Economic Adjustment and Life Satisfaction of Men and Women: The Role of Social Support

Abstract

The aim of the study was to explore whether social support plays a moderator and / or mediator role in relation to two indicators of difficult economic adjustment (loss of financial independence and loss of lifestyle) and life satisfaction of men and women. Data were collected at two measurement points during 2016, on a convenient sample of 180 women and 164 men. In the first point, two indicators of economic adjustment were measured by self-report, while in the second point, perceived social support, as well as life satisfaction were measured. Data were analyzed with several moderation and mediation analyses. The results showed the non-significance of the tested moderational effects of social support on the relationship between both indicators of economic adjustment and life satisfaction on both sexes, while mediational analysis showed the significance of only one tested mediation effect, on a sample of women. More specifically, a pronounced loss of lifestyle has been shown to lead to less social support, which ultimately leads to lower life satisfaction. The results were interpreted with regard to economic adjustment as a source of stress, and existing hypotheses of the role of social support in the context of well-being of the individual, i.e. life satisfaction.