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Personality and Optimal Experience in Adolescence: Implications for Well-Being and Development

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  • Marta Bassi
  • Patrizia Steca
  • Dario Monzani
  • Andrea Greco
  • Antonella Delle Fave

Abstract

Past research has repeatedly identified relations between optimal experience—or flow—and well-being across the lifespan. In the attempt to identify the conditions favoring this experience, some studies took into account personality traits. While most of them operationalized flow in terms of intensity, we presently focused on perceived occurrence versus absence of flow. Specifically, we investigated the relations between flow occurrence, hedonic and eudaimonic well-being, activities associated with flow, and personality in adolescence. A group of 408 Italian teenagers (mean age = 17.31; SD = 1.13) were administered Flow Questionnaire, Satisfaction with Life Scale, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, Psychological Well-being Scales, and the Big Five Questionnaire. Participants reporting optimal experience in their lives were compared with those not reporting it. Results showed that adolescents experiencing flow reported higher satisfaction with life, hedonic balance, and psychological well-being than their counterparts. Findings from logistic regression analyses further showed that openness to experience was the sole personality factor predicting flow occurrence, and that no personality factors were predictive of type of activities adolescents associated with flow. Findings point to the promotion of optimal experience among adolescents through the support of curiosity and openness to new experiences in engaging opportunities for action. They further call for the development of an integrated model taking into account both individual predispositions and social and cultural factors in well-being promotion. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014

Suggested Citation

  • Marta Bassi & Patrizia Steca & Dario Monzani & Andrea Greco & Antonella Delle Fave, 2014. "Personality and Optimal Experience in Adolescence: Implications for Well-Being and Development," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 15(4), pages 829-843, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:15:y:2014:i:4:p:829-843
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-013-9451-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Thais Rogatko, 2009. "The Influence of Flow on Positive Affect in College Students," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 10(2), pages 133-148, April.
    2. Belén Mesurado & María Richaud de Minzi, 2013. "Child’s Personality and Perception of Parental Relationship as Correlates of Optimal Experience," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 14(1), pages 199-214, March.
    3. Marisa Salanova & Arnold Bakker & Susana Llorens, 2006. "Flow at Work: Evidence for an Upward Spiral of Personal and Organizational Resources," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 7(1), pages 1-22, March.
    4. Kiyoshi Asakawa, 2004. "Flow Experience and Autotelic Personality in Japanese College Students: How do they Experience Challenges in Daily Life?," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 5(2), pages 123-154, June.
    5. Veronika Huta & Richard Ryan, 2010. "Pursuing Pleasure or Virtue: The Differential and Overlapping Well-Being Benefits of Hedonic and Eudaimonic Motives," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 11(6), pages 735-762, December.
    6. Antonella Delle Fave & Ingrid Brdar & Teresa Freire & Dianne Vella-Brodrick & Marié Wissing, 2011. "The Eudaimonic and Hedonic Components of Happiness: Qualitative and Quantitative Findings," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 100(2), pages 185-207, January.
    7. Kiyoshi Asakawa, 2010. "Flow Experience, Culture, and Well-being: How Do Autotelic Japanese College Students Feel, Behave, and Think in Their Daily Lives?," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 11(2), pages 205-223, April.
    8. Amy Collins & Natalia Sarkisian & Ellen Winner, 2009. "Flow and Happiness in Later Life: An Investigation into the Role of Daily and Weekly Flow Experiences," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 10(6), pages 703-719, December.
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    Cited by:

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    4. Wei Liu & Dimitri Linden & Arnold B. Bakker, 2022. "Does Strengths Use Mean Better Focus? Well-being and Attentional Performance at the Episodic Level," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(6), pages 2763-2785, August.
    5. Kate Sweeny & Kyla Rankin & Xiaorong Cheng & Lulu Hou & Fangfang Long & Yao Meng & Lilian Azer & Renlai Zhou & Weiwei Zhang, 2020. "Flow in the time of COVID-19: Findings from China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(11), pages 1-12, November.
    6. Fabienne Aust & Theresa Beneke & Corinna Peifer & Magdalena Wekenborg, 2022. "The Relationship between Flow Experience and Burnout Symptoms: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-30, March.
    7. Yanhui Mao & Rui Yang & Marino Bonaiuto & Jianhong Ma & László Harmat, 2020. "Can Flow Alleviate Anxiety? The Roles of Academic Self-Efficacy and Self-Esteem in Building Psychological Sustainability and Resilience," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-17, April.
    8. Cher-Yi Tan & Chun-Qian Chuah & Shwu-Ting Lee & Chee-Seng Tan, 2021. "Being Creative Makes You Happier: The Positive Effect of Creativity on Subjective Well-Being," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-14, July.

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