When Feeling Mixed Can Be Meaningful: The Relation Between Mixed Emotions and Eudaimonic Well-Being

Whilst positive emotions benefit well-being, the role of other more complex emotional experiences for well-being is less well understood. This research therefore investigated the relationship between mixed emotions and eudaimonic well-being. A cross-sectional study (Study 1; N = 429) first demonstra...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of happiness studies 2018-03, Vol.19 (3), p.841-861
Main Authors: Berrios, Raul, Totterdell, Peter, Kellett, Stephen
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Conflict resolution
Cross-sectional studies
Economics
Emotions
Meaning
Personality and Social Psychology
Philosophy
Positive Psychology
Quality of Life Research
Research Paper
Social Sciences
Structural equation modeling
Well being
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Summary:Whilst positive emotions benefit well-being, the role of other more complex emotional experiences for well-being is less well understood. This research therefore investigated the relationship between mixed emotions and eudaimonic well-being. A cross-sectional study (Study 1; N = 429) first demonstrated (using structural equation modelling) that mixed emotions are related to the presence of goal conflict. Importantly, it was also found that mixed emotions are positively related to eudaimonic well-being, and that one potential mechanism linking mixed emotions and eudaimonic well-being is via the search for meaning in life. Study 2 (N = 52) implemented a quasi-experiment regarding a naturally occurring meaningful life event (i.e., graduation day) and again demonstrated that mixed emotions are associated with a greater level of eudaimonic well-being. Implications of these findings include the importance of mixed emotions in the search for meaning in life, and the role of mixed emotions in goal conflict resolution.
ISSN:1389-4978
1573-7780
DOI:10.1007/s10902-017-9849-y