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Life Satisfaction as a Buffer of the Relationship Between Corruption Perception and Political Participation

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  • Wen-wen Zheng

    (Beijing Normal University)

  • Li Liu

    (Beijing Normal University)

  • Zhen-wei Huang

    (Beijing Normal University)

  • Xu-yun Tan

    (Beijing Normal University)

Abstract

The present article aimed at exploring the effect of corruption perception on political participation and the moderating role of life satisfaction on this relationship. To accomplish these objectives, we collected both survey and experimental data. In Study 1, corruption perception, life satisfaction, and political participation were all measured using self-report scales. The results indicated that corruption perception was negatively associated with political participation, and that life satisfaction moderated the relationship between corruption perception and political participation. In Study 2, corruption perception was manipulated by placing respondents in either a high-corruption or a low-corruption condition with subliminal priming. Compared with the high-corruption condition, the respondents primed by the low-corruption condition reported greater political participation. Furthermore, corruption perception hampered political participation only when life satisfaction was low. The results of the two studies confirmed that corruption perception attenuated political participation and that life satisfaction served as an appraisal buffer to alleviate this effect. The implications of the findings are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Wen-wen Zheng & Li Liu & Zhen-wei Huang & Xu-yun Tan, 2017. "Life Satisfaction as a Buffer of the Relationship Between Corruption Perception and Political Participation," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 132(2), pages 907-923, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:132:y:2017:i:2:d:10.1007_s11205-016-1318-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-016-1318-1
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    1. Jason Wei Jian Ng & Santha Vaithilingam & Grace H. Y. Lee & Gary J. Rangel, 2022. "Life Satisfaction and Incumbent Voting: Examining the Mediating Effect of Trust in Government," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(6), pages 2947-2967, August.
    2. Zhao, Huanhuan & Zhang, Heyun & He, Wen & Chen, Ning, 2020. "Subjective well-being and moral disengagement in Chinese youths: The mediating role of malicious envy and the moderating role of Honesty–Humility," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    3. Wu, Bao & Fang, Chevy-Hanqing & Wang, Qi & Huang, Qiongxian, 2023. "Does managerial networking impinge our morality in Guanxi context? The moderating effect of corruption perception," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    4. Félix J. López-Iturriaga & Iván Pastor Sanz, 2018. "Predicting Public Corruption with Neural Networks: An Analysis of Spanish Provinces," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 140(3), pages 975-998, December.
    5. Gabriele Prati, 2022. "The Relationship Between Political Participation and Life Satisfaction Depends on Preference for Non-Democratic Solutions," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 17(3), pages 1867-1881, June.
    6. Ryota Nakatani & Qianqian Zhang & Isaura Garcia Valdes, 2024. "Health Expenditure Decentralization and Health Outcomes: The Importance of Governance," Publius: The Journal of Federalism, CSF Associates Inc., vol. 54(1), pages 59-87.
    7. Danish, Muhammad Hassan & Nawaz, Shahzada Muhammad Naeem, 2022. "Does institutional trust and governance matter for multidimensional well-being? Insights from Pakistan," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 25(C).

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