Exploring the relationships among life satisfaction, neighborhood satisfaction and travel satisfaction in Beijing

Abstract

Life satisfaction (LS) is considered a key objective in improving quality of life and is connected to many satisfaction domains. However, few studies have investigated the bidirectional relationships between satisfaction in various domains and LS based on the theories of top-down, bottom-up, and horizontal spillover simultaneously. This article argues for more research into how neighborhood satisfaction (NS) and travel satisfaction (TS) influence LS, and vice versa. Based on GPS trajectories and travel diaries of Meiheyuan residents in Beijing, structural equation modeling is employed in this study to analyze the pathways among NS, TS and LS, while controlling for air and noise pollution at different geographic scales. The modeling results indicate that the theories of top-down, bottom-up, and horizontal spillover co-exist in the relationships among TS, NS, and LS. However, the top-down model performs better than the bottom-up model, and TS has a stronger horizontal spillover effect on NS than the opposite direction. The results also reveal that TS mediates the relationship between NS and LS. This study develops a comprehensive conceptual framework for long-term satisfaction and momentary wellbeing.