Valuing Happiness is Not a Good Way of Pursuing Happiness, but Prioritizing  Positivity is: A Replication Study.

[en] Numerous studies confirm the merits of positive psychology. However, an emerging literature brings nuances, with one particular question concerning the impact of pursuing happiness: is this always positive? Some data suggest that an excessive level of valuing happiness may partly diminish the happiness felt, but that prioritizing positivity may increase subjective well-being. The aim of the present study was to replicate these findings. Participants (N = 683, 75% female) completed the prioritizing positivity scale (PPS) and the valuing happiness scale (VHS), as well as four well-being scales: the subjective happiness scale (SHS), the satisfaction with life scale (SWLS), the psychological well-being scales (PWB) and the center for epidemiological studies - depression (CES-D). Regression analyses showed that prioritizing positivity was positively associated with subjective happiness, life satisfaction and psychological well-being, but that it was negatively linked to depression. Opposite results partly emerged for valuing happiness. This cross-sectional study confirms that the way people pursue happiness, by prioritizing positivity or valuing it, may promote or partly hinder well-being.

Disciplines :

Social & behavioral sciences, psychology: Multidisciplinary, general & others

Author, co-author :

Hansenne, Michel ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Psychologie et Neuroscience Cognitives (PsyNCog)

Language :

English

Title :

Valuing Happiness is Not a Good Way of Pursuing Happiness, but Prioritizing Positivity is: A Replication Study.

Publication date :

2021

Journal title :

Psychologica Belgica

ISSN :

0033-2879

eISSN :

2054-670X

Publisher :

Société Blege de Psychologie, Gand, Be

Volume :

Issue :

Pages :

306-314

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Additional URL :

https://www.psychologicabelgica.com/articles/10.5334/pb.1036/

Commentary :

Available on ORBi :

since 23 August 2022

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