The relations between life domain satisfaction and subjective well-being

Purpose: This study examines the relationship between domain-based life satisfaction (LS) and subjective well-being (SWB) as well as the role of spiritual well-being as a moderator. Domains of LS include family cohesion, social connectedness, career success, and self-esteem. Design/methodology/approach: A survey was completed by 145 full-time Hong Kong Chinese employees working in a variety of jobs and organizations. Findings: Multiple regression analyses show that career success, social connectedness, and self-esteem are associated with both psychological and physical well-being. Spiritual well-being moderated the relationship between career success and psychological well-being. The relationship is stronger for low than for high spirituality. Research limitations/implications: All data were self-reported and collected at one point in time. Thus, common method variance may be an issue and causal inferences are not warranted. Practical implications: Domain-specific LS and spiritual well-being appear to be related to employees' well-being. Managers and human resources professionals may need to adopt a more holistic approach to staff development. Originality/value: The current study indicates that domain-specific LS improves the explanation of variations in well-being. Implications of these findings, the limitations of the study, and directions for future research are discussed.