Toward a tripartite factor structure of mental health: subjective well-being, personal growth, and religiosity.
According to recent research findings, the domain of psychological well-being may be represented by 2 basic factors: subjective well-being (e.g., happiness, life satisfaction) and personal growth (e.g., self-actualization, a sense of meaningfulness). This study tested the hypothesis that in addition to those 2 factors, a 3rd basic factor is necessary to adequately describe the ways in which people search for well-being. That factor is a type of religiosity that is based on other-centeredness and self-renunciation. A sample of 242 undergraduate and graduate students completed 10 measures of psychological well-being that resulted in 21 scales and subscales. Principal components analyses provided initial support for a tripartite model of psychological well-being. Results also suggested that current measures of personal growth may measure either the autonomy or mature social relationships components of the construct.
Compton
W C
WC
Department of Psychology, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro 37132, USA. wcompton@mtsu.edu
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D009042:Motivation; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010553:Personality Development; D012067:Religion; D012649:Self Concept