Life Satisfaction and Its 7 Contributors

Life satisfaction is a complex term and is sometimes used interchangeably with the emotion of happiness, but they are indeed two separate concepts. Life satisfaction is defined as one’s evaluation of life as a whole, rather than the feelings and emotions that are experienced in the moment.

  

What is life satisfaction?

And how does it differ from happiness?

Happiness is an immediate, in-the-moment experience, whereas life satisfaction is happiness that exists when we think about our lives as a whole, looking at the big picture.

This adds a little more clarity to the difference between the ideas of happiness and life satisfaction. It is not based on criterion that researchers deem to be important, but instead on your own cognitive judgments of the elements that YOU consider to be valuable.

Based on the research ‘The Study of Life Satisfaction’, quality of life is associated with living conditions, such as food, health, shelter, and so on (Veenhoven, 1996). By contrast, life satisfaction is defined as a state of emotion, like happiness or sadness.

We can also understand the theory of life satisfaction by using the PERMA model, introduced by Martin Seligman, the founder of positive psychology (Seligman, 2011).

In general, whatever level of satisfaction you are feeling, you can define and maximize your level of wellbeing if you choose which elements you want to engage in to flourish. Also, life satisfaction tends to be dependent on your emotional state.

According to Daniel Gilbert, professor of Psychology at Harvard University, the meaning of happiness is “anything we pleased” ( Gilbert, 2009). Our mood is always changing.

Contributors to life satisfaction

The sources of life satisfaction are not completely understood yet, but what is known, is that they are a complex combination of,

1. collective action
2. individual behaviour,
3. simple sensory experiences
4. higher cognition
5. stable characteristics of the individual
6. the environment
7. chance factors

as Ruut Veenhoven states in his study of life satisfaction.

Variance in satisfaction between nations has been studied; it has been shown that living conditions are a major determinant of life satisfaction. That is, economically prosperous countries tend to experience it more when compared to poorer nations.

The correlation between income and life satisfaction is higher in poorer countries compared to more affluent countries. Life satisfaction tends to be higher in egalitarian countries; people will experience less inequality and be able to choose lifestyles that best fit their abilities and desires where equality is more prominently displayed.

Education is an interesting point when studying life satisfaction. As pointed-out from the variance in satisfaction between nations resource, more highly educated countries generally experience higher levels of satisfaction, but with this education comes opportunity for aversive consequences: loss of previous opportunities that comes along with achieving such education, job competition, or even lack of jobs. That being said, those more educated tend to experience more favorable events compared to adverse events.

Variables such as mental and physical health, energy, extroversion, and empathy have all been shown to be strongly correlated to satisfied individuals, but it is sometimes hard to determine whether these are products or causes of life satisfaction.

Our past experiences undoubtedly effect the way we think about our lives in terms of satisfaction. Establishing a satisfying life for yourself is not decided only by circumstances; it is also influenced by the way you think about and relate to the environment around you.

Measuring your life satisfaction

Beginning in the 1960’s when it became a big topic of discussion in research, life satisfaction was originally thought to be measured objectively and externally; the same way measuring heart-rate or blood pressure would be. Since then, it has become evident that life satisfaction must be measured subjectively rather than objectively; techniques commonly used include, surveys, questionnaires, and interviews.

Measuring life satisfaction isn’t just a way to see how happy people are with their lives, it’s also a way of determining how unhappy they are. By adding another, positive point of view stemming from the individuals subjective experience, clinicians and researchers can analyze what makes people happy and what makes them unhappy.

The Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), created by Ed Diener, has been one of the more applicable measurement tests of life satisfaction. It consists of five statements (e.g. The conditions of my life are excellent) to which the participant indicates their agreement. This assessment doesn’t specify explicit domains such as financial or health satisfaction; it allows subjective evaluation of life as a whole.

Can you feel more satisfied with your life?

Yes. If you are not as satisfied with your life as you would like to be, you can do things to change this. Things such as having friends, goals, and a life story are shown to increase ones life satisfaction. You can look more in depth at these here, along with a couple of other ways to feel more satisfied with your life.

Relationships among the people you love can influence how satisfied you feel with your life. For example, studies in Western societies have shown that the mere presence of children to married couples does not automatically increase your life satisfaction. Rather, the good (or bad) relationships built with these children will alter your evaluation of it.

Satisfaction with life scale

According to the research conducted on the validity of life satisfaction scales, one of the main measurements is based on preferences and values of people (Diener, Inglehart & Tay, 2013). Though we share the same world, we can barely share the same value since we experience things and view life differently.

To measure your own life satisfaction, you can take Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) here. It is a short 5-item instrument designed to measure global cognitive judgments with life. It takes just 1 minute to complete.

Practical advice

Income and education are shown to increase life satisfaction, but this is mainly because they are so highly valued in the world we live in today. Build relationships with loved ones, create achievable goals for yourself, and put yourself in situations where you can exercise your personal strengths and abilities; it will help you experience greater feelings of satisfaction. If you can do these things, you can benefit yourself and those around you.

The PERMA Model: A Scientific Theory of Happiness

Everyone seems to be in the pursuit of happiness nowadays. There are many ways to reach happiness though, including training your mind for happiness, spending money on others to promote happiness, and following the code to well-being and happiness.

Most of us think we know what happiness is, but what are the actual elements that promotes happiness within each of us? Seligman’s theoretical model of happiness (PERMA) helps us understand these elements and what we can do to maximise each element to reach a life full of happiness.

Seligman’s PERMA model

The PERMA model was designed by Martin Seligman with five core element of psychological well-being and happiness. Seligman believes that these five elements can help people reach a life of fulfillment, happiness, and meaning. This model can also be applied to institutions to develop programs to help people develop new cognitive and emotional tools.

P – Positive Emotion

This element of the model is one of the most obvious connection to happiness. Being able to focus on positive emotions is more than just smiling, it is the ability to be optimistic and view the past, present, and future in a positive perspective. This positive view in life can help you in relationships, work, and inspire you to be more creative and take more chances. In everyone’s life there are highs and lows, focusing on the lows increase your chances of developing depression therefore you should focus on the high and positive aspects of life. There are also many health benefits to optimism and positivity.

Distinguishing between pleasure and enjoyment is important in this element of the model. Pleasure is connected to satisfying bodily needs for survival; such as thirst, hunger, and sleep. Whereas enjoyment comes from intellectual stimulation and creativity, for example when a child completes a complex lego car that requires his concentration, he will be beaming with joy and satisfaction from his work. This type of positive emotion is needed, as when someone enjoys the tasks in their lives they are more likely to persevere and battle challenges through creative and alternative solutions.

E – Engagement

It is important in our lives to be able to find activities that takes our full engagement.  Engagement in the activities in our lives is important for us to learn, grow and nurture our personal happiness.

Everyone is different and we all find enjoyment in different things whether it’s playing an instrument, playing a sport, dancing, working on an interesting project at work or a even just a hobby. We all need something in our lives that entirely absorbs us into the present moment, creating a ‘flow’ of blissful immersion into the task or activity. This type of ‘flow’ of engagement is important to stretch our intelligence, skills, and emotional capabilities.

R – Relationships

Relationships and social connections is one of the most important aspects of life. Humans are social animals that thrive for connection, love, intimacy, and a strong emotional and physical interaction with other humans. Building positive relationships with your parents, siblings, peers, and friends are important to spread love and joy. Having strong relationships gives you support in difficult times.

In an interview with Dr. Mitch Printein’s about his course on the psychology of popularity, he mentioned that there has been research that show that pain centers in our brain becomes activated when we are at risk of being isolated. This is because in an evolutionary perspective, isolation would be the worse thing we could do for survival.

M – Meaning

Having a purpose and meaning to why each of us are on this earth is important to living a life of happiness and fulfillment. Rather than the pursuit of pleasure and material wealth there is an actual meaning to our life. Such meaning gives people a reason for their life and that there is a greater purpose to life. To understand the greater impact of your work and why you chose to pursuit that work will help you enjoy the tasks more and become more satisfied and happier.

Check out Itai Ivtzan’s Awareness-Meaning Therapy that helps people find profound meaning in themselves and their lives.

A – Accomplishments

Having goals and ambition in life can help us to achieve things that can gives us a sense of accomplishment. You should make realistic goals that can be met and just putting in the effort to achieving those goals can already give you a sense of satisfaction, when you finally achieve those goals a sense of pride and fulfillment will be reached. Having accomplishments in life is important to push ourselves to thrive and flourish.

How to apply the PERMA model in your life

Being aware of the PERMA model is the first step to applying this theory into you life. Keep referring back to the 5 elements of the model to help you apply it to each aspect of your life. Remember to think in a positive perspective at home and at work. Find the things that make you happy and can make you fully engaged, you could even put goals to achieving more and challenging yourself in the activities you enjoy. Focus on your relationships with your family and friends by finding ways to connect and enjoy eachothers company. Find the meaning to your life and what gives you a sense of purpose, it’s different for everyone.