Affect In a Model of Subjective Wellbeing Melanie Davern Professor Bob Cummins NB. Please view via ‘Notes page’. You can then progress through the document using your mouse wheel, Page Down key, or the double-headed arrow to the right of this frame.

Earlier Studies Model of SWB culmination of 3 separate studies Model of SWB culmination of 3 separate studies Initial interest in affect and SWB Initial interest in affect and SWB Can SWB be used as measure of illbeing? Can SWB be used as measure of illbeing? Importance of Unipolar (one-way) Response Scales in the assessment of affect Importance of Unipolar (one-way) Response Scales in the assessment of affect Reciprocal relationship between life satisfaction and dissatisfaction Reciprocal relationship between life satisfaction and dissatisfaction Adequacy of the Circumplex Model of Affect Adequacy of the Circumplex Model of Affect

Brief SWB Literature Review SWB also described as quality of life, happiness and life satisfaction SWB also described as quality of life, happiness and life satisfaction Inconsistencies in definition have increased measurement discrepancies Inconsistencies in definition have increased measurement discrepancies Cummins has found SWB to be held at around 75% maximum internationally Cummins has found SWB to be held at around 75% maximum internationally Theory of SWB Homeostasis proposes that SWB held within a narrow positive set-point Theory of SWB Homeostasis proposes that SWB held within a narrow positive set-point Generally between 70-80% of maximum Generally between 70-80% of maximum

Brief Literature Review Consensus that SWB consists of Cognitive and Affective aspects Consensus that SWB consists of Cognitive and Affective aspects These aspects of SWB not clearly defined in previous research These aspects of SWB not clearly defined in previous research Multiple Discrepancies Theory (MDT) introduced by Michalos (1985) Multiple Discrepancies Theory (MDT) introduced by Michalos (1985) MDT a measure of the cognitive component of SWB MDT a measure of the cognitive component of SWB

Definition of MDT Net satisfaction/happiness is a function of perceived gaps between current life and: Net satisfaction/happiness is a function of perceived gaps between current life and: What one has and wants What one has and wants What relevant other have What relevant other have Best experienced in the past Best experienced in the past Expected in the past Expected in the past Expects to have in the future Expects to have in the future What they deserve What they deserve What they need What they need

Personality & SWB Weak relationship between the Five Factor Model of Personality and SWB Weak relationship between the Five Factor Model of Personality and SWB Cummins, Gullone & Lau (2002) argue that personality (including cognition and affect) is mediates the relationship between external experiences and SWB Cummins, Gullone & Lau (2002) argue that personality (including cognition and affect) is mediates the relationship between external experiences and SWB Does personality play such an important role in the maintenance of SWB? Does personality play such an important role in the maintenance of SWB?

Circumplex Theory of Affect Activation Valence Low PA Low NA High PAHigh NA PLEASANT UNPLEASANT ACTIVATED DEACTIVATED

Sample & Methodology 854 participants from the longitudinal study of the Australian Unity Wellbeing Index 854 participants from the longitudinal study of the Australian Unity Wellbeing Index Age range from yrs (Mean = 52.2) Age range from yrs (Mean = 52.2) 46% Male & 54% Female 46% Male & 54% Female Mailed paper and pencil questionnaires Mailed paper and pencil questionnaires 38% response rate 38% response rate

Measures AUWBI – Personal Wellbeing Index AUWBI – Personal Wellbeing Index How satisfied are you with your…. Standard of living Standard of living Health Health What you achieve in life What you achieve in life Personal relationships Personal relationships Community connectedness Community connectedness Safety Safety Future security Future security

Measures MDT items MDT items NEO (FFM of Personality) NEO (FFM of Personality) Affect items Affect items Thinking about my life as a whole I feel… Thinking about my life as a whole I feel… excited, happy, calm, sleepy, bored, dissatisfied, annoyed, active, lively, satisfied, relaxed, sluggish, exhausted, discontent, nervous, aroused, enthusiastic, content, at ease, unaroused, tired, unhappy, distressed, alert Each octant of the circumplex represented by 4 affect items using a unipolar response scale Each octant of the circumplex represented by 4 affect items using a unipolar response scale

Initial Model

Model Fit Statistics Model 1bpχ2χ2 dfχ 2 / df GFIAGFISRMRRMSEASMC Affect  Personality Affect  MDT Personality  SWB Affect  SWB MDT  SWB

Final Model

Model Fit Statistics Final Modelbpχ2χ2 dfΧ 2 / df GFIAGFISRMRRMSEASMC Affect  MDT Affect  Personality MDT  SWB Affect  SWB Personality  SWB

Conclusions SWB, affect, MDT and personality are all highly interrelated concepts SWB, affect, MDT and personality are all highly interrelated concepts SWB is largely a measure of core affect SWB is largely a measure of core affect Poor discriminant validity in personality, MDT and SWB measures Poor discriminant validity in personality, MDT and SWB measures All alternative measures of core affect All alternative measures of core affect