Abstract
The purpose of this study is to explore, analyse and report on some of the factors that may or may not impact on the levels of life satisfaction and self-esteem on a population of young adults between the ages of 25 to 45 in Ireland. At the outset, this study will explore the current international literature taking a broad approach and establishing what’s known to be strong predictors of life satisfaction and self-esteem today. Following on from that, this study will focus on localised research, taking a close look on currently reported levels of life satisfaction, well-being and self-esteem in Ireland. In other words; is Ireland a country for young adults? This is the central question that this study addresses, giving at the same time an account to what is currently known about this subject matter. This study will conduct some analysis on five predictable variables in particular; gender, self-esteem, education, and parents and non-parents. In addition, the study will attempt to establish whether or not those variables have an impact on the overall life satisfaction and on doing so comparing gender related possible variance. This study will treat life satisfaction and self-esteem outcomes separately, and will also show if and how both are intrinsically intertwined. The survey results which included 72 participants concurred with the general body of international literature including the latest OECD (2013) report on the subject matter for Ireland in that, this study has found that overall young adults living in Ireland today seem to have both high self-esteem and a good quality of life.
