2 research outputs found
Belief in a Zero-Sum Game and Subjective Well-Being Across 35 Countries
This article presents a short research report on the relationship between perceived
antagonism in social relations measured using the Belief in a Zero-Sum Game (BZSG)
scale, life satisfaction, and positive and negative affect. Given that individuals who
believe that life is like a zero-sum game are likely to perceive their daily interactions
with others as unfair, we expected that individuals with high BZSG experience more
negative affect and fewer positive one, resulting in a lower satisfaction with life. In
addition, we examined whether country-level BZSG may play a moderating role in
these associations. Data were collected from student samples (N = 7,146) in 35
countries. Multilevel modelling revealed that perceived social antagonism in social
relations is negatively associated with satisfaction with life and that this relationship is
mediated by both positive and negative affect at the individual level. The relation of
individual BZSG and negative affect on satisfaction with life were weaker in societies
with higher country-level BZSG, suggesting that the effects of BZSG may be less
detrimental in these countries. These findings extend previous knowledge about
predictors of life satisfaction and suggest that social beliefs might also be an important
factor that influences subjective well-being. The contribution of the study is that the
separate treatment of life satisfaction and positive and negative affect may be helpful in
many research situations, particularly from a cross-cultural perspective