Journal of Happiness Studies最新文献

The persistent contentiousness of research on the age–happiness relationship is puzzling; it should be possible to gain clarity and consensus about how to address the question effectively. In this paper I show that a key reason for the lack of clarity consists of overreliance on statistical significance as a means of evaluating empirical results. The statistical significance of a quadratic specification (age plus age-squared) is often taken as evidence in support of a ‘u-shaped’ relationship between age and happiness. But statistical significance on its own cannot tell us whether the age–happiness relationship is ‘u-shaped’ (nor indeed whether it takes any other shape). On the contrary, statistical significance can mislead us about it: a set of quadratic age coefficients can be ‘significant’ even when the relationship is obviously characterised by a different shape. When we have clarity on how to construct the analysis so that we can ‘see’ the underlying patterns in the data, it becomes obvious that the age–happiness relationship in European countries commonly shows other patterns; a u-shape is evident only in a minority of countries.

Abstract

Throughout the years some scholars have emphasised that developmental changes might influence the experience of meaning in life (MIL), especially in the case of older adults. However, so far, it is unclear whether researchers implement this developmental perspective when conceptualising MIL in late life. This scoping review aims to get insight in the developmental focus on conceptualising MIL in late life (adults aged 70 or older). A systematic literature search was performed using 7 databases (MEDLINE, Web of Science Core Collections, CINAHL, ProQuest Psychology, OSF Preprints, The Philosopher’s Index and AnthroSource) yielding 25 articles meeting the inclusion criteria. While most included articles solely described a general conceptualisation of MIL regardless of life stage, 3 studies mentioned a MIL conceptualisation adapted to older adults. These adapted conceptualisations shed light on components potentially distinctive for MIL in older adults, such as fulfilled purpose, ability to reconcile the past, continuation and felt coherence, beside the components currently included in general contemporary MIL conceptualisations, such as the components of the tripartite view on MIL. Largely, except of these 3 studies, most studies in this review did, thus, not include a developmental perspective. However, 10 studies referred to specific developmental aspects, such as time, past and expected changes in MIL in late life without implementing these developmental aspects to their conceptualisation of MIL. Consequently, the findings of this review suggest the importance of adapting a more explicit developmental perspective when conceptualising MIL in late life.

So far, there is evidence showing that the use of specific emotion regulation strategies in response to negatively-valenced stimuli shapes the way people subsequently remember them. However, still little is known about the potential effects of savouring positive events on the associated memories. The aim of the current study was to test whether upregulating positive emotions in response to daily positive events could make participants’ memories more salient and positively-valenced over time. To do so, we conducted an ecological momentary assessment study in order to identify the occurrence of positive events and provide participants with different emotion regulation strategies in real-time. To explore memory phenomenology, a surprise recall task for each event was performed one week after. Compared to the control condition, the manipulation of savouring led to recall the events with greater salience (i.e., more vivid, coherent, accessible, full of sensory details, first-person recalled memories) which, in turn, led to retrieve the memory more positively. Furthermore, the findings indicated that each strategy uniquely affected different phenomenological dimensions of memory. Together, we suggest that differences in the use of savouring strategies might impact memory, leading to the recall of events with higher salience and to the maintenance of their positivity over time.

This study aimed at investigating the connection between virtue, compassion for self and others, and flourishing. 11,395 individuals provided data on the virtues of Caring, Inquisitiveness, and Self-Control, compassion for self (i.e., Self-Compassion and self-Criticism) and for others (i.e., Empathy, Common Humanity, Recognizing Suffering, and Willingness to Act), and flourishing. Regression analysis showed that: (a) Caring and Inquisitiveness were associated with an individual's sense of compassion, both for self and others; and that (b) the virtues and this kind attitude towards self and others were associated with an individual’s level of flourishing, explaining 50% of the between-person variance. Women scored higher than men on all variables except Self-Control. Self-Compassion increased with age; Empathy, Common Humanity, and Recognizing Suffering showed inverted-U trends with peaks around age 40–50; Willingness to Act and Self-Criticism showed downward trends. The results suggest that being caring, open, and kind may be major determinants of fulfillment.

Life satisfaction, through the cultivation of happiness and the avoidance of misery, is one of the ultimate outcomes of interest for the public generally. This study uses Social Production Function (SPF) theory to investigate the factors (e.g. endowments, conditions, experiences, and characteristics) impacting life satisfaction. A key contribution of this study is that a comprehensive model is developed, with a focus on the contribution of universal goals of physical well-being and maintenance (i.e. (1) stimulation, (2) comfort) and social approval (i.e. (3) status, (4) behaviour confirmation, and (5) affection) to life satisfaction; further, the factors include family, work, or social domains, with a focus on both working and non-working populations (working age (25 to 64), n = 12,022). Within a multivariate framework, using cross-sectional survey data, the key findings reveal the substantive roles of social class, having work, being married, being satisfied with personal appearance, being part of community, having good health, and available leisure time in contributing to life satisfaction. Emerging implications suggest that personal decisions over behaviours and actions that optimize resources can be associated with higher levels of life satisfaction, and there are possible roles for employers and governments in enabling individual behaviour and action, while minimizing constraints and maximizing choice options, which could all work toward empowering individuals to pursue their happiness.

Personality vulnerabilities (i.e., dependency and self-criticism) have been established as critical risk factors for psychopathology in general and for depression in particular. However, research does not address ways of treating those who score high on both dependency and self-criticism, or mixed-vulnerability individuals. To benefit these individuals, we developed an online, group-administered, multi-component positive psychology intervention (MPPI) and tested its effects and mechanisms. Participants (N = 70) were randomly assigned to either receive the MPPI or an active placebo control. The six-session intervention took place over three weeks, and measures were completed at baseline, midtest, posttest, and one-month follow-up stages. Compared to the control condition, the MPPI significantly attenuated self-criticism and dependency for up to one month. The intervention also decreased depression and promoted self-esteem and subjective well-being (SWB). Parallel mediation analyses revealed that lower self-criticism mediated the intervention’s effects on depression, self-esteem, and SWB, while lower dependency mediated effects on self-esteem. This study highlights how an MPPI can decrease personality vulnerability in mixed-vulnerability individuals, and how this change can have further positive effects.

Contentment is an emotion felt when the present situation is perceived to be complete as it is. Six studies are presented showing the difference between contentment and other positive emotions, documenting contentment’s unique relationship with self-acceptance, and exploring the positive associations between contentment and wellbeing. First, we demonstrated that contentment is perceived as different from happiness and other positive emotions using an emotion concept mapping methodology (Study 1), a dimensional analysis (Study 2), and a free-response narrative analysis (Study 3). We then demonstrated that both trait (Study 4 and 5) and state levels (Study 6) of contentment are associated with a sense of self-acceptance, and further related to increased wellbeing. We conclude that contentment is a unique positive emotion that is central to wellbeing and life satisfaction, and we discuss important implications for future research.