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Spirituality as an Essential Determinant for the Good Life, its Importance Relative to Self-Determinant Psychological Needs

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  • Dirk Dierendonck

Abstract

This study focuses on the relevance of spirituality as an essential element for the Good Life. Despite spirituality’s prominence in people’s lives and cultures, it has been mostly neglected in psychological needs theories. This paper investigates the value of spirituality compared to that of the three basic psychological needs of self-determination theory: relatedness, competence and autonomy. In a scenario study design, participants in two samples (students and train passengers) were asked to judge a survey on the personal well-being of an imaginary person. The results show that spirituality positively contributes to the qualification of a good life, in terms of desirability and moral goodness. In addition, the crucial role of relatedness was confirmed. Copyright The Author(s) 2012

Suggested Citation

  • Dirk Dierendonck, 2012. "Spirituality as an Essential Determinant for the Good Life, its Importance Relative to Self-Determinant Psychological Needs," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 13(4), pages 685-700, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:13:y:2012:i:4:p:685-700
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-011-9286-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Eduardo Wills, 2009. "Spirituality and Subjective Well-Being: Evidences for a New Domain in the Personal Well-Being Index," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 10(1), pages 49-69, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Avi Anuj Jain, 2022. "In The Pursuit of Happiness: Observations of Young Tibetan Refugees in Exile, India," South Asian Survey, , vol. 29(1), pages 42-60, March.
    2. E. T. Bohlmeijer & L. Frielingsdorf & J. T. Kraiss & E. Jager-Meezenbroek & A. Visser & P. M. Klooster, 2023. "Spirituality in the Context of Well-being. Evaluation of the Psychometric Properties and Added Value of the Spiritual Attitude and Involvement List Short Form (SAIL-SF)," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 1169-1190, March.
    3. Eric Hill & Heather Terrell & Andrea Arellano & Blake Schuetz & Craig Nagoshi, 2015. "A Good Story: Using Future Life Narratives to Predict Present Well-Being," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 16(6), pages 1615-1634, December.
    4. Corey L. M. Keyes & Malik Muhammad Sohail & Nneka Jebose Molokwu & Heather Parnell & Cyrilla Amanya & Venkata Gopala Krishna Kaza & Yohannes Benyam Saddo & Vanroth Vann & Senti Tzudier & Rae Jean Proe, 2021. "How Would You Describe a Mentally Healthy Person? A Cross-Cultural Qualitative Study of Caregivers of Orphans and Separated Children," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(4), pages 1719-1743, April.
    5. Andrew Howell & Holli-Anne Passmore & Karen Buro, 2013. "Meaning in Nature: Meaning in Life as a Mediator of the Relationship Between Nature Connectedness and Well-Being," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 14(6), pages 1681-1696, December.
    6. J. M. Tomás & P. Sancho & L. Galiana & A. Oliver, 2016. "A Double Test on the Importance of Spirituality, the “Forgotten Factor”, in Successful Aging," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 127(3), pages 1377-1389, July.

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