Jessop, Donna C, Harris, Peter R and Gibbons, Timothy (2022) Individual differences in spontaneous self-affirmation predict well-being. Self and Identity. pp. 1-29. ISSN 1529-8868

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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.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	spontaneous self-affirmation, well-being, socioeconomic status, self-affirmation theory
Schools and Departments:	School of Psychology > Psychology
SWORD Depositor:	Mx Elements Account
Depositing User:	Mx Elements Account
Date Deposited:	24 May 2022 07:26
Last Modified:	16 Aug 2022 11:00
URI:	http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/106052

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