Determinants of Life Satisfaction: Relationship Satisfaction, Belonging and Loneliness

Year 2026, Volume: 26 Issue: 1, 542 - 554, 25.03.2026

Azmi Çağlar

https://doi.org/10.17240/aibuefd.2026..-1833558

https://izlik.org/JA78HA76LL

Abstract

Life satisfaction is a pivotal psychological construct that affects well-being, mental health, and overall quality of life. This study investigates the predictive influences of relationship satisfaction, belongingness, and loneliness on life satisfaction in university students. A cohort of 474 participants underwent assessments measuring these variables. Correlational analyses indicated that relationship satisfaction and belongingness were positively correlated with life satisfaction, while loneliness demonstrated a negative correlation. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that these factors collectively accounted for 28% of the variance in life satisfaction. Relationship satisfaction constituted a minor yet significant factor, while loneliness and belongingness emerged as more robust predictors. These findings highlight the significance of social and relational factors in influencing life satisfaction. The findings indicate that cultivating significant connections and improving relationship quality may act as protective factors against loneliness, thus enhancing subjective well-being. Future research ought to investigate supplementary mediating variables and analyze these relationships across varied populations to formulate targeted interventions aimed at improving life satisfaction.

Keywords

Life Satisfaction , Relationship Satisfaction , Belongingness , Loneliness

Yaşam Doyumunun Belirleyicileri: İlişki Doyumu, Aidiyet ve Yalnızlık

https://izlik.org/JA78HA76LL

Abstract

Yaşam doyumu; refahı, ruh sağlığını ve genel yaşam kalitesini etkileyen önemli bir psikolojik kavramdır. Bu çalışma, üniversite öğrencilerinde ilişki doyumu, aidiyet ve yalnızlığın yaşam doyumu üzerindeki yordayıcı etkilerini araştırmaktadır. 474 katılımcıdan oluşan bir grup, bu değişkenleri ölçen değerlendirmelere tabi tutulmuştur. Korelasyon analizleri, ilişki memnuniyeti ve aidiyet duygusunun yaşam memnuniyeti ile pozitif korelasyon gösterirken, yalnızlığın negatif korelasyon gösterdiğini ortaya koymuştur. Hiyerarşik çoklu regresyon analizi, bu faktörlerin toplu olarak yaşam memnuniyetindeki varyansın %28'ini oluşturduğunu ortaya koymuştur. İlişki memnuniyeti küçük ama önemli bir faktör oluştururken, yalnızlık ve aidiyet daha güçlü öngörücü faktörler olarak ortaya çıkmıştır. Bu bulgular, yaşam memnuniyetini etkileyen sosyal ve ilişkisel faktörlerin önemini vurgulamaktadır. Bulgular, anlamlı bağlar kurmanın ve ilişki kalitesini iyileştirmenin yalnızlığa karşı koruyucu faktörler olarak işlev görebileceğini ve böylece öznel refahı artırabileceğini göstermektedir. Gelecekteki araştırmalar, yaşam memnuniyetini iyileştirmeyi amaçlayan hedefli müdahaleler formüle etmek için ek aracı değişkenleri araştırmalı ve bu ilişkileri çeşitli popülasyonlar arasında analiz etmelidir.

Keywords

Yaşam Doyumu , İlişki Doyumu , Aidiyet , Yalnızlık

References

• Altan Sarikaya, N., Oz, S., & Ozturk, S. (2021). Perceptions of loneliness and well‐being of psychiatric patients' families. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 57(4), 1806-1811. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppc.12753
• Asiedu, M., Sarfo, J. O., Adjei, D., Asiedu, N., & Adusei, H. (2014). Model of customer service, belongingness and satisfaction: a multidisciplinary analysis of needs in Ghanaian banking sector. European Journal of Economic Studies, (2), 52-61. https://doi.org/10.13187/issn.2304-9669
• Barr, S. M., Budge, S. L., & Adelson, J. L. (2016). Transgender community belongingness as a mediator between strength of transgender identity and well-being. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 63(1), 87-97. https://doi.org/10.1037/cou0000127
• Cheung, F., & Lucas, R. E. (2014). Assessing the validity of single-item life satisfaction measures: Results from three large samples. Quality of Life research, 23, 2809-2818.
• Cockshaw, W. D., & Shochet, I. (2010). The link between belongingness and depressive symptoms: An exploration in the workplace interpersonal context. Australian Psychologist, 45(4), 283-289. https://doi.org/10.1080/00050061003752418
• Curun F. (2001). The effects of sexism and sex role orientation on romantic relationship satisfaction. Master Thesis, Unpublished. Ankara: Middle East Technical University.
• Dağlı, A., & Baysal, N. (2016). Yaşam doyumu ölçeğinin türkçe’ye uyarlanmasi: geçerlik ve güvenirlik çalişmasi. Elektronik Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 15(59). https://doi.org/10.17755/esosder.263229
• Diener, E. (1984). Subjective well-being. Psychological Bulletin, 95(3), 542–575. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.95.3.542
• Diener, E. (2009). Personality and subjective well-being. In The Science of Well-Being (pp. 75-102). Springer.
• Diener, E. D., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The satisfaction with life scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49(1), 71-75. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa4901_13
• Diener, E. D., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The satisfaction with life scale. Journal of personality assessment, 49(1), 71-75. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa4901_13
• Doğan, T., Çötok, N. A., & Tekin, E. G. (2011). Reliability and validity of the Turkish Version of the UCLA Loneliness Scale (ULS-8) among university students. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 15, 2058-2062. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.04.053
• Durko, A. M. (2014). Examining the potential relationship benefits of leisure travel taken with and without one's significant other and children. Texas A&M University.
• Eres, R., Postolovski, N., Thielking, M., & Lim, M. H. (2021). Loneliness, mental health, and social health indicators in LGBTQIA+ Australians. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 91(3), 358–366. https://doi.org/10.1037/ort0000531
• Fallis, E. E., Rehman, U. S., Woody, E. Z., & Purdon, C. (2016). The longitudinal association of relationship satisfaction and sexual satisfaction in long-term relationships. Journal of Family Psychology, 30(7), 822–831. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000205
• Field, A. (2022). An adventure in statistics: The reality enigma. Sage.
• Gardiner, C., Geldenhuys, G., & Gott, M. (2018). Interventions to reduce social isolation and loneliness among older people: an integrative review. Health & Social Care in the Community, 26(2), 147-157. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.12367
• Hawkley, L. C., & Cacioppo, J. T. (2010). Loneliness matters: A theoretical and empirical review of consequences and mechanisms. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 40(2), 218-227. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-010-9210-8
• Headey, B., & Wearing, A. (1989). Personality, life events, and subjective well-being: Toward a dynamic equilibrium model. Journal of Personality and Social psychology, 57(4), 731.
• Hendrick, S. S. (1988). A generic measure of relationship satisfaction. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 50(1), 93–98. https://doi.org/10.2307/352430
• Kaufman, V., Rodriguez, A., Walsh, L. C., Shafranske, E., & Harrell, S. P. (2022). Unique ways in which the quality of friendships matter for life satisfaction. Journal of Happiness Studies, 23(6), 2563-2580. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-022-00502-9
• Kern, A., Montgomery, P., Mossey, S., & Bailey, P. (2014). Undergraduate nursing students' belongingness in clinical learning environments: Constructivist grounded theory. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, 4(3), 133-142. http://dx.doi.org/10.5430/jnep.v4n3p133
• Khaddouma, A., Gordon, K. C., & Bolden, J. (2015). Zen and the art of sex: Examining associations among mindfulness, sexual satisfaction, and relationship satisfaction in dating relationships. Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 30(2), 268-285. https://doi.org/10.1080/14681994.2014.992408
• Kivlighan III, D. M., Abbas, M., Gloria, A. M., Aguinaga, A., Frank, C., & Frost, N. D. (2018). Are belongingness and hope essential features of academic enhancement groups? A psychosociocultural perspective. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 65(2), 204.
• Liu, H., & Cheung, F. M. (2015). Testing crossover effects in an actor–partner interdependence model among Chinese dual‐earner couples. International Journal of Psychology, 50(2), 106-114. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijop.12070
• Lucas, R. E., Clark, A. E., Georgellis, Y., & Diener, E. (2003). Reevaluating adaptation and the set point model of happiness: Reactions to changes in marital status. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(3), 527–539.
• Lyyra, N., Thorsteinsson, E. B., Eriksson, C., Madsen, K. R., Tolvanen, A., Löfstedt, P., & Välimaa, R. (2021). The association between loneliness, mental well-being, and self-esteem among adolescents in four Nordic countries. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(14), 7405. https://doi.org/10.3390/ ijerph18147405
• Malone, G. P., Pillow, D. R., & Osman, A. (2012). The general belongingness scale (GBS): Assessing achieved belongingness. Personality and individual differences, 52(3), 311-316. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2011.10.027
• Manninen, K., Welin Henriksson, E., Scheja, M., & Silén, C. (2013). Authenticity in learning–nursing students’ experiences at a clinical education ward. Health Education, 113(2), 132-143. https://doi.org/10.1108/09654281311298812
• Masi, C. M., Chen, H. Y., Hawkley, L. C., & Cacioppo, J. T. (2011). A meta-analysis of interventions to reduce loneliness. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 15(3), 219-266. https://doi.org/10.1177/1088868310377394
• McDaniel, B. T., & Coyne, S. M. (2016). “Technoference”: The interference of technology in couple relationships and implications for women’s personal and relational well-being. Psychology of Popular Media Culture, 5(1), 85-98.
• Oishi, S. (2018). Culture and subjective well-being: Conceptual and measurement issues. In E. Diener, S. Oishi, & L. Tay (Eds.), Handbook of well-being. DEF Publishers.
• Roberts, J. A., & David, M. E. (2016). My life has become a major distraction from my cell phone: Partner phubbing and relationship satisfaction among romantic partners. Computers in Human Behavior, 54, 134-141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2015.07.058
• Roberts, J. A., & David, M. E. (2016). My life has become a major distraction from my cell phone: Partner phubbing and relationship satisfaction among romantic partners. Computers in Human Behavior, 54, 134-141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2015.07.058
• Russell, D., Peplau, L. A., & Ferguson, M. L. (1978). Developing a measure of loneliness. Journal of personality assessment, 42(3), 290-294. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa4203_11
• Russell, K., Alliex, S., & Gluyas, H. (2016). Embracing the power of belongingness: A descriptive mixed method research study. Open Journal of Nursing, 6, 449-457.
• Satici, S. A., & Gocet Tekin, E. (2016). Psychometric properties of the general belongingness scale in Turkish youth. Current Psychology, 35, 625-631. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-015-9329-7
• Saygin, Y., Akdeniz, S., & Deniz, M. E. (2015). Loneliness and interpersonal problem solving as predictors of subjective well-being. International Journal of Information and Education Technology, 5(1), 32. https://doi.org/10.7763/IJIET.2015.V5.471
• Schnettler, B., Miranda-Zapata, E., Orellana, L., Poblete, H., Lobos, G., Lapo, M., & Adasme-Berríos, C. (2020). Domain satisfaction and overall life satisfaction: Testing the spillover-crossover model in Chilean dual-earner couples. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(20), 7554. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17207554
• Toikko, T., & Pehkonen, A. (2018). Community belongingness and subjective well-being among unemployed people in a Finnish community. International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 38(9/10), 754-765. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSSP-01-2018-0010
• Tokay Argan, M., & Mersin, S. (2021). Life satisfaction, life quality, and leisure satisfaction in health professionals. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 57(2), 660-666. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppc.12592
• VanderWeele, T. J., Hawkley, L. C., & Cacioppo, J. T. (2012). On the reciprocal association between loneliness and subjective well-being. American Journal of Epidemiology, 176(9), 777-784. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kws173
• Vaz, S., Falkmer, M., Ciccarelli, M., Passmore, A., Parsons, R., Black, M., ... & Falkmer, T. (2015). Belongingness in early secondary school: Key factors that primary and secondary schools need to consider. PLoS One, 10(9). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0136053
• Wurster, K. G., Kivlighan, D. M. III, & Foley-Nicpon, M. (2021). Does person-group fit matter? A further examination of hope and belongingness in academic enhancement groups. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 68(1), 67–76. https://doi.org/10.1037/ cou0000437
• Yam, F. C. (2023). The relationship between partner phubbing and life satisfaction: The mediating role of relationship satisfaction and perceived romantic relationship quality. Psychological Reports, 126(1), 303-331. https://doi.org/10.1177/00332941221144611
• Yang, M., Wang, H., & Yao, J. (2022). Relationship between intergenerational emotional support and subjective well-being among elderly migrants in China: the mediating role of loneliness and self-esteem. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(21), 14567. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192114567