Abstract
The present study investigated the role of self-construal in explaining psychological wellbeing in two European countries.
Eight hundred and fifteen Italian and Scottish students completed measures of life-satisfaction, optimism, subjective happiness
and a scale measuring interdependent and/or independent self-construal. We obtained three main findings. First of all, scores
on the scales of psychological wellbeing were positively associated with scores on the independent scale and independence
was found to be the factor that best explained variance in psychological wellbeing. Second, and contrary to our prediction,
the Italian group had significantly higher scores for the independence scale than Scots. Third, gender was found to have a
significant effect with regard to interdependence of self, life satisfaction, and optimism.
Eight hundred and fifteen Italian and Scottish students completed measures of life-satisfaction, optimism, subjective happiness
and a scale measuring interdependent and/or independent self-construal. We obtained three main findings. First of all, scores
on the scales of psychological wellbeing were positively associated with scores on the independent scale and independence
was found to be the factor that best explained variance in psychological wellbeing. Second, and contrary to our prediction,
the Italian group had significantly higher scores for the independence scale than Scots. Third, gender was found to have a
significant effect with regard to interdependence of self, life satisfaction, and optimism.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Research Paper
- Pages 1-17
- DOI 10.1007/s10902-012-9372-0
- Authors
- Elaine Duncan, Department of Psychology and Allied Health Sciences, School of Health and Life Science, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, G4 0BA Scotland
- Veronica Ornaghi, Faculty of Educational Sciences, Department of Human Sciences R. Massa, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Piazza Ateneo Nuovo 1, 20126 Milan, Italy
- Ilaria Grazzani, Faculty of Educational Sciences, Department of Human Sciences R. Massa, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Piazza Ateneo Nuovo 1, 20126 Milan, Italy
- Journal Journal of Happiness Studies
- Online ISSN 1573-7780
- Print ISSN 1389-4978