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Positive Expectancies and Subjective Well-Being: A Prospective Study Among Undergraduates in Serbia

Author

Listed:
  • Veljko Jovanović

    (University of Novi Sad)

  • Dylan Molenaar

    (University of Amsterdam)

  • Vesna Gavrilov-Jerković

    (University of Novi Sad)

  • Milica Lazić

    (University of Novi Sad)

Abstract

The present study investigates the relationship between two types of positive expectancies—dispositional optimism and general self-efficacy—and four indicators of subjective well-being—life satisfaction, positive affect, negative affect, and depression—at three time points over a 2-year period. In addition, the moderating role of positive expectancies in the relationship between negative life events and subjective well-being were examined. A total of 367 undergraduate students from Serbia (Mage = 21.57 years) completed measures at each time point. The results of the path analysis showed that optimism was concurrently associated with all indicators of subjective well-being, whereas self-efficacy had consistent concurrent associations only with positive affect. Positive expectancies were generally weak prospective predictors of subjective well-being, with higher levels of optimism at Time 2 (6-month follow-up) predicting higher levels of life satisfaction at Time 3 (2-year follow-up), and higher levels of self-efficacy at Time 2 predicting a higher positive affect at Time 3. Some evidence of reverse causality was also found, with a higher positive affect at Time 1 and Time 2 predicting higher levels of both optimism and self-efficacy at later time points. Positive expectancies did not moderate the relationship between negative life events and subjective well-being. Our results suggest that findings of cross-sectional studies on the relationship between positive expectancies and subjective well-being cannot be generalized to longitudinal data and that causal contribution of positive expectancies to subjective well-being might be overestimated.

Suggested Citation

  • Veljko Jovanović & Dylan Molenaar & Vesna Gavrilov-Jerković & Milica Lazić, 2021. "Positive Expectancies and Subjective Well-Being: A Prospective Study Among Undergraduates in Serbia," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(3), pages 1239-1258, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:22:y:2021:i:3:d:10.1007_s10902-020-00271-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-020-00271-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Daiva Daukantaitė & Rita Zukauskiene, 2012. "Optimism and Subjective Well-Being: Affectivity Plays a Secondary Role in the Relationship Between Optimism and Global Life Satisfaction in the Middle-Aged Women. Longitudinal and Cross-Cultural Findi," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 13(1), pages 1-16, March.
    2. Vesna Gavrilov-Jerković & Veljko Jovanović & Dragan Žuljević & Dragana Brdarić, 2014. "When Less is More: A Short Version of the Personal Optimism Scale and the Self-Efficacy Optimism Scale," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 15(2), pages 455-474, April.
    3. Veljko Jovanović & Vesna Gavrilov-Jerković, 2013. "Dimensionality and Validity of the Serbian Version of the Life Orientation Test-Revised in a Sample of Youths," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 14(3), pages 771-782, June.
    4. M. Hanssen & L. Vancleef & J. Vlaeyen & A. Hayes & E. Schouten & M. Peters, 2015. "Optimism, Motivational Coping and Well-being: Evidence Supporting the Importance of Flexible Goal Adjustment," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 16(6), pages 1525-1537, December.
    5. Kathrin Heinitz & Timo Lorenz & Daniel Schulze & Julia Schorlemmer, 2018. "Positive organizational behavior: Longitudinal effects on subjective well-being," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(6), pages 1-15, June.
    6. Rosseel, Yves, 2012. "lavaan: An R Package for Structural Equation Modeling," Journal of Statistical Software, Foundation for Open Access Statistics, vol. 48(i02).
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