engleski

What makes us happy: strengths of mind, strengths of heart or self-control?

Positive psychology focuses on what constitutes the life that leads to the greatest sense of well-being, satisfaction and happiness. This concept of good life is closely related to the concept of human strengths. According to Peterson and Seligman (2004) all character strengths have some benefits for the individual but it is still not clear what these benefits are for specific strengths. So, the aim of this study was to examine the relationship between character strengths and life satisfaction. Two questionnaires: Values in Action Inventory of Strengths (Peterson & Seligman, 2003, 2004), and Satisfaction With Life Scale (Diener et al., 1985) were administered to 378 college students (228 females and 150 males). Factor analyses of Values in Action Inventory of Strengths revealed three factors: strengths of mind, strengths of heart and self-control strengths. Analysis of gender differences revealed that men scored higher on creativity, leadership, self-control and vitality while women scored higher on kindness, love/intimacy, fairness and appreciation of beauty and excellence. Regression analyses showed that almost exclusively significant predictors of life satisfaction were strengths of heart.

character strengths; strengths of mind; strengths of heart; self-control strengths; life satisfaction

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