Factors predicting the subjective well-being of nations.

TLDR

SWB surveys covering about three‑quarters of the world’s population converged strongly. In 55 nations, subjective well‑being was most strongly linked to high income, individualism, human rights, and equality, with individualism remaining the only significant predictor after controlling for other variables, whereas cultural homogeneity, income growth, and income comparison showed weak or inconsistent associations.

Abstract

Subjective well-being (SWB) in 55 nations, reported in probability surveys and a large college student sample, was correlated with social, economic, and cultural characteristics of the nations. The SWB surveys, representing nations that include three fourths of the earth's population, showed strong convergence. Separate measures of the predictor variables also converged and formed scales with high reliability, with the exception of the comparison variables. High income, individualism, human rights, and societal equality correlated strongly with each other, and with SWB across surveys. Income correlated with SWB even after basic need fulfillment was controlled. Only individualism persistently correlated with SWB when other predictors were controlled. Cultural homogeneity, income growth, and income comparison showed either low or inconsistent relations with SWB.