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A genetic perspective on the relationship between eudaimonic -and hedonic well-being
B M L Baselmans1,2, M Bartels3,4,5
1Departement of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. b.m.l.baselmans@vu.nl.
Scientific Reports
|October 4, 2018
Summary
Hedonic and eudaimonic well-being share significant genetic underpinnings, indicating a substantial overlap in their genetic architecture. Environmental factors contribute to their distinct phenotypic expressions.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral genetics
- Psychology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- The distinction between hedonic (pleasure-seeking) and eudaimonic (meaning-driven) well-being is debated.
- Understanding their genetic overlap is crucial for a comprehensive view of well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the genetic architecture underlying the relationship between hedonic and eudaimonic well-being.
- To conduct the first genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for eudaimonic well-being and link it with existing GWAS data for hedonic well-being.
Main Methods:
- Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were performed for eudaimonic well-being (N ≈ 108K) and hedonic well-being (N ≈ 222K).
- Phenotypic and genetic correlations were analyzed.
- Enrichment analyses were conducted on identified genetic loci in brain tissues.
Main Results:
- Two novel genome-wide significant loci for eudaimonic well-being and six for hedonic well-being were identified.
- A moderate phenotypic correlation (r = 0.53) and a high genetic correlation (r_g = 0.78) were found between the two well-being types.
- Genetic loci for eudaimonic well-being showed enrichment in brain regions like the cortex and cerebellum.
Conclusions:
- Hedonic and eudaimonic well-being share a substantial genetic etiology, suggesting a common genetic basis.
- Divergent environmental factors likely contribute to the phenotypic differences observed between hedonic and eudaimonic well-being.
- The findings reveal a significant overlap in the genes influencing both forms of well-being.
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