Examining links from civic engagement to daily well-being from a self-determination theory perspective. Issue 2 (4th March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wray-Lake, Laura; DeHaan, Cody R.; Shubert, Jennifer; Ryan, Richard M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of positive psychology. Volume 14:Issue 2(2019)
• Page Start: 166
• Page End: 177
• Publication Date: 2019-03-04
• Subjects: Life satisfaction -- vitality -- affect -- mental health -- community service -- prosocial behavior; Positive psychology -- Periodicals; Quality of life -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Happiness -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; 158
• DOI: 10.1080/17439760.2017.1388432
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1743-9760

Abstract

Abstract: Civic engagement may benefit individuals who engage in it, yet empirical evidence is lacking. We examined whether civic engagement was associated with well-being in a seven-day daily diary study of 276 college students. Based on self-determination theory, we hypothesized that satisfaction of basic psychological needs mediates the link between civic engagement and well-being. Four types of civic engagement – helping, pro-environmental behavior, volunteering, and charitable giving – were examined as separate predictors and as a composite predictor of daily well-being. The composite was associated with higher well-being across days, and basic needs satisfaction had a significant indirect effect on this association. Helping and pro-environmental behavior were linked to daily well-being directly and indirectly through basic needs satisfaction. No effects were evident for volunteering or charitable giving. Results suggest that civic engagement may enhance well-being, although some types of civic engagement may enhance well-being more than others.