The DNA of Happiness and Satisfaction: Comparison of Logistic Models in 44 Countries

The focus of this article is the causation and possible models of Happiness. Thinking on Happiness takes us above the individuals towards genuinely social spaces generated by social interaction. In that way we are able to move beyond the classical points of view of material satisfaction from economy or the psychologycist grounded well-being. We specify the social dimension of Happiness with indicators of social interaction and social action. We propose a basic general model based on three dimensions: Love, Money and Health. We contrast this general model in 44 countries with data from the fifth wave of the World Values Survey. Given the close relationship between Happiness and Satisfaction, we want to test two rival models to explain Happiness and Satisfaction separately. In order to do it, we use binary logistic regression with its standardized coefficients. We discuss in detail our models in those 44 countries looking for explanatory patterns.

The statistical analysis of logistic regressions and their standardized coefficients are the raw material for the conceptual and material construction of a complex relational system between countries, between models and between countries and models. This approach leads us to a sort of DNA definer of social models of Happiness and Satisfaction. We use the Social Network Analysis as a way to explore the existence of different explanatory structures and their features. We conclude that, despite the close conceptual relationship between Happiness and Satisfaction, the explanation of Happiness is more complex and accurate. Love is a necessary condition for Happiness while to explain Satisfaction material and volatile aspects as Health and Money are more relevant. That points to a differencing dimensionality in which to be satisfied depends on components of Happiness much more than Happiness needs Satisfaction. They clearly are different social phenomena.