Analysi̇s of li̇fe sati̇sfacti̇on level of uni̇versi̇ty students usi̇ng hi̇erarchi̇cal li̇near modeli̇ng

Abstract

Life satisfaction is among the basic components which demonstrate that individuals can lead a quality life. Many intertwined factors affect individuals' life satisfaction. Analyzing these factors at different levels will allow the analysis results to be more significant. This study aimed to reveal the effects of variable at the student and department level that will affect the life satisfaction level of university students, using the Hierarchical Linear Modeling. In addition, the study aimed to reveal which variables have a significant effect on life satisfaction in this two-level structure. The sample of the research consists of 1237 students, studying in 30 departments in different faculties at Inönü University in the 2020-2021 academic year. The variables about students represent the first level while variables about department represent the second level. Considering the life satisfaction levels of individuals, it was concluded that 13% of the variability was due to the differences between departments and that 87% of variability due to the differences between students. It was also concluded that variables that became important in explaining the differences between students' life satisfaction at the first level were: working, selfregulation, physical discomfort, physical activity variables and that variables such as gender, age, income, having a sibling, relationship status, family cohesion, emotion regulation, parents' education level, having close friends and a religious belief were found to be insignificant in explaining life satisfaction at the student level and that the added variables could explain 75% of students' life satisfaction. Variables at the department level explain 6% of the differences between departments. It was concluded that the variable that could explain the differences between students' life satisfaction at this level was the variable of departments' scores on assigning teachers and that the number of students and faculty members in the department were found to be insignificant.