ORIGINAL PAPER
Positive orientation as a predictor of hedonicwell-being: mediating role of the self-concept
Submission date: 2017-12-12
Final revision date: 2018-05-01
Acceptance date: 2018-05-02
Online publication date: 2018-06-08
Publication date: 2018-06-08
Health Psychology Report 2018;6(3):261–272
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Background:
Positive orientation (PO) is a hidden variable explaining a tendency to formulate global evaluations regarding one’s self, life and the future. It is inherited to a large degree and it could be considered a common base for numerous aspects of subjective well-being. The self-concept, in turn, is a basic adaptation formed during individual experiences that is responsible for adjustment. The primary aim of the current study was to verify hypotheses about the significant relationship between PO and a ‘core self’ (high self-concept clarity, low self-esteem contingency, low self-rumination), as well as the meditational role of the ‘core self’ in the relation between PO and hedonic balance.
Participants and procedure:
A group of 200 participants completed several measures referring to PO, self-concept and emotions.
Results:
The canonical correlation analysis revealed PO to be a strong predictor of the adaptive features of the self-concept. Moreover, the tested models suggest that (1) self-concept clarity is a significant mediator between PO and hedonic balance, and (2) PO directly predicts only self-concept clarity, whereas its relations with self-esteem contingency and rumination are mediated by the self-knowledge structure.
Conclusions:
These findings indicate that PO is an important and independent factor enhancing adaptive features of the self-concept structure as well as well-being.
Positive orientation (PO) is a hidden variable explaining a tendency to formulate global evaluations regarding one’s self, life and the future. It is inherited to a large degree and it could be considered a common base for numerous aspects of subjective well-being. The self-concept, in turn, is a basic adaptation formed during individual experiences that is responsible for adjustment. The primary aim of the current study was to verify hypotheses about the significant relationship between PO and a ‘core self’ (high self-concept clarity, low self-esteem contingency, low self-rumination), as well as the meditational role of the ‘core self’ in the relation between PO and hedonic balance.
Participants and procedure:
A group of 200 participants completed several measures referring to PO, self-concept and emotions.
Results:
The canonical correlation analysis revealed PO to be a strong predictor of the adaptive features of the self-concept. Moreover, the tested models suggest that (1) self-concept clarity is a significant mediator between PO and hedonic balance, and (2) PO directly predicts only self-concept clarity, whereas its relations with self-esteem contingency and rumination are mediated by the self-knowledge structure.
Conclusions:
These findings indicate that PO is an important and independent factor enhancing adaptive features of the self-concept structure as well as well-being.
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