Social comparison and well-being in Macau: the mediating roles of income inequality acceptance, generalized trust, and control perceptions

Existing literature has yet to examine whether a positive relationship between relative income and life satisfaction holds in Macau, a region characterized by rapid socioeconomic development, cultural diversity, and relatively comprehensive social welfare provision. Based on 1,023 respondents from the 7th wave World Values Survey in Macau, this study explores how relative income relates to life satisfaction and the underlying mediation mechanisms. The results reveal a positive association between relative income and life satisfaction, and it is also potentially mediated by acceptance of income inequality, generalized trust, and control perceptions. This positive association remains robust across various demographic groups. By offering empirical evidence from Macau, this study contributes to social comparison theory by shedding light on the potential cognitive and social mechanisms underlying the association between relative income and life satisfaction.