Differences in Multi-Dimensional Well-Being Among Factory Workers: Evidence from Six Countries

Area of Science:

• Industrial-organizational psychology
• Cross-cultural psychology
• Global health

Background:

• Worker well-being is crucial for productivity and satisfaction.
• Cross-cultural studies are needed to understand diverse worker experiences.
• Existing research often overlooks factory worker populations in developing economies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare well-being across factory workers in six countries.
• To examine the relative importance of six well-being domains.
• To identify cultural and economic influences on worker well-being.

Main Methods:

• Survey data collected from factory workers in Cambodia, China, Mexico, Poland, Sri Lanka, and the U.S.
• Analysis of six well-being domains: happiness/life satisfaction, physical/mental health, meaning/purpose, character/virtue, social relationships, and financial/material stability.
• Comparative ranking of well-being domains across national groups.

Main Results:

• Higher average well-being scores in Mexico, China, and Cambodia compared to the U.S., Poland, and Sri Lanka, excluding financial stability.
• Close social relationships ranked highest in Cambodia and China, but fifth in the U.S.
• Meaning, purpose, character, and virtue were highly ranked across all surveyed nations.

Conclusions:

• Cultural context significantly shapes factory worker well-being perceptions.
• Strong social connections may compensate for lower financial security in some cultures.
• Future interventions should consider culturally specific approaches to enhance worker well-being.