An experience sampling study on the ecological validity of the SWN-20: Indication that subjective well-being is associated with momentary affective states above and beyond psychosis susceptibility

People interact with their physical environments every day by visiting different places and moving between them. Such mobility behaviours likely influence and are influenced by people's subjective well–being. However, past research examining the links between mobility behaviours and well–being has been inconclusive. Here, we provide a comprehensive investigation of these relationships by examining individual differences in two types of mobility behaviours (movement patterns and places visited) and their relationship to six indicators of subjective well–being (depression, loneliness, anxiety, stress, affect, and energy) at two different temporal levels of analysis (two–week tendencies and daily level). Using data from a large smartphone–based longitudinal study ( N = 1765), we show that (i) movement patterns assessed via GPS data (distance travelled, entropy, and irregularity) and (ii) places visited assessed via experience sampling reports (home, work, and social places) are associated with subjective well–being at the between and within person levels. Our findings suggest that distance travelled is related to anxiety, affect, and stress, irregularity is related to depression and loneliness, and spending time in social places is negatively associated with loneliness. We discuss the implications of our work and highlight directions for future research on the generalizability to other populations as well as the characteristics of places. © 2020 European Association of Personality Psychology

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The think aloud paradigm reveals differences in the content, dynamics and conceptual scope of resting state thought in trait brooding

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-98138-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Quentin Raffaelli ◽

Caitlin Mills ◽

Nadia-Anais de Stefano ◽

Matthias R. Mehl ◽

Kate Chambers ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Resting State ◽

Transition Probabilities ◽

Ecological Validity ◽

Well Being ◽

Think Aloud ◽

Affective States ◽

Negative Thoughts ◽

Dynamic Metrics ◽

Shed Light ◽

Over Time

AbstractAlthough central to well-being, functional and dysfunctional thoughts arise and unfold over time in ways that remain poorly understood. To shed light on these mechanisms, we adapted a “think aloud” paradigm to quantify the content and dynamics of individuals’ thoughts at rest. Across two studies, external raters hand coded the content of each thought and computed dynamic metrics spanning duration, transition probabilities between affective states, and conceptual similarity over time. Study 1 highlighted the paradigm’s high ecological validity and revealed a narrowing of conceptual scope following more negative content. Study 2 replicated Study 1’s findings and examined individual difference predictors of trait brooding, a maladaptive form of rumination. Across individuals, increased trait brooding was linked to thoughts rated as more negative, past-oriented and self-focused. Longer negative and shorter positive thoughts were also apparent as brooding increased, as well as a tendency to shift away from positive conceptual states, and a stronger narrowing of conceptual scope following negative thoughts. Importantly, content and dynamics explained independent variance, accounting for a third of the variance in brooding. These results uncover a real-time cognitive signature of rumination and highlight the predictive and ecological validity of the think aloud paradigm applied to resting state cognition.

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Other-Contingent Extraversion and Satisfaction

Journal of Individual Differences ◽

10.1027/1614-0001/a000339 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Jason L. Huang ◽

Dongyuan Wu

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Life Satisfaction ◽

Individual Difference ◽

Experience Sampling ◽

Positive Association ◽

Well Being ◽

Implicit Theory ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

College Satisfaction ◽

Personality Research

Abstract. We conceptualize other-contingent extraversion as an individual difference in the tendency to elevate one’s state extraversion when interacting with friendly others. Using experience sampling data from 75 college students, we assessed other-contingent extraversion to predict subjective well-being, and further examined whether implicit theory of personality would moderate such a prediction. Results indicate that, despite a general positive association between others’ friendliness and one’s state extraversion, individuals differed in the degree to which they manifested state extraversion in response to others’ friendliness, allowing us to model this individual difference as other-contingent extraversion. Other-contingent extraversion interacted with implicit theory to predict college satisfaction but not life satisfaction. Specifically, other-contingent extraversion had a more positive association with college satisfaction for respondents with a stronger incremental perspective (malleable view) of personality. Our study contributes to personality research by introducing other-contingent extraversion as a unit of personality.

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Experimental research in the field of subjective well-being

10.31234/osf.io/2e59h ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Maitta Spronken ◽

Rob Holland ◽

Bernd Figner ◽

Ap Dijksterhuis

Keyword(s):

Experimental Research ◽

Ecological Validity ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Well Being ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

Experimental Control ◽

The Past ◽

Correlational Research ◽

Lab Experiments ◽

Experimental Approaches

Over the past years, there has been a surge in research on subjective well-being. Most of this research relies on correlational methods. As correlational research has important limitations, the field of subjective well-being is in need for more experimental approaches. While longitudinal experimental studies provide maximum ecological validity, field and (especially) lab experiments provide more experimental control. However, investigating subjective well-being experimentally poses several challenges. First, the question arises whether happiness and satisfaction can be measured in brief experiments. Second, experiments may undermine people’s basic need for autonomy. Third, the conclusions of experiments on subjective well-being may not always extend beyond the experimental context. We discuss potential solutions for these challenges, accompanied by a few examples of successful experiments that may inspire future experimental research in the field of subjective well-being.

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New method of measuring subjective well-being: prospective validation study of the ‘Daily Experience Sampling Questionnaire’ (DESQ) in patients with psoriasis and healthy subjects in Germany

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-039227 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (12) ◽

pp. e039227

Author(s):

Christine Blome ◽

Natalia Kirsten ◽

Ibrahim Nergiz ◽

Ulrich Schiffner ◽

Marina Otten ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Experience Sampling ◽

Well Being ◽

Criterion Validity ◽

Secondary Outcome ◽

Reconstruction Method ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

Sensitivity To Change ◽

Retest Reliability ◽

Daily Experience ◽

Healthy Participants

ObjectivesTo validate the newly developed Daily Experience Sampling Questionnaire (DESQ) that measures affective subjective well-being (SWB). The DESQ is an end-of-day diary in which respondents retrospectively rate their SWB at six different, randomly determined moments; it is completed over 1 week. The DESQ shall provide an alternative or complementary approach to existing methods of near-time SWB measurement (experience sampling, Day Reconstruction Method). The primary research objective was to determine criterion validity of the DESQ.DesignProspective, non-interventional study.SettingParticipants were recruited in Hamburg, Germany, at a specialised outpatient clinic (patients) and via different channels (healthy participants).Participants101 adults with diagnosed and stable psoriasis (46 women, 55 men); 105 adults without psoriasis (49 women, 56 men).Primary and secondary outcome measuresParticipants completed the DESQ for 3 weeks. In weeks 2 and 3, they also performed experience sampling. Criterion validity was determined by weekwise intraclass correlations (ICC) between both methods. Sensitivity to change was determined by the correlation between changes in both methods from weeks 2 to 3. For convergent validity, related concepts such as life satisfaction were measured. Retest reliability was determined using DESQ values of weeks 2 and 3.ResultsCriterion validity was excellent (ICC: patients=0.86, 95% CI 0.81 to 0.91; healthy participants=0.86, 95% CI 0.79 to 0.91). Sensitivity to change was r=0.57 and r=0.56, respectively. Correlations with convergent criteria were mostly significant and higher in constructs more proximal to SWB. The ICC indicating retest reliability was 0.77 in patients (95% CI 0.68 to 0.84) and 0.81 in healthy participants (95% CI 0.73 to 0.86).ConclusionsThe DESQ is a valid, reliable and feasible instrument for SWB measurement in people with psoriasis and healthy people. Its approach of end-of-day evaluations of single moments may also lend itself to the measurement of other highly time-variant constructs such as pain, fatigue or depression.

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Is Feeling “in Control” Related to Happiness in Daily Life?

Psychological Reports ◽

10.2466/pr0.1989.64.3.775 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 64 (3) ◽

pp. 775-784 ◽

Cited By ~ 48

Author(s):

Reed Larson

Keyword(s):

Sampling Method ◽

Daily Life ◽

Experience Sampling ◽

Experience Sampling Method ◽

Well Being ◽

Sense Of Control ◽

Affective States ◽

Short Term ◽

Daily Experience ◽

Average Happiness

This research concerns the relation of subjective control and happiness within normal daily experience. Respondents from several nonclinical samples rated their feelings of control at randomly-selected moments during a week in their lives, following the procedures of the Experience Sampling Method. Analyses consider the relation of these ratings to similar ratings of affective states, first, within persons and, second, between persons. The within-person analyses show relatively little moment-to-moment correlation of subjective control and affective states. For many persons there is no correlation at all and on the average people report feeling only slightly more happy at times when feeling in control. The between-persons analyses yield findings that are more in line with explanations of subject control, showing that individuals reporting higher average daily control also experience greater average happiness. The results confirm that a generalized sense of control is important to well being in daily life, but for nondisturbed individuals short-term experiences of discontrol are not accompanied by substantial distress.

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An experience sampling study of physical activity and positive affect: investigating the role of situational motivation and perceived intensity across time

Health Psychology Research ◽

10.4081/hpr.2013.704 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

pp. 21 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Eva Guérin ◽

Michelle S. Fortier ◽

Shane N. Sweet

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Positive Affect ◽

Perceived Exertion ◽

Experience Sampling ◽

Well Being ◽

Affective States ◽

Physical Activity Intensity ◽

Time Points ◽

Activity Intensity ◽

Situational Motivation

The nature of the association between physical activity and positive affect is complex, prompting experts to recommend continued examination of moderating variables. The main purpose of this 2-week field study was to examine the influence of situational motivational regulations from self-determination theory (SDT) on changes in positive affect from pre- to post- to 3-hours post-physical activity. Another purpose was to clarify the relationship between physical activity intensity [i.e., Ratings of Perceived Exertion (RPE)] and positive affect at the stated time points. This study employed an experience sampling design using electronic questionnaires. Sixty-six healthy and active, multiple-role women provided recurrent assessments of their physical activity, situational motivation, and positive affect in their everyday lives over a 14-day period. Specifically, measures were obtained at the three time points of interest (i.e., pre-, post-, 3-hours post-physical activity). The data were analyzed using multilevel modeling. Results showed that intrinsic motivation was related to post-physical activity positive affect while the influence of identified regulation appeared 3-hours post-physical activity. In addition, RPE, which was significantly predicted by levels of introjection, was more strongly associated with an increase in positive affect post-physical activity than three hours later. The theoretical implications of these findings vis-à vis SDT, namely in regards to a viable motivational sequence predicting the influence of physical activity on affective states, are discussed. The findings regarding the differential influences of RPE and motivational regulations carries applications for facilitating women’s well-being.

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Informing behavioural policies with data from everyday life

Behavioural Public Policy ◽

10.1017/bpp.2018.37 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 1-19

Author(s):

LEONHARD K. LADES ◽

LUCIE MARTIN ◽

LIAM DELANEY

Keyword(s):

Everyday Life ◽

Ecological Validity ◽

Well Being ◽

Reconstruction Method ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

Day Reconstruction Method ◽

Monitoring Tool ◽

Behavioural Interventions ◽

Monitoring Tools ◽

The Everyday

AbstractNaturalistic monitoring tools provide detailed information about people's behaviours and experiences in everyday life. Most naturalistic monitoring research has focused on measuring subjective well-being. This paper discusses how naturalistic monitoring can inform behavioural public policy-making by providing detailed information about everyday decisions and the choice architecture in which these decisions are made. We describe how the Day Reconstruction Method (DRM) – a naturalistic monitoring tool popular in the subjective well-being literature – can be used to: (i) improve ecological validity of behavioural economics; (ii) provide mechanistic evidence of the everyday workings of behavioural interventions; and (iii) help us to better understand people's true preferences. We believe that DRM data on everyday life have great potential to support the design and evaluation of behavioural policies.

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Parenthood Is Associated With Greater Well-Being for Fathers Than Mothers

Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin ◽

10.1177/0146167219829174 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 45 (9) ◽

pp. 1378-1390 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

S. Katherine Nelson-Coffey ◽

Matthew Killingsworth ◽

Kristin Layous ◽

Steve W. Cole ◽

Sonja Lyubomirsky

Keyword(s):

Gender Differences ◽

Representative Sample ◽

Community Sample ◽

Experience Sampling ◽

Well Being ◽

Need Satisfaction ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

Mothers And Fathers ◽

Psychological Need ◽

Large Representative

The experiences of mothers and fathers are different in ways that could affect their well-being. Yet few studies have comprehensively examined gender differences in parents’ well-being. In the current research, we investigated such gender differences in a large representative sample (Study 1a; N = 13,007), in a community sample using validated well-being measures (Study 1b; N = 472), and in a large experience sampling study measuring happiness during caregiving activities and during interactions with children (Study 2; N = 4,930). Fathers reported greater happiness, subjective well-being, psychological need satisfaction, and daily uplifts than did men without children (Studies 1a and 1b). During caregiving experiences, fathers reported greater happiness, whereas mothers reported lower happiness, compared with their other activities. Fathers also reported relatively higher happiness when interacting with their children than did mothers (Study 2). Across all three studies and more than 18,000 participants, parenthood was associated with more positive well-being outcomes for fathers than for mothers.

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