Abstract
Seventy-nine participants rated their involvement and satisfaction with time spent in each of 14 roles (e.g., me as a student),
as well as overall life satisfaction. They also described themselves in each of these roles, as well as five general self-conceptions
(e.g., ideal self), by repeatedly selecting from a list of traits. Each participant’s set of self descriptions was idiographically
modeled using hierarchical classes analysis, from which three indices were coded: trait overlap between actual, usual, ideal,
ought, and future selves (self–ideal congruence), trait overlap between each of the 14 roles and actual and usual selves (self–role congruence), and dispersion of negative traits across self-aspects (negative elaboration). Within-person correlations were computed as a measure of satisfaction with time spent in self-congruent roles (TSR). Self-ideal
congruence, negative elaboration, and TSR each independently accounted for variance in life satisfaction. For all 14 roles,
self-role congruence was correlated with involvement in the target role. Self-ideal congruence and negative elaboration were
not highly correlated with role involvement, and self-role congruence was not a robust predictor of life satisfaction. Role-based
self-aspects might contribute to life satisfaction to the extent they are enacted according to one’s wishes and are congruent
with the more general, actual self.
as well as overall life satisfaction. They also described themselves in each of these roles, as well as five general self-conceptions
(e.g., ideal self), by repeatedly selecting from a list of traits. Each participant’s set of self descriptions was idiographically
modeled using hierarchical classes analysis, from which three indices were coded: trait overlap between actual, usual, ideal,
ought, and future selves (self–ideal congruence), trait overlap between each of the 14 roles and actual and usual selves (self–role congruence), and dispersion of negative traits across self-aspects (negative elaboration). Within-person correlations were computed as a measure of satisfaction with time spent in self-congruent roles (TSR). Self-ideal
congruence, negative elaboration, and TSR each independently accounted for variance in life satisfaction. For all 14 roles,
self-role congruence was correlated with involvement in the target role. Self-ideal congruence and negative elaboration were
not highly correlated with role involvement, and self-role congruence was not a robust predictor of life satisfaction. Role-based
self-aspects might contribute to life satisfaction to the extent they are enacted according to one’s wishes and are congruent
with the more general, actual self.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Research Paper
- Pages 1-16
- DOI 10.1007/s10902-012-9332-8
- Authors
- Warren A. Reich, Department of Psychology, Hunter College, City University of New York, 695 Park Ave. Rm. 611 N, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Ellen M. Kessel, Department of Psychology, Hunter College, City University of New York, 695 Park Ave. Rm. 611 N, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Frank J. Bernieri, Department of Psychology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
- Journal Journal of Happiness Studies
- Online ISSN 1573-7780
- Print ISSN 1389-4978