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Quality of Life in Intentional Communities

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Abstract

The present study was initiated to investigate levels and predictors of wellbeing among inhabitants of intentional communities (ICs). An anonymous, Internet-based questionnaire was distributed to US and Canadian ICs. Responses were obtained from 913 members. Wellbeing was measured by the widely used satisfaction with life scale (SWLS). Hierarchical linear regression analyses were run to test the predictive validity of Social support, Identity fusion, Meaning in life, Community satisfaction and Life change, and Religious activity above and beyond demographic variables and personality traits. Mean scores on the SWLS were estimated to 5.27 and 5.47 (1–7 scale) for men and women, respectively. The full model explained 41.4% of the variance for men and 38.2% for women. Personality explained 13.4 (men) and 14.4% (women) of the variation, while demographic variables only had a minor impact. Overall, presence of Meaning in life and Social support were the most important predictors. The IC inhabitants reported wellbeing on par with the highest scores previously published. The findings support the contention that sustainability, in the form of a communal lifestyle of low ecological footprint, may be promoted without forfeiting wellbeing.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Laird Schaub and the Fellowship for Intentional Community for support in carrying out the research. The work was supported by a John Templeton Foundation grant titled “Religion’s Impact on Human Life: Integrating Proximate and Ultimate Perspectives”.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway

    Bjørn Grinde & Ragnhild Bang Nes

  2. Binghamton University, Binghamton, USA

    Ian F. MacDonald & David Sloan Wilson

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  1. Bjørn Grinde
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  2. Ragnhild Bang Nes
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  3. Ian F. MacDonald
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  4. David Sloan Wilson
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Correspondence to Bjørn Grinde.

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Grinde, B., Nes, R.B., MacDonald, I.F. et al. Quality of Life in Intentional Communities. Soc Indic Res 137, 625–640 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-017-1615-3

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