Looking for adolescents' well-being: self-efficacy beliefs as determinants of positive thinking and happiness.
OBJECTIVE
The present study is part of a longitudinal project aimed at identifying the personal characteristics and the developmental pathways conducive to successful adaptation from childhood to adulthood. The study examined the concurrent and longitudinal impact of self-efficacy beliefs on subjective well-being in adolescence, namely positive thinking and happiness. Positive thinking has been operationalized as the latent dimension underlying life satisfaction, self-esteem and optimism. Happiness has been operationalized as the difference between positive and negative affects, as they are experienced in a variety of daily situations.


METHODS
In a group of 664 Italian adolescents, a structural model positing adolescents' emotional and interpersonal self-efficacy beliefs as proximal and distal determinants of positive thinking and happiness has been tested.


RESULTS
Findings attest to the impact of affective and interpersonal-social self-efficacy beliefs on positive thinking and happiness both concurrently and longitudinally.


CONCLUSIONS
Adolescents' self-efficacy beliefs to manage positive and negative emotions and interpersonal relationships contribute to promote positive expectations about the future, to mantain a high self-concept, to perceive a sense of satisfaction for the life and to experience more positive emotions.
Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Rome, La Sapienza, Roma, Italy. Gianvittorio.Caprara@uniroma1.it
Gian Vittorio
GV
Caprara
Patrizia
P
Steca
Maria
M
Gerbino
Marinella
M
Pacielloi
Giovanni Maria
GM
Vecchio
D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006240:Happiness; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012106:Research; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012737:Sex Factors; D013850:Thinking