All Positive Constructs are Not Equal: Positive Affect, Happiness, and Life Satisfaction in Relation to Alcohol and Mental Health Outcomes

Abstract

Previous theoretical work suggests that happiness, life satisfaction, and positive affect are distinct. However, many recent research studies refer to these constructs interchangeably and mixed findings exist regarding their associations with alcohol and mental health outcomes. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore the factor structure of positive affect, happiness, and life satisfaction and examine their associations with alcohol and mental health outcomes (i.e., alcohol consumption, drinking motives, depression, anxiety, and stress). Undergraduate students (N = 348; Mage=19.7 years; 74.6% women; 85.4% White) at a northeastern United States public university recruited via classroom announcements completed an online battery of self-report measures. A confirmatory factor analysis showed that modelling happiness, life satisfaction, and positive affect as three distinct factors provided optimal fit, χ2(149) = 409.31, p < .001, CFI = 0.98, RMSEA = 0.07, 90%CI [0.06, 0.08]. Happiness and life satisfaction were negatively associated with coping motives, while only life satisfaction was negatively associated with conformity motives. Happiness, life satisfaction, and positive affect were negatively associated with depressive symptoms and stress. Happiness and life satisfaction were negatively associated with anxiety symptoms. Findings of the current study highlight the distinct nature of positive psychological constructs: life satisfaction, subjective happiness and positive affect, and their differential link to alcohol use and mental health outcomes. Researchers should consider the differential nature of these positive constructs when selecting constructs to increase precision and promote clarity.