Influence of socio-demographic factors, perceived happiness and psychological distress on life satisfaction among civil servants in Ibadan metropolis, Nigeria

Abstract

Civil servants’ life satisfaction is increasingly relevant as a key factor in personal well-being and organizational productivity. This study investigated the influence of socio-demographic factors, perceived happiness and psychological distress on life satisfaction among civil servants in Ibadan Metropolis, Nigeria. Using cross sectional research design and purposive sampling technique, three hundred and two participants were sampled (48.7%) men and 51.3% women). Their age ranged from 22 to 59 years with mean age of 43 years (SD = 9.81). Self-report questionnaires, namely, Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), General Happiness Scale (GHS) and Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (KPDS) were employed for data collection in this study. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, multiple correlation and hierarchical regression. Result showed that participant’s age, job level, years of experience, perceived happiness had positive relationships with life satisfaction, while psychological distress significantly had a negative relationship with life satisfaction. In the regression, participant’s age, job level, years of experience, perceived happiness significantly predicted life satisfaction. Psychological distress negatively predicted life satisfaction. Heads of government agencies and other agencies should make consider the roles of the predictor variables in this study in order to improve employees’ happiness and minimize psychological distress in order to enhance their life satisfaction.