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

Abstract 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.

摘要 本研究依托1991年至2014年四轮世界价值观调查（World Values Survey, WVS）数据，探讨巴西人群生活满意度的相关影响因素。研究验证了现有文献报道的若干结论：无论所处研究时段如何，已婚、就业、宗教信仰程度更高、健康状况更佳、对生活拥有更强自主权与掌控力且经济状况更优的个体，其生活满意度普遍更高。在分析中控制理论上与生活满意度相关的各类变量后，年龄与出生队列（cohort）变量与生活满意度的关联未达统计学显著性水平。当单独针对不同出生队列开展分析时，结果表明生活满意度或与以时期效应为表征的情境性与历史性因素相关。