Attribution Style, Self-Esteem and Marital Status as Predictors of Life Satisfaction

ABSTRACT This study investigated attribution style, self-esteem and marital status as predictors of life satisfaction. Participants were three hundred and fifty (350) junior and senior staff of Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (Park Lane Hospital) and the University of Nigerian Teaching Hospital, Enugu (UNTH). Their ages ranged between 24 to 53 years, with a mean age of 35.85. Cross sectional design was adopted. Three instruments were used for data collection. Satisfaction with life Scale, attribution style scale, and self-esteem scale. Three hypotheses were tested. Result of the regression analysis showed that the four dimensions of attribution style were significant predictors of life satisfaction (p < .001). Self-esteem significantly predicted life satisfaction (p < .001). Similarly, marital status is also a significant predictor of life satisfaction (p < .001). The implications of the finding were highlighted, limitations were stated and suggestions were made for further studies.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page i

Certification ii

Dedication iii

Acknowledgement iv

Table of Contents v

List of tables vii

List of Appendices viii

Abstract ix

Chapter One

Introduction 1

Statement of Problem 7

Purpose of Study 8

Operational Definition of Terms 8

Chapter Two

Literature Review 9

Theoretical Review 9

Hedonism Theory 9

Desire Theory 11

Objective List Theory 12

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory 13

Self-Fulfilling Theory 14

Multiply Discrepancy Theory 15

Orientation to Happiness Model 15

Minders Theory 15

Empirical Review

Attribution style and life satisfaction 18

Self- esteem and Life satisfaction 24

Marital status and life satisfaction 32

Summary of Literature Reviewed 36

Hypotheses 38

Chapter Three

Method 39

Participants 39

vi

Instruments

3

9

Procedure 41

Design and Statistics 42 Chapter Four Results 43 Chapter Five Discussion 46

Implications of the Study 48

Limitations of the Study 49

Suggestions for further Studies 49

Summary and conclusion 50