Moral Identity and Subjective Well-Being: The Mediating Role of Identity Commitment Quality

Abstract

Moral identity is associated with people’s subjective well-being; however, little is known about how an individual with moral identity relates to one’s subjective well-being. Based on the eudaimonic identity theory, the current study proposed that identity commitment quality is a critical mechanism that links moral identity (two dimensions: internalization and symbolization) and subjective well-being. We examined our hypotheses in 419 college students, who completed the Self-importance of Moral Identity Questionnaire, Satisfaction with Life Scale, Scale of Positive and Negative Experience, and Questionnaire for Eudaimonic Well-being. Results confirmed significant positive correlations among moral identity, identity commitment quality, and subjective well-being; findings also suggested that both the internalization and symbolization dimensions of moral identity predicted subjective well-being through identity commitment quality, and identity commitment quality fully mediated the pathway relationship between moral identity and subjective well-being. We discussed these findings with respect to implications and proposed research suggestions for future studies.

Flow as a Key Predictor of Subjective Well-Being Among Chinese University Students: A Chain Mediating Model

“…Therefore, university students should control the frequent and aimless use of digital tools (i.e., mobile, personal computer or other software), instead, make academic learning more meaningful and purposeful so as to transfer the hedonic happiness into eudaimonic well-being. University administrative staff, together with supervisors and course teachers, should collaborate together in building a harmony atmosphere through various online teaching platforms that can facilitate enjoyable academic learning to build strong self-confidence and courage in coping with academic demands and stress in their daily routine during COVID-19 ( Cui et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Although the positive impact of flow on subjective well-being is well established, and flow is found to be a universal experience especially in work and study ( Bonaiuto et al, 2016 ; Mao et al, 2016 ), the precise underlying mechanism of the flow effect on subjective well-being, however, remains unclear. The accumulating works on flow demonstrate that flow moderates the link between quarantine length and well-being in Chinese participants ( Sweeny et al, 2020 ) and many research records on subjective well-being of college students in the time of COVID-19 ( Cui et al, 2021 ; Genç and Arslan, 2021 ), we accordingly hypothesize that:…”

“…Research on factors associated with the mental health status of students during COVID-19 has been well documented ( Cui et al, 2021 ; Pagliaro et al, 2021 ). For instance, university students who were more satisfied with the educational environment would feel much happier ( Anderson et al, 2019 ; Booker and Perlin, 2020 ; Bélanger and Ratelle, 2020 ).…”

“…While the eudaimonic perspective focuses on outcomes, such as the purpose of life, personal growth, and meaning in life ( Waterman, 1993 , 2007 ). For instance, recent work has found that eudaimonic orientation of university students moderates the happiness benefits of prosocial activities like money donation ( Lai et al, 2020 ); living in truth to one’s true self gives rise to eudaimonia, which certainly leads to subjective well-being (SWB) ( Waterman, 2011 ; Cui et al, 2021 ). People achieve and maintain hedonic well-being through the eudaimonic process ( Lent, 2004 ), as people are likely to achieve a happy and satisfaction in life by engaging in meaningful activities and working through their personal goals ( Mao et al, 2016 ).…”

Psychological and Behavioral Outcomes From the Perspective of Moral Culture: A Study of College Students

“…Recently there is a piece of increasing evidence that the moral identity plays a vital role in the moral functioning by affecting how people might interpret and respond to different situations that involve moral choice and judgment ( Cui et al, 2021 ). The obligation one feels toward engaging in moral actions is related directly to his moral identity via his willingness to maintain his self-consistency ( Blasi, 1994 ; Di Blasio et al, 2019 ).…”