Importance of Life Domains: A Compositional Analysis

This study analyses how individuals allocate priorities across different life domains, focusing on the influence of cohort, gender, and personality traits. The compositional analysis approach represents the innovative contribution to understanding the importance assigned to different life domains, i.e. career, leisure, friendship, and family, across three cohorts of individuals born in 1971-1973, 1981-1983, and 1991-1993, observed at ages 25-27 and 35-37. Our findings reveal a significant shift in priorities across cohorts. At ages 25-27, compared to the 1981-1983 cohort, individuals born in 1991-1993 place significantly less importance on family, instead prioritizing career, friendships, and, most notably, leisure time. Gender differences persist, with women continuing to prioritize family and friendships over work and career. Additionally, personality traits play a role. Conscientious individuals are more likely to prioritize their careers, while those with higher agreeableness place greater emphasis on family.