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Predictors of Differences in Subjective Well-Being Across 97 Nations

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: misho.minkov{at}iu-edu.com.

	Abstract

This study analyzes national differences in various facets of subjective well-being as measured by the World Values Survey, including the most recent wave (2005-2007), across a sample of 97 nations. The main predictor of the cognitive facet (life satisfaction) is a perception of life control, followed by wealth. The hedonic facet (happiness) is explained by a syndrome of correlated variables: perceived life control, high importance of leisure, and low importance of thrift. It is proposed that this syndrome is stronger in societies that do not have a powerful cultural legacy of highly intensive agriculture. The negative pole of the hedonic facet (unhappiness) seems to be related mostly to poverty and a perception of low life control (helplessness), plus various situational factors.

First published on March 2, 2009, doi:10.1177/1069397109332239

Cross-Cultural Research 2009;43:152.

A more recent version of this article appeared on May 1, 2009


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