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We study how personality impacts people's experiences of their thoughts in terms of experienced happiness and worthwhileness. Over two weeks, 483 participants completed over 20,000 experience sampling questionnaires including reports of hedonic and eudemonic well-being, and type and content of thoughts. Using multi-level modelling we show that personality traits recorded prior to the start of the study for all participants interact with thought variables to significantly predict experiences of worthwhileness. Openness was the personality trait with the greatest impact on how content and type of thoughts affected worthwhileness. Predictions of happiness were not significantly improved by the addition of interactions between personality and thoughts. Implications for the broader literature on the relationship between personality and well-being are discussed. • We find individual differences in the relationship between thoughts and well-being. • Big 5 personality traits do not explain this difference for happiness. • Openness moderates the relationship between thoughts and worthwhileness. • Agreeableness also moderates the relationship between thoughts and worthwhileness. • Most of the individual-specific variance remains unexplained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study integrated variable- and person-centered approaches to explore how happiness motives and their profiles relate to mental health through the mediation of eudaimonic activity (i.e., mastery behavior) and maladaptive hedonic activity (i.e., smartphone addiction). A total of 623 Chinese undergraduates completed an online survey package. Structural equation modeling revealed that hedonic approach motives (i.e., seeking pleasure) had a positive direct effect on well-being. Hedonic avoidance motives (i.e., avoiding pain) were negatively related to mastery behavior and positively related to smartphone addiction, leading to worse mental health. Eudaimonic motives (i.e., seeking growth and meaning) were positively related to mastery behavior and negatively related to smartphone addiction, leading to improved mental health. Latent profile analysis identified four profiles: average motives, low motives, approach motives, and high motives. A multi-categorical mediating model revealed that, compared to high motives profile, approach motives profile was related to more mastery behavior and less smartphone addiction, indirectly improving mental health; low motives profile had a negative indirect effect on mental health through mastery behavior and a positive indirect effect through smartphone addiction. These results indicate that combining high hedonic approach and eudaimonic motives with low hedonic avoidance motives is the most functional way to achieve happiness. • Hedonic avoidance motives are related to maladaptive behavioral patterns. • Hedonic approach motives are not related to maladaptive behavioral patterns. • Latent profile analysis reveals high, average, low, and, approach motives profiles. • The approach motives profile shows the best mental health condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Time is a critical resource, because how we spend the hours of our days sums up to the years of our lives. Yet are there individual differences in the way people think about their time, and how do such differences relate to subjective well-being? In the current research, we developed and empirically validated a 4-item scale to assess the extent to which people take a broad view of time—typically thinking more in terms of their years and life overall, rather than by hours and days. We provide evidence that those with a broad view of time report greater subjective well-being (i.e., more positive emotion, satisfaction, and meaning in life), and they spend their time in more meaningful ways (i.e., by dedicating more time to important activities, and not merely urgent ones). • Individuals vary in the extent to which they take a broad view of time. • People who take a broad view of time think in terms of years and life (vs. hours). • Developed and validated the 4-item Broad View of Time scale. • Taking a broad view of time predicts happiness, meaning, and life satisfaction. • Taking a broad view of time predicts spending on important (vs. urgent) activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public health emergencies such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic force policymakers to implement appropriate measures including social distancing to curb the spread of the virus. Although most people assume that such measures impact mental health, the extent of the impact may vary considerably between individuals. Using data from a 30-day diary study that captured daily happiness ratings (N = 611; 15,607 observations) during the worst wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong, we used multi-level modeling to test whether the Big Five personality factors moderated the relationship between enforced social distancing and happiness. We observed that people's happiness was stable throughout the enforcement and easing of social distancing. During the study period, both extraversion and agreeableness were found to be positively associated with happiness. Those high in extraversion were less happy when the distancing measures were enforced than when they were lifted. Our findings point to extraversion as a risk factor in public health emergencies and the importance of identifying people at risk to ensure immediate intervention during a pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior meta-analyses demonstrated a close link between personality traits such as the Big Five and happiness. However, to date, no comparable meta-analysis has looked into the relationship between happiness and the Dark Triad (narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy). Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis examined the relationship between the Dark Triad and happiness and reviewed their correlations. Four databases (Psycinfo, Medline, Web of Science, ScienceDirect) were searched. Sixteen studies included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. The meta-analysis found that: 1) narcissism was positively associated with happiness (ρ = 0.18, k = 16, N = 6965); 2) there was no significant association between Machiavellianism and happiness (ρ = −0.06, k = 6, N = 1944); and 3) psychopathy was negatively associated with happiness (ρ = −0.23, k = 12, N = 2943). Results discuss the importance of distinguishing the three domains of the Dark Triad in future research and practice. • This is the first meta-analysis linking the Dark Triad traits to happiness. • Narcissism relates to significantly greater happiness (small to medium effect size). • Machiavellianism is not significantly related to happiness. • Psychopathy relates to significantly lower happiness (small to medium effect size). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Well-being consists of several different dimensions, such as hedonic and eudaimonic well-being. However, peace of mind (PoM)—an aspect of well-being characterized by internal peace and harmony—has only recently begun to receive attention. It has been shown that PoM predicts important outcomes, such as depression and anxiety. An open question is what underlies individual differences in PoM. One important factor may be emotion regulation. However, to date, no studies have been conducted on PoM and emotion regulation. Here, we investigated the relationship between individual differences in PoM and trait emotion regulation. In two studies, participants from Finland (Study 1, N = 417) and the US (Study 2, N = 303) completed measures of PoM, trait emotion regulation, and other aspects of well-being and ill-being. Results showed that people with higher levels of PoM displayed a greater tendency to use cognitive reappraisal and a lesser tendency to use expressive suppression. Our findings suggest that adaptive emotion regulation may play an important role in explaining PoM and may serve as a promising target for interventions designed to enhance PoM. • Peace of mind (PoM) is an oft-overlooked aspect of well-being. • PoM is characterized by internal peace and harmony. • PoM is associated with a greater tendency to use cognitive reappraisal. • PoM is associated with a lesser tendency to use expressive suppression. • Adaptive emotion regulation may explain individual differences in PoM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research suggests that curiosity is associated with many positive variables and that these may be benefits of curiosity, but researchers have scarcely considered (a) which types of curiosity these potential benefits pertain to and (b) the potential drawbacks of curiosity. The present study examined the relationships of interest- and deprivation-type curiosity with four potential benefits that previous research has linked to curiosity (higher happiness, problem-solving confidence, open-mindedness, and empathic listening skills) and two potential drawbacks (higher distractibility and indecisiveness). Adults from the United Kingdom (N = 393) of diverse ages and socio-economic backgrounds completed an online questionnaire measuring dispositional interest- and deprivation-type curiosity, happiness, problem-solving confidence, open-mindedness, empathic listening skills, distractibility, and indecisiveness. As predicted, interest-curiosity was positively associated with all benefit variables, and surprisingly was negatively associated with both drawback variables. Deprivation-curiosity was positively associated with only one benefit variable (empathic listening) and one drawback variable (indecisiveness). Findings suggest that different curiosity types do not necessarily share the same potential benefits and drawbacks, and that interest-curiosity may be associated with more benefits than deprivation-curiosity. Future research should investigate the type-specificity of other potential benefits of curiosity, as well as investigate more potential drawbacks of curiosity. • Past research claims that highly curious people enjoy many psychosocial benefits. • We show that these correlations are not shared by all types of curiosity. • Interest-curiosity is linked to many variables suggested as benefits by past research. • Deprivation-curiosity correlates with fewer of these variables (only empathy). • We find that the potential drawbacks of curiosity may also be type specific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extraversion is one of the most powerful predictors of happiness. From an evolutionary perspective, however, it is unlikely that a personality trait is unconditionally beneficial. The present research examined whether extraversion's 'happiness advantage' diminishes in the presence of pathogen threat, a context in which extraverted behaviors could bring more harm (i.e., infection) than good. Two studies found that pathogen threat can attenuate the relationship between extraversion and experiences of positive affect (PA). In Study 1, the extraversion-PA link was weaker but still significant among participants with stronger motive to avoid infectious diseases. In Study 2, the extraversion-PA link became non-significant when pathogen threat was experimentally cued. Moreover, this effect was specific to the threat of pathogens, but not others (i.e., physical violence). The present findings shed light on boundary conditions where extraversion may not always translate to greater happiness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A robust association between dispositional envy and happiness was primarily concluded among young adults. As social contexts can vary across developmental stages, the effect of dispositional envy may be enhanced or diminished in different age groups. Thus, the present research attempted to quantify the differential associations between dispositional envy and happiness among adolescents and young adults (N = 586). Moreover, we examined another important question of why the association differed across the two age groups. Using mediated moderation analysis, we found a stronger association between dispositional envy and happiness among young adults than adolescents. We also revealed that self-esteem was a valid mechanism to unpack the differential associations across two age groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite recent research associating inferiority feelings with two of the social disruptors of happiness, namely self-concealment (Cimsir & Akdoğan, 2019) and loneliness (Akdoğan, 2017), neither the nature nor the mechanism of the connection between inferiority feelings and happiness have been investigated. The main objective of this study was, therefore, to test if inferiority feelings are associated with subjective happiness, while proposing a process in which inferiority feelings cause self-concealment, which in turn, causes loneliness, thereby resulting in a decrease in happiness. A serial mediation analysis was conducted via PROCESS, a computational tool for observed variable moderation, mediation and conditional process modeling (Hayes, 2012). The results confirm that self-concealment and loneliness act as serial mediators between inferiority feelings and subjective happiness, meaning that individuals with increased inferiority feelings have a higher tendency toward self-concealment. This, in turn, results in an increase in loneliness and a decrease in happiness. Additionally, a multiple regression analysis revealed that inferiority feelings, loneliness, self-concealment, age and gender significantly explain happiness at a level of 35% (R 2 = 0.35, F (5, 276) =30.27, p <.001), with loneliness and inferiority feelings being the only significant predictors of subjective happiness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For many people, Facebook use has become part of daily life. Earlier research hypothesized that one reason for the high popularity of this social platform is its association with subjective well-being and specific personality traits. In the present study, self-report data and objective data from Facebook pages of 328 Facebook users were analyzed. Results revealed a significant positive association of active Facebook use with subjective happiness and narcissism. Its relationship with depression symptoms was significantly negative. Furthermore, active Facebook use significantly positively mediated the positive link between narcissism and happiness. This finding contributes to the understanding why narcissistic individuals who usually search for attention and admiration to increase their self-esteem often engage in intensive active Facebook use. • Active Facebook use is positively related to the personality trait narcissism. • Active Facebook use is positively related to subjective happiness. • Active Facebook use is negatively related to depression symptoms. • Active Facebook use mediates the positive link between narcissism and happiness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The Five Factor Model (FFM) of personality has been repeatedly found to predict life satisfaction (LS), but cultural variations have been noted in the effects of each FFM dimension. In this research, we compared the prediction of LS with Extraversion and Neuroticism via the pathways of individual depressive state and interdependent happiness between American (n = 155) and Chinese community adults (n = 248). In both samples, Extraversion and interdependent happiness positively predicted LS, whereas Neuroticism and depressive state negatively predicted LS. Using structural equation modeling, we found that interdependent happiness mediated the effects of Extraversion and Neuroticism on LS in both samples, and there was no significant cultural difference in the indirect effect of interdependent happiness. Depressive state mediated the effect of Neuroticism on LS in American adults, but it did not explain the effects of Extraversion and Neuroticism on LS for the Hong Kong Chinese adults. We interpret the different effect of depressive state by referring to the literature on cultural differences in emotion. These findings support the notion that the specific effect of each FFM dimension on LS should be examined with reference to the cultural context. Highlights • Extraversion and Neuroticism predict life satisfaction (LS) for both American and Chinese adults. • Depressive state explains the effect of Neuroticism on LS for American but not for Chinese adults. • Interdependent happiness explains the effect of Extraversion and Neuroticism on LS in both groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Recent studies indicated that a considerable proportion of adult individuals experience poor mating performance: They face considerable difficulties in attracting and retaining mates. Using an evolutionary theoretical framework, we hypothesized that poor mating performance would be associated with more negative and fewer positive emotions as well as low life satisfaction. Evidence from an online sample of 735 participants provided strong support for this hypothesis. In particular, we found that individuals who indicated poor mating performance, experienced more negative emotions such as sadness and loneliness, and fewer positive emotions such as happiness and excitement, and they were less satisfied with their lives. On the other hand, those who indicated a good performance in mating, experienced more positive emotions and fewer negative emotions, and they were more satisfied with their lives. As indicated by the effect sizes, mating performance had a moderate to strong effect on positive and negative emotions and wellbeing. Also, consistent with the results of previous research, we found that about one in two participants faced difficulties in either starting or keeping an intimate relationship. Highlights • People who experienced poor mating performance experienced more negative emotions. • People who experienced good mating performance experienced more positive emotions. • Mating performance had a moderate to strong effect on emotions and wellbeing. • About one in two participants faced difficulties in intimate relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical attractiveness (PAT), despite its allure in everyday life, has been an inconsistent predictor of happiness in past studies. In this research, we find that a lay belief about the locus of a person's “essence” moderates the PAT and happiness link. Specifically, we measured how strongly one believes in the diagnostic value of the visible (e.g., status, appearance) over the invisible (e.g., mood, thoughts) aspects of a person in understanding who s/he is. As expected, the more one believed in the value of the visible features, the more central PAT was in the person's overall life, and appearance was compared more often with others (Study 1). More importantly, PAT and well-being correlated significantly only among those who strongly endorsed the visible selfhood belief (Study 2). Compared to past studies on PAT that relied heavily on self-reports, a highly objective measure of attractiveness (waist-to-hip ratio) was employed in this research. Our research uncovers a novel individual difference factor that helps to clarify why PAT predicts the happiness of some, but not of others. Whether one thinks a person's essence can be judged by one's “cover” seems to matter in the PAT and happiness link. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research suggests that optimism is positively related to emotional wellbeing. However, little is known about the emotion regulation mechanisms that potentially explain (i.e., mediate) this relationship. The present study was designed to address this issue. To this end, it examined emotion regulation strategies (i.e., appreciation, rumination, problem solving, and avoidance) that are theoretically and/or empirically related to optimism as possible mediators of the optimism-emotional wellbeing relationship. In the first of two phases, we established a baseline measure of dispositional optimism among 218 French adults. In the second phase, an experience sampling method was used to assess emotional wellbeing and emotion regulation strategy use over a 1-month period. A multiple mediation analysis suggested that the optimism-emotional wellbeing relationship is significantly mediated by appreciation and rumination but not by problem solving and avoidance. More specifically, engaging more in appreciation mediated 41 % of this relationship, while engaging less in rumination mediated 20 % of it. The results are discussed in light of the current knowledge on optimism, wellbeing, and emotion regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although psychopathy is commonly considered exclusively maladaptive, there is growing literature on the benefits and positive outcomes observed in a subset of individuals displaying high levels of psychopathic traits. The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between adaptive traits known to correlate with the psychopathic personality and psychopathic traits on measures of well-being. Participants were N = 2209 (84 % females) Canadian university students who completed self-report measures of adaptive traits, psychopathic traits, and well-being. A cluster analysis based on adaptive and psychopathic traits resulted in four groups: individuals above-average on both traits (HT), individuals with under-average psychopathic traits and above-average adaptive traits (AP), individuals with above-average psychopathic traits and under-average adaptive traits (NP), and those under-average on both traits (LT). Our findings suggest that individuals with high levels of adaptive traits display higher levels of well-being (i.e., durable happiness, satisfaction with life, and self-esteem). These high levels of well-being were observed in both HT and AP groups, suggesting that individuals with high levels of psychopathic traits may not display lower well-being, so long as they also possess sufficient levels of adaptive traits. Our results are discussed through the different models of successful psychopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A first goal of the present study consisted in examining the interrelationships between trait self-control, amount of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), goal progress, self-efficacy and subjective well-being. A second goal of this study was to examine whether LTPA amount, goal progress and self-efficacy could mediate the beneficial effect of trait self-control on subjective well-being. Five hundred one individuals, who reported to perform LTPA regularly, took part voluntarily in the study. Preliminary analyses showed acceptable and significant estimates of the measurement and structural model (absolute GoF = 0.394, relative GoF = 0.990, outer model GoF = 0.998, inner model GoF = 0.991, R 2 = 18.02%, p = 0.000). Correlation analyses revealed that trait self-control, LTPA amount, goal progress, self-efficacy and subjective well-being were positively associated with each other ( ρ s = 0.138 to 0.711, p s ≤ 0.002). Mediation analyses revealed that LTPA amount, goal progress and self-efficacy partially mediated the positive effect of trait self-control on subjective well-being. Interestingly, structural model analyses revealed that the effect of LTPA amount on subjective well-being vanished when goal progress and self-efficacy were included in the PLS model. Theoretical and practical implications for the study of the relationships between trait self-control and subjective well-being are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior research indicates that anxious (or preoccupied) and avoidant (or dismissing) attachment orientations can lead to an aversion to the experience and/or expression of happiness. The present study predicted and found positive relationships between insecure attachment, fear of happiness (the idea that happiness should be avoided because it causes bad things to happen) and fragility of happiness (the idea that happiness is fleeting and may be easily and quickly replaced by less favorable states). In addition, it was found that fear and fragility of happiness mediated the relationship between insecure attachment and subjective well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study sought to examine the interrelationships between approach and avoidance temperament, trait self-control, and subjective wellbeing, and to see whether trait self-control could mediate the effect of temperament on subjective wellbeing. Volunteers from the United States answered questionnaires measuring approach and avoidance temperament, trait self-control, and subjective wellbeing (assessed through happiness and life satisfaction). Preliminary analyses showed that the model was significant (absolute GoF = 0.51, relative GoF = 0.97, outer model GoF = 0.99, inner model GoF = 0.97, R 2 = 31.74%, p < 0.001). Correlation analyses indicated: (a) positive associations between approach temperament, trait self-control, happiness, and life satisfaction ( ρ s = 0.22 to 0.62, p s < 0.001); and (b) negative associations of avoidance temperament with trait self-control, happiness, and life satisfaction ( ρ s = − 0.48 to − 0.24, p s < 0.001). Mediation analyses revealed that trait self-control: (a) partially mediated the positive effect of approach temperament on subjective wellbeing (but the size of the mediating effect indicated that no mediation would take place); and (b) partially mediated the negative effect of avoidance temperament on subjective wellbeing. Finally, this study is the first to show that temperament can affect subjective wellbeing and that trait self-control can mediate their relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using two Korean and one Iranian samples, this article provided initial validity evidence for a new scale of externality of happiness beliefs (the view that one's level of happiness is out of one's control and largely depends on external factors). Analyses confirmed the one-factor structure of the scale in both countries. Externality of happiness beliefs was negatively associated with subjective well-being, and this negative association was partially mediated by lower levels of personal growth initiative and psychological resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The question of how money and happiness are associated is still debated. This study tested two hypotheses that aim to explain this association: (1) money increases happiness, and (2) happy people make more money. Using data from the World Values Survey ( N = 64,923, k = 81 nations), we tested whether earning status (primary vs. non-primary earner) moderates the association between income and happiness. The two theories make different predictions regarding this moderation effect: if money increases happiness, household income should predict happiness equally, regardless of earning status. If happy people earn more money, household income should predict the well-being of primary earners more strongly. Multilevel models indicated that data were consistent with the money-increases-happiness hypothesis: income predicted happiness equally for primary earners, secondary earners, and homemakers who do not contribute to household income directly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study focuses on the role of positive emotion regulation as a potential mechanism for linking trait emotional intelligence (EI) and subjective well-being (SWB). We examined whether the savouring and dampening of positive emotions mediate the relationship between trait EI and the two components of SWB: life satisfaction and subjective happiness. A sample of 254 participants completed measures of trait EI, life satisfaction, subjective happiness, and the typical use of savouring and dampening strategies. Analyses indicated that trait EI was positively correlated with the two components of SWB and savouring strategies, and negatively correlated with dampening strategies. Furthermore, savouring strategies were positively related to life satisfaction and subjective happiness, whereas dampening strategies were negatively related to life satisfaction and subjective happiness. Notably, path analyses indicated that the savouring and dampening of positive emotions partially mediated the relationship between EI and both life satisfaction and subjective happiness. The findings corroborate an important role of trait EI in promoting SWB and suggest that part of its beneficial effect reveals itself through positive emotion regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research to date have begun to provide evidence that indicate that doing things, or having experiences, is more strongly related with psychological well-being than having material goods. However, most studies have used self-report measures to assess materialism, while implicit measures seem to provide an objective and less biased approach. In the present study we aimed the implicit assessment of the materialism, and the study of the links between psychological well-being and materialism. To reach these aims, a sample of 327 Spanish consumers, aged from 18 to 65 years old filled in some self-report measures, i.e. Pemberton Happiness Index, Major Depression Inventory and the reduced version of Material Values Scale. Furthermore, the same participants completed an Implicit Association Test developed in order to assess implicit materialism. A reliable and valid implicit measure of materialism has been developed. Both explicitly and implicitly measures of materialism were modestly associated, whereas only explicit measures of materialism were associated with self-reported happiness and depression. Specifically, increased happiness and less depressive symptoms were observed in those participants with lower explicit materialism. Our conclusions agree with other previous studies, concluding greater psychological well-being as a consequence of the consumption of experiences, compared to consumption of materialistic goods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examined the possible moderating roles of personality on the link between the fear of happiness and the experience of happiness, with happiness defined as the frequency of positive and negative affect. Respondents completed measures of affect, fear of happiness, and the big-five personality inventory. Result revealed substantial moderating effects of personality, but the pattern differed across positive and negative affect. Whereas higher levels of agreeableness and neuroticism potentiated the effect of fear of happiness on positive affect, higher levels of extraversion, conscientiousness, and openness to experience weakened the effect. On the other hand, except for higher levels of extraversion that also undermined the influence of fear of happiness on negative affect, fear of happiness and negative affect were positively related at all levels of the personality dimensions. These findings highlight the need to incorporate personality into the study and theoretical articulations of the operations of the fear of happiness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research is rare on the relationship between religiosity and subjective well-being using Arab participants. The aim of the present study was to explore the associations between religiosity, generalized self-efficacy, mental health, and happiness. A sample ( N = 702) of Muslim Arab college students was recruited. They responded to four scales as follows: the self–rating scale of religiosity, the self–rating scale of happiness, the Arabic Scale of Self–Efficacy, and the Arabic Scale of Mental Health. The results indicated that male students obtained significantly higher mean total scores on self-efficacy and mental health than did their female counterparts. All of the Pearson correlations between the study scales were statistically significant and positive in both men and women. A principal components analysis identified a single component which could labeled “Mental health, well-being and religiosity”. It appears that participants who see themselves as religious are more likely to see themselves as self-efficacious and to have greater levels of mental health and happiness. Because the strongest association was found between self–efficacy and mental health in men and women, enhancing self–efficacy may be a useful intervention to improve mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the development and validation of a new well-being questionnaire: the Scales of General Well-Being (SGWB). A review of current measures identified fourteen common constructs as lower-order indicators of well-being: happiness, vitality, calmness, optimism, involvement, self-awareness, self-acceptance, self-worth, competence, development, purpose, significance, self-congruence and connection. Three studies were then conducted. In study 1, the item pool was developed and the adequacy of its content to assess each of the fourteen constructs was evaluated by consulting a panel of six subject expert academics. In study 2, the dimensionality was assessed in an adult North American sample ( N = 560). The results supported the hierarchical factor structure. In study 3, further evidence confirmed the factor structure, and provided support for the measure's internal and test-retest reliability, measurement invariance across gender, age and a longitudinal period of 5 weeks, and criterion validity in an adult North American sample ( N = 1101). The SGWB promises to be a useful research tool that provides both a global measure of well-being as well as a collection of fourteen individual health-related scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facial expressions can convey disapproval or rejection, which is highly relevant information for socially anxious observers. We investigated how social anxiety biases the interpretation of ambiguous expressions towards threat. Undergraduates with clinical levels of social anxiety and non-anxious controls were presented with 1-s video-clips displaying facial happiness, anger, fear, sadness, disgust, and surprise, at various levels of emotional intensity, or neutral expressions. Participants categorized the expressions. Social anxiety was associated with enhanced detection of anger and disgust at low intensity levels, relative to non-anxious controls. Also, social anxiety was related to a higher probability of interpreting emotionally “neutral” faces as angry. A ′ sensitivity was affected, with no effects on B ″ response criterion. Socially anxious individuals are likely to perceive hostility, disapproval, or dislike in ambiguous facial expressions (with low intensity signals of anger/disgust, or “neutrality”). The effect involves an interpretative bias that occurs during expression encoding and is not contaminated by response biases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Materialism represents the importance of possessions in one's life. While high materialism ones keep seeking happiness from external goals such as money, status, and appearance, self-determination theory (SDT) suggests that basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness should be satisfied in order to experience well-being. However, materialism, as a type of extrinsic motivation, may forestall the fulfillment of psychological needs, and then undermine personal well-being. Drawing on the view of SDT, we conducted a longitudinal study to test how materialism indirectly influences subjective well-being (SWB) and depression via psychological needs satisfaction. Data was collected from Chinese students in three waves (with 6 and 12 months in between, respectively), and a total of 565 participants completed all of the three surveys. Using structural equation modeling, the cross-lagged model revealed that psychological needs satisfaction fully mediated the effects of materialism on SWB and depression. Specifically, materialism impairs individuals' psychological needs satisfaction, and in turn decreases SWB and increases depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we looked at the relationships between the Dark Triad (i.e., Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy) and (i) emotional expressivity, and (ii) appropriateness of emotional response to emotion-evoking video clips. In an on-line study (N = 164), participants filled in questionnaires on the Dark Triad and emotional expressivity, and rated their identification with facial expressions of emotions as a response to sadness, happiness, and fear-evoking video clips. Machiavellianism and psychopathy related to lower, and narcissism to higher self-reported emotional expressivity. Emotional expressivity had a positive association with appropriate identification with facial expressions. Narcissism related to feeling happiness after a fearful video clip, and psychopathy to identification with sad and fearful faces after viewing a happy video clip. We discuss the results with a reference to the relationship between the Dark Triad and evolutionary cheater strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the relationship between 4 conceptions of happiness and life satisfaction in a sample of 2715 university students across 14 national groups. The 4 conceptions were self-transcendence, self-directed hedonism, conservation, and self-enhancement, which emerged from a principal component analysis of a 19-item scale generated for the purpose of the present study. Results of multi-level modeling showed that self-transcendence and conservation predicted life satisfaction positively and significantly. In addition, we found that self-directed hedonism and self-enhancement interacted in their effects on life satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Well-being is typically defined as positive feeling (e.g. happiness), positive functioning (e.g. competence, meaning) or a combination of the two. Recent evidence indicates that well-being indicators belonging to different categories can be explained by single “general” factor of well-being (e.g. Jovanović, 2015). We further test this hypothesis using a recent well-being scale, which includes indicators of positive feeling and positive functioning (Huppert & So, 2013). While the authors of the scale originally identified a two-factor structure, in view of recent evidence, we hypothesize that the two-factor solution may be due to a method effect of different items being measured with different rating scales. In study 1, we use data from the European Social Survey round 3 ( n = 41,461) and find that two factors have poor discriminant validity and, after using a bifactor model to account for different rating scales, only the general factor is reliable. In study 2, we eliminate method effects by using the same rating scale across items, recruit a new sample ( n = 507), and find that a one-factor model fits the data well. The results support the hypothesis that well-being indicators, typically categorized as “positive feeling” and “positive functioning,” reflect a single general factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research suggests that happiness emotion goals (i.e., cognitive representations that happiness is the desired emotional endpoint) may confer risk for depression. Based upon prior speculations that emotion regulation could be important for understanding the association between happiness emotion goals and depression, in Study 1, we examined whether expressive suppression moderated the association between happiness emotion goals and depressive symptoms using a sample of community adults located in the United States ( N = 465). Contrary to study predictions, expressive suppression did not moderate that association. In Study 2, we proposed and examined whether negative mood regulation (NMR) expectancies moderated the association between happiness emotion goals and depressive symptoms among an independent sample of community adults located in the United States ( N = 439). Along with replicating Study 1 findings, we found support for the proposed moderating effect of NMR expectancies in Study 2. Happiness emotion goals were only associated with depressive symptoms when individuals held low NMR expectancies. Conceptual and therapeutic implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on the relationship between maximizing (i.e., the general tendency to seek only the best option and not settle for “good enough” options) and subjective well-being has led to conflicting findings. Although earlier studies suggested that maximizing is associated with lower well-being, more recent studies have challenged this conclusion arguing that it is based on improper measurement of the maximizing construct. Unlike prior research that has looked for answers to the maximizing–well-being question by addressing measurement issues of maximizing, this article offers an alternative perspective by addressing measurement issues of well-being. Specifically, the central proposition of this article is that research on maximizing and well-being needs to consider not only hedonic well-being, as has been the case so far, but also eudaimonic well-being (i.e., well-being derived from the development of one's best potential and the fulfillment of self-expressive goals). This research proposes and finds that maximizing is positively associated with eudaimonic well-being ( Study 1 ) and this holds even after accounting for hedonic well-being ( Study 2 ). These findings suggest that eudaimonic well-being is a useful construct that explains unique variance in maximizing. Implications for theory and research on maximizing, decision making and well-being are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four studies explored anticipatory nostalgia—missing aspects of the present before they are lost in the future—and its relationship to personal nostalgia. In Study 1, 147 undergraduates completed the new Survey of Anticipatory Nostalgia and the Nostalgia Inventory, an established measure of personal nostalgia—longing for one's remembered past. Study 2 examined the relationship of each type of nostalgia to tendencies to happiness and sadness and to dispositional measures of social assurance, need to belong and resilience. In Study 3, 123 undergraduates reacted to hypothetical situations, judged the general tendency of people and events to make them happy, sad, or worried, and wrote an essay from one of three time perspectives. Study 4 extended these findings to a solitary neutral task rating photographs and examined the relationship between nostalgia and childhood happiness. The new survey demonstrated acceptable internal and test–retest reliability and a moderate correlation with personal nostalgia. Personal nostalgia was related to remembering the past, favorable affect and reactions, whereas anticipatory nostalgia was aligned with thinking of the future, emotional distancing, difficulty enjoying the present, and a greater tendency to sadness and worry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among social connectedness, loneliness, and subjective happiness. Three hundred and twenty-five [178 (55%) female, 147 (45%) male, M age = 20.96 ± 1.85] Turkish university students completed the Turkish version of the Social Connectedness Scale, Subjective Happiness Scale, and UCLA Loneliness Scale. Structural equation modeling revealed that subjective happiness partially mediated the relationship between social connectedness and loneliness. Moreover, bootstrapping procedure demonstrated that the indirect effect of social competence on loneliness through subjective happiness was significant. The implications of these findings for research and practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The past years have seen a growing interest in the study of positive psychology interventions. Meta-analytic evidence suggests that they are effective in enhancing happiness and ameliorating depression. However, far less is known on why and how they work. We test two proposed working mechanisms: An attentional shift to the positive, and savoring positive emotions. The proposed mechanisms are tested by manipulating the time focus (past, present, or future) in the instruction of a one-week online humor-based positive intervention (three funny things). A sample of 695 adults was randomly assigned to one of the intervention condition or a placebo control condition. All three variants were effective in enhancing happiness and ameliorating depressive symptoms from pre- to post-intervention compared to the placebo control condition. As expected, the present variant was associated with both mechanisms, while the past variant was more strongly associated with the savoring mechanism, and the future variant more strongly with the attentional shift mechanism. This initial study provides first support for the potential working mechanisms of effective positive interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prioritizing positivity, which reflects the extent to which individuals organize their lives in ways that would maximize their experience of happiness, has been found to be associated with higher levels of well-being via positive emotions. However, previous research on this construct has been cross-sectional in nature which has made the temporal sequence of effects ambiguous. Moreover, previous studies have not explored the reciprocal relations among key constructs. In this study, we addressed these gaps using a three-wave longitudinal study which assessed the extent to which prioritizing positivity relates with positive emotion and life satisfaction among 408 Filipino secondary school students. Cross-lagged analysis indicated that T1 prioritizing positivity positively predicted T2 positive emotions which in turn predicted T3 life satisfaction after controlling for autoregressor effects. Notably, T2 positive emotions mediated the relations between T1 prioritizing positivity and T3 life satisfaction. We also found evidence of reciprocal effects with prior positive emotions predicting subsequent prioritizing positivity. The theoretical and practical implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While numerous studies have examined the positive association between religious beliefs and subjective well-being, there is a notable absence of research addressing the potential role of secular beliefs as a source of happiness and life satisfaction. Drawing from literature on compensatory control, the present research fills this void by exploring the association between belief in scientific–technological progress and life satisfaction, investigating its underlying mechanism and examining cross-cultural moderators. The results showed that belief in scientific–technological progress is a stronger predictor of life satisfaction than religious beliefs in a nationally representative sample of the Dutch population (Study 1) and across 69 out of 72 countries (Study 2). Additional analyses highlighted the role of personal control beliefs as the mechanism driving this effect: a strong belief in scientific–technological progress was associated with an enhanced sense of personal control, which in turn contributed to higher life satisfaction. Consistent with previous research on “shared reality” and person–culture fit, the beneficial consequences of an individual's belief in scientific–technological progress were enhanced when this belief was widely held within a specific culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Executive functions are the cognitive skills that help people attain their goals, while grit describes persistent efforts to attain success. However, little research has hitherto examined the relationships among grit, executive functions, and well-being. This empirical study helps fill that gap. Three self-report psychological instruments were administered to 214 university students, and simple direct regression applied to the collected data to analyze the effects of the three variables. The results indicated that grit had positive relationships with both executive functions and well-being. The implications of these findings, and the limitations of the study's methods, are also discussed. • Executive functions are positively associated with grit. • Grit is positively associated with well-being. • Grit's focus and resilience components correlate positively with all well-being variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cross-sectional findings indicated the relationship between mindfulness, hope, and wellbeing. To address the limitations associated with cross-sectional designs, the present study sought to examine whether hope mediated the longitudinal relationship between mindfulness and subjective happiness during the pandemic. To examine these hypotheses, we used the Subjective Happiness Scale, Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, and Dispositional Hope Scale by conducting two waves of surveys within a three-month interval, with 254 participants from 44 of Turkey's total 81 cities. Results of cross-lagged panel model for a half-longitudinal design indicated mindfulness conferred strengthening for subjective happiness three months later via hope. The current findings highlight the important roles of mindfulness and hope on subjective happiness during the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumer research finds that people derive greater enduring happiness from discretionary spending on experiential purchases (events that they personally encounter or live through) than material purchases (tangible objects that can be obtained and kept in their possession). While research in this area has contributed to our understanding of this "experiential advantage" by examining the underlying psychology of this phenomenon, individual differences in the experiential advantage have received less attention. The present investigation examines whether individual differences in savoring capacity affect the subjective well-being that consumers derive from experiential vs. material purchases. This research finds that the self-rated ability to savor positive experiences significantly predicts comparative purchase happiness, and uncovers an attenuation or reversal of the experiential advantage among those of lower savoring capacity. These results suggest that savoring is an important component to the experiential advantage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Greek version of the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire-Short Form (TEIQue-SF). For this evaluation, 602 adults (M = 34 years of age, SD = 10.96) completed the TEIQue-SF, the Traits Personality Questionnaire (TPQue5), the Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS), and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). The internal consistency of the TEIQue-SF was satisfactory for the factors and excellent for the total score. Statistically significant correlations between the TEIQue-SF and the TPQue5 and between the SHS and the SWLS constituted evidence of its convergent validity with cognate constructs. In addition, trait EI accounted for a significant amount of the variance in happiness and life satisfaction over and above the Big Five, showing evidence supporting incremental validity in relation to the Big Five personality dimensions. The results indicate that the Greek translation of TEIQue-SF is reliable and valid, and can be recommended for use with Greek samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We tested the effectiveness of a self-administered online positive psychology intervention which addressed the appreciation of beauty and excellence on happiness and depression directly after the intervention, after one week, and one, three, and six months. One hundred thirteen adults were randomly assigned to a “9 beautiful things” intervention (IG; n = 59), or a placebo control group (“early memories”; n = 54). Participants in the IG were asked to write down (a) three beautiful things in human behavior; (b) three things they experienced as beautiful in nature and/or the environment; and (c) three beautiful things related to beauty in general that they observed. Findings show increased levels of happiness in the intervention group at post-test, after one week and one month, and amelioration of depressive symptoms at the post-test and one week after the intervention. The effect sizes were small to medium (η 2 = .03 to .07). Overall, this initial study provides support for the notion that the “9 beautiful things” intervention may be effective in increasing people's well-being—at least in a short term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We hypothesize that hedonism (valuing pleasure) as a pathway to happiness is more strongly correlated with happiness in more individualistic (vs collectivistic) cultures. Multi-level modeling is used to test this hypothesis in a sample of 6899 individuals across 19 cultures, controlling for age, gender, and national economic prosperity. As predicted, we find that individualism moderates the relationship between hedonism and happiness, such that hedonism is more strongly related to happiness in more individualistic cultures. These results suggest that culture influences how happiness is most effectively pursued in various cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mindfulness and self-compassion are emerging as crucial constructs in mental health research. Recent studies have shown that both mindfulness and self-compassion skills may play important roles in well-being and positive emotions associated with mindfulness training. Studies are needed to explain this relationship and to determine what facets may be correlating and mediating the meditation–happiness relationship. The aim of this study was to explore the meditation–happiness relationship and examine which mindfulness and self-compassion facets are better predictors of happiness. A total of 365 participants completed an assessment protocol composed of: the Five Facets of Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), the Self-Compassion Scale-short form (SCS-SF), and the Pemberton Happiness Index (PHI). Hierarchical regression analysis showed that two FFMQ facets ( Observing and Awareness ) and two SCS components ( Self-kindness and Common humanity ) were significant predictors of happiness. Mediation results revealed a significant total indirect effect of Observing , Awareness , Self-kindness and Common humanity in the meditation frequency–happiness relationship. Significant indirect effects were found for observing , self-kindness and common humanity . The results supported the model of mindfulness and self-compassion facets as partial mediators of the meditation–happiness relationship. Findings are in line with other studies and provide evidence about the influence of mindfulness and self-compassion on happiness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although it has been known that women prefer tall men in mating for evolutionary reasons, no study has investigated whether a taller husband makes his wife happier. We analyzed two datasets (N = 7850) that are, together, representative of the Indonesian population to determine whether this is true. A greater height difference in a couple was positively related to the wife's happiness. This relationship gradually weakened over time and entirely dissipated by 18 years of marital duration. The husband's resourcefulness was a minor mediator in the relationship. We thus argue that the husband's height and its correlates made his wife initially happy, but their influence waned over time. Nevertheless, the long period of the dissipation indicates a powerful impact of male height on women's psychology, probably prepared by evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much of the research in recent decades has associated religiousness with positive psychological outcomes. Recently, it has been shown that scientific belief can substitute religion as a source of comfort. In a sample of 474 Iranian Muslim university students, we examined how religious and scientific attitudes predicted life satisfaction, happiness, and self-esteem. Religiosity was positively related to all of these indicators of subjective well-being (SWB). Scientific attitudes too were related to higher levels of SWB. The relationships were fully mediated by hope and purpose in life. The results suggested that, believing either in God or science can contribute to SWB, through hope and purpose in life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A number of studies have shown that self-control is a key variable influencing subjective well-being (SWB). The present research demonstrated the effects of regulatory focus on SWB. Study 1 surveyed college students and found that (1) promotion-dominant people reported more SWB than prevention-dominant people, even after controlling for the effect of TSC as a covariate, and (2) the direct effect of promotion focus on SWB was significant, but the direct effect of prevention focus on SWB was not significant in the model with TSC as a mediator. Study 2 manipulated situational regulatory foci and required participants to execute a self-control task. The results showed that the two groups did not differ in task performance, or self-control, however, the promotion-focused group reported more task pleasure. These results indicate that promotion focused people are happier than prevention focused people during goal pursuit, that people can chronically and situationally benefit from promotion focus, and moreover, that people higher in self-control do not necessarily experience more SWB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have shown that personality traits account for a substantial amount of variance in individual levels of subjective well-being (SWB). However, these studies are limited in their ability to explain the intra- and interindividual differences in the processes of SWB. To redress this shortcoming, researchers have focused on moderators of the relationship between domain satisfaction and global life satisfaction. However, those studies assume only one specific type of interaction pattern for all life domains. Based on a national probability sample from Japan this paper analyzes the role of domain importance in the relationship between domain satisfaction and the overall SWB level. Our study is the first to explore different kinds of interaction patterns in the importance satisfaction moderation of life domains. We identify four different types of domains: (i) domains in which satisfaction correlates with happiness only when the domain is considered as important; (ii) domains in which satisfaction correlates with happiness no matter whether it is considered as important or not; (iii) domains in which the slope of the correlation between satisfaction and happiness increases when it is considered as important and (iv) domains which show no correlation with happiness not matter whether it is considered as important or not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social network sites such as Facebook give off the impression that others are doing better than we are. As a result, the use of these sites may lead to negative social comparison (i.e., feeling like others are doing better than oneself). According to social comparison theory, such negative social comparisons are detrimental to perceptions about the self. The current study therefore investigated the indirect relationship between Facebook use and self-perceptions through negative social comparison. Because happier people process social information differently than unhappier people, we also investigated whether the relationship between Facebook use and social comparison and, as a result, self-perception, differs depending on the degree of happiness of the emerging adult. A survey among 231 emerging adults (age 18–25) showed that Facebook use was related to a greater degree of negative social comparison, which was in turn related negatively to self-perceived social competence and physical attractiveness. The indirect relationship between Facebook use and self-perception through negative social comparison was attenuated among happier individuals, as the relationship between Facebook use and negative social comparison was weaker among happier individuals. SNS use was thus negatively related to self-perception through negative social comparison, especially among unhappy individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]