How Locus of Control Predicts Subjective Well-Being and its Inequality: The Moderating Role of Social Values

Roger Fernandez-Urbano () and Vicente Royuela ()
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Roger Fernandez-Urbano: European University Institute
Vicente Royuela: University of Barcelona

Journal of Happiness Studies, 2024, vol. 25, issue 8, No 7, 23 pages

Abstract: Abstract Previous research has established the central role of an individuals’ locus of control (LoC) in influencing subjective well-being. However, earlier studies have predominantly omitted an exploration of potential moderating factors at the country-level and have rarely delved into the influence of LoC on an important yet often-overlooked dimension of well-being—namely, subjective well-being inequality. Addressing these gaps, this study examines the association between individuals’ LoC and subjective well-being, considering both the mean and inequality aspects. Additionally, it explores the moderating influence of country’s social values, particularly the individualism-collectivism dimension. Utilizing data from the Integrated Values Survey, comprising 170,000 observations across 37 countries from 1996 to 2022, our study confirms a strong positive relationship between LoC and subjective well-being while also unveiling a strong negative relationship with subjective well-being inequality. Moreover, it demonstrates that country’s social values exert significant moderation effects on the relationship between LoC and subjective well-being, affecting both the mean level and inequality aspects, albeit in opposing directions. By employing the Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition, our findings support the importance of structural effects. Understanding how increasing LoC shapes people’s wellbeing in a society holds implications for policymaking and contributes to ongoing discussions on collective choice and inequality.

Keywords: Locus of control; Subjective well-being; Inequality; Individualism; Collectivism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1007/s10902-024-00821-z

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