A Comparison Between Bottom–Up, Top–Down, and Bidirectional Models of Relationships Between Global and Life Facet Satisfaction

ABSTRACT We compared "bottom-up,""top-down," and "bidirectional" models of relationships between global and life facet satisfactions in a sample of university professors A bottom-up model proposed that specific life facet satisfactions determine satisfaction with life in general A top-down model proposed that global life satisfaction determines satisfaction in specific life domains A bidirectional model proposed reciprocal influences between global and life facet satisfaction We used LISREL-VI to contrast these models and, overall, the bidirectional model received strongest support However, direction of relations between global and life facet satisfaction varied across life domains We suggest that differences in domain scope, criticality, and centrality may determine the direction of the relationship between overall and life facet satisfaction