Materialism and well-being in adolescents.

Abstract

Materialism is associated with negative personal outcomes including reduced well-being, increased risk behaviours, lower quality relationships and reduced pro-social behaviours. Self-determination theory has been used to explain these links, suggesting that dissatisfaction with basic psychological needs underpins this relationship. The majority of the research addressing the effects of materialism is based on adult populations. This thesis aimed to determine the impact of materialism on adolescents.. Part one presents an empirical paper that investigated the association between materialism and well-being within an adolescent sample using comprehensive measures of well-being and materialism. The study also looked at whether satisfaction and frustration with basic psychological needs played an explanatory role within this relationship. Materialism within adolescence was found to be associated with reduced life satisfaction and psychological needs satisfaction had an explanatory role in this relationship. Materialism was not universally related to all well-being dimensions measured. Applications of these findings and future research directions are discussed. Part two of this portfolio is a systematic review of the literature on materialism and well-being within adolescent populations. The findings of the review suggested that materialism was associated with increased health risk behaviours and reduced life satisfaction within adolescent populations. However, the review found large variations in the findings with some contradicting evidence. The review identified methodological issues which limited the conclusions drawn