Subjective Wellbeing, Psychological Needs, Meaning in life, Religious Practice and Income in the Population of Algeria

Journal of Social Research & Policy, Volume: 3, Issue: 2, pp. 47-66.

Date: December 2012

ISSN: 2067-2640 (print), 2068-9861 (electronic)

Abstract: The present study investigated the relationship between Subjective Wellbeing (Satisfaction with life (SWL), Personal Wellbeing Index (PWI), Positive Affect (PA) and Negative Affect (NA)), Psychological needs (Autonomy, Competence and Relatedness), Meaning in Life, and Religious Practice. It examined the distributions of these constructs in a large sample of 3,173 subjects (1,638 males and 1,535 females) who participated in the 4 Algerian Wellbeing Survey. It aimed also to weigh up to what extent they were affected by household income. Finally, it estimated the mediating effect of demographic variables (gender, age, education and location) in the contribution of the studied constructs in each other. The results indicated that these constructs were significantly inter-correlated and almost similarly distributed in this population. They also showed that they were all negatively affected by low incomes and proved that generally and beyond demographic factors, SWB measures predict better needs satisfaction, meaning in life and religiosity than the opposite direction. The results were discussed on the light of previous international wellbeing research.

Keywords: Subjective Wellbeing; Psychological Needs; Meaning in Life; Islamic Religiosity; Income; Algerian Population