Belief in a zero-sum game and subjective well-being across 35 countries

Author(s): Joanna Rozycka-Tran, Jaroslaw P. Piotrowski, Magdalena Zemojtel-Piotrowska, Pawel Jurek, Evgeny N. Osin, Byron G. Adams, Rahkman Ardi, Sergiu Baltatescu, Arbinda Lal Bhomi, Sergey A. Bogomaz, Jan Cieciuch, Amanda Clinton, Gisela T. de Clunie, Anna Z. Czarna, Carla Sofia Esteves, Valdiney Gouveia, Murnizam H. J. Halik, Narine Kachatryan, Shanmukh Vasant Kamble, Anna Kawula, Martina Klicperova-Baker, Aituar Kospakov, Eva Letovancova, Vivian Miu-Chi Lun, Sara Malo Cerrato, Stephan Muehlbacher, Marija Nikolic, Alina A. Pankratova, Joonha Park, Elena Paspalanova, Gyozo Pek, Pablo Perez de Leon, Iva Polackova Solcova, Wahab Shahbaz, Truong Thi Khanh Ha, Habib Tiliouine, Alain Van Hiel, Christin-Melanie Vauclair, Eduardo Wills-Herrera, Anna Wlodarczyk, Illia I. Yahiiaiev, John Maltby
Abstract: 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 = 7146) 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.
Organisation(s): Department of Occupational, Economic and Social Psychology
External organisation(s): Medical University of Gdańsk, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw, National Research University, Tilburg University, University of Johannesburg (UJ), Universitas Airlangga, University of Oradea, Tribhuvan University, Tomsk State University, University of Puerto Rico, Universidad Tecnologica de Panama, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Iscte-University Institute of Lisbon , Universidade Federal da Paraíba, University Malaysia Sabah, Yerevan State University, Karnatak University, Czech Academy of Sciences, Toraighyrov University, Comenius University Bratislava, Lingnan University, Universitat de Girona, LUM Jean Monnet University, Anuchin Research Institute and Museum of Anthropology, NUCB Business School, New Bulgarian University, University of Debrecen, Universidad Catolica del Uruguay, Massey University, Vietnam National University Hanoi, Universite d'Oran, Ghent University Hospital, Universidad de Los Andes (Colombia), University of the Basque Country, Universidad Católica del Norte, Kherson State University, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (KNU), University of Leicester
Journal: Current Psychology
Volume: 40
Pages: 3575-3584
No. of pages: 10
ISSN: 1046-1310
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-019-00291-0
Publication date: 05-2019
Peer reviewed: Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012: 501021 Social psychology
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Psychology(all)
Portal url: https://ucris.univie.ac.at/portal/en/publications/belief-in-a-zerosum-game-and-subjective-wellbeing-across-35-countries(55a5387e-2964-48e8-8f0f-8e12b345c1cf).html