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Wanting to be Happy Fosters Happiness by Promoting Savoring: A Daily Diary Study

Author

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  • Jean-Baptiste Pavani

    (Center for Research On the Psychology of Cognition, Language and Emotion (PsyCLE), Aix Marseille University
    Centre PsyCLE, Aix-Marseille Université, Maison de la Recherche)

  • Marguerite Larmanou

    (CLIPSYD, Paris Ouest Nanterre University)

  • Sophie Holtzer

    (Center for Research On the Psychology of Cognition, Language and Emotion (PsyCLE), Aix Marseille University)

  • Desirée Colombo

    (Universitat Jaume I
    Centre PsyCLE, Aix-Marseille Université, Maison de la Recherche)

Abstract

The present study examined the effect of happiness goals (i.e., the degree to which individuals want to be happy) on experiences of happiness. A daily diary study was conducted among 100 French participants. Each evening over a 1-month period, participants reported their experience of happiness during the day, their engagement in savoring and rumination during the day, and their wish to be happy tomorrow. Two main results were obtained. First, as expected, at the between-individual level, individuals with higher happiness goals were more likely to experience intense happiness, partly because they engaged more in savoring. Second, as expected, at the within-individual level, when an individual displayed higher happiness goals for tomorrow than usual, the individual was more likely to experience intense happiness during the next day than usual, partly due to stronger engagement in savoring. The results suggest that, on average, happiness goals foster happiness experiences by eliciting happiness-promoting behaviors.

Suggested Citation

  • Jean-Baptiste Pavani & Marguerite Larmanou & Sophie Holtzer & Desirée Colombo, 2025. "Wanting to be Happy Fosters Happiness by Promoting Savoring: A Daily Diary Study," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 26(3), pages 1-16, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:26:y:2025:i:3:d:10.1007_s10902-025-00878-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-025-00878-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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