Life Satisfaction and the Relationship Experience at Family, School, and Neighborhood Levels for Chilean Children

Abstract

The differential contributions that interpersonal relationships at family, peer, and school levels provide to overall life satisfaction are studied. These are examined in conjunction with the safety and infrastructure conditions in the neighborhoods and schools of 10- to 12-year-old Chilean children. The sample consists of 1065 youths from 10 to 12 years of age, who were selected through a representative and random strategy. This sample is part of a larger study (International Survey of Children’s Well-Being, ISCWeB), sponsored by the International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI). The structural equation model analysis (SEM) was utilized to examine the contribution of the variable of satisfaction with interpersonal relationships and satisfaction with the environment to children’s subjective well-being. The results show that the latent dimension of satisfaction with interpersonal relationships held a significant and positive relationship with children’s life satisfaction. The latent dimension of satisfaction with the environment functions equally as an independent variable, as it also sustains a significant and positive relationship with the life satisfaction of the students. Both latent variables individually serve as unique and differentiated factors. This study aims to provide evidence of the differentiating effect on overall satisfaction at distinct contextual levels. In particular, it provides information on the effects of environmental dimensions such as the experience and sense of safety in the school and neighborhood, as well as, the conditions of urban spaces.