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Lay Theories for Life Satisfaction and the Belief that Life Gets Better and Better

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Abstract

Many individuals believe that life gets better and better over time. To examine the sources and significance of such beliefs, we examined lay theories for life satisfaction (LS) in relation to individuals’ beliefs concerning how their LS was unfolding over time. Two studies were conducted with online participants: one correlational (Study 1; N = 320, M age = 30.39, 55% male), the other experimental (Study 2; N = 321, M age = 30.46, 53% male). In both studies more incremental (vs. entity) lay theories were associated with more steeply inclining subjective trajectories for LS. Furthermore, both sets of beliefs had unique effects on individuals’ goal-striving toward a brighter future life, as well as psychological adjustment (self-efficacy, hope, optimism, positive affect, negative affect). Thus, lay theories and subjective trajectories for LS share a common assumption concerning change in life satisfaction over time. And each set of beliefs plays a unique role in positive functioning.

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Funding

Funding

This research was supported by an Insight Grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada to the first author.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Brock University, 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, St. Catharines, ON, L2S 3A1, Canada

    Michael A. Busseri

  2. McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada

    Mojan Naisani Samani

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  1. Michael A. Busseri
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Correspondence to Michael A. Busseri.

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Appendix

Appendix

1.1 Lay Theory for Life Satisfaction Scale

This questionnaire has been designed to investigate ideas about your life satisfaction. There are no right or wrong answers. We are interested in your ideas. Using the scale below, please indicate that extent to which you agree or disagree with each of the following statements by circling the number that corresponds to your opinion next to each statement.

 

Strongly agree

Agree

Mostly agree

Mostly disagree

Disagree

Strongly Disagree

1. I have a certain amount of life satisfaction and I can’t really do much to change it.

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2. My life satisfaction is something that I can’t change very much.

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3. No matter who you are, you can change your life satisfaction a lot.

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4. To be honest, I can’t really change how satisfied I am with my life.

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5. I can always substantially change how satisfied I am with my life.

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6. I can experience new things, but I can’t really change my basic level of life satisfaction.

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7. No matter how much life satisfaction I have, I can always change it quite a bit.

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8. I can change even my basic level of life satisfaction considerably.

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Busseri, M.A., Samani, M.N. Lay Theories for Life Satisfaction and the Belief that Life Gets Better and Better. J Happiness Stud 20, 1647–1672 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-018-0016-x

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