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Happy To Be “Me?” Authenticity, Psychological Need Satisfaction, and Subjective Well‐Being in Adolescence
Author(s) -
Thomaes Sander,
Sedikides Constantine,
Bos Nellie,
Hutteman Roos,
Reijntjes Albert
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
child development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.103
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1467-8624
pISSN - 0009-3920
DOI - 10.1111/cdev.12867
Subject(s) - psychology , autonomy , well being , competence (human resources) , social psychology , self determination theory , psychological well being , life satisfaction , subjective well being , developmental psychology , happiness , psychotherapist , political science , law
Adolescents have a strong desire to “be themselves.” How does experiencing authenticity—the sense of being one's true self—influence subjective well‐being? What allows adolescents to experience authenticity? This research tests a working model of how authenticity is implicated in adolescents’ well‐being. Using survey, diary, and experimental methodologies, four studies (total N = 759, age range = 12–17) supported the main tenets of the model. Authenticity (a) enhances well‐being, (b) covaries with satisfaction of psychological needs for relatedness and competence; is caused by satisfaction of the need for autonomy; and (c) mediates the link between need satisfaction and well‐being. Authenticity is more than a powerful motive: It has robust, replicable effects on well‐being and may thus be a pervasive force in positive youth development.