Abstract
Friendship is a consistent correlate of happiness, yet less is known about the associations of friendship specific experiences
and feelings with happiness. In this study (n = 4,382) the roles of perceived responses to capitalization attempts, perceived
mattering to and satisfaction of basic psychological needs in same-sex best friendships in happiness among men and women were
investigated. Findings showed that although all of the friendship variables were positively associated with happiness to varying
degrees, basic needs satisfaction emerged as the strongest predictor of happiness. Additional analyses revealed that competence
need satisfaction was the most important need predicting happiness. Importantly, these findings were gender invariant. The
findings were discussed in light of theory and empirical literature and suggestions were made for future research.
and feelings with happiness. In this study (n = 4,382) the roles of perceived responses to capitalization attempts, perceived
mattering to and satisfaction of basic psychological needs in same-sex best friendships in happiness among men and women were
investigated. Findings showed that although all of the friendship variables were positively associated with happiness to varying
degrees, basic needs satisfaction emerged as the strongest predictor of happiness. Additional analyses revealed that competence
need satisfaction was the most important need predicting happiness. Importantly, these findings were gender invariant. The
findings were discussed in light of theory and empirical literature and suggestions were made for future research.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Research Paper
- Pages 1-26
- DOI 10.1007/s10902-012-9341-7
- Authors
- Melikşah Demir, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
- Ingrid Davidson, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
- Journal Journal of Happiness Studies
- Online ISSN 1573-7780
- Print ISSN 1389-4978