Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Examining Moderators of Signature Strengths Use and Well-being: Calling and Signature Strengths Level

  • Research Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Happiness Studies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study examined the relation between signature strengths use and satisfaction with a sample of diverse undergraduate students. We measured strengths use and satisfaction in both the life and academic domains and identified two possible moderators of this relation: the level of one’s signature strengths and the presence of calling. Results revealed a three way interaction between signature strengths use, signature strengths level, and calling in the prediction of life satisfaction and a two way interaction between signature strengths use and calling in the prediction of academic satisfaction. Contrary to our hypotheses, people low in calling and high in signature strengths level showed the strongest relation between signature strengths use and life satisfaction. For the academic domain, participants low in calling showed the strongest relation between strengths use and academic satisfaction but those high in calling still benefited from using their strengths. Implications for future research and limitations of the study are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arrindell, W. A., Heesink, J., & Feij, J. A. (1999). The satisfaction with life scale (SWLS): Appraisal with 1700 health young adults in The Netherlands. Personality and Individual Differences, 26(5), 815–826. doi:10.1016/S0191-8869(98)00180-9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brdar, I., & Kashdan, T. B. (2010). Character strengths and well-being in Croatia: An empirical investigation of structure and correlates. Journal of Research in Personality, 44(1), 151–154. doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2009.12.001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The satisfaction with life scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49(1), 71–75. doi:10.1207/s15327752jpa4901_13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dik, B. J., & Duffy, R. D. (2009). Calling and vocation at work: Definitions and prospects for research and practice. The Counseling Psychologist, 37(3), 424–450. doi:10.1177/0011000008316430.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dik, B. J., Eldridge, B. M., Steger, M. F., & Duffy, R. D. (2012). Development and validation of the calling and vocation questionnaire (CVQ) and brief calling scale (BCS). Journal of Career Assessment, 20, 242–263. doi:10.1177/1069072711434410.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duffy, R. D., Allan, B. A., Autin, K. L., & Bott, E. M. (2013). Calling and life satisfaction: It’s not about having it, it’s about living it. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 60, 42–52. doi:10.1037/a0030635.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duffy, R. D., Allan, B. A., & Bott, E. M. (2012a). Calling and life satisfaction among undergraduate students: Investigating mediators and moderators. Journal of Happiness Studies, 13, 469–479. doi:10.1007/s10902-011-9274-6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duffy, R. D., Allan, B. A., & Dik, B. J. (2011a). The presence of a calling and academic satisfaction: Examining potential mediators. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 79(1), 74–80. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2010.11.001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duffy, R. D., Bott, E. M., Allan, B. A., Torrey, C. L., & Dik, B. J. (2012b). Perceiving a calling, living a calling, and job satisfaction: Testing a moderated, multiple mediator model. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 59(1), 50–59. doi:10.1037/a0026129.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duffy, R. D., Dik, B. J., & Steger, M. F. (2011b). Calling and work-related outcomes: Career commitment as a mediator. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 78(2), 210–218. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2010.09.013.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duffy, R. D., & Sedlacek, W. E. (2007). The presence of and search for a calling: Connections to career development. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 70(3), 590–601. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2007.03.007.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duffy, R. D., & Sedlacek, W. E. (2010). The salience of a career calling among college students: Exploring group differences and links to religiousness, life meaning, and life satisfaction. The Career Development Quarterly, 59, 27–41. doi:10.1002/j.21610045.2010.tb00128.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fowers, B. J. (2008). From continence to virtue: Recovering goodness, character unity, and character types for positive psychology. Theory and Psychology, 18(5), 629–653. doi:10.1177/0959354308093399.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frazier, P. A., Tix, A. P., & Barron, K. E. (2004). Testing moderator and mediator effects in counseling psychology research. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 51(1), 115–134. doi:10.1037/0022-0167.51.1.115.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gorjian, N. (2006). Virtue of transcendence in relation to work orientation, job satisfaction and turnover cognitions. Dissertation Abstracts International, 67, 1190–1752.

    Google Scholar 

  • Govindji, R., & Linley, P. (2007). Strengths use, self-concordance and well-being: Implications for strengths coaching and coaching psychologists. International Coaching Psychology Review, 2(2), 143–153.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harzer, C., & Ruch, W. (2012). When the job is a calling: The role of applying one’s signature strengths at work. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 7(5), 362–371. doi:10.1080/17439760.2012.702784.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hunter, I., Dik, B. J., & Banning, J. H. (2010). College students’ perceptions of calling in work and life: A qualitative analysis. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 76(2), 178–186. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2009.10.008.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kahneman, D., & Krueger, A. B. (2006). Developments in the measurement of subjective well- being. The Journal of Economic Perspectives, 20(1), 3–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kerfoot, K. (2005). On leadership. Signature strengths: Achieving your destiny. Nursing Economics, 14(6), 413–415.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lent, R. W., Singley, D., Sheu, H., Schmidt, J. A., & Schmidt, L. C. (2007). Relation of social- cognitive factors to academic satisfaction in engineering students. Journal of Career Assessment, 15(1), 87–97. doi:10.1177/1069072706294518.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Linley, P., Nielsen, K. M., Gillett, R., & Biswas-Diener, R. (2010). Using signature strengths in pursuit of goals: Effects on goal progress, need satisfaction, and well-being, and implications for coaching psychologists. International Coaching Psychology Review, 5(1), 6–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Littman-Ovadia, H., & Steger, M. (2010). Character strengths and well-being among volunteers and employees: Toward an integrative model. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 5(6), 419–430. doi:10.1080/17439760.2010.516765.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lounsbury, J. W., Fisher, L. A., Levy, J. J., & Welsh, D. P. (2009). An investigation of character strengths in relation to the academic success of college students. Individual Differences Research, 7(1), 52–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Myers, D. G., & Diener, E. (1995). Who is happy? Psychological Science, 6(1), 10–19. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9280.1995.tb00298.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Park, N., Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. P. (2004). Reply: Strengths of character and well-being: A closer look at hope and modesty. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 23(5), 628–634. doi:10.1521/jscp.23.5.628.50749.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pavot, W., Diener, E., Colvin, C., & Sandvik, E. (1991). Further validation of the satisfaction with life scale: Evidence for the cross-method convergence of well-being measures. Journal of Personality Assessment, 57(1), 149.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peterson, C., Ruch, W., Beermann, U., Park, N., & Seligman, M. P. (2007). Strengths of character, orientations to happiness, and life satisfaction. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 2(3), 149–156. doi:10.1080/17439760701228938.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2004). Character strengths and virtues: A handbook and classification. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Proctor, C., Maltby, J., & Linley, P. (2011a). Strengths use as a predictor of well-being and health-related quality of life. Journal of Happiness Studies, 12(1), 153–169. doi:10.1007/s10902-009-9181-2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Proctor, C., Tsukayama, E., Wood, A. M., Maltby, J., Eades, J., & Linley, P. (2011b). Strengths Gym: The impact of a character strengths-based intervention on the life satisfaction and well-being of adolescents. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 6(5), 377–388. doi:10.1080/17439760.2011.594079.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz, B., & Sharpe, K. E. (2006). Practical wisdom: Aristotle meets positive psychology. Journal of Happiness Studies, 7(3), 377–395. doi:10.1007/s10902-005-3651-y.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seligman, M. E. P. (2002). Authentic happiness: Using the new positive psychology to realize your potential for lasting fulfillment. New York, NY US: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seligman, M. E. P., Steen, T. A., Park, N., & Peterson, C. (2005). Positive psychology progress: Empirical validation of interventions. American Psychologist, 60(5), 410–421. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.60.5.410.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singley, D. B., Lent, R. W., & Sheu, H. (2010). Longitudinal test of a social cognitive model of academic and life satisfaction. Journal of Career Assessment, 18(2), 133–146. doi:10.1177/1069072709354199.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steger, M. F., Pickering, N. K., Shin, J. Y., & Dik, B. J. (2010). Calling in work: Secular or sacred? Journal of Career Assessment, 18(1), 82–96. doi:10.1177/1069072709350905.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tabachnick, B. G., & Fidell, L. S. (2007). Using multivariate statistics (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tukey, J. W. (1977). Exploratory data analysis. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Florida, PO Box 112250, Gainesville, FL, 32611-2250, USA

    Blake A. Allan & Ryan D. Duffy

Authors
  1. Blake A. Allan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ryan D. Duffy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Blake A. Allan.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Allan, B.A., Duffy, R.D. Examining Moderators of Signature Strengths Use and Well-being: Calling and Signature Strengths Level. J Happiness Stud 15, 323–337 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-013-9424-0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-013-9424-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation