Life satisfaction in Brazil: an exploration of theoretical correlates and age, period and cohort variations using the World Values Survey (1991-2014)

• Published in: Revista brasileira de estudos de população Vol. 37; pp. 1 - 27
• Main Authors: Golgher, André, Coutinho, Raquel Zanatta
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Campinas Associacao Brasileira de Estudos Populacionais (R E B E P) 2020; Associação Brasileira de Estudos Populacionais
• Subjects: Brazil; DEMOGRAPHY; Job satisfaction; Labor market; Life satisfaction; Polls & surveys; Quality of life; Values; World Values Survey; Brazil; Satisfacción con la vida; Brazil; Brasil; Satisfação com a vida; World Values Survey; Life satisfaction
• ISSN: 0102-3098; 1980-5519; 1980-5519
• DOI: 10.20947/s0102-3098a0108

This paper discusses some of the factors associated with life satisfaction in Brazil using four waves of the World Values Survey (1991 to 2014). Some results already described in the literature were confirmed, as we found that individuals who were married, employed, more religious, in better health, with greater freedom/control over their lives and who had a better financial situation were more satisfied with life, regardless of the time period. The variables for age and cohort showed non-significant associations with life satisfaction when aspects that theoretically correlated with life satisfaction were controlled in the analysis. When the different cohorts were analyzed separately, the results suggest that life satisfaction might be related to the conjectural and historical factors represented by period effects.