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Beyond Self-Protection: Self-Affirmation Benefits Hedonic and Eudaimonic Well-Being
S Katherine Nelson1, Joshua A K Fuller2, Incheol Choi2
1University of California, Riverside, USA snels007@ucr.edu.
Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin
|May 1, 2014
Summary
Self-affirmation enhances psychological well-being by increasing eudaimonic and hedonic well-being. These benefits extend beyond self-image maintenance, particularly for vulnerable individuals.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Limited research explores self-affirmation's benefits beyond self-image.
- Psychological well-being encompasses eudaimonic and hedonic aspects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the positive outcomes of self-affirmation on psychological well-being.
- To examine these effects across different cultural contexts.
Main Methods:
- Two studies were conducted in South Korea and the U.S.
- Participants engaged in self-affirmation activities for 2-4 weeks.
- Eudaimonic and hedonic well-being were measured.
Main Results:
- Self-affirmation increased eudaimonic well-being (need satisfaction, meaning, flow) in South Korean participants.
- In U.S. participants, self-affirmation boosted both eudaimonic and hedonic well-being (affect balance) after 2 weeks.
- After 4 weeks, hedonic well-being increases were non-linear and specific to vulnerable individuals.
Conclusions:
- Self-affirmation offers benefits for psychological well-being beyond self-protection.
- The positive effects encompass both eudaimonic and hedonic dimensions of well-being.
- Individual differences moderate the long-term impact on hedonic well-being.
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