Culture and National well-being: should societies emphasize freedom or constraint?

PLoS ONE • Vol/Iss. 10(6) • Public Library of Science • • Published In • Pages: 1-14 •
By Harrington, Jesse R., Boski, Pawel, Gelfand, Michele K.

Abstract

The purpose of the present study is to provide insight on the debate concerning how best to organize societies: with more freedom (looseness) or with more constraint (tightness). In a comparison of 32 nations, Harrington, Boski, and Gelfand examine the relationship between tightness/looseness and three dimensions of societal well-being: psychosocial, health, and political/economic outcomes. Findings indicate that excessive constraint and/or freedom contribute to poorer psychosocial, health, and economic/political outcomes, as well as overall national-level well-being. These results suggest that a balance of freedom and constraint is associated with optimal societal well-being.

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
Researcher's ownData comes from: ASEP/JDS, the World Values Survey, the European Values Survey, Latinobarometro, the International Social Survey Program, the World Health Organization's 2010 Global Burden of Disease Study, other World Health Organization reports, the CIA

Hypotheses (9)

HypothesisSupported
The relationship between tightness/looseness and happiness will exhibit a curvilinear relationship, such that very tight and very loose nations have worse outcomes relative to nations intermediate on tightness-loosenessSupported
The relationship between tightness/looseness and dysthymia depression will exhibit a curvilinear relationship, such that very tight and very loose nations have worse outcomes relative to nations intermediate on tightness-loosenessSupported
The relationship between tightness/looseness and suicide rate will exhibit a curvilinear relationship, such that very tight and very loose nations have worse outcomes relative to nations intermediate on tightness-loosenessSupported
The relationship between tightness/looseness and life expectancy will exhibit a curvilinear relationship, such that very tight and very loose nations have worse outcomes relative to nations intermediate on tightness-loosenessSupported
The relationship between tightness/looseness and mortality rates for cardiovascular disease and diabetes will exhibit a curvilinear relationship, such that very tight and very loose nations have worse outcomes relative to nations intermediate on tightness-loosenessSupported
The relationship between tightness/looseness and gross domestic product (GDP) will exhibit a curvilinear relationship, such that very tight and very loose nations have worse outcomes relative to nations intermediate on tightness-loosenessSupported
The relationship between tightness/looseness and political instability will exhibit a curvilinear relationship, such that very tight and very loose nations have worse outcomes relative to nations intermediate on tightness-loosenessSupported
The relationship between tightness/looseness and the composite score of all 8 (dependent) variables, such that very tight and very loose nations have worse outcomes relative to nations intermediate on tightness-loosenessSupported
Results will not change when controlling for income disparity (GINI) and cultural individualismMainly supported
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: emily.pitek  noah.rossen