Cross-National Variation in the Predictors of Wellbeing: Life Domains and Positive Personality Traits

Abstract

Background: Previous research has demonstrated cross-national variation in domain-life satisfaction relationships, with neither health, family, social life, personal safety, financial situation, home life or job satisfaction being universal predictors of wellbeing. The largest limitation of this previous research was a lack of appropriate control variables. Past research has shown that personality traits are powerful predictors of wellbeing, with three particularly important constructs being self-esteem, optimism and self-efficacy. Aims: The present study examined whether after controlling for positive personality traits, domain-life satisfaction relationships would vary cross-nationally and whether a direct cross-national comparison of domain-life satisfaction would reveal significant differences. It was predicted that the cross-national differences would be smaller than those found using more countries with greater cross-cultural differences. Methods: These hypotheses were tested using an online survey with samples from the USA and India, recruited using Mechanical Turk. Results: Both hypotheses were supported in that there was cross-national variation in domain-life satisfaction relationships, even after controlling for positive personality traits. In the Indian sample, health, financial and job satisfaction predicted life satisfaction. Amongst Americans, family, social life, financial situation and home satisfaction predicted it. Direct comparison revealed significant differences in the predictive power of home and job satisfaction, supporting the second hypothesis. As expected, the differences noted in this study were smaller than those revealed through our analysis of the World Values Scale and Eurobarometer. Conclusions: Domain life satisfaction relationships vary cross-nationally, even when personality traits are controlled.