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The Multiple Determination of Well-Being: Independent Effects of Positive Traits, Needs, Goals, Selves, Social Supports, and Cultural Contexts

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Book cover The Exploration of Happiness

Part of the book series: Happiness Studies Book Series ((HAPS))

Abstract

Although most researchers acknowledge that subjective well-being (SWB) is multiply determined, little research and theory simultaneously considers the effects of many types of determinants, located at many different levels of analysis. Guided by a six-level model of “optimal human being”, we tested the hypothesis that psychological need-satisfaction, a positive Big Five trait profile, good personal goal-progress, high self-esteem, positive social support, and a happiness-conducing cultural membership would each uniquely predict SWB. These hypotheses were confirmed, supporting the hierarchical perspective and irreducibility assumption that under-girded the research. Implications for SWB theory and interventions, and for the task of integrating the many different types of personality constructs that exist, are discussed.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    A portion of this dataset was used by Sheldon and Niemiec (in press). However, none of the relations in this article have been reported before.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri-Columbia, McAlester Hall, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA

    Kennon M. Sheldon & Tan H. Hoon

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  1. Kennon M. Sheldon
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  2. Tan H. Hoon
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Correspondence to Kennon M. Sheldon .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Pathophysiology, and Transplantation, University of Milan, Via G.B. Grassi 74, Milan, 20157, Italy

    Antonella Delle Fave

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Sheldon, K.M., Hoon, T.H. (2013). The Multiple Determination of Well-Being: Independent Effects of Positive Traits, Needs, Goals, Selves, Social Supports, and Cultural Contexts. In: Delle Fave, A. (eds) The Exploration of Happiness. Happiness Studies Book Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5702-8_8

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