Affect In a Model Affect In a Model ofof

Subjective Subjective WellbeingWellbeingMelanie DavernMelanie Davern

Professor Bob CumminsProfessor Bob Cummins

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Earlier StudiesEarlier Studies

Model of SWB culmination of 3 separate Model of SWB culmination of 3 separate studiesstudies

Initial interest in affect and SWBInitial 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) Importance of Unipolar (one-way)

Response Scales in the assessment of affectResponse Scales in the assessment of affect Reciprocal relationship between life Reciprocal relationship between life

satisfaction and dissatisfactionsatisfaction and dissatisfaction Adequacy of the Circumplex Model of Adequacy of the Circumplex Model of

AffectAffect

Brief SWB Literature Brief SWB Literature ReviewReview

SWB also described as quality of life, SWB also described as quality of life, happiness and life satisfactionhappiness and life satisfaction

Inconsistencies in definition have Inconsistencies in definition have increased measurement discrepanciesincreased measurement discrepancies

Cummins has found SWB to be held at Cummins has found SWB to be held at around 75% maximum internationallyaround 75% maximum internationally

Theory of SWB Homeostasis proposes Theory of SWB Homeostasis proposes that SWB held within a narrow positive that SWB held within a narrow positive set-pointset-point

Generally between 70-80% of maximumGenerally between 70-80% of maximum

Brief Literature ReviewBrief Literature Review

Consensus that SWB consists of Consensus that SWB consists of Cognitive and Affective aspectsCognitive and Affective aspects

These aspects of SWB not clearly These aspects of SWB not clearly defined in previous researchdefined in previous research

Multiple Discrepancies Theory (MDT) Multiple Discrepancies Theory (MDT) introduced by Michalos (1985) introduced by Michalos (1985)

MDT a measure of the cognitive MDT a measure of the cognitive component of SWBcomponent of SWB

Definition of MDTDefinition of MDT Net satisfaction/happiness is a Net satisfaction/happiness is a

function of perceived gaps between function of perceived gaps between current life and: current life and:

What one has and wantsWhat one has and wants What relevant other haveWhat relevant other have Best experienced in the pastBest experienced in the past Expected in the pastExpected in the past Expects to have in the futureExpects to have in the future What they deserveWhat they deserve What they needWhat they need

Personality & SWBPersonality & SWB

Weak relationship between the Five Weak relationship between the Five Factor Model of Personality and SWBFactor Model of Personality and SWB

Cummins, Gullone & Lau (2002) argue Cummins, Gullone & Lau (2002) argue that personality (including cognition that personality (including cognition and affect) is mediates the relationship and affect) is mediates the relationship between external experiences and SWBbetween external experiences and SWB

Does personality play such an important Does personality play such an important role in the maintenance of SWB? role in the maintenance of SWB?

Circumplex Theory of Circumplex Theory of AffectAffect

Activation

Valence

Low PALow NA

High PAHigh NA

PLEASANTUNPLEASANT

ACTIVATED

DEACTIVATED

Sample & MethodologySample & Methodology

854 participants from the longitudinal 854 participants from the longitudinal study of the Australian Unity study of the Australian Unity Wellbeing IndexWellbeing Index

Age range from 18-76+ yrs (Mean = Age range from 18-76+ yrs (Mean = 52.2)52.2)

46% Male & 54% Female46% Male & 54% Female Mailed paper and pencil Mailed paper and pencil

questionnairesquestionnaires 38% response rate38% response rate

MeasuresMeasures

AUWBI – Personal Wellbeing IndexAUWBI – Personal Wellbeing IndexHow satisfied are you with your….How satisfied are you with your….• Standard of livingStandard of living• HealthHealth• What you achieve in lifeWhat you achieve in life• Personal relationshipsPersonal relationships• Community connectednessCommunity connectedness• SafetySafety• Future securityFuture security

MeasuresMeasures MDT itemsMDT items NEO (FFM of Personality)NEO (FFM of Personality) Affect itemsAffect 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, excited, happy, calm, sleepy, bored, dissatisfied, annoyed, active, lively, satisfied, relaxed, sluggish, annoyed, active, lively, satisfied, relaxed, sluggish, exhausted, discontent, nervous, aroused, enthusiastic, exhausted, discontent, nervous, aroused, enthusiastic, content, at ease, unaroused, tired, unhappy, distressed, content, at ease, unaroused, tired, unhappy, distressed, alertalert

Each octant of the circumplex Each octant of the circumplex represented by 4 affect items using a represented by 4 affect items using a unipolar response scaleunipolar response scale

Initial ModelInitial Model

.00

key affect

.78

CONTENTe5

.88

.28DISCONTe4

.53

.72SATISFIEe3

.85

.75

HAPPYe2 .86

.43EXCITEe1

.66

.62

personality

.19CONSCI

e10

.44

.15AGREEABL

e9

.39

.01

OPENESS

e8

.36EXTRA

e7

.60

.58NEUROT

e6

.78mdt

.45BEST

e17

.67

.225YRS

e16

.47

.53EXPECTED

e15

.73

.43NEED

e14

.66

.46DESERVE

e13

.68

.51

YOUR AGE

e12

.72

.80ASPIRATIONS

e11

.89

.93

swb

.45SOL e18

.67

.25HEALTH e19

.50 .63

ACHIEVE e20.79

.51REL/SHIP e21

.20SAFE e22

.44

.33COMM e23

.58

.38FUT SEC e24

.62

res1

.48

.25

.28

.26

.14

.09

.71

-.76

res2

res3

-.12

res4

.20 .13

.79

.79

.88 .29

.35.56 .31 .29.16 .19

.13

.26

.10

.25

Model Fit StatisticsModel Fit StatisticsModel 1 b p χ2 df χ2/

dfGFI AGFI SRMR RMSEA SMC

AffectPersonality .79 .000 781.94 230 3.40 .93 .91 .04 .05 .929

AffectMDT .89 .000

PersonalitySWB -.12 .028

AffectSWB .79 .000

MDTSWB .29 .000

Final ModelFinal Model

.00

key affect

.77

CONTENTe5

.88

.26DISCONTe4

.51

.71SATISFIEe3

.84

.75HAPPYe2 .87

.45EXCITEe1

.67

.61

personality

.19CONSCI

e10

.44

.16AGREEABL

e9

.39

.01OPENESS

e8

.37EXTRA

e7

.61

.58NEUROT

e6

.80mdt

.44BEST

e17

.66

.225YRS

e16

.47

.52EXPECTED

e15

.72

.42NEED

e14

.65

.46DESERVE

e13

.67

.52YOUR AGE

e12

.72

.79ASPIRATIONS

e11

.89

.88

swb

.44SOL e18

.65

.28HEALTH e19

.53 .64

ACHIEVE e20.80

.51REL/SHIP e21

.21SAFE e22

.46

.36COMM e23

.60

.39FUT SEC e24

.63

res1

.47

.22

.28

.24

.14

.10

.71

-.76

res2

res3

res4

.13

.90 .15

.38.57.35

.25.24.19

.26

.88

.25-.15

.18

-.08

-.16

.14

-.17

.08

.16

.13

.78-.11

.17

.23.17

.18

.17

.15

.36

.15

.18

Model Fit StatisticsModel Fit StatisticsFinal Model b p χ2 df Χ2/

dfGFI AGFI SRMR RMSEA SMC

AffectMDT .90 .000 466.91 215 2.17 .96 .94 .03 .04 .88

AffectPersonality .78 .000

MDTSWB .15 .053

AffectSWB .88 .000

PersonalitySWB -.11 .046

ConclusionsConclusions

SWB, affect, MDT and personality are SWB, affect, MDT and personality are all highly interrelated conceptsall highly interrelated concepts

SWB is largely a measure of core SWB is largely a measure of core affectaffect

Poor discriminant validity in Poor discriminant validity in personality, MDT and SWB measurespersonality, MDT and SWB measures

All alternative measures of core affect All alternative measures of core affect