Occupying Protest and Life Dissatisfaction in Hong Kong

While both life satisfaction and participation in protest occupying public or private places are crucial, their relationships are uncharted and uncertain. Nevertheless, conflict theory suggests that conflict over sociopolitical class interests triggered by protest participation is dissatisfying (Freelon et al. 2018; E. Liu 2010). In examining this possibility, this study conducted a random-sample telephone survey of 1,075 Chinese adult residents. The survey measured every adult’s participation in occupying protests in various places in the past month and satisfaction with life in the recent week. The study estimated effects with and without control for the endogeneity between occupying protest participation and life satisfaction. Results revealed that the participation attenuated life satisfaction but not vice versa. Moreover, the attenuation was greater when the adult was married or had more adults in the household, higher income, or education. These results imply sustaining life satisfaction with the prevention of occupying protest participation and particularly its conflict within and without the household.