A Cluster-Path Analysis of Determining Worldwide Life Satisfaction Index

Abstract

Life satisfaction reflects the extent to which basic needs are met and the extent to which a variety of other goals are viewed as attainable. From this perspective, increase of life satisfaction is directly dependent on accomplishing more goals. Cluster analysis of the secondary data from 135 countries revealed that countries with high life satisfaction index were those with high job and standard of living satisfaction supplemented with high exercise of freedom but with less concerned on security. On the contrary, countries with low life satisfaction index is categorized as countries with an average job and security satisfaction but were least satisfied with their standard of living. This study further confirmed that life satisfaction is conceived as the degree to which an individual judges the overall quality of his life-as-a-whole particularly on the aspect of job satisfaction and standard of living.