Conditional Impacts of Community Participation on Life Satisfaction

Given the ambiguous impact of community participation on life satisfaction, empirical investigation is required to identify the conditions under which it yields positive or negative effects. Grounded in resource conservation theory—which posits that resources mitigate the adverse effects of loss—this study analyzed survey data from a random sample of 1002 Hong Kong residents. Findings reveal that while community participation generally had a negative main effect on life satisfaction, this effect was moderated by specific factors. The negative impact was mitigated by female gender, longer residency, and higher social class, but exacerbated by co-residing children. Consequently, the relationship between community participation and life satisfaction is conditional on resource factors, suggesting that maximizing benefits requires strategies to consolidate resources and prevent loss. © The Author(s) 2026.