Individual differences in spontaneous self-affirmation predict well-being
Individual differences in spontaneous self-affirmation predict well-being
The present research examines the relationship between individual differences in the extent to which people report self-affirming when faced with a threat (spontaneous self-affirmation) and well-being. Across three studies (total N = 515), spontaneous self-affirmation consistently emerged as a significant linear predictor of hedonic and eudaimonic well-being outcomes, both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. A self-affirmation manipulation eliminated this association for two indices of well-being, primarily by boosting the well-being scores of those lower in spontaneous self-affirmation. Furthermore, spontaneous self-affirmation was found to partially mediate associations between socioeconomic status and well-being. These findings highlight individual differences in spontaneous self-affirmation as a potentially important contributor to well-being and suggest that consideration of spontaneous self-affirmation might further our understanding of the relationship between socioeconomic status and well-being.
Spontaneous self-affirmation, self-affirmation theory, socioeconomic status, well-being
1 - 29
Jessop, Donna
be3fb3b8-068f-40b5-8564-5efaf9cff099
Harris, Peter
6226ebce-e8e0-4d5d-bb8f-fda74f4da46f
Gibbons, Timothy
7c9d4449-0eea-4840-8053-f056d1864edb
1 June 2022
Jessop, Donna
be3fb3b8-068f-40b5-8564-5efaf9cff099
Harris, Peter
6226ebce-e8e0-4d5d-bb8f-fda74f4da46f
Gibbons, Timothy
7c9d4449-0eea-4840-8053-f056d1864edb
Jessop, Donna, Harris, Peter and Gibbons, Timothy
(2022)
Individual differences in spontaneous self-affirmation predict well-being.
Self and Identity, .
(doi:10.1080/15298868.2022.2079711).
Abstract
The present research examines the relationship between individual differences in the extent to which people report self-affirming when faced with a threat (spontaneous self-affirmation) and well-being. Across three studies (total N = 515), spontaneous self-affirmation consistently emerged as a significant linear predictor of hedonic and eudaimonic well-being outcomes, both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. A self-affirmation manipulation eliminated this association for two indices of well-being, primarily by boosting the well-being scores of those lower in spontaneous self-affirmation. Furthermore, spontaneous self-affirmation was found to partially mediate associations between socioeconomic status and well-being. These findings highlight individual differences in spontaneous self-affirmation as a potentially important contributor to well-being and suggest that consideration of spontaneous self-affirmation might further our understanding of the relationship between socioeconomic status and well-being.
Text
15298868.2022
- Version of Record
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 15 May 2022
e-pub ahead of print date: 1 June 2022
Published date: 1 June 2022
Additional Information:
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
© 2022 The Author(s)
Keywords:
Spontaneous self-affirmation, self-affirmation theory, socioeconomic status, well-being
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 468129
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/468129
ISSN: 1529-8868
PURE UUID: 352d551e-9fbd-42a0-bbea-d563a3d68596
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Date deposited: 03 Aug 2022 16:37
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 02:27
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Author:
Donna Jessop
Author:
Peter Harris
Author:
Timothy Gibbons
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