Skip to main content

Empirical Evidence of Behavioral Interdependencies Across Life Choices

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Life-Oriented Behavioral Research for Urban Policy

Abstract

This chapter presents empirical evidence of behavioral interdependencies across more than 80 life choice variables, based on data collected from a cross-sectional survey, a panel survey, and a life history survey in Japan, respectively. Similar analyses are further conducted with respect to more than 20 indicators of life satisfaction and happiness, as a whole life and by life domain. Very complex patterns of cross-domain and within-domain interdependencies are revealed by using statistical modeling approaches. This is the first study in literature to clarify behavioral interdependencies across life choices from such a comprehensive way. Analyses also suggest a variety of research issues for promoting the life-oriented approach.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Abou-Zeid M, Witter R, Bierlaire M, Kaufmann V, Ben-Akiva M (2012) Happiness travel mode switching: findings from a Swiss public transportation experiment. Transp Policy 19(1):93–104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alexopoulos EC, Palatsidi V, Tigani X, Darviri C (2014) Exploring stress levels, job satisfaction, and quality of life in a sample of police officers in Greece. Saf Health Work 5(4):210–215

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allen TD, Herst DE, Bruck CS, Sutton M (2000) Consequences associated with work–to–family conflict: a review agenda for future research. J Occup Health Psychol 5(2):278

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andereck KL, Valentine KM, Vogt CA, Knopf RC (2007) A cross–cultural analysis of tourism and quality of life perceptions. J Sustain Tourism 15(5):483–502

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bowling A (1995) Measuring disease: a review of disease–specific quality of life measurement scales. Open University Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Brajša-Žganec A, Merkaš M, Šverko I (2011) Quality of life and leisure activities: how do leisure activities contribute to subjective well–being? Soc Indic Res 102(1):81–91

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cambir A, Vasile V (2015) Material dimension of life quality social inclusion. Procedia Econ Finan 32:932–939

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell A (1976) Subjective measures of well–being. Am Psychol 31(2):117–124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell A (1981) The sense of well–being in America: recent patterns and trends. McGraw-Hill

    Google Scholar 

  • Cantril H (1965) The pattern of human concerns. Rutgers University Press, New Brunswick

    Google Scholar 

  • Cao X (2016) How does neighborhood design affect life satisfaction? Evidence from twin cities. Travel Behav Soc 5:68–76

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cao X, Ettema D (2014) Satisfaction with travel and residential self-selection: how do preferences moderate the impact of the Hiawatha light rail transit line? J Transp Land Use 7(3):93–108

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cao X, Mokhtarian PL, Handy S (2013) Examining the impacts of residential self–selection on travel behavior: a focus on empirical findings. Transp Rev 29(3):359–395

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen J, Chen C, Timmermans HJP (2008) Accessibility trade–offs in household residential location choice decisions. Transp Res Rec 2077(1):71–79

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen CC, Huang WJ, Petrick JF (2016) Holiday recovery experiences tourism satisfaction life satisfaction–is there a relationship? Tour Manag 53:140–147

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark AE, Frijters P, Shields MA (2008) Relative income, happiness, and utility: an explanation for the Easterlin paradox and other puzzles. J Econ Lit 46(1):95–144

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cooklin AR, Westrupp EM, Strazdins L, Giallo R, Martin A, Nicholson JM (2014) Fathers at work work–family conflict, work–family enrichment and parenting in an Australian cohort. J Family Issues. doi:10.1177/0192513X14553054

  • Cooklin AR, Westrupp EM, Strazdins L, Giallo R, Martin A, Nicholson JM (2015a) Mothers’ work–family conflict and enrichment: associations with parenting quality and couple relationship. Child Care Health Dev 41(2):266–277

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cooklin AR, Giallo R, Strazdins L, Martin A, Leach LS, Nicholson JM (2015b) What matters for working fathers? Job characteristics work–family conflict enrichment fathers’ postpartum mental health in an Australian cohort. Soc Sci Med 146:214–222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coulmas F, Conrad H, Vogt G, Schad–Seifert A (2008) The demographic challenge: a handbook about Japan. Brill

    Google Scholar 

  • Cummins RA (1996) The domains of life satisfaction: An attempt to order chaos. Soc Indic Res 38:303–328

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Curl A, Thompson CW, Aspinall P (2015) The effectiveness of ‘shared space’ residential street interventions on self–reported activity levels and quality of life for older people. Landscape Urban Plann 139:117–125

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Holler AE, Staatsen BA (2003) Health environment and quality of life: An epidemiological perspective on urban development. Landscape Urban Plann 65(1):53–62

    Google Scholar 

  • De Vos J (2015) The influence of land use and mobility policy on travel behavior: a comparative case study of Flanders and the Netherlands. J Transp Land Use 8(1):171–190

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • De Vos J, Schwanen T, van Acker V, Witlox F (2013) Travel subjective well–being: a focus on findings methods and future research needs. Transp Rev 33(4):421–442

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Delmelle EC, Haslauer E, Prinz T (2013) Social satisfaction commuting neighborhoods. J Transp Geogr 30:110–116

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diener E (1984) Subjective well–being. Psychol Bull 95(3):542–575

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Diener E (2000) Subjective well–being: the science of happiness and a proposal for a national index. Am Psychol 55(1):34–43

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Diener E (2009) The science of well–being: the collected works of Ed Diener. Social indicators research series 37. Springer Science Business Media, Springer Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  • Diener E, Seligman ME (2002) Very happy people. Psychol Sci 13(1):81–84

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diener E, Suh E (1997) Measuring quality of life: economic social subjective indicators. Soc Indic Res 40(1–2):189–216

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diener ED, Emmons RA, Larsen RJ, Griffin S (1985) The satisfaction with life scale. J Pers Assess 49(1):71–75

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dolnicar S, Yanamram V, Cliff K (2012) The contribution of vacations to quality of life. Ann Tourism Res 39(1):59–83

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dutt AK (2008) The dependence effect consumption on happiness: Galbraith revisited. Rev Polit Econ 20(4):527–550

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Easterlin RA (2001) Income and happiness: towards a unified theory. Econ J 111(473):465–484

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • El Din HS, Shalaby A, Farouh HE, Elariane SA (2013) Principles of urban quality of life for a neighborhood. HBRC J 9(1):86–92

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ettema D, Gärling T, Olsson LE, Friman M (2010) Out–of–home activities daily travel and subjective well–being. Transp Res Part A: Policy Pract 44(9):723–732

    Google Scholar 

  • Fabrigar LR, Porter RD, Norris ME (2010) Some things you should know about structural equation modeling but never thought to ask. J Consum Psychol 20(2):221–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fichera E, Savage D (2015) Income and health in Tanzania: an instrumental variable approach. World Dev 66:500–515

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frisvold D, Golberstein E (2011) School quality and the education–health relationship: evidence from Blacks in segregated schools. J Health Econ 30(6):1232–1245

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • George L (2006) Perceived quality of life. In: Linstock R, George L (eds), Handbook of aging and the social sciences, The 6th Edition. Burlington, MA: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilbert D, Abdullah J (2004) Holiday taking and the sense of well–being. Ann Tourism Res 31(1):103–121

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glatzer W (2012) Cross–national comparisons of quality of life in developed nations including the impact of globalization. In: Land KC, Michalos AC, Sirgy MJ (eds) Handbook of social indicators and quality of life research. Springer, Netherlands, pp 381–398

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Golob TF (2003) Structural equation modeling for travel behavior research. Transp Res Part B: Methodol 37(1):1–25

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • González CS, Gómez N, Navarro V, Cairós M, Quirce C, Toledo P, Marrero-Gordillo N (2016) Learning healthy lifestyles through active videogames motor games and the gamification of educational activities. Comput Hum Behav 55:529–551

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greenhaus JH, Collins KM, Shaw JD (2003) The relation between work–family balance and quality of life. J Vocat Behav 63(3):510–531

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Headey B, Muffels R, Wooden M (2008) Money does not buy happiness: or does it? A reassessment based on the combined effects of wealth income and consumption. Soc Indic Res 87(1):65–82

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heal LW, Chadsey-Rusch J (1985) The lifestyle satisfaction scale: assessing individuals’ satisfaction with residence, community setting, and associated services. Appl Res Mental Retard 6(4):475–490

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Higgins C, Duxbury L, Lee C (1994) Impact of life–cycle stage and gender on the ability to balance work and family responsibilities. Fam Relat 43(2):144–150

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Honold J, Beyer R, Lakes T, ver Meer E (2012) Multiple environmental burdens and neighborhood–related health of city residents. J Environ Psychol 32(4):305–317

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hooper D, Coughlan J, Mullen M (2008) Structural equation modelling: guidelines for determining model fit. Electron J Bus Res Methods 6(1):53–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang Q, Sverke M (2007) Women’s occupational career patterns over 27 years: relations to family of original life careers and wellness. J Vocat Behav 70(2):369–397

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Inoguchi T, Fujii S (2009) The quality of life in Japan. Soc Indic Res 92(2):227–262

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Janssens D, Wets G, Brijs T, Vanhoof K, Arentze T, Timmermans H (2006) Integrating Bayesian networks and decision trees in a sequential rule–based transportation model. Eur J Oper Res 175(1):16–34

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Kahn RL, Juster FT (2002) Well-being: concepts and measures. J Soc Issues 58(4):627–644

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan GA, Shema SJ, Leite CMA (2008) Socioeconomic determinants of psychological well–being: the role of income, income change and income sources during the course of 29 years. Ann Epidemiol 18(7):531–537

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kass G (1980) An exploratory technique for investigating large quantities of categorical data. Appl Stat 29(2):119–127

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keene D, Bader M, Ailshire J (2013) Length of residence and social integration: the contingent effects of neighborhood poverty. Health Place 21:171–178

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khalil HAEE (2012) Enhancing quality of life through strategic urban planning. Sustain Cities Soc 5:77–86

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knox PL (1975) Social well-being: a spatial perspective. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Lamont D, Kenyon S, Lyons G (2013) Dyslexia and mobility–related social exclusion: the role of travel information provision. J Transp Geogr 26:147–157

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee JH, Goulias KG (2014) Examining differences and commonalities of life cycle stages in daily contacts and activity–travel time allocation. Compendium of papers CD-ROM, The 93rd annual meeting of transportation research board. Washington, D.C., 12–16 Jan

    Google Scholar 

  • Lei P, Xu L, Nwaru BI, Long Q, Wu Z (2015) Social networks and health-related quality of life among Chinese old adults in urban areas: results from 4th national household health survey. Public health 131:27–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leung L, Lee PS (2005) Multiple determinants of life quality: the roles of internet activities use of new media social support and leisure activities. Telematics Inform 22(3):161–180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin JH, Wong JY, Ho CH (2013) Promoting frontline employees’ quality of life: Leisure benefit systems and work–to–leisure conflicts. Tour Manag 36:178–187

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lotfi S, Solaimani K (2009) An assessment of urban quality of life by using analytic hierarchy process approach (case study: comparative study of quality of life in the North of Iran). J Soc Sci 5(2):123–133

    Google Scholar 

  • Maia ML, Lucas K, Marinho G, Santos E, de Lima JH (2016) Access to the Brazilian City—from the perspectives of low-income residents in Recife. J Transp Geogr (in press)

    Google Scholar 

  • McDonagh J (2006) Transport policy instruments and transport–related social exclusion in rural Republic of Irel. J Transp Geogr 14(5):355–366

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McLanahan SS, Sorensen AB (1985) Life course dynamics: trajectories and transitions 1968–1980. In Elder GH (ed) Life events and psychological well–being over the life course. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, pp 217–238

    Google Scholar 

  • Michel JS, Mitchelson JK, Kotrba LM, LeBreton JM, Baltes BB (2009) A comparative test of work–family conflict models and critical examination of work–family linkages. J Vocat Behav 74(2):199–218

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Michel JS, Kotrba LM, Mitchelson JK, Clark MA, Baltes BB (2011) Antecedents of work–family conflict: a meta–analytic review. J Organ Behav 32(5):689–725

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Milner A, Krnjacki L, Butterworth P, LaMontagne AD (2016) The role of social support in protecting mental health when employed and unemployed: a longitudinal fixed–effects analysis using 12 annual waves of the HILDA cohort. Soc Sci Med 153:20–26

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mittal A (2007) Bayesian network technologies: applications and graphical models. IGI Global

    Google Scholar 

  • Morgan MG, Henrion M, Small M (1990) Uncertainty: a guide to dealing with uncertainty in quantitative risk and policy analysis. Cambridge University Press, New York

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Myers DG, Diener E (1995) Who is happy? Psychol Sci 6(1):10–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Myers DG, Diener E (1996) The pursuit of happiness. Sci Am 274(5):70–72

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nomaguchi KM, Milkie MA, Bianchi SM (2005) Time strains and psychological well–being: do dual–earner mothers and fathers differ? J Fam Issues 26(6):756–792

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nordbakke S, Schwanen T (2013) Wellbeing and mobility: a theoretical framework and literature review focusing on older people. Mobilities 9(1):104–129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oakil ATM (2015) Securing or sacrificing access to a car: Gender difference in the effects of life events. Travel Behav Soc 3:1–7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Plagnol AC, Scott J (2011) What matters for well–being: individual perceptions of quality of life before and after important life events. Appl Res Qual Life 6(2):115–137

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Powdthavee N (2009) What happens to people before and after disability? Focusing effects lead effects and adaptation in different areas of life. Soc Sci Med 69(12):1834–1844

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ritsema van Eck J, Burghouwt G, Dijst M (2005) Lifestyles spatial configurations and quality of life in daily travel: an explorative simulation study. J Transp Geogr 13(2):123–134

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salvatore N, Munoz Sastre MT (2001) Appraisal of life; “area” versus “dimension” conceptualizations. Soc Indic Res 53(3):229–255

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schalock RL (1996) Reconsidering the conceptualization and measurement of quality of life. Qual Life 1(9):123–139

    Google Scholar 

  • Scheiner J (2014) Gendered key events in the life course: effects on changes in travel mode choice over time. J Transp Geogr 37:47–60

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schoenduwe R, Mueller MG, Peters A, Lanzendorf M (2015) Analysing mobility biographies with the life course calendar: a retrospective survey methodology for longitudinal data collection. J Transp Geogr 42:98–109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sharmeen F, Arentze T, Timmermans H (2014) An analysis of the dynamics of activity and travel needs in response to social network evolution and life–cycle events: a structural equation model. Transp Res Part A 59:159–171

    Google Scholar 

  • Sirgy M (2010) Toward a quality–of–life theory of leisure travel satisfaction. J Travel Res 49:246–260

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sirgy M, Rahtz DR, Cicic M, Underwood R (2000) A method for assessing residents’ satisfaction with community–based services: a quality–of–life perspective. Soc Indic Res 49(3):279–316

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strazdins L, OBrien LV, Lucas N, Rodgers B (2013) Combining work and family: rewards or risks or children’s mental health? Soc Sci Med 87:99–107

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sturm R, Cohen DA (2004) Suburban sprawl and physical and mental health. Public Health 118(7):488–496

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sugimoto Y (2010) Introduction to Japanese society. Cambridge University Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Takamiya M, Yamamoto K, Watanabe T (2010) Modeling and estimation of travel behaviors using Bayesian network. Intell Decis Technol 4(4):297–305

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tang TLP (2007) Income and quality of life: does the love of money make a difference? J Bus Ethics 72(4):375–393

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor SJ, Bogdan R (1990) Quality of life and the individual’s perspective. In: Schalock RL (ed), Quality of life: perspectives and issues. American Association of Mental Retardation, Washington, pp 27–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Tefft N (2012) Mental health and employment: the SAD story. Econ Human Biol 10(3):242–255

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tercan E (2015) An examination of leisure participation family assessment and life satisfaction in university students. Procedia-Soc Behav Sci 186:58–63

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tsai SY, Lee PL, Lin JW, Lee CN (2016) Cross–sectional and longitudinal associations between sleep and health–related quality of life in pregnant women: a prospective observational study. Int J Nurs Stud 56:45–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uysal M, Perdue R, Sirgy MJ (2012) Handbook of tourism and quality–of–life research: enhancing the lives of tourists and residents of host communities. Springer Science and Business Media

    Google Scholar 

  • Uysal M, Sirgy MJ, Woo E, Kim HL (2016) Quality of life and well–being research in tourism. Tour Manag 53:244–261

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vallée J, Cadot E, Grillo F, Parizot I, Chauvin P (2010) The combined effects of activity space and neighbourhood of residence on participation in preventive health–care activities: the case of cervical screening in the Paris metropolitan area (France). Health Place 16(5):838–852

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Acker V (2015) Defining, measuring, and using the lifestyle concept in modal choice research. Transp Res Rec 2495:74–82

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Acker V, Van Wee B, Witlox F (2010) When transport geography meets social psychology: toward a conceptual model of travel behavior. Transp Rev 30(2):219–240

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Praag BM, Frijters P, Ferrer-i-Carbonell A (2003) The anatomy of subjective well-being. J Econ Behav Organ 51(1):29–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Veenhoven R (2012) Evidence based pursuit of happiness: what should we know, do we know and can we get to know? EHERO white paper Available: https://personal.eur.nl/veenhoven/Pub2010s/2012j-full.pdf. Accessed 1 Jul 2016

  • Verhoeven M (2010) Modelling life trajectories and mode choice using bayesian belief networks. Doctoral dissertation, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  • Verhoeven M, Arentze TA, Timmermans HJP, Van der Waerden PJHJ (2007) Examining temporal effects of lifecycle events on transport mode choice decision. Int J Urban Sci 11(1):1–13

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang D, Li SM (2004) Housing preferences in a transitional housing system: the case of Beijing China. Environ Plann A 36(1):69–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson I, McDermott H, Munir F (2016) The role of working hours work environment and physical leisure activity on the need for recovery following a day’s work among UK white–water raft guides: a within–subjects multilevel approach. Psychol Sport Exerc 23:123–131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Winters JV (2011) Human capital higher education institutions quality of life. Reg Sci Urban Econ 41(5):446–454

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang J (2009) Subjective well–being and activity–travel behavior analysis: applying day reconstruction method to explore affective experience during travel. In: Proceedings of the 14th international conference of Hong Kong Society for transportation studies, Hong Kong, 10–12 Dec, (2), pp 439–449 (Invited paper)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang J (2014) Revisiting residential self–selection issues: a life–oriented approach. J Transp Land Use 7(3):29–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang J (2015) The life-oriented approach and travel behavior research. A discussion paper for the Workshop “life-oriented approach for transportation studies” at the 14th international conference on travel behaviour research, Windsor, UK, July 19–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang J, Tsuchiya Y, Fujiwara A, Chikaraishi M (2011) Citizens’ life decisions and behavior survey: proposal and application to the evaluation of quality of life. In: Proceedings of infrastructure planning 43 (CD–ROM) (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang J, Yu B, Chikaraishi M (2014) Interdependences between household residential and car ownership behavior: a life history analysis. J Transp Geogr 34:165–174

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao P, Lu B (2010) Exploring job accessibility in the transformation context: an institutionalist approach and its application in Beijing. J Transp Geogr 18(3):393–401

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Zimmermann S (2014) The pursuit of subjective well–being through specific consumption choice. Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2484660 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2484660

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yubing Xiong .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer Japan KK

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Xiong, Y., Zhang, J. (2017). Empirical Evidence of Behavioral Interdependencies Across Life Choices. In: Zhang, J. (eds) Life-Oriented Behavioral Research for Urban Policy. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-56472-0_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-56472-0_2

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Tokyo

  • Print ISBN: 978-4-431-56470-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-4-431-56472-0

  • eBook Packages: EnergyEnergy (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics