The Role of Cultural Heterogeneity in Strengthening the Link Between Family Relationships and Life Satisfaction in 50 Societies

StatusVoR
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Authors
Man Wai Li, Liman
Miu‑Chi Lun, Vivian
Bond, Michael Harris
Chun Yeung, June
Igou, Eric Raymond
Haas, Brian W.
Stoyanova, Stanislava
Maricchiolo, Fridanna
Zelenski, John M.
Vauclair, Christin‑Melanie
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Date
2024-08
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Journal of Happiness Studies
Issue
6
Volume
25
Pages
Pages
1-25
ISSN
1389-4978
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Access date
2024-08
Abstract PL
Abstract EN
We argue that the importance of family relationships for individual well-being varies across societies as a function of a society’s degree of cultural heterogeneity. To examine the role of family relationships, we analyzed the responses from 13,009 participants in 50 societies on their life satisfaction across societies varying in their levels of historical and contemporary cultural heterogeneity. Such heterogeneity creates differences in the frequency of interacting with unfamiliar groups, which leads families to become more central to their members’ satisfaction with life. Multi-level analyses showed that historical and contemporary cultural heterogeneity moderated the pattern such that greater historical or contemporary cultural heterogeneity of society promoted a stronger positive relation between family relationship satisfaction and individual life satisfaction. Our results also revealed that the moderating role of historical cultural heterogeneity was more reliable than that of contemporary cultural heterogeneity. These findings demonstrate the importance of societal demography in shaping people’s psychological processes in different historical periods, suggesting a universal, trans-historical cultural process.
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Keywords PL
Keywords EN
Life satisfaction
Family relationships
Cultural heterogeneity
Socio-ecological approach
Multi-level analysis
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cc-by
Except as otherwise noted, this item is licensed under the Attribution licence | Permitted use of copyrighted works
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Acquisition Date31.08.2025
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Acquisition Date31.08.2025
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