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Strengths Use and Life Satisfaction: A Moderated Mediation Approach

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Abstract

This manuscript examined mediators and moderators that may explain the link between strengths use and life satisfaction with a sample of 224 undergraduate students. A mediation model was tested hypothesizing that self-esteem would partially mediate the strengths use-life satisfaction link. Additionally, a moderated mediation model was tested examining positive affect as a moderator within the hypothesized model. Results suggest that a partial reason strengths use related to life satisfaction was due to an increased level of self-esteem. However, this finding must be taken in light of our mediation analysis being conducted with cross-sectional data, a limitation discussed in further detail. Furthermore, positive affect moderated the self-esteem-life satisfaction link, such that the link was stronger for individuals with low and moderate levels of positive affect. This manuscript addresses a major gap in the positive psychology literature by attempting to examine why strengths use relates to increased life satisfaction. Implications for research are discussed.

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

    Richard P. Douglass & Ryan D. Duffy

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  1. Richard P. Douglass
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Douglass, R.P., Duffy, R.D. Strengths Use and Life Satisfaction: A Moderated Mediation Approach. J Happiness Stud 16, 619–632 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-014-9525-4

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