The Mediation Effect of Eudaimonic Well-Being in the Relationship Between Self-Determination and Somatic Symptoms

The majority of somatic symptoms have unexplained medical causes, and it is claimed that psychological factors are important in the initiation and exacerbation of somatic complaints. This study, cross-sectional and correlational in nature, investigated the mediating role of eudaimonic well-being on the relationship between self-determination and somatic symptoms. Mediations were examined at both the whole-construct and component levels to better understand these relationships. A total of 486 participants took part in this study, comprising 403 females (82.9%) and 83 males (17.1%), with an age range of 18 to 36 years (M = 22, SD = 2.27). Self-determination, eudaimonic well-being, and somatic symptoms were measured using questionnaires. Mediations were tested at the construct and component levels using the PROCESS macro. The results show that eudaimonic well-being mediates the relationship between self-determination and somatic symptoms (b = -0.21, SE = 0.03, 95% CI = [-0.32, -0.10]). Component-level analyses reveal that the relationship between controlling motives and somatic symptoms is mediated by negative affect (b = 0.39, SE = 0.08, 95% CI [0.23, 0.56]). These findings identify the variables that may explain the origin of somatic symptoms, emphasising self-determination as a starting point and eudaimonic well-being as a mechanism by which motivational factors affect health outcomes.