Individualism, collectivism, and well-being among a sample of emerging adults in the United States
- Authors: Nezlek, John , Humphrey, Ashley
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Emerging Adulthood Vol. 11, no. 2 (2023), p. 520-524
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- Description: An increasing body of research suggests that emerging adults living in Western societies are becoming more individualistic and such increases in individualism are associated with reduced well-being. The present study examined relationships between well-being and individualism and collectivism among 1906 emerging adults in the US, aged 18–25. We measured individualism and collectivism distinguishing horizontal and vertical dimensions of these constructs, and we measured well-being in terms of depression, anxiety, self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, and neuroticism. Regression analyses found that individualism was negatively related to well-being, and these relationships varied somewhat between horizontal and vertical individualism. Horizontal collectivism was positively related to all measures of well-being, and vertical collectivism was positively related to three measures. These findings increase our understanding of the roles individualism and collectivism play in the psychological well-being of emerging adults, including the importance of distinguishing horizontal and vertical dimensions of individualism and collectivism. © 2021 Society for the Study of Emerging Adulthood and SAGE Publishing.
When the pursuit of happiness backfires : the role of negative emotion valuation
- Authors: Humphrey, Ashley , Szoka, Rebecca , Bastian, Brock
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Positive Psychology Vol. 17, no. 5 (2022), p. 611-619
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- Description: Recent research has uncovered a downside to the pursuit of happiness; placing a high value on happiness can ironically lead to lower well-being. Not all approaches have this effect, however, and individuals who seek positivity within their day-to-day routines may experience higher well-being. The current research investigated whether the difference between these two approaches (valuing happiness vs. prioritizing positivity) exists in how people orient towards their negative emotions. Across two studies (n = 496) we find that feeling pressured to avoid feeling anxious or depressed partially mediated the relationship between valuing happiness and decreased well-being, but this was not the case for prioritizing positivity. The findings suggest the negative well-being effects of placing a high value on happiness may be partially explained by a related tendency to devalue negative emotions, providing evidence for a mechanism through which the pursuit of happiness can become detrimental. © 2021 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.