Happiness and domain-specific life satisfaction in adult northern Swedes

Abstract

Levels of satisfaction with life as a whole (happiness) and with eight different domains were investigated using mailed questionnaires in four age cohorts (25-, 35-, 45- and 55-year-olds) of men and women. With a few exceptions (vocational and financial satisfaction) levels of global and domain-specific satisfaction were not age-dependent and few gender differences were found. The generally high levels of satisfaction correspond well to those found in the USA and in Germany. Satisfaction with expressive (emotion-related) domains was greater in women than in men, and the provider items - satisfaction with vocational and financial situation -were influenced by age. The eight domains formed three meaningful factors: the first characterized satisfaction derived from expressive goals; the second from spare-time goals; and the third factor was instrumental (performance-related), characterizing satisfaction derived from provider goals. The three factors predicted gross level of happiness (happy/not happy) for 82% of subjects with complete answers, all three factors being significant predictors.