Abstract
This study examined how happiness and life satisfaction respectively mediate their individual associations with psychological distress in two explanatory models among 400 community adults (Meanage = 38.03 ± 8.59). In model 1, happiness was specified as a mediator in the relationship between psychological distress and life satisfaction. Model 2 specified life satisfaction as a mediator in the association between psychological distress and happiness. Results of SEM analyses showed that happiness and life satisfaction partially mediated their independent and respective relationships with psychological distress. Differentially, happiness as a mediator showed larger proportion mediation effect size compared to when life satisfaction is a mediator. However, their kappa-squared (k2) effect sizes and standardized mediation effects were almost equal. Interventions aiming subjective well-being (SWB) can proceed from either happiness or life satisfaction. However, an initial focus on happiness from management of psychological distress for an increase in life satisfaction can potentially promote better SWB.
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Babatola Olawa contributed to the study conception and analysis of data while both authors designed the study. Material preparation and data collection were performed by Babatola Olawa and Erhabor Idemudia. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Babatola Olawa and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Olawa, B.D., Idemudia, E.S. A Bi-directional Mediation Analysis of Psychological Distress, Happiness, and Life Satisfaction Among Community Dwellers in a Semi-urban Setting. Int J Ment Health Addiction 21, 1605–1617 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-021-00680-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-021-00680-2