Howell, A. J., & Demuynck, K. M. (2021). Psychological Flexibility and Psychological Inflexibility are Independently Associated With Both Hedonic and Eudaimonic Well-Being. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 20, 163-171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2021.04.002
The current studies examined whether psychological flexibility and inflexibility, as assessed with the Multidimensional Psychological Flexibility Inventory (MPFI; Rolffs et al., 2018), are associated with eudaimonic and hedonic well-being. In two cross-sectional studies, undergraduate participants (N's = 315 and 345, respectively) completed the MPFI along with multiple measures of eudaimonic well-being (in Study 1) or of hedonic well-being (in Study 2). In both studies, psychological flexibility and inflexibility composite scores were significantly and independently related to well-being. In Study 2, the relationship between hedonic well-being and MPFI composite scores persisted when controlling for meaning in life and psychological need satisfaction/frustration. These findings point to the relevance of the ACT framework and the dimensions of psychological flexibility and inflexibility for the understanding of well-being and suggest ways in which psychological flexibility/inflexibility could be studied further in relation to well-being outcomes.
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