Linking Peoples’ Pursuit of Eudaimonia and Hedonia with Characteristics of their Parents: Parenting Styles, Verbally Endorsed Values, and Role Modeling

Abstract

Research on eudaimonia (seeking to use and develop the best in oneself) and hedonia (seeking pleasure, enjoyment, comfort), two dominant ways of pursuing the good life, has previously focused on their well-being consequences and correlates. Little is known about their predictors. Two retrospective studies with undergraduates began investigating the links between the behavior of one's parents when one was a child, and the degree to which one pursues eudaimonia and/or hedonia and derives well-being from these pursuits. Study 1 (n = 105) showed that participants engaged in eudaimonic pursuits if their parents had been high on responsiveness and/or demandingness, the two dimensions that define positive parenting. Hedonic pursuits did not relate to either parenting dimension. Study 2 (n = 110) showed that people engaged in eudaimonic pursuits if their parents had either verbally endorsed eudaimonia or actually role modeled it by pursuing eudaimonia themselves. However, people derived well-being from eudaimonic pursuits only if their parents had role modeled eudaimonia, not if their parents had merely verbally endorsed it. The same pattern was found for engaging in hedonic pursuits and deriving well-being from them. It was also found that parents who role modeled eudaimonia had children who grew up to derive well-being not only from eudaimonia but also from hedonia. Parents who role modeled hedonia had children who grew up to derive well-being only from hedonia and not from eudaimonia.

Integrating the hedonic and eudaimonic perspectives to more comprehensively understand wellbeing and pathways to wellbeing

“…Eudaimonic approaches also emphasise that wellbeing and happiness are on-going processes, not end states. Despite this, like hedonia, eudaimonia has been considered at both the wellbeing and activity levels, with activities that are intrinsically motivated and afford development in oneself often emphasised as pathways to wellbeing (Huta, 2012). Hedonia and eudaimonia have, therefore, both been considered as ways of living/behaving, and more globally, as wellbeing types.…”

Parents’ Perceptions of Risk and the Influence on Children’s Everyday Activities

“…Recent research by Huta (2012) and Huta and Ryan (2012; suggested that people experience greater well-being when their pursuits of happiness include both hedonic and eudaimonic aspects of well-being. conducted four studies regarding these two aspects of well-being.…”

“…This finding suggests the need for both orientations toward well-being, a balance of the two that supports greater wellbeing. Huta (2012) acknowledged limitations of the studies --they were retrospective and correlational rather than being longitudinal or providing causal data --but she suggested that since parents want what is best for their children, this research may begin to "clarify which strategies make a difference" in children's motivations for the pursuit of happiness and wellbeing (p. 59).…”

Everyday Activities: Beneficial Effects of Eudaimonic and Hedonic Motivation on Subjective Well-Being

“…At the activity or behaviour level, hedonic approaches mainly emphasise the importance of engaging in pursuits through which positive emotional experiences, like pleasure, enjoyment, comfort, can be gained, and that lead to satisfaction of individual's desires (Fredrickson 2001;Kahneman et al 1999). Eudaimonic approaches emphasise intrinsically motivated activities that provide opportunities for personal development as paths to well-being (Huta 2011).…”