The Relationship between Life Satisfaction and Risk Behaviors: A Cross-Cultural Analysis of Youth

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between life satisfaction and behavioral risky acts in youth and analyzes how this relationship may differ or be similar across two groups from two different regions at NUTS 3 level: Frosinonearea, in Italy, and Timisarea, in Romania. Even though both regions are quite similar in terms of population structure, they have a different historical background and are completely different in terms of labor market; however, their GDP per capita levels are similar. The analysis of the responses indicates that there is evidence to suggest that exposure to alcohol results in decreased life satisfaction in both communities. On the other hand, there is no connection between life satisfaction and tobacco or marijuana use. The implications of these findings for educational prevention policies and decision-making were discussed.