Abstract
The negative influence of maximization on well-being, that is, the maximization paradox, has received increased attention. However, few studies have shown the link between maximization tendency and meaning in life, which is one type of well-being, and no empirical literature has examined the mechanisms between them. We conducted an online survey in China to test the relationship between maximization tendency and meaning in life. Participants (N=2,987) were invited to report their maximization, time perspective, meaning in life, and other control variables and demographic variables. Multi-mediation path analysis was adopted in the data analysis. The results revealed that maximization was positively associated with meaning in life, which confirmed the positive aspect of the maximization tendency. Further analyses indicated that the time perspectives of past-positive and future mediated the positive relationship between maximization and meaning in life. In contrast, a present-fatalistic time perspective was a suppressor in the positive relationship. Our findings suggest that the maximization tendency has a positive aspect rather than the overall maximization paradox. An important means of elevating meaning in life is to encourage the time perspective of past-positive and future-oriented and reduce the present-fatalistic time perspective.
Highlights
Considerable studies have addressed that decision styles have important influence on individuals’ well-being and feelings at the end of the decision process (Iyengar and Lepper, 2000; Schwartz et al, 2002)
Common factor analysis (CFA) indicated that the model fits the data well: χ2(62) = 792.30, χ2/df = 12.78, comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.95, Tucker–Lewis index (TLI) = 0.94, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.06, and standardized root mean square residual (SRMR) = 0.034
The present study examined whether and how the maximization tendency influenced the positive emotional outcome, that is, meaning in life
Summary
Considerable studies have addressed that decision styles have important influence on individuals’ well-being and feelings at the end of the decision process (Iyengar and Lepper, 2000; Schwartz et al, 2002). A large number of studies have found that individuals with a maximizing decision-making style tend to experience more negative emotions and consequences in the decisionmaking process (Schwartz et al, 2002; Iyengar et al, 2006; Kim and Miller, 2017; Newman et al, 2018) which is termed as the “Maximization Paradox” (Dar-Nimrod et al, 2009). Empirical studies investigating the relationship between psychological well-being (PWB) such as meaning of life and maximization are sparse. To fill this gap, this study was devoted to examine the relationship between maximization and meaning in life and to identify the mechanism underlying this relationship
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