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Abstract
Research on hedonic and eudaimonic orientations has previously focused on their effects on well-being experiences. Very little is known about their associations with functioning. A preliminary objective of the study was to establish the factorial validity of the Hedonic and Eudaimonic Motives for Activities–Revised (HEMA-R) on an Italian sample (N = 461) through a confirmatory factor analysis. The main objective was to study the distinctive patterns of correlates between different types of orientations to well-being and several outcome measures of positive experiences (flourishing, life satisfaction, positive affect), negative experiences (negative affect, depression, anxiety, stress) and functioning (dispositional coping strategies) by means of a multivariate linear model. The Italian version of the HEMA-R showed a three-factor structure, namely eudaimonic, pleasure, and relaxation orientations. Pleasure orientation was positively related to positive experiences of well-being and negatively related to negative experiences. Eudaimonic orientation was associated with positive experiences. Furthermore, eudaimonic orientation showed a positive relation with several adaptive coping strategies, whereas relaxation was associated with avoidant coping strategies. The results reflect that pleasure orientation is aimed at achieving pleasant feelings, while Eudaimonic orientation is aimed at living well. Our findings also suggest that pleasure orientation may reflect the “pursuit of pleasure” component of Hedonia, while relaxation orientation may reflect its “pain avoidance” component. Overall, this study supports the importance of distinguishing between Eudaimonia, and the pleasure and relaxation components of Hedonia to predict individual differences in subjective experiences and functioning.
Highlights
An essential question investigated by philosophers, psychologists and researchers of human sciences concerns how well-being can be achieved
The highest mean values were those for the items 3 and 8, meaning that most of the people in our sample tended to manifest a eudaimonic orientation to activities by striving to do their best and behaving according to their values
The aim of the current study is based in the idea that the study of wellbeing would benefit from identifying its antecedents, that is, understanding what type of motivations guide individuals in achieving happiness
Summary
An essential question investigated by philosophers, psychologists and researchers of human sciences concerns how well-being can be achieved. The term orientations to well-being was coined by Peterson et al (2005) and later used in the literature review by Huta and Waterman (2014) to denote the class of definitions that include values, ideals, personal reasons, motives, priorities, and goals that define the intentions underlying behaviors. When the focus relies on the process underlying the pursuit of happiness, there are evidences of individual differences in choices of personal goals (Deci and Ryan 2000; Kasser and Ryan 2001) and in preferences of which existential needs individuals are aiming to satisfy (Peterson et al 2005). One may achieve happiness by satisfying her or his own need for a pleasant life (i.e., hedonic orientation to well-being), while another person may feel happy because of her or his motivation to engage in prosocial activities (i.e., eudaimonic orientation to well-being)
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