Content versus Structure: What makes a good life? A study on the Dimensionality of Life Satisfaction and the effects of different Social Capital Properties.

Abstract

This article aims to contribute to the topic of life satisfaction by doing an exploratory analysis, because the lack of a general scale of life satisfaction. In this study, life satisfaction will be explained by the social capital properties, content and structure, through multiple dimensions of life satisfaction. Two research problems are at issue concerning: (1) the dimensionality of life satisfaction and (2) the explanatory value of social capital properties on life satisfaction. Content of social capital is operationalized by using an instrument that measures general social capital: the resource generator. Structural social capital is measured by density and size of social networks. Data is retrieved from The Survey on the Social Networks of the Dutch. The results indicate that satisfaction is a multidimensional concept with three dimensions described as intimacy satisfaction, work and off-time satisfaction and residence satisfaction. Finally, it is found that both structure- and content properties of social capital have little power explaining life satisfaction. Considering the accountability of both social capital properties, from this research it can be concluded that social capital is not a major factor in explaining life satisfaction.