Sustainable Livelihoods in Agribusiness: An Empirical Analysis of Life Satisfaction Determinants in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (Gidas) of Region XI, Philippines

Abstract

Despite significant government investments in rural development, GIDAs continue to face persistent challenges in achieving sustainable livelihoods, necessitating empirical evidence to guide policy interventions. This study investigates the complex relationships between livelihood capital dimensions, livelihood education, social adaptation mechanisms, and life satisfaction among agribusiness stakeholders in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs) of Region XI, Philippines. A cross-sectional survey design employed stratified multi-stage sampling to select 400 respondents from agribusiness sectors in Region XI. The study utilized validated psychometric instruments and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, and structural equation modeling (SEM) with SPSS 28.0 and AMOS 28.0. Contrary to conventional sustainable livelihoods theory, the structural equation model revealed paradoxical negative relationships between capital assets and life satisfaction. Only three livelihood capital components significantly predicted life satisfaction: natural capital (β = -0.071, p = 0.010), financial capital (β = -2.992×10⁻⁶, p < 0.001), and social capital (β = -0.004, p = 0.006). The final model explained 3.7% of variance in life satisfaction (adjusted R² = 0.037, F = 6.165, p < 0.001), suggesting that traditional capital accumulation strategies may not enhance subjective well-being in GIDA contexts. Livelihood education scored consistently high across all dimensions (M = 4.704), while social adaptation showed strongest performance in life adaptation (M = 4.737) compared to productive adaptation (M = 4.070). The counterintuitive findings challenge conventional development approaches in GIDAs, suggesting that interventions should move beyond simple capital accumulation toward holistic strategies that consider cultural preservation, environmental stewardship, and community social harmony. Policymakers should prioritize quality over quantity in social network development and ensure that land tenure and income generation programs align with community-defined well-being objectives.