Gratitude, Emotional Intelligence, and Life Satisfaction Among Older Adults: Evidence for a Broaden-and-Build Model or an Amplification Model?
AbstractThe present study was concerned with how gratitude and facets of emotional intelligence (i.e., self-emotions appraisal, others-emotions appraisal, use of emotion,& regulation of emotion) are related to life satisfaction in older adults. Two models were examined in a sample of 191 Spanish older adults: (1) a broaden-and-build model, in which gratitude might be associated with greater life satisfaction by broadening and building facets of emotional intelligence; and (2) an amplification model, in which gratitude might interact with facets of emotional intelligence to amplify life satisfaction. In examining a broa...
Source: Journal of Happiness Studies - March 14, 2022 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research
Optimism and Longevity Among Japanese Older Adults
AbstractOptimism has been linked to better physical health across various outcomes, including greater longevity. However, most evidence is from Western populations, leaving it unclear whether these relationships may generalize to other cultural backgrounds. Using secondary data analysis, we evaluated the associations of optimism among older Japanese adults. Data were from a nationwide cohort study of Japanese older adults aged ≥ 65 years (Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study; n = 10,472). In 2010, optimism and relevant covariates (i.e., sociodemographic factors, physical health conditions, depressive symptoms,...
Source: Journal of Happiness Studies - March 11, 2022 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research
Selflessness Meets Higher and More Stable Happiness: An Experience Sampling Study of the Joint Dynamics of Selflessness and Happiness
This study brings new evidence of the importance of selflessness for happiness. (Source: Journal of Happiness Studies)
Source: Journal of Happiness Studies - March 8, 2022 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research
Humor Styles, Perceived Threat, Funniness of COVID-19 Memes, and Affective Mood in the Early Stages of COVID-19 Lockdown
AbstractExisting psychological research has long considered humor as a useful strategy for individuals in coping with adverse circumstances and life stressors. However, empirical studies are called for to better understand the role of humor in facing the COVID-19 pandemic. In a community sample of 527 Spanish adults, we investigated the associations between humor styles, perceived threat from COVID-19, funniness of COVID-19 memes, and individuals ’ affective mood. Data were collected during the third week of lockdown in Spain (from 26 to 31 March 2020). Our results suggest that intrapsychic humor styles were associated w...
Source: Journal of Happiness Studies - March 5, 2022 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research
Unique Ways in Which the Quality of Friendships Matter for Life Satisfaction
AbstractThe quality of individuals ’ social relationships consistently predicts greater well-being. But little is known about the relative importance of different relationship types for life satisfaction, including the relative importance of friendships compared to other types of relationships. Some have theorized that one intimate relationship is all you need. However, romantic partners, family, and friends may contribute uniquely or interactively to well-being. The current study assessed life satisfaction and relationship satisfaction in survey data collected from a large, diverse sample of respondents. Satisfaction wi...
Source: Journal of Happiness Studies - March 5, 2022 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research
Flow Experiences Across Adulthood: Preliminary Findings on the Continuity Hypothesis
AbstractFlow experience is a psychological state characterized by simultaneous absorption, concentration, and enjoyment. Examining the change and continuity of the flow experience ––an optimal state that contributes to well-being––is critical to the understanding of the lifelong trajectory of human flourishing. Nevertheless, to date there has been no systematic investigation of the relationship between age and flow experiences across adulthood. Developmental models of flow experiences suggest the continuity hypothesis that people are motivated to sustain a high level of flow experiences as long as conditions permit...
Source: Journal of Happiness Studies - March 3, 2022 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research
Is Happiness Adaptation to Poverty Limited? The Role of Reference Income
AbstractThis paper analyzes how people ’s subjective well-being adapts to income poverty in Switzerland and Germany and presents two empirical findings. First, financial satisfaction (FS) does not adapt in either country. However, life satisfaction fully adapts in Switzerland but not in Germany. Second, people in income poverty have in come lower than their reference income. In the long run, those who remain in income poverty are trapped in the situation of insufficient income. Therefore, FS has limited, if any, adaptation. (Source: Journal of Happiness Studies)
Source: Journal of Happiness Studies - March 2, 2022 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research
Choice Matters More with Others: Choosing to be with Other People is More Consequential to Well-Being than Choosing to be Alone
AbstractStable social relationships are conducive to well-being. However, similar effects are not reported consistently for daily social interactions in affecting episodic (experiential) subjective well-being (ESWB). The present investigation suggests that the choice of being in a social context plays an important moderating role, such that social interactions increase ESWB only if taken place by one's choice. Moreover, it is argued that choice matters more in a social context than in an alone context because experiences with others are amplified. These ideas were tested and supported in two studies: An experiment that man...
Source: Journal of Happiness Studies - March 2, 2022 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research
Family Harmony and Flourishing in Turkey: The Roles of Interdependent Happiness and Harmony in Life
AbstractThe purpose of this study is to investigate the relationships among family harmony, interdependent happiness, harmony in life, and flourishing. The participants consist of 390 university students and employees in Turkey. Participants ’ ages range from 18 to 58 years. Data have been collected using the Family Harmony Scale, Interdependent Happiness Scale, Harmony in Life Scale, and Flourishing Scale. The relationships among the scales have been examined using a structural equation model and the bootstrap method. According to t he results of the correlation analysis, there were significant positive relationships a...
Source: Journal of Happiness Studies - March 1, 2022 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research
Happy at Work in Africa? Measuring Hedonic Well-Being Among Water Carriers in Rural Kenya Using the Experience Sampling Method
AbstractDespite work ’s importance in people’s overall sense of purpose in life, several studies measuring momentary well-being find that people are very unhappy while at work. These studies have focused on workers in industrialized countries doing paid labor in the formal sector. For a large fraction of humanity, h owever, “work” is smallholder farming, tending cattle and collecting water and fuelwood. We measure momentary well-being with the Experience Sampling Method in a sample of 195 subjects in rural Kenya. Subjects were the household’s main water carrier; 93% were women. Each subject was asked to c omplete...
Source: Journal of Happiness Studies - March 1, 2022 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research
Disentangling the Concept of Well-Being in Very Old Age Using Rodgers ’ Evolutionary Concept Analysis
AbstractWell-being has received increasing attention from researchers and policymakers, and its promotion could be considered pivotal to handle the challenges of aging populations. However, many different well-being concepts have been used inconsistently, and it remains unclear what the concept of well-being refers to among the oldest segments of the population. Hence, there is a need for a more cohesive understanding of the meaning of the concept in this particular context. The aim of this study was to review the scientific literature to examine the conceptualization of well-being in very old age. Rodgers ’ evolutionary...
Source: Journal of Happiness Studies - February 26, 2022 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research
A Brief Gratitude Writing Intervention Decreased Stress and Negative Affect During the COVID-19 Pandemic
AbstractExploring ways to mitigate the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic is important for long-term health. Expressive and gratitude-focused writing are effective methods to help individuals process traumatic or stressful events. Gratitude-focused writing may yield additional benefits because it helps individuals appraise events positively. We hypothesized that an online gratitude writing intervention would yield greater benefits than an expressive writing intervention or control group. Participants were randomized to one of three groups and completed assessments one-week and one-month post-intervention. The gratitude writin...
Source: Journal of Happiness Studies - February 24, 2022 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research
Linkage from Self-Sacrifice to Hope Through the Intervening Roles of Perceived Family Support and Attitudes to Aging in Chinese Older Adults
The objective of this study was to examine the relationships between self-sacrifice and hope as well as the possible intervening roles of perceived family support and attitudes to aging in this relationship among Chinese older adults. A total of 475 older adults participated in the current study. They completed measures related to self-sacrifice, hope, perceived family support, and attitudes to aging. Attitudes to aging measured the extent to which older adults hold positive and negative attitudes toward aging in three domains of physical change, psychological growth, and psychosocial loss. The results showed that self-sac...
Source: Journal of Happiness Studies - February 24, 2022 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research
Differentiating Optimists from Pessimists in the Prediction of Emotional Intelligence, Happiness, and Life Satisfaction: A Latent Profile Analysis
AbstractWhat are the differences between optimists and pessimists? The aim of this study is to analyze the differences reported by optimists and pessimists in terms of three psychological variables: emotional intelligence (EI), happiness, and life satisfaction. To answer this question, we examined the extent to which a combination of different levels of optimism and pessimism can differently predict EI, happiness, and life satisfaction in two independent samples (891 adults, 494 adolescents). To do that, we introduced a person-centered approach, which offers several advantages in the study of optimism over the extended, pr...
Source: Journal of Happiness Studies - February 23, 2022 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research
Religious Practice and Life Satisfaction: A Domains-of-Life Approach
AbstractResearch on the relationship between religious practice and life satisfaction usually points to the existence of a positive association; with spiritual and social networks in the congregation being considered as important aspects intervening in the relationship. This paper follows a domains-of-life approach to provide insight into the relationship between religious practice and life satisfaction; seven domains of life are considered: Family, Friends, Economic, Free time, Health, Occupation, and Spiritual. By following a domains-of-life approach it is possible to consider how this association takes place through man...
Source: Journal of Happiness Studies - February 16, 2022 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research
