What Factors are Associated with Flourishing? Results from a Large Representative National Sample

Marijke Schotanus-Dijkstra,J A Walburg,E T Bohlmeijer,C H C Drossaert,M Ten Have,R De Graaf,G J Westerhof,M E Pieterse

doi:10.1007/s10902-015-9647-3

Marijke Schotanus-Dijkstra, J A Walburg + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-015-9647-3

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Abstract

Flourishing is the ultimate end-state in psychology and a key-concept in the field of positive psychology research. Flourishers are those individuals with both high levels of hedonic well-being and eudaimonic well-being. Although many researchers have focused on one or another of these domains, only a few have investigated the comprehensive state of flourishing. The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of flourishing and its association with socio-demographics, personality traits and situational factors. This study used data from the second wave of the Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study-2 (NEMESIS-2), a national representative sample of adults in The Netherlands (n = 5303; 2010–2012). Findings were compared to having either high hedonic well-being or high eudaimonic well-being. Results showed that 37 % of the respondents were flourishers, mainly characterized by high levels of conscientiousness and extraversion and low levels of neuroticism. The situational factors of social support and positive life-events were significantly associated with flourishing when the analysis was controlled for socio-demographics and personality traits. Flourishing was most distinct from high hedonic well-being and showed parallelism with high eudaimonic well-being. More research is needed to establish a preferred flourishing instrument with validated cut-off points for flourishing and to understand the processes of situational factors that may underlie the promotion of flourishing. We recommend longitudinal designs and experience sampling studies to investigate the unique and modifiable predictors of flourishing. In addition, future research should include intervention studies that examine through which hedonic and eudaimonic pathways flourishing can be achieved.

Highlights

Researchers have become increasingly interested in the concept of flourishing (Diener et al 2010; Henderson et al 2013; Huppert and So 2013; Keyes 2002; Seligman 2011)
The situational factors of social support and positive life-events were significantly associated with flourishing when the analysis was controlled for socio-demographics and personality traits
To address the lack of consistent evidence regarding the relationship between flourishing and different situational factors, we explored whether social support, life-events and physical health status were associated with flourishing, over and above socio-demographics and personality traits, without any specific hypotheses

Summary

Introduction

Researchers have become increasingly interested in the concept of flourishing (Diener et al 2010; Henderson et al 2013; Huppert and So 2013; Keyes 2002; Seligman 2011). Results showed that individuals with both high hedonic and high eudaimonic motives—as compared to individuals in the other three groups—had the most favorable outcomes on vitality, awe, inspiration, transcendence, positive affect and meaning. Some of these outcomes were more strongly related to hedonic activities, while others more strongly related to eudaimonic activities, suggesting that both hedonic and eudaimonic activities should be pursued for the most optimal and diverse well-being (Huta and Ryan 2010). High levels of both hedonic and eudaimonic well-being often lead to the most favorable

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