Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science (JCBS)
Volume 33, July 2024
Authors
Andrew J. Howell, Mateo F. Brnada, Karen Buro
Abstract
Recent research demonstrated that associations between psychological flexibility (PF) and subjective well-being are mediated by psychological need satisfaction, in accordance with conceiving PF as a model of eudaimonic activity. The current studies tested whether such relationships persist even when controlling for alternative operationalizations of eudaimonic activity. In Study 1 (N = 289 undergraduates), need satisfaction mediated associations between Psy-Flex scores and both positive affect and life satisfaction when controlling for scores on the Flourishing Scale or Questionnaire for Eudaimonic Well-Being. Similar findings emerged in Study 2 (N = 283 undergraduates) when controlling for scores on the Multidimensional Existential Meaning Scale; these findings were then replicated using a pre-existing data set. We discuss PF in relation to the Eudaimonic Activity Model and Self-Determination Theory.