what does social comparison influencing WB depend on ? (3)
- PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
-coping personality model: attributes influence comparison targets (comparison is not automatic & does not automatically influence WB).
-ex. optimism vs depression. - TYPE OF COMPARISON
a) upwards: reduces happiness when focusing on best self, or can increase happiness when inspiring/focusing on usual self.
b) downwards: can increase happiness, but can reduce happiness if we identify with target of comparison. - FREQUENCY
-fujita (2008) found that frequent social comparison is unrelated to PA but positively related to NA.
are social relationships the antecedent or outcome of WB?
both
how are social relationships the antecedent of WB? provide 3 examples.
- ppl happier when around others (rated social interactions as most enjoyable points of the day, both in-the-moment and retrospective).
- social domains = most important for LS (more than finances, leisure, etc.).
- social relationships associated with 50% increased likelihood of survival.
how are social relationships the outcome of WB? provide 3 examples.
- happy ppl more likely to have friends.
- happy ppl more likely to get/stay married and be happy in marriages.
- happy ppl more likely to have closer/supportive social relationships.
do social interactions with those to whom we have weak-ties also influence WB? justify your answer using sandstrom & dunn’s (2014) findings.
-undergrads happier in classes that interacted w classmates, even if they were weak ties.
-replicated in community sample.
is there any longitudinal studies abt social interactions influencing WB?
yes, the harvard study of adult development.
-ongoing for over 80 years.
METHODOLOGY:
-follow same ppl thru life.
-group 1: high-achieving harvard students.
-group 2: poor boston youth.
-now corroborated with results including women.
-examined mental/physical health, WWII experiences, work, relationships, aging & retirement.
-questionnaires every 2 years + medical records + informant reports.
FINDINGS:
-happiest and healthiest ppl = those connected to others (i.e., developed diseases of aging slower).
-isolation is detrimental to mental/physical health, and technology perpetuates isolation.
-our lives can be structured to combat isolation (i.e., undivided attention).
what are the 2 models explaining the social relationships-WB relation?
- MAIN EFFECTS MODELS
-social relationships provide direct benefits to WB, not explicitly intended as help/support (ex. conforming to health-promoting norms, meaning in life, self-esteem). - STRESS BUFFERING MODELS
-social relationships provide resources that promote adaptive behavioural (or biological) responses to stressors (ex. social support).
what is feeney & collin’s (2015) social support model?
IN TIMES OF ADVERSITY:
-social relationships become a Source of Strength Support (SOS).
-buffer against neg effects of stressors.
-help us flourish/thrive by:
1. providing a safe haven.
2. providing fortification.
3. assisting in reconstruction process.
4. assisting in reframing/redefining adversity.
IN TIMES OF OPPORTUNITY:
-social relationships become a Relational Catalyst (RC).
-provide opportunities for us to explore, grow & develop by:
1. nurturing desire to create/seize growth opportunities.
2. perceptual help in viewing life opportunities.
3. facilitating preparation for engagement in life opportunities.
4. facilitating implementation by serving a launching function (“secure base”).
the immediate benefits of SOS/RC contribute to the recipient’s long-term thinking, promoting all types of WB.
what are the several factors that affect the receipt of social support? (5)
- individual differences (ex. attachment styles).
- SOS and RC provided thru variety of behaviours (ex. emotional, informational).
- SOS and RC provided thru multiple social relationships.
- SOS and RC provided thru sensitive and responsive support.
- specific life events (ex. pandemic lockdowns).
overall, the evidence that early life relationships influence WB is ___.
mixed
do early life social relationships influence brain development? explain.
yes
-glucocorticoid receptors in hippocampus and pfc = resilience to stress & cognitive functioning thru life.
-more receptors = positive early life caregiver relationships = more resilience.
-ex. rat pups neglected of “motherly” behaviour (ex. grooming) had stress-response genes turned off.
was this genetic tho?
-group 1: low-nurturing rat mom.
-group 2: high-nurturing rat mom.
-high-nurturing group was more stress resilient and genes were turned on.
-not genetic bc rat pups were siblings.
what is bowlby’s (1969) attachment theory?
-humans evolved an innate, biologically-based attachment system bc increased survival of offspring.
-repeated parent-child interactions, form models of availability and interaction-quality which guide behaviour.
-ex. inconsistent attachment figures = insecure attachment develops = perceive others as untrustworthy, etc.
note: mixed evidence of relation bw infant attachment quality + outcomes later in life.
what is the sibling & WB relationship during childhood and adolescence?
CHILDHOOD:
-high hostility/conflict negatively related to WB.
ADOLESCENCE:
-positive sibling relationships related to higher WB.
-perceptions of unfair/differential parenting negatively related to WB.
are youngest siblings happier than middle/oldest siblings?
no, no diff in WB
what are van der horst & coffe’s (2012) marks of a quality friendship? (3)
- face-to-face interactions
- frequently meeting
- heterogeneity
what are some positive and negative impacts of online friendships on WB?
PROS:
-connections
-build social capital
-self-expression/validation
-capitalization
CONS:
-social comparisons
-envy
-fomo
what are the 3 hypotheses that lonnqvist & grosse deters (2016) tested?
- is # of FB friends related to SWB and perceived social support?
- is extraversion related to # of FB friends, SWB, and social support?
- does extraversion account for the relation bw # of FB friends, SWB, and social support?
what was lonnqvist & grosse deters’ (2016) study 1 & 2 and their main findings?
STUDY 1:
-153 american undergrads
-measured # of FB friends, overall happiness, LS, PA, NA, perceived social support, and big 5 traits
FINDINGS:
-# of FB friends positively correlated with overall happiness, LS, PA, and extraversion.
-once extraversion controlled for, # of FB friendship no longer related to WB. it was just the extraversion.
STUDY 2:
-replicated study 1 but w German undergrads (self and informant reports).
-similar findings.
what are the findings of juvonen et al. (2021)?
-examined impact on WB of using electronic technology to connect with friends during covid-19 lockdowns.
-295 americans, 18-70
-frequent electronic contact predicted emotional distress* (reduced depression and loneliness).
-being satisfied with technology-facilitated connections predicted lower emotional distress, stronger for those living alone.
T or F: being in a romantic relationship (with cohabitating partner or steady dating partner) is associated with higher WB compared to being single or dating multiple people?
true
T or F: the greater the commitment in the relationship, the stronger the SWB?
true
T or F: MZ twin with partner had lower LS than their twin without partner?
false
what is the relation bw marriage and SWB?
positive and modest (from meta analysis r = 0.14).
why is marriage positively related to WB? (3)
- selection: happy ppl more likely to attract + retain mate, therefore more likely to get married.
- benefits: social, emotional, material & instrumental support enhance WB.
- short-term boost to WB, but then we eventually adapt.
