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. 2009 Mar;18(2):179-89.
doi: 10.1007/s11136-008-9426-2. Epub 2008 Dec 12.

The relative contributions of race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, health, and social relationships to life satisfaction in the United States

Steven D Barger  1 , Carrie J Donoho, Heidi A Wayment
Affiliations

The relative contributions of race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, health, and social relationships to life satisfaction in the United States

Steven D Barger et al. Qual Life Res. 2009 Mar.

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate racial/ethnic disparities in life satisfaction and the relative contributions of socioeconomic status (SES; education, income, employment status, wealth), health, and social relationships (social ties, emotional support) to well-being within and across racial/ethnic groups.

Methods: In two cross-sectional, representative samples of U.S. adults (the 2001 National Health Interview Survey and the 2007 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; combined n > 350,000), we compared life satisfaction across Whites, Hispanics, and Blacks. We also evaluated the extent to which SES, health, and social relationships 'explained' racial/ethnic group differences and compared the magnitude of variation explained by life satisfaction determinants across and within these groups.

Results: Relative to Whites, both Blacks and Hispanics were less likely to be very satisfied. Blacks were somewhat more likely to report being dissatisfied. These differences were reduced or eliminated with adjustment for SES, health, and social relationships. Together, SES and health explained 12-15% of the variation in life satisfaction, whereas social relationships explained an additional 10-12% of the variance.

Conclusions: Racial/ethnic life satisfaction disparities exist for Blacks and Hispanics, and these differences are largest when comparing those reporting being 'satisfied' to 'very satisfied' versus 'dissatisfied' to 'satisfied.' SES, health, and social relationships were consistently associated with life satisfaction, with emotional support having the strongest association with life satisfaction.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Life satisfaction by race/ethnicity: United States, 2001 and 2007. NHIS = National Health Interview Survey; BRFSS = Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. The proportions may not sum to 1.0 due to rounding
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Partial regression coefficients for life satisfaction predictors by race/ethnicity and U.S. public health survey
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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