Socio-economic drivers of life satisfaction: a comparative study of low income groups in Southern Gauteng
Year: 2015
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Life satisfaction within various South African contexts remains an important subject for both management and research practitioners. This importance emanates from the view that life satisfaction is an enduring indicator of both social and economic stability in a country. High levels of life satisfaction indicate the prevalence of prosperity in various domains of life, whereas low satisfaction with life gives a signal of instability within the same domains. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of socio-economic factors on the life satisfaction of individuals residing in different townships in Southern Gauteng. Impetus for conducting the study was derived from the growing significance of the subject of life satisfaction as well as the existence of several research gaps within the South African context. Twelve socio-economic constructs were identified for the purpose of this research, namely educational level, marital status, health, per capita income, employment status, rural/urban residence, household size, religion, age, public services, poverty and gender. Hypotheses were put forward outlining the possible nature of the interplay between each socio-economic factor and life satisfaction. The study was conducted by means of a quantitative research design using the cross sectional survey approach. Respondents were composed of 298 individuals drawn from Sebokeng, 285 individuals drawn from Sharpville and 402 individuals from Sicelo townships, which are all located in Southern Gauteng. Respondents were selected using the non-probability convenience sampling technique. A three section measurement instrument was developed and administered to the respondents in November 2014. Data were analysed using the Statistical Packages for the Social Sciences (SPSS version 22.0). The analyses of demographic profiles of respondents and the levels of life satisfaction in the three townships were conducted using simple descriptive statistics and the mean score ranking technique. Hypotheses were tested using multiple regression analysis. The results of the study revealed that there was dissatisfaction with life in Sebokeng and Sicelo, with respondents from Sharpville showing slightly higher levels of life satisfaction. Hypotheses tests using regression analyses revealed both orthodox and heterodox trajectories. On the orthodox front, the influence of education, health, employment, religion and the provision of public services on life satisfaction was consistent with conventionally accepted trends as these emerged as statistically significant in predicting life satisfaction. The results also disclosed that economic deprivation and larger household size exerts a negative influence on life satisfaction. On the heterodox side of the equation, the results revealed that marital status and gender did not predict life satisfaction across the three townships. In addition, it emerged that life satisfaction decreased with age, depicting that younger people were more satisfied with life than the elderly and this pattern was…
Author: Chengedzai Mafini
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2346174040