This project is funded by the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW, DOC-team-Fellowship) and investigates the impact of social capital on subjective well-being in rural Japan. Previous happiness research has often relied on a simplified understanding of the complex term of well-being. Using a multi-method approach while combining four scientific perspectives (Japanese studies, sociology, psychology, political science), this interdisciplinary team project integrates the dimensions of political participation, sense of community, personality and social networks in rural environments. Thus, by combining individual with social level factors, a differentiated understanding of well-being is rendered possible.

This study explores the topic by asking, 

(1) What is the impact of social capital on subjective well-being in rural areas suffering from demographic decline and associated problems?

(2) How does political participation, sense of community, the embeddedness in social networks and personality affect different measures of well-being?

• Social capital has a significant impact on subjective well-being in rural areas
• Individual factors such as personality (e.g. extraversion) moderate the relationship between social capital and well-being. 
• Through the interdisciplinary approach an understanding of subjective well-being that integrates quantitative measurable data and qualitative views of well-being can be formed.