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Happiness as an expression of freedom and self-determination: a comparative multilevel analysis
[collection article]
Abstract "In this paper, subjecitve well-being, as measured by survey questions on life satisfaction and happiness, is investigated from a sociological-comparative point of view. The central thesis is that happiness will be greater the more freedom a person has in her/his life decisions. It is hypothesized,t... view more
"In this paper, subjecitve well-being, as measured by survey questions on life satisfaction and happiness, is investigated from a sociological-comparative point of view. The central thesis is that happiness will be greater the more freedom a person has in her/his life decisions. It is hypothesized,therefore, that happiness will be higher in all those social contexts (micro and macro) which provide a person with greater freedom. Hence, happiness should be higher among the employed, among the persons in higher positions and with higher incomes, and happiness should also be higher in free market and democratic, and in less stratified societies. A comparative emperical analysis (multilevel regression) is carried out, using survey data on 41 nations from the World Value Survey 1995-97. The finding that happiness is related significantly to the degree of individual freedom is fully confirmed. It also has been proven that people who live in circumstances providng providing more freedom of personal choice are happier; this happens only through their perception and trough their expected change (improvement or stagnation) in the future" (author's abstract)... view less
Keywords
income; satisfaction; self-determination; gainful employment; happiness; level of education; decision making leeway; social status
Classification
Methods and Techniques of Data Collection and Data Analysis, Statistical Methods, Computer Methods
General Sociology, Basic Research, General Concepts and History of Sociology, Sociological Theories
Method
empirical
Collection Title
Challenges for quality of life in the contemporary world: advances in quality-of-life studies and research
Editor
Glatzer, Wolfgang; Below, Susanne von; Stoffregen, Matthias
Document language
English
Publication Year
2004
Publisher
Kluwer Academic Publ.
City
Dordrecht
Page/Pages
p. 207-231
Series
Social indicators research series, 24
ISBN
1-4020-2890-3
Licence
Deposit Licence - No Redistribution, No Modifications
Data providerThis metadata entry was indexed by the Special Subject Collection Social Sciences, USB Cologne