Title
Linking Advertising, Materialism, and Life Satisfaction
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-2012
Publication Title
Social Indicators Research
Department
Business and Leadership
Abstract
This paper develops theory related to advertising, materialism, and life satisfaction by formally testing explanations related to the antecedents and consequences of materialism. Survey data were collected from seven major cities each in a different country (Australia, Bosnia/Herzegovina, Germany, Egypt, Korea, Turkey, and the USA) using a probability sample (cluster sampling method involving income stratification). The results showed that the extent to which advertising is perceived to be materialistic contributes to materialism. Materialism, in turn, leads to the frequent use of various standards of comparison in making judgments about standard of living. As judgments about standard of living increase, standard of living is evaluated more negatively. In turn, negative self-evaluations contribute significantly to dissatisfaction with life.
ISSN
0303-8300
Citation
Sirgy, M. Joseph, Eda Gurel-Atay, Dave Webb, Muris Cicic, Melika Husic, Ahmet Ekici, Andreas Herrmann, Ibrahim Hegazy, Dong-Jin Lee, and J. S. Johar. “Linking Advertising, Materialism, and Life Satisfaction.” Social Indicators Research, 107 (1), 7–101, 2012.