A will and a proper way leading to happiness: Self-Directedness Mediates the Effect of Persistence on Positive Affectivity

Persistence is a temperament dimension that enables maintenance of behaviors. Persistent pursuit of need-satisfying goals is suggested to lead to increased Subjective Well-Being (SWB). The psychological advantages of being highly persistent can be evaluated by investigating the interactions of Persistence with other personality dimensions in relation to SWB. The aim of the present study is to investigate if Self-Directedness, defined as the ability to develop good habits and behave in accordance with long-term values and goals, mediates the relationship between Persistence and SWB. In two studies high school pupils (n = 468) reported Persistence, Self-Directedness, Positive and Negative Affect, and Life Satisfaction. Mediation analysis showed that Self-Directedness accounts for a significant amount of the shared variance between Persistence and Positive affect, but did not mediate the relationship of Persistence to Negative affect neither to Life Satisfaction. It can be concluded that Persistence itself might maintain motivation through delay periods, while Self-Directedness guides behavior towards long-term pleasant experiences.

► The relationship of two specific personality dimensions to SWB was investigated.
► In two studies, 468 adolescents self-reported Self-Directedness and Persistence.
► SWB was measured as Life Satisfaction (LS), Positive (PA), and Negative Affect (NA).
► Self-Directedness mediated the relationship Persistence-PA.
► Self-Directedness accounted for 24% and 48% of the shared variance.