Hedonic Well-being Research Articles

What types of nature exposure are associated with hedonic, eudaimonic and evaluative wellbeing? An 18-country study

Although spending time in nature can improve subjective wellbeing (SWB), little is known about how different types of nature exposure are associated with different dimensions of SWB or the consistency of associations across national/cultural contexts. Using data from 18 countries, associations between green, coastal and freshwater blue space exposures (including residential availability, visits ‘yesterday’ and visits in the previous four weeks) and hedonic, eudaimonic, and evaluative wellbeing were estimated. Overall, residential nature availability showed little association with any wellbeing outcome, whereas visiting green and coastal locations ‘yesterday’ was associated with better hedonic wellbeing. Although frequently visiting green, coastal and freshwater spaces were all associated with greater evaluative wellbeing, greater eudaimonic wellbeing was only associated with frequent visits to green and freshwater spaces. Variations existed across countries. Results suggest that different types of nature exposure vary in their association with different dimensions of SWB. Understanding these differences may help us maximise the potential of natural environments as SWB-promoting resources.

Parental attachment, attachment to friends, and well-being among Chilean adolescents and emerging adults.

Adolescence and emerging adulthood are two life stages marked by notable cognitive and socioemotional changes. During both periods, friendships play an increasingly significant role and can significantly impact individuals positively or negatively. Despite the evolving nature of these relationships, parents remain crucial to the development of both adolescents and emerging adults, playing a key role in their well-being. This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of attachment to friends in the relationship between parental attachment and the well-being of Chilean adolescents and emerging adults. In a cross-sectional correlational study, 363 adolescents (48.2% female) aged 14 to 17 years (M = 15.33, SD = 0.95) and 199 emerging adults (67.8% female) aged 18 to 29 years (M = 22.42, SD = 2.53) completed the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment and the Pemberton Happiness Index Scale to assess general, eudaimonic, hedonic, and social well-being. Results of path analyses indicated that, for both adolescents and emerging adults, a more secure attachment to parents was directly associated with higher scores in all well-being dimensions. Additionally, more secure parental attachment was indirectly associated with better eudaimonic and social well-being through a more secure attachment to friends. These findings suggest that enhancing parental attachment could be a valuable focus in clinical interventions aimed at improving overall well-being in adolescents and emerging adults.

Time to rediscover task-oriented leadership? A multi-source, time-lagged study on leadership and well-being in public service jobs

ABSTRACT Although leaders have a considerable impact on the well-being of public employees, this relationship has not yet been fully disentangled in both conceptual and empirical terms. We develop a framework of how task- and relations-oriented leadership affect well-being (i.e. hedonic, eudaimonic, social dimensions). A multi-source, time-lagged study from a large Danish municipality shows that task-oriented leadership yields positive associations with both social and eudaimonic dimensions of well-being, while for relations-oriented leadership, we only find a positive association with hedonic well-being. The findings suggest rediscovering task-oriented leadership as an important but often overlooked quality of effective leaders.

The role of religious and financial factors in eudaimonic well-being among Indian adults

Purpose The available literature has explored the various psychosocial determinants of well-being to some extent. The earlier works have focused primarily on hedonic well-being with little focus on eudaimonic aspects. Therefore, this study aims to understand the role of parent–child religious attendance during childhood, religious connectedness, and financial-material stability on eudaimonic well-being among adults in India. Design/methodology/approach The authors used the India data from Global Flourishing Study – Wave 1 that addressed flourishing among adults above 18 years. The authors considered 9,076 Indian adults and used descriptive and correlation statistics. In addition, the authors conducted path analysis and t-test. Findings The likelihood of eudaimonic well-being increased with parent–child religious attendance during childhood (ß = −0.044, p < 0.01) along with religious connectedness (ß = −0.112, p < 0.01) and financial-material stability (ß = 0.145, p < 0.01) as an adult. In addition, a significant difference existed in terms of religious connectedness and eudaimonic well-being with income and perceived feelings about income. Originality/value This study emphasizes financial stability’s relevance in well-being and suggests the importance of considering religious factors during childhood and adulthood. Emphasizing factors influencing eudaimonic well-being is relevant due to its influence on mental health and quality of life.

The Basic Needs in Games Model of Video Game Play and Mental Health

Abstract Existing theories of how game use relates to mental health have important limitations: few account for both quantity and quality of use, differentiate components of mental health (hedonic wellbeing, eudaimonic wellbeing and illbeing), provide an explanation for both positive and negative outcomes or readily explain the well-evidenced absence of playtime effects on mental health. Many also lack the specificity to be readily falsifiable. In response, we present the Basic Needs in Games (BANG) model. Grounded in self-determination theory, BANG proposes that mental health outcomes of game use are in large part mediated by the motivational quality of play and the extent to which play quantity and quality lead to need satisfaction or frustration. We show how BANG addresses the limitations of current theories and aligns with emerging evidence on the etiologies of disordered play. Thus, BANG advances HCI theory on the impact of games and other interactive technologies on mental health.

Can Women Thrive in a Predominantly Male Environment? Examining the Perception of Women in I-deal Negotiation

Idiosyncratic deals (i-deals) are nonstandardized work arrangements that help employees balance their work and nonwork demands. Previous literature has paid increased attention to the concept of i-deals, yet there is a lack of clarity regarding the perception of i-deals among Indian women employees. India’s social context is patrifocal, where women face multiple work challenges. Women are more drawn toward nontraditional forms of employment because they prioritize balancing work and personal life. Therefore, the study investigates how i-deals mitigate challenges faced by women in their workplace using an exploratory research design. Data were collected by interviewing 20 women employees in the IT sector in India who had successfully negotiated i-deals. A content-coding method was used to analyze the interview transcripts, and the study findings show that reduced turnover intention, hedonic well-being, and career advancement are the critical outcomes of negotiating i-deals. We also discuss the theoretical and managerial implications.

Designing museum experiences for eudaimonic or hedonic well-being: insights from interviews with museum visitors

ABSTRACT Lately, museums are trying to transform into spaces prioritizing enrichment and well-being. This paper investigates how the design of museum experiences is associated with the visitors’ well-being, drawing on psychological theories of hedonic and eudaimonic well-being. Through structured interviews conducted at a hedonicly designed museum (Museum of Chocolate, N = 10) and an eudaimonicly designed museum (Museum of Broken Relationships, N = 10), we explored the impact of different design approaches on visitors’ experiences and their hedonic and eudaimonic well-being. Thematic coding showed distinct experiences. The hedonic museum, characterized by sensory engagement and personal enjoyment, stimulated mindfulness, restoration, and positive affect associated with visitors’ hedonic well-being. In comparison, the eudaimonic museum, emphasizing personal enrichment and reflection, promoted escapism, contemplation, and mixed affect, which was associated with visitors’ eudaimonic well-being. These insights carry significant implications for museum experience design, offering guidance on creating enriching experiences that prioritize visitors’ well-being in different ways.

Resilience, masculinity, and hedonic-eudaimonic dynamics: An autoethnography of an extended gratitude intervention

This autoethnography explores a 23-day gratitude project, focusing on the experiences, challenges, and outcomes of writing and sending daily gratitude letters. Analysis of audio transcripts recorded before and after each letter reveals several key themes: the dynamic interplay between eudaimonic and hedonic well-being; the significant role of gender and perceptions of masculinity as obstacles to gratitude expression; the value of benefit-triggered gratitude expression; and the development of resilience through communicative acts of gratitude. Despite the considerable benefits observed, the findings recommend prioritizing the quality of gratitude expressions over their frequency in future interventions. This work provides a nuanced understanding of the emotional journey in gratitude practices and its impact on personal growth and resilience.

Memorable digital-free tourism experiences: Antecedents and outcomes

This study examines the role of escapism, experience co-creation, existential authenticity, and experiential satisfaction as antecedents of memorable digital-free tourism experiences. It then examines the relationship between memorable digital-free tourism experiences and hedonic well-being, eudaimonic well-being and place attachment. Survey data were gathered, via WeChat, from 389 Chinese tourists who had engaged in a digital-free meditation retreat in China between August 2022 and July 2023. Empirical results reveal that levels of escapism and experiential satisfaction positively explain memorable digital-free tourism experiences. Further, more memorable digital-free tourism experiences are associated with greater hedonic well-being, eudaimonic well-being and place attachment.

Unraveling the Most Important Predictors of Eudaimonic and Hedonic Well-Being in Korean Adults: A Machine Learning Approach

The quest to unravel what contributes to happiness continues to captivate interest in both everyday experiences and academic discourse. Nonetheless, empirical research on the relative importance of possible candidates and their associations with two key aspects of well-being—eudaimonia (the good life) and hedonia (pleasure)—is limited. This study addresses this gap by exploring the relative strength of 32 predictors from multiple domains on psychological well-being (PWB) and subjective well-being (SWB). Using a machine learning approach on a dataset of 559 Korean adults, we identified distinct primary determinants for each well-being aspect. For PWB, meaning in life, self-esteem, and essentialist beliefs about happiness emerged as the strongest predictors requiring careful consideration. For SWB, depressive symptoms, subjective socioeconomic status, and emotional stability were salient predictors. Our findings highlight potential cultural nuances in the prioritization of happiness and offer valuable insights for policymakers and decision-makers in tailoring interventions and strategies to optimize individual well-being.

Focused, Flourishing, but Not in Flow: Achievement Strivers’ Experiences of Competence, Flow, and Well-Being During Personally Expressive Activities

One effective route to increasing well-being is through the pursuit of activities which suit a person’s personality strengths (i.e., person-activity fit). People who strive for achievement tend to organize their behaviors in ways that promote goal attainment and well-being. We tested the hypothesized process that achievement striving would lead to increased well-being over time through feelings of competence and flow. A secondary aim was to describe the types of personally valued activities and whether activity type facilitates competence and flow. Undergraduate students (N = 346 at Time 1; N = 244 at Time 2) completed an online survey measuring personality, personally expressive activities, basic psychological need satisfaction, flow, and well-being at two timepoints ~ 4 months apart. Two coders thematically coded activities into seven types (e.g., reading and writing, hobbies). We used cross-sectional and longitudinal serial mediation models to test our hypothesis with eudaimonic (life worth) and hedonic (life satisfaction) well-being, controlling for sample characteristics (recruitment source and term). Achievement striving was positively correlated to competence and well-being, but the indirect effects did not show that well-being is boosted by feeling competent and in flow during in personally expressive activities, cross-sectionally or longitudinally. Perceived competence was comparable across activity types, although flow was highest in reading and writing activities. While achievement strivers tended to feel happy and competent at personally expressive activities, the mechanistic pathway to well-being is not yet clear. Future studies might recruit larger sample sizes and utilize smaller time lags (e.g., ecological momentary assessment).

Ecological Developmental Assets and Gratification Delay: Hedonic Well-Being as a Potential Mediator

Ecological Developmental Assets and Gratification Delay: Hedonic Well-Being as a Potential Mediator

Bringing Past Kindness Into the Present: Memories of Acts of Kindness Are Vivid, Memorable, and Feel Good

The current research is a contribution to the ongoing scientific efforts to understand the emotional implications of acts of kindness. While a large body of studies has examined the benefits of remembering past episodes of prosocial (monetary) spending toward others, considerably fewer studies have examined the implications of past acts of kindness. Additionally, the phenomenological experiences (e.g., the vividness and memorability) of such memories remain unexplored, even though the phenomenological experiences may contribute to the emotional implications of acts of kindness over time when recollecting these memories. The current work addresses these research gaps in two preregistered experimental studies. Specifically, we examined the well-being benefits of recalling memories of acts of kindness toward others and oneself, and how such memories are experienced by the remembering person. Study 1 (N = 521) showed that the kindness memories (compared to a memory control) were more easily recalled and experienced as more emotionally intense and positive. In addition, recalling acts of kindness toward oneself significantly increased hedonic, but not eudaimonic, well-being. In contrast, our results showed no significant increases in hedonic or eudaimonic well-being from recalling acts of kindness toward others. Study 2 (N = 513) attempted to replicate the findings concerning hedonic well-being, as well as to use a more sensitive tool to measure eudaimonic well-being at the state level. Analyses revealed that participants in both kindness conditions (self; other) experienced significantly more state eudaimonic and hedonic well-being than the control condition. We discuss various interpretations of our findings, including the possibility that systematic population differences shape the benefits of acts of kindness toward others.

Warm Hearts, Happy Lodgings: How Peer-To-Peer Accommodation Micro-Entrepreneurs Can Foster Sharing Citizenship Behavior

In response to the call for elucidating the catalyst of consumer citizenship behavior in micro-entrepreneurship, this study explores the determinants of “sharing citizenship behavior” (SCB) within the peer-to-peer (P2P) accommodation environment from the host perspective. Particularly, it emphasizes the role of well-being (encompassing both the hedonic and eudaimonic forms) and the influence of “trait gratitude” (TG), all within the framework of the broaden-and-build theory. This research explains the mediating effects of both hedonic well-being and eudaimonic well-being (EWB), revealing multiple positive correlations among TG, well-being, and the SCB of guests. It also uncovers the moderating role of price fairness on the link between TG and EWB. It provides valuable insights for P2P accommodation micro-entrepreneurs on the SCB and the well-being of their guests.

Self-Concordance Theory and the Goal-Striving Reasons Framework and Their Distinct Relationships With Hedonic and Eudaimonic Well-Being.

Self-concordance theory and the goal-striving reasons framework both measure the quality of people's reasons for their goal pursuits. Both have provided substantial evidence for their predictive power for people's well-being. However, it remains unclear which of the two goal-reason models is the better predictor for different forms of well-being. The paper analyses the distinct relationships of the two models in relation to hedonic well-being (Subjective Well-Being, Life Satisfaction, Affect Balance) and indicators of eudaimonic well-being (Basic Need Satisfaction, Purpose and Self-Acceptance). The findings are based on a cross-sectional, correlative research design based (N = 124). Using multiple regression analyses the results show that the goal-striving reasons framework is overall more strongly associated with hedonic and eudaimonic well-being. However, the differences for hedonic well-being as well as for self-acceptance and purpose are much larger than they are for the three basic needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Here, self-concordance achieves nearly similar correlations to the goal-striving reasons framework. The findings have implications for theory and practice as they highlight the theoretical differences between the two goal-reasons models but also help to decide which Positive Psychology Interventions are most suitable to increase which form of well-being.

Flourishing: Development of a Higher-Level Uses Well-Being Scale and Concept in Positive Psychology

Background: Flourishing is the highest level of well-being in positive psychology. Flourishing individuals have high levels of well-being based on hedonic and eudaimonic well-being perspectives. Flourishing is a developing concept that has yet to be widely studied in positive psychology. Objective: This literature review aims to trace the development of theoretical concepts and scales that can be used to research the flourishing variable further. Methods: This research uses a literature review, which involves searching reputable journals for articles related to the concept and scale of flourishing. Results: The PERMA concept introduced by Seligman is the primary literature that forms the foundation for examining flourishing by combining two theories. This PERMA concept states that flourishing in individuals can be measured by five aspects: positive emotions, engagement, positive relationships, meaningfulness, and individual achievement. Conclusion: Other researchers then developed the PERMA concept as a reference for creating a flourishing scale. Keywords: Flourishing, well-being, theory, scale, literature review

Hedonic and eudaimonic well-being in athletes: Beyond athletic identity, are positive personality variables important for understanding well-being in student-athletes?

The present study examined the role of optimism and hope as predictors of subjective well-being and psychological well-being in a sample of 203 student-athletes participating in competitive sport. Results from conducting a series of hierarchical regression analyses indicated athletic identity (e.g., encouragement from others, competence) accounted for unique variance in all indices of both subjective and psychological well-being. Moreover, independent of athletic identity, the set of positive personality variables, namely, optimism and hope, was found to account for additional unique variance in all indices of well-being. For all indices of well-being, optimism was found to be a significant predictor. Similarly, hope agency, but not hope pathways, was found to be a significant predictor for most of the indices of well-being examined. Taken together, the present findings are not only among the first to be based on the assessment of well-being in athletes using a range of different indices of both subjective and psychological well-being, but they are the first to demonstrate the importance of integrating the study of optimism and hope for understanding well-being in athletes.

A prospective test of the broaden-and-build model of positive emotions: examining the role of will and ways as temporal mediators of hedonic and eudaimonic well-being in adults

ABSTRACT Integrating Fredrickson’s (2001) broaden-and-build model of positive emotions with Snyder’s (1994) theory of hope, the present prospectively designed study sought to examine positive mood as a predictor of hedonic and eudaimonic well-being (e.g. life satisfaction, psychological well-being), and to determine if hope agency and pathways accounted for any prospective association identified between positive mood and indices of well-being. One hundred and thirty-six adults completed a measure of positive mood at Time 1, a measure of hope agency and pathways at Time 2 (1 month later), and measures of well-being at Time 3 (2 months later). Results of mediation testing indicated that hope agency, but not hope pathways, had indirect effects on each of the three indices of well-being examined. Taken together, these prospective findings provide further evidence for the importance of positive mood in building hope agency as an important explanation for how positive mood might foster well-being in adults.

Unpacking the relationship between sense of place and entrepreneurs’ well-being

AbstractThis exploratory study develops an understanding of how the hitherto under-investigated psychological dimension of place affects entrepreneurs’ well-being. The analysis focuses on eudaimonic well-being, which describes individuals’ psychological functioning and fulfillment of their best potentials and is relatively underexplored compared to hedonic well-being (happiness). Based on prior work in environmental psychology, the study proposes that entrepreneurs’ sense of place—their psychological bond with the local setting of their entrepreneurial activities—is an important component influencing their well-being. The empirical analysis of two waves of original survey data from entrepreneurs located in an urban and a rural region of Finland shows that the sense of place is positively associated with several dimensions of eudaimonic well-being. This study extends the literature by shifting the focus from place as a passive container for entrepreneurs’ activities to its role as an active source of entrepreneurial well-being.

An examination of the relationship between sport performers’ organizational stressor dimensions, physical health, and well-being

ABSTRACT Whilst research has assessed the multidimensionality of organizational stressors, severity has been overlooked. This study aimed to develop and validate a severity response scale, before examining the relationship between organizational stressor severity, physical health, and well-being, and if severity mediated the relationship between stressor occurrence and outcomes. 403 sport performers (186 male; M age = 21.43) completed a questionnaire assessing study variables and data were analysed using structural equation modelling. Organizational stressor severity had a significant, negative relationship with physical health (r = -.374, p < .001), but notwith hedonic or eudaimonic well-being (p = .624 and .203). Direct effects were found for neuroticism (β = -0.632, p < .001) and stressor frequency (β = -0.226, p = .016) on physical health; however, when adding severity as a mediator, stressor frequency positively predicted stressor severity (β = 1.025, p < .001); however, the indirect effect of stressor frequency on physical health via stressor severity (β = -0.018, p = .885) and the direct effect between stressor frequency and physical health (β = -0.191, p = .204) were non-significant. These novel findings highlight that higher stressor severity is associated with higher physical health complaints, and that repeated exposure to stressors may heighten an vulnerability to future stressors.