Subjective Well-being Research Articles

Cognitive Engagement and Subjective Well-Being in Adults: Exploring the Role of Domain-Specific Need for Cognition

Need for Cognition (NFC) is an investment trait reflecting interindividual differences in intrinsically motivated engagement in cognitive endeavors. While other motivational constructs like the ability self-concept are typically conceptualized domain-specific, NFC was initially conceived to describe domain-general behavior. Building on a previous study reporting the relevance of domain-specific aspects of NFC in the school context, we investigated the domain-specificity of NFC in predicting various aspects of subjective well-being across three samples with N = 1074 participants and subsamples of students and professionals ranging from n = 140 to n = 346. Our findings reveal positive associations of both domain-general and domain-specific NFC with positive affect, life satisfaction, and job- and study-related satisfaction. In part, domain-specific NFC was more strongly related to domain-specific life satisfaction compared to domain-general NFC. Additionally, we found evidence for small incremental values of domain-specific NFC over and above domain-general NFC in predicting subjective well-being. Confirming previous research, self-control and the emotion regulation strategy reappraisal partially mediated the prediction of well-being by NFC. Our results indicate that additionally considering NFC as domain-specific can meaningfully complement the domain-general conceptualization.

Fairness, Trust, and Well-Being Among Young Adults: Evidence from 2021 Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS).

Background. As China has undergone tremendous socioeconomic and demographic changes during and after the pandemic, it is crucial to enhance youth well-being and facilitate their transition into the workforce. This study aims to explore the multi-dimensional features of well-being and examine their relationships with fairness and trust. Methods. Using the nationally representative data from the 2021 Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS), this study analyzes the well-being of 1726 young adults aged 18 to 34 years old living in 19 provinces in China. Results. The research findings generate five latent factors of well-being and reveal the multi-faceted nature of subjective well-being, including physical and mental health challenges, positive outlook, sense of purpose, personal growth, and self-fulfillment. Physical and mental health is the cornerstone for well-being and happiness. Young people with poor physical and mental health conditions are less likely to perceive that society is fair or that people are trustworthy. Additionally, a positive outlook and future orientation are strongly associated with high fairness and/or trust. Discussion and Conclusions. By investigating the differential domains of well-being, this study contributes to the literature with the new conceptualization of well-being sub-measures and their application to youth. Furthermore, this study identifies that well-being is not only an individual-level characteristic but also a group-level attribute that can contribute to fairness and trust at the societal level. As China continues to expand its infrastructure on education, health, and technology, it is expected that sustainable economic growth and development should boost young people's career development and promote their upward mobility.

The paths to subjective and eudaimonic well-being: which aspects of leisure matter?

ABSTRACT Despite the increased recognition of leisure’s significance, there remains a general lack of understanding about which aspects or types of leisure contribute to higher levels of subjective and eudaimonic wellbeing. The purpose of this study was to examine how diverse aspects of leisure, such as free time availability, leisure activity participation, and subjective experiences, are associated with both subjective wellbeing (SWB; e.g. positive affect, negative affect, happiness, and life satisfaction) and eudaimonic wellbeing (EWB; ikigai). Ikigai is a Japanese concept that approximates ‘life worth living’, whereupon we explored leisure’s relevance to a non-Western well-being concept. We analyzed online survey data from 674 Japanese university students through hierarchical regressions to investigate the potential influence of leisure-related variables on SWB and EWB. The outcomes revealed that SWB was associated with free time availability, leisure activity participation, and subjective experiences, whereas EWB was primarily linked to leisure activity participation and subjective experiences.

Gratitude and Subjective Well-Being in Older Chinese Adults in Nursing Homes: The Mediating Roles of Self-Efficacy and Social Support.

With an aging global population, there has been a growing interest in the subjective well-being (SWB) of older people. As a positive emotion, gratitude has been found to be significantly and positively associated with SWB. However, the mechanisms underlying the relationship between gratitude and SWB remain poorly understood. This study aimed to examine the mediating effects of social support and self-efficacy in the relationship between gratitude and SWB among older Chinese adults in nursing homes. A cross-sectional study. A sample of 354 older adults in nursing homes aged 60 years and above was recruited across three nursing homes in Guangzhou, China. Participants completed the Gratitude Questionnaire-Six-Item Form, the World Health Organization's well-being index, the General Self-efficacy questionnaire and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Structural equation modelling was used to evaluate the relationships between gratitude, self-efficacy, social support and SWB. A bootstrap test was performed to test mediating roles of self-efficacy and social support. Gratitude was found to be significantly and positively associated with SWB (β = 0.294, p < 0.001). Self-efficacy and social support independently mediated the relationship between gratitude and SWB (indirect effect of self-efficacy: Standardised β = 0.105, 95% CI [0.061, 0.157]; indirect effect of social support: Standardised β = 0.116, 95% CI [0.444, 0.191], all p < 0.001). Additionally, the results indicated that the mediating effect of self-efficacy was not significantly different from that of social support in the link between gratitude with SWB. These findings presented strong evidence that self-efficacy and social support provided the underlying mechanisms through which gratitude was associated with SWB in Chinese nursing home residents. This highlighted the need to develop interventions aiming at increasing gratitude, self-efficacy and social support to promote SWB among elderly people. No patient or public contribution.

Subjective well-being and attitudes toward outgroup members

There is a large body of literature on the effect of negative attitudes toward outgroup members on target individuals and groups. However, less attention was devoted to their effects on those who hold these attitudes. The current study hypothesized that there would be a bidirectional relationship between subjective well-being and attitudes toward outgroup members. In Study 1, data from the Integrated Values Surveys, the Ecology-Culture Dataset, and the World Happiness Report 2022 were used. In Study 2, a random intercept cross-lagged panel model was implemented using longitudinal data over a six-year period from the GESIS Panel (n = 6783 people living in Germany). Results of Study 1 demonstrated a significant negative relationship between subjective well-being and negative attitudes toward outgroup members both at the country level (118 countries) and at the individual level (663,965 participants in 120 countries around the world). In Study 2, a random intercept cross-lagged panel model revealed significant within-person reciprocal relations between life satisfaction and negative attitudes toward refugees. This study provides evidence for a bidirectional relationship between subjective well-being and negative attitudes toward outgroup members.

Competing Models of the Structure of Subjective Well-Being: Have All Won and Must All Have Prizes?

The tripartite model of subjective well-being (SWB) posits three components: positive affect, negative affect, and life satisfaction. The fundamental issue regarding the structure of SWB and the meaning of the general SWB factor remains unresolved. Across three studies and six samples (total N = 9304), we evaluated competing models of SWB and tested the criterion-related validity of SWB components operationalized within different models. In addition to a standard confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and bifactor-CFA, we used exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) and bifactor-ESEM approaches. Latent factor models were applied to examine the nomological network of SWB in relation to several external criteria (e.g., positive expectations, depression, and anxiety). We found evidence supporting the three-factor and bifactor-ESEM models of SWB. The meaning and interpretability of the general and specific factors of SWB were found to depend on the indicators used to assess affective well-being. Several issues concerning the bifactor-CFA model were identified. Both the general and specific factors of SWB exhibited meaningful and interpretable nomological networks. The structure of SWB, the value of incorporating a general factor, and the nature of general and specific SWB factors depend on the instruments used to measure SWB.

Does morphological polycentric spatial structure improve subjective well-being? – Evidence from China based on the moderating perspective of the urban-rural income inequality

This paper reveals the mechanisms by which the spatial structure of morphological polycentricity (MP) affects the subjective well-being (SWB) in China, focusing on the distribution of economic activities. Using panel data for 21 provinces in China from 2010 to 2020, we compare the effects of dynamic MP, measured using nighttime light data, and static MP, measured using demographic data, on SWB. Our findings reveal that, as regional economic benefits enhance and megacities form, the adjustment of MP spatial policy becomes increasingly significant in improving SWB. Notably, dynamic changes in MP exhibit a more pronounced effect on the satisfaction and confidence aspects of SWB. Moreover, increased urban-rural income inequality moderates this relationship, diminishing the positive impact of MP on SWB among rural households. Regional analysis indicates that in economically advancing areas and emerging megacities, adjustments in MP spatial policy are increasingly crucial for improving SWB. Central regions experiencing economic growth exhibit a greater need to balance economic agglomeration with population dispersion to optimize well-being outcomes. The empirical evidence provided suggests the potential benefits of adopting harmonized development strategies and indicates that incorporating the socio-economic context into spatial planning may contribute to the optimization of well-being.

Can positive emotional writing improve the emotional health level of international medical students? Evidence from a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundDepression and anxiety are common psychological issues among international medical students in universities, which have serious negative impacts on their learning and life. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of positive emotional writing in alleviating symptoms of anxiety and depression, as well as enhancing subjective well-being among this population.MethodThis study was conducted at an international college of a comprehensive university in central China. A total of ninety-two participants who met the inclusion criteria were recruited to participate in a single-blind randomized controlled trial, in which participants were not aware that there was an experimental group and a control group. Participants in control received daily psychological care weekly for 8 weeks (n = 46). Correspondingly, participants in experimental group received the positive emotional writing intervention on the basis of daily psychological care. Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and General Well-being Scale (GWB) were used to evaluate the effect of the intervention. Data from 89 students who completed the entire study (experimental group, n = 44; control group, n = 45) were analyzed.ResultsAfter the intervention, the scores of SDS and SAS in the experimental group significantly decreased, while the subjective well-being score significantly increased. Although the SAS score of the control group after intervention was significantly lower than before, the decrease in SDS and SAS scores, as well as the increase in GWB score, were significantly greater in the experimental group than in the control group.ConclusionThe findings suggest that positive emotional writing can effectively reduce the depression and anxiety of international medical students, and significantly enhance their subjective well-being, providing ideas for management to solve the psychological problems of international medical students.Trial registration numberChiCTR2400087815. Registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry.

Mental health, subjective well-being, and household health investment

Mental health, subjective well-being, and household health investment

Supporting the status quo is weakly associated with subjective well-being: A comparison of the palliative function of ideology across social status groups using a meta-analytic approach.

Research has suggested that the endorsement of ideologies supporting the status quo leads to higher subjective psychological well-being-an idea labeled as the palliative function of ideology within system justification theory. Furthermore, this approach has suggested that this association should be moderated by social status. Specifically, the association between the endorsement of ideologies supporting the status quo and well-being should be positive among high-status groups and negative among low-status groups-mainly as a function of the existence of a unique motivation to justify the status quo. Given contradictory evidence in previous studies, we conducted a meta-analysis to test these ideas. Across 1,627 studies and 1,856,940 participants, we observed a meta-analytic association between endorsement of ideologies supporting the status quo and well-being of r = .07, p < .001. Nonetheless, we did not find evidence supportive of the moderator role of social status. These results provide partial evidence supporting the main tenets of system justification theory, and they are inconsistent with the idea of the existence of a unique motivation to justify the status quo. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

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.

Being ‘a good mother’ in Türkiye: negotiating expert advice and intensive motherhood

This study explores middle-SES Turkish women’s perceptions of being a good mother within a context-specific version of intensive motherhood and the intercessions of expert advice with their motherly subjectivities through a phenomenological approach. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with three groups of 12 mothers each with children aged 0–6, 7–12 and 13–18, a total of 36 women living in Istanbul. According to findings, middle-SES Turkish mothers, in line with expert advice, shift their prioritisation of the child’s secure attachment to supporting the child’s future chances through education as they grow older. Mothers’ agency out of these concerns is a culturally positioned resource that enables social mobility. However, with the experience of mothering, these concerns are negotiated in everyday life and mothering practices are reflexively (re)constructed in a logic in which the subjective wellbeing of the mother and the child are sought to be brought together. This study argues that these negotiations are tied to increasing experience in mothering and the availability of conflicting expert advice.

Digital epidemiology of high-frequency search listening trends for the surveillance of subjective well-being during COVID-19 pandemic

Digital epidemiology of high-frequency search listening trends for the surveillance of subjective well-being during COVID-19 pandemic

Assessment of Subjective Well-Being Among Factory Workers in China: A Study Using the General Well-Being Schedule (GWB)

Assessment of Subjective Well-Being Among Factory Workers in China: A Study Using the General Well-Being Schedule (GWB)

SPIRITUALITY, RELIGIOSITY AND WELL-BEING RELATIONSHIP IN EARLY ADULTHOOD: TESTING DIRECT AND INDIRECT EFFECT VIA MEANING IN LIFE

The study explored the impact of religiosity and spirituality indicators on the subjective, social and psychological well-being of individuals aged 18 to 45 years both directly and indirectly through meaning in life. A total of 199 Bulgarians took part in the study (Mage = 27.58; SD = 8.71; 82.4% females). The instruments of the study were: Brief Mental Health Continuum Short, Brief Multidimensional Measure of Religiosity and Spirituality, Meaning in Life Questionnaire. Analyses showed that spiritual forgiveness predicted all domains of well-being and religious support predicted subjective well-being, all performing positive small effects. Meaning in life acted as full mediator in the relationship between daily spiritual experiences, religious support, forgiveness and all the domains of well-being. Meaning in life partially mediated the relationships between religious support and subjective well-being as well as between forgiveness and social well-being. The findings address that religiosity-based social support, daily transcendent experiences, and forgiving to oneself and the others promote well-being in early adulthood, and the underlying mechanism can be explained by meaning in life. Practical implications of the findings and directions for future research were discussed.

Pengaruh Kindness terhadap Subjective Well-being pada Orang Tua Anak Berkebutuhan Khusus

Subjective well-being plays a crucial role in helping parents of children with special needs find meaning and positivity in life. Research indicates a positive relationship between subjective well-being and kindness. This study aims to investigate the influence of kindness on the subjective well-being of parents who have children with special needs. The research employs a quantitative method with a correlational approach. Participants included 150 parents of children with special needs, selected through snowball sampling techniques. The instruments used for measurement were the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), the Positive Affect Negative Affect Scale (PANAS), and the VIA Inventory of Strengths (VIA-IS 120). Data analysis was conducted using simple regression. The results demonstrated a significant influence of kindness on the positive affect dimension (\( p &lt; 0.001 \)). This finding suggests that as kindness increases, so does positive affect among parents of children with special needs.

대학 집단상담 분야의 연구 동향 분석

Objectives The purpose of this study is to examine the research trends on group counseling in universities, and to provide implications for future research. Methods For this study, 150 domestic journal papers on university group counseling published from 2000 to April 2024 were analyzed for basic elements, research topics, research subjects, research methods, research types, and types of group counseling. Results The research results are as follows. First, as a result of analysis as a research topic, it was classified into counseling theory, career development, self-development, interpersonal relationships, emotions, subjective well-being and learning development. Second, most of the subjects of the study were general college students, and in addition, there were college students in specific majors such as education and nursing. And college students who had disability problems, psychology, and learning problems were the subjects. Third, as a result of analysis by research method, it was classified into quantitative research, qualitative research, and literature research. Quantitative research included methods such as difference test, variance analysis, and nonparametric test, and qualitative research included content analysis, phenomenological research, grounded theory, and FGI. Fourth, research types were classified into counseling effect research, process research, development research, meta research, and research trend survey. Among them, counseling effect research accounted for the largest proportion. Fifth, as a result of analyzing the types of group counseling programs, face-to-face counseling was the most common in the form of counseling, structured counseling was the most common in the counseling structure, and counselor-centered counseling was the most common in group leaders. Conclusions It was discussed the importance of applying various perspectives and methods when studying group counseling research in universities. In addition, implications for the development and implementation of an effective university group counseling program for college students were presented.

CROSS-NATIONAL MEASUREMENT INVARIANCE OF THE PATIENT HEALTH QUESTIONNAIRE-4 (PHQ-4) AS A SCREENING MEASURE FOR DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY SYMPTOMS IN 12 LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES

The Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4) is a widely used instrument to measure symptoms of depression and anxiety in general, but not much is known about its cross-cultural utility in Latin America. The present study evaluated the measurement invariance of the PHQ-4 in adult samples (N = 5441) from 12 Latin American countries (Paraguay, El Salvador, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia, Uruguay, Peru, Mexico, Cuba, Guatemala, Argentina, and Bolivia). The two-factor structure presented a superior fit to the one-factor structure. This provides evidence to support a two-dimensional model of anxious and depressive symptomatology of the PHQ-4, with a good estimate of reliability. The configural, metric, scalar and strict invariance of the PHQ-4 was supported, suggesting that participants from all countries attribute the same meaning to the latent constructs anxiety and depression and their scores can be compared. Additionally, support was provided for the hypothesis that the presence of depressive symptoms significantly predicts subjective well-being. However, the presence of anxiety symptoms fails to significantly predict participants well-being. It is concluded that the PHQ-4 provides a largely comparable measure of anxiety and depression symptoms in a large sample of Latin American countries.

An Awareness, Courage, and Love Online Group Intervention for Chinese Older Adults in the Post-Pandemic Era: Study Protocol for a Randomised Controlled Trial.

Background. Social connections not only contribute to psychological and emotional well-being but also positively impact physical health, with social isolation and loneliness linked to early mortality and detrimental health outcomes. Objectives. This study aims to evaluate an online Awareness, Courage, and Love (ACL) group intervention designed to enhance social connectedness and subjective well-being while reducing loneliness, depression, and anxiety among older adults. Methods. This randomised controlled trial (RCT) will involve an intervention group receiving a 2 h ACL session via videoconferencing. Eligible participants selected after screening will be assigned randomly to either a treatment or waitlist-control group. Participants in both conditions will complete the assessments at three time points, including baseline, post-intervention, and one-month follow-up. Tools for assessing the concerned variables include the Inclusion of Other in the Self Scale, de Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalised Anxiety Disorder 2-item (GAD-2) Scale, and World Health Organisation-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5). Conclusions. This study will offer a robust framework for investigating the impact of the online ACL intervention on loneliness and social connectedness among Chinese older adults. The result of this study will reach theoretical, empirical, practical, and teaching significance on mental health care strategies for Chinese older adults.

Which character strengths may build organizational well-being? Insights from an international sample of workers.

The nature and composition of well-being has been the subject of ongoing debate in the field of positive psychology. Recent discussions identify Seligman's PERMA dimensions as concrete pathways to achieve subjective well-being, rather than a distinct type of well-being. Four additional "building blocks" have been categorized to define positive functioning at work (PERMA+4). The present study adds another level of inquiry, by newly examining the relationships of character strengths and a general factor or character with PERMA+4 and life satisfaction in a large international sample of 5,487 employees. We found that 21 of the 24 character strengths were significantly (yet only slightly) more strongly correlated with PERMA+4 than with life satisfaction, and that PERMA+4 was consistently related to life satisfaction. The happiness strengths (hope, gratitude, zest, curiosity and love) and the general factor of character were also directly and indirectly related to life satisfaction. Taken together, these results suggest that the PERMA+4 dimensions may help bridge the gap between strengths and well-being, explaining how individuals with good character are also those who report higher life satisfaction. Future longitudinal studies should build on the present findings and examine whether character strengths can act as the "building blocks of the building blocks" of life satisfaction.