Abstract
Personal happiness and well-being are associated with a dispositional tendency to believe in the existence of justice. In
addition, research suggests that links between justice beliefs and well-being are best revealed when utilizing distinctions
between a belief in justice for one’s self versus others, and also a belief in procedural versus distributive justice. Using
multilevel modeling, we examined whether individual-level links to personal well-being are moderated by higher-order (county-level)
justice climates. Michigan (United States) residents (N = 497) were recruited through a statewide survey to complete measures of procedural and distributive justice beliefs for
self and others, life satisfaction, and self-rated health. Individual-level beliefs in justice for both self and for others
were more strongly associated with life satisfaction and health in climates where beliefs about justice for others were robust.
In addition, an individual-level belief in distributive justice was more strongly linked to self-rated health in high distributive
justice climates, and in low procedural justice climates. Taken together, these cross-level interactions suggest that higher-order
justice climates may alter relationships between individual-level justice beliefs and personal well-being. We discuss implications
for justice theory and directions for continued research on well-being and happiness.
addition, research suggests that links between justice beliefs and well-being are best revealed when utilizing distinctions
between a belief in justice for one’s self versus others, and also a belief in procedural versus distributive justice. Using
multilevel modeling, we examined whether individual-level links to personal well-being are moderated by higher-order (county-level)
justice climates. Michigan (United States) residents (N = 497) were recruited through a statewide survey to complete measures of procedural and distributive justice beliefs for
self and others, life satisfaction, and self-rated health. Individual-level beliefs in justice for both self and for others
were more strongly associated with life satisfaction and health in climates where beliefs about justice for others were robust.
In addition, an individual-level belief in distributive justice was more strongly linked to self-rated health in high distributive
justice climates, and in low procedural justice climates. Taken together, these cross-level interactions suggest that higher-order
justice climates may alter relationships between individual-level justice beliefs and personal well-being. We discuss implications
for justice theory and directions for continued research on well-being and happiness.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Research Paper
- Pages 1-17
- DOI 10.1007/s10902-012-9387-6
- Authors
- Todd Lucas, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Wayne State University, 3939 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
- Ludmila Zhdanova, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada
- Craig A. Wendorf, University of Wisconsin—Stevens Point, Stevens Point, WI, USA
- Sheldon Alexander, Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, USA
- Journal Journal of Happiness Studies
- Online ISSN 1573-7780
- Print ISSN 1389-4978