022 | 0.292 * | 0.003 | 0.338 ** |
Corruption | −0.282 | −0.252 | −0.276 * | −0.268 * | −0.057 |
Satisfaction w. stand. Of life | 0.991 *** | 0.803 *** | 0.988 *** | 0.915 *** | 1.023 *** |
HH income satisfaction | 0.436 *** | 0.370 *** | 0.461 *** | 0.484 *** | 0.427 *** |
Education level | 0.353 ** | 0.441 *** | 0.158 | 0.131 | 0.092 |
Rural | 0.157 | 0.037 | −0.296 | −0.297 | −0.352 |
Small town or village | −0.130 | 0.108 | −0.211 | −0.117 | −0.131 |
Work full time | −0.129 | 0.366 * | 0.083 | −0.075 | 0.174 |
Happy part-time, not looking for full time | −0.180 | 0.500 * | 0.210 | −0.069 | 0.484 * |
Out of workforce | −0.198 | 0.257 | 0.113 | 0.136 | 0.120 |
Christian | 0.112 | 0.230 * | 0.061 | 0.017 | 0.161 |
Buddhist | −0.133 | 0.104 | −0.287 * | −0.046 | −0.019 |
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Share and Cite
Choi, Y.-K.; Joshanloo, M.; Lee, J.-H.; Lee, H.-S.; Lee, H.-P.; Song, J. Understanding Key Predictors of Life Satisfaction in a Nationally Representative Sample of Koreans. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20, 6745. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20186745
Choi Y-K, Joshanloo M, Lee J-H, Lee H-S, Lee H-P, Song J. Understanding Key Predictors of Life Satisfaction in a Nationally Representative Sample of Koreans. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2023; 20(18):6745. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20186745
Chicago/Turabian StyleChoi, Yun-Kyeung, Mohsen Joshanloo, Jae-Ho Lee, Hong-Seock Lee, Heung-Pyo Lee, and Jonghwan Song. 2023. "Understanding Key Predictors of Life Satisfaction in a Nationally Representative Sample of Koreans" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 20, no. 18: 6745. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20186745