Insight, but not self-reflection, is related to subjective well-being

This investigation tested the hypotheses that (1) individuals with higher levels of insight would be both happier and more satisfied with their lives than those with lower levels and (2) that an interaction between self-reflection and insight would affect both happiness and life satisfaction. Participants (N = 208) were community members who completed four self-report instruments. They were divided into three groups according to their self-reflection (SRE) and insight scores. Then a 3 (SRE) × 3 (insight) MANCOVA was performed on satisfaction with life (SWLS) and subjective happiness (SHS) after controlling for age and psychological distress. Results indicated that insight was significantly positively associated with SWLS and SHS, but SRE was not. The interaction between SRE and insight was also not significant. Univariate analyses indicated that participants with the highest levels of insight were both significantly more satisfied with their lives and happier than participants with medium or low levels of insight, but the medium and low insight groups did not differ significantly from each other on either SWLS or SHS. Implications for future research are discussed.