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The Authentic Inner Compass as a Well-Being Resource: Predictive Effects on Vitality, and Relations with Self-Esteem, Depression and Behavioral Self-realization

Author

Listed:
  • Avi Assor

    (Ben Gurion University of the Negev)

  • Moti Benita

    (Ben Gurion University of the Negev)

  • Yu Shi

    (Chinese University of Hong Kong)

  • Rima Goren

    (Ben Gurion University of the Negev)

  • Noam Yitshaki

    (Ben Gurion University of the Negev)

  • Qian Wang

    (Chinese University of Hong Kong)

Abstract

This paper seeks to expand our knowledge on autonomy experiences predicting, or associated with, important well-being attributes, by drawing on the concept of an “Authentic Inner Compass” (AIC, Assor 2012, 2018; Vansteenkiste and Soenens 2015): Sense of knowing what is truly important to us in terms of values, aspirations, and goals. Study 1 (304 Hong Kong students; mean age = 20.3 years), showed that sense of AIC predicted increased subjective vitality and self-esteem over time. Study 2 (257 Israeli students, mean age = 16.2 years) validated a measure of the experience of behavioral self-realization, hypothesized to mediate the links between AIC and positive well-being attributes. Study 3 (307 Israeli students, mean age = 16.3 years) showed that AIC had direct links with vitality and low depression, and was also indirectly linked to depression via behavioral self-realization. This study also examined the hypothesis that the associations between AIC, and the indicators of behavioral self-realization, vitality and low depression, hold also after controlling for another, widely researched autonomy experience: psychological freedom and volition (Chen et al.’s [2015] need for autonomy scale). Results supported this hypothesis. The findings suggest that sense of AIC is associated with increased vitality and self-esteem over time. Results also suggest that sense of AIC and psychological freedom and volition are two distinct autonomy experiences that are uniquely associated with important well-being attributes. Future research may examine the benefits of supporting these two autonomy experiences in youth.

Suggested Citation

  • Avi Assor & Moti Benita & Yu Shi & Rima Goren & Noam Yitshaki & Qian Wang, 2021. "The Authentic Inner Compass as a Well-Being Resource: Predictive Effects on Vitality, and Relations with Self-Esteem, Depression and Behavioral Self-realization," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(8), pages 3435-3455, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:22:y:2021:i:8:d:10.1007_s10902-021-00373-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-021-00373-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Beiwen Chen & Jasper Assche & Maarten Vansteenkiste & Bart Soenens & Wim Beyers, 2015. "Does Psychological Need Satisfaction Matter When Environmental or Financial Safety are at Risk?," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 16(3), pages 745-766, June.
    2. Sebastiano Costa & Francesca Cuzzocrea & Maria C. Gugliandolo & Rosalba Larcan, 2016. "Associations Between Parental Psychological Control and Autonomy Support, and Psychological Outcomes in Adolescents: The Mediating Role of Need Satisfaction and Need Frustration," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 9(4), pages 1059-1076, December.
    3. Albert Satorra & Peter Bentler, 2010. "Ensuring Positiveness of the Scaled Difference Chi-square Test Statistic," Psychometrika, Springer;The Psychometric Society, vol. 75(2), pages 243-248, June.
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