Mediators of the relationship between externality of happiness and subjective well-being

•A 4-item scale of externality of happiness is introduced.•The scale has acceptable psychometric characteristics in Korea and Iran.•Externality of happiness is negatively associated with subjective well-being.•This negative association is mediated by resilience and personal growth initiative.

Using two Korean and one Iranian samples, this article provided initial validity evidence for a new scale of externality of happiness beliefs (the view that one's level of happiness is out of one's control and largely depends on external factors). Analyses confirmed the one-factor structure of the scale in both countries. Externality of happiness beliefs was negatively associated with subjective well-being, and this negative association was partially mediated by lower levels of personal growth initiative and psychological resilience.