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Examining the Relationship Between Positive Mood and Life Satisfaction in Easterners and Westerners: Is Feeling Good Associated with Building Agency, Broadening Pathways, or Both?

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  • Edward C. Chang

    (University of Michigan)

  • Olivia D. Chang

    (University of Michigan)

  • Shanmukh V. Kamble

    (Karnatak University)

Abstract

The present study sought to determine if the positive association between positive mood and life satisfaction can be understood as a function of hope. Consistent with the broaden-and-build model of positive emotions, we tested the hypothesis that positive mood would be associated with broadening hope agency, building hope pathways, or both, in Western and Eastern cultural groups, namely, in an adult sample of European Americans (N = 228) and Asian Indians (N = 192), respectively. Results examining for bootstrapped mediation testing with multiple mediators indicated one consistent pattern across both groups. Specifically, positive mood was indirectly associated with life satisfaction through hope agency, but not through hope pathways. In addition, the initial association between positive mood and life satisfaction became nonsignificant once hope was included as a mediator for Asian Indians, but not for European Americans. In contrast, positive mood remained a significant predictor of life satisfaction for European Americans. Overall, the present findings suggest that one pan-cultural way in which positive mood might foster life satisfaction is by activating people’s belief that they have the ability to achieve their future goals. Some implications of the present findings are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Edward C. Chang & Olivia D. Chang & Shanmukh V. Kamble, 2019. "Examining the Relationship Between Positive Mood and Life Satisfaction in Easterners and Westerners: Is Feeling Good Associated with Building Agency, Broadening Pathways, or Both?," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 20(7), pages 2159-2172, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:20:y:2019:i:7:d:10.1007_s10902-018-0043-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-018-0043-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sonja Lyubomirsky & Heidi Lepper, 1999. "A Measure of Subjective Happiness: Preliminary Reliability and Construct Validation," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 46(2), pages 137-155, February.
    2. Yip, Winnie & Subramanian, S.V. & Mitchell, Andrew D. & Lee, Dominic T.S. & Wang, Jian & Kawachi, Ichiro, 2007. "Does social capital enhance health and well-being? Evidence from rural China," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 64(1), pages 35-49, January.
    3. Jennifer Cheavens & David Feldman & Amber Gum & Scott Michael & C. Snyder, 2006. "Hope Therapy in a Community Sample: A Pilot Investigation," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 77(1), pages 61-78, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Xupeng Zhang & Dianxi Wang & Fei Li, 2022. "Physical Exercise, Social Capital, Hope, and Subjective Well-Being in China: A Parallel Mediation Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Olivia D. Chang & Nicolás Sánchez-Álvarez & Lourdes Rey & Natalio Extremera & Misu Kwon & Mingqi Li, 2022. "Gratitude, Emotional Intelligence, and Life Satisfaction Among Older Adults: Evidence for a Broaden-and-Build Model or an Amplification Model?," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(6), pages 2597-2611, August.

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