Autonomy is Associated with Well-being Across the World, but more Strongly in Wealthy and Individualistic Countries

Abstract

Autonomy, understood as a sense of volition, self-direction, and self-endorsement, is a universal human need according to self-determination theory. Thus, it should be positively related to subjective well-being across the world. However, other theorists have proposed that autonomy should be more important in wealthier countries where life is less about survival and in more individualistic countries where self-expressive values are emphasized. To test these hypotheses, we utilized data from the World Values Survey, including 66 countries and nearly 100,000 individuals analyzed through Bayesian multilevel modeling. Using life satisfaction and happiness as key well-being outcomes, we found that autonomy was positively related to well-being across the world. This relation was moderated by national wealth and behaviorally measured individualism, with the relation being stronger in wealthier and more individualistic societies. However, the high correlation between national wealth and behaviorally measured individualism makes it hard to disentangle which of them is driving this effect. The present study thus provides support for suggesting that autonomy is universally connected to well-being but this relationship is enhanced by individualism and/or by less concern for survival.