Daily Generative Concern and Well-Being: The Role of Dispositional Generativity and Purpose in Life
Submission Type
Event
Expected Graduation Date
2016
Location
Center for Natural Sciences, Illinois Wesleyan University
Start Date
4-18-2015 9:00 AM
End Date
4-18-2015 10:00 AM
Disciplines
Psychology
Abstract
Many studies have investigated the impact of dispositional generativity on well-being, but few consider how daily fluctuations in generative concern impact well-being each day. Daily relationships between generative concern and cognitive and affective dimensions of subjective well-being (life satisfaction and positive affect, respectively) were explored using multilevel random coefficient modeling using data from 95 participants from Successful Aging in Context: The Macroenvironment and Daily Lived Experience (MAge = 67 years, SDAge = 4.9 years; range: 58-86 years). Results suggest that daily generativity exerts a greater influence over daily well-being than the reverse. Daily life satisfaction tended to be higher on days when generativity was higher than average for an individual, particularly for those reporting greater dispositional generativity. Interestingly, this relationship is weaker for individuals reporting greater purpose in life. Similarly, on days of higher than typical generativity, individuals experienced greater positive affect. Lastly, individuals higher in dispositional generativity reported feeling more generative on days they experienced greater positive affect; this daily relationship was, again, weaker for those reporting greater purpose in life. Taken together, results suggest that daily generativity augments both cognitive and affective aspects of subjective well-being each day, particularly for those high in generative concern. Results also suggest that daily generativity may not play as large a role in enhancing subjective well-being each day for those with a greater sense of purpose in life, whom may maintain well-being through other
Daily Generative Concern and Well-Being: The Role of Dispositional Generativity and Purpose in Life
Center for Natural Sciences, Illinois Wesleyan University
Many studies have investigated the impact of dispositional generativity on well-being, but few consider how daily fluctuations in generative concern impact well-being each day. Daily relationships between generative concern and cognitive and affective dimensions of subjective well-being (life satisfaction and positive affect, respectively) were explored using multilevel random coefficient modeling using data from 95 participants from Successful Aging in Context: The Macroenvironment and Daily Lived Experience (MAge = 67 years, SDAge = 4.9 years; range: 58-86 years). Results suggest that daily generativity exerts a greater influence over daily well-being than the reverse. Daily life satisfaction tended to be higher on days when generativity was higher than average for an individual, particularly for those reporting greater dispositional generativity. Interestingly, this relationship is weaker for individuals reporting greater purpose in life. Similarly, on days of higher than typical generativity, individuals experienced greater positive affect. Lastly, individuals higher in dispositional generativity reported feeling more generative on days they experienced greater positive affect; this daily relationship was, again, weaker for those reporting greater purpose in life. Taken together, results suggest that daily generativity augments both cognitive and affective aspects of subjective well-being each day, particularly for those high in generative concern. Results also suggest that daily generativity may not play as large a role in enhancing subjective well-being each day for those with a greater sense of purpose in life, whom may maintain well-being through other