Abstract
On the basis of the self-centeredness and selflessness model, a new instrument assessing two distinct dimensions of happiness, fluctuating and authentic–durable, was developed. The current research aimed at examining the factor structure of the Italian version of the instrument, its psychometric properties and construct validity. To this end, two studies were carried out. Study 1 (N = 544) examined different measurement models, from unidimensional to multidimensional, from a fully symmetrical bifactor solution to a bifactor (S-1) solution. Findings indicated better and adequate fit indices for the last model. Using various samples (n = 1274) Study 2 confirmed the bifactor (S-1) structure and analysed psychometric properties, convergent and divergent validity and temporal stability of the instrument. Findings generally gave evidence of the multidimensional conceptualization of the construct, good levels of reliability values and adequate convergent validity of both scales. Discriminant validity showed mixed results from no association of age with authentic–durable happiness to weak and negative association with fluctuating happiness. Test–retest reliability displayed an adequate value of correlation coefficient for the two set scores of the authentic dimension and a value below the recommended cut-off criteria for the fluctuating dimension, where significant differences in the mean scores emerged. Future studies should aim to replicate the results of this research and attempt to overcome its limitations.
Highlights
IntroductionWhile traditional psychology paid more attention to the negative aspects of human behavior than to its positive aspects, the new expanding positive psychology movement has placed more emphasis on the study of the conditions and processes, which contribute to the optimal functioning of individuals, groups, and institutions [1]
Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, LAPSCO, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France; Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milano, 20122 Milano, Italy; Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy
While traditional psychology paid more attention to the negative aspects of human behavior than to its positive aspects, the new expanding positive psychology movement has placed more emphasis on the study of the conditions and processes, which contribute to the optimal functioning of individuals, groups, and institutions [1]
Summary
While traditional psychology paid more attention to the negative aspects of human behavior than to its positive aspects, the new expanding positive psychology movement has placed more emphasis on the study of the conditions and processes, which contribute to the optimal functioning of individuals, groups, and institutions [1] Within this new understanding of psychology, well-being and happiness have emerged as main topics, happiness has been treated as “an umbrella concept for notions such as wellbeing, subjective well-being, psychological well-being, hedonism, eudaimonia, health, flourishing, and so on” [2] Aside from the debate on a common and univocal definition of the concept, two relatively distinct views of happiness have been generally labelled: hedonism and eudaimonism The former, which has its roots in Epicurean philosophy, reflects personal fulfilment of individualistic needs, the pursuit of positive emotion, seeking maximum pleasure with instant gratification [3,4]. The latter, whose origins date back to Aristotelian philosophy, was understood by Waterman [5] as the published maps and institutional affiliations
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