Investigations into the Life Satisfaction of High School Students

Ing. Bc. Julius JANÁČEK

Doctoral thesis

Abstract:

The aim of this thesis (this summarizing text plus five articles) is to investigate the factors of life satisfaction of high school students from three countries (the Czech Republic, Italy and Slovenia) and to find differences between these countries as far as their life satisfaction factors are concerned. The thesis is also focused on relation and causality happiness-alcohol consumption. The dissertation is assembled from five cumulated articles written by myself and in some cases in collaboration with other co-authors. The topic of this thesis falls under the field of the economics of happiness which has gained broad attention in the last couple of decades. Taking into account all five articles (all of them published) allows me to draw more general conclusions. All component articles were written using data from a questionnaire survey among students from the three aforementioned countries. Each article approaches the topic of life satisfaction in a different way. Specifically, the regression models which are used are different in each article. Both linear OLS and non-linear logit models are used to investigate factors of life satisfaction among students. Results indicate that factors of happiness of students differ across countries. Distinct patterns can be observed: the factors of happiness in the Czech Republic and Slovenia often exhibit similar patterns, while factors of happiness in Italy seem to be rather different. The reasons for these disparities are discussed within this thesis taking into account different institutional environments of the Czech Republic, Italy and Slovenia. Factors of life satisfaction which show significance in most component regression models are: physical health, time spent with friends, financial income in the form of earnings, engaging in an art activity, quality of one's relationship with parents, being in a partner relationship (all having a positive relation with life satisfaction) and smoking cigarettes (negative relation with life satisfaction). On the other hand, factors which surprisingly show low relation or no relation at all with life satisfaction in most models are: watching TV, participating in a sport activity, reading, receiving financial allowance and drinking alcohol. The potential reasons for these results as well as possible causal effects mediating these relationships are discussed. Implications for public policy as well as private sector are presented.

Abstract:

The aim of this thesis (this summarizing text plus five articles) is to investigate the factors of life satisfaction of high school students from three countries (the Czech Republic, Italy and Slovenia) and to find differences between these countries as far as their life satisfaction factors are concerned. The thesis is also focused on relation and causality happiness-alcohol consumption. The dissertation is assembled from five cumulated articles written by myself and in some cases in collaboration with other co-authors. The topic of this thesis falls under the field of the economics of happiness which has gained broad attention in the last couple of decades. Taking into account all five articles (all of them published) allows me to draw more general conclusions. All component articles were written using data from a questionnaire survey among students from the three aforementioned countries. Each article approaches the topic of life satisfaction in a different way. Specifically, the regression models which are used are different in each article. Both linear OLS and non-linear logit models are used to investigate factors of life satisfaction among students. Results indicate that factors of happiness of students differ across countries. Distinct patterns can be observed: the factors of happiness in the Czech Republic and Slovenia often exhibit similar patterns, while factors of happiness in Italy seem to be rather different. The reasons for these disparities are discussed within this thesis taking into account different institutional environments of the Czech Republic, Italy and Slovenia. Factors of life satisfaction which show significance in most component regression models are: physical health, time spent with friends, financial income in the form of earnings, engaging in an art activity, quality of one's relationship with parents, being in a partner relationship (all having a positive relation with life satisfaction) and smoking cigarettes (negative relation with life satisfaction). On the other hand, factors which surprisingly show low relation or no relation at all with life satisfaction in most models are: watching TV, participating in a sport activity, reading, receiving financial allowance and drinking alcohol. The potential reasons for these results as well as possible causal effects mediating these relationships are discussed. Implications for public policy as well as private sector are presented.

Keywords

Life satisfaction, happiness, students, well-being, quality of life, economics of happiness.

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 24. 3. 2021

Accessible from:: 31. 12. 2999

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: doc. Ing. Daniel Šťastný, Ph.D.

JAN EVANGELISTA PURKYNĚ UNIVERSITY IN ÚSTÍ NAD LABEM

Faculty of Social and Economic Studies

Doctoral programme / field:
Economic Policy and Administration / Applied Economics and Administration