Cultural Health Capital, Attitudes Toward End-of-Life, and Subjective Well-Being in Taiwan: The Role of Education

Abstract

Objectives: This study examines health literacy and EOL pro-individualism as cultural health capital, their associations with EOL discussion and subjective well-being (SWB), and the moderating role of education. Methods: Using data from the 2017 Taichung Survey ( N = 645) and the 2021 Taiwan Social Change Survey ( N = 631), analyses combined logistic and OLS regressions with SEM for mediation testing, and evaluated the moderation by comparing across educational groups. Results: The results show that health literacy relates to higher happiness among the higher-educated and greater life satisfaction overall, whereas EOL pro-individualism relates to lower outcomes. Only formal EOL discussions show a positive link with happiness. Education moderates all associations with happiness. Discussion: Findings indicate that cultural health capital plays a dual role and underscore the relevance of formal EOL discussions. Policies could prioritize strengthening health literacy and promoting formal discussions while addressing cultural tensions between autonomy and family obligations.

Affiliated Institutions

• Tunghai University TW
• University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa US
• Fu Jen Catholic University TW
• National Taipei University of Education TW

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