Life Satisfaction: Testing a Structural Equation Model Based on Authenticity and Subjective Happiness

The aim of this research is to examine the relationships between authenticity, subjective happiness, and life satisfaction. The participants were 347 university students. In this study, the Authenticity Scale, the Subjective Happiness Scale, and Satisfaction with Life Scale were used. The relationships between authenticity, subjective happiness and life satisfaction were examined using correlation analysis and Structural Equation Model (SEM). In correlation analysis, authentic living was found positively related to subjective happiness. On the other hand, self-alienation, accepting external influence was found negatively correlated to subjective happiness. Besides subjective happiness and life satisfaction have positive relation. Structural Equation Model showed that self-alienation, accepting external influence results in a decrease subjective happiness on life satisfaction whereas rise in authentic living lead to subjective happiness, so subjective happiness also brings life satisfaction. According to standardized beta coefficients (β= -.49), the most significant predictor of subjective happiness was self-alienation. Results were discussed in the light of the related literature.