When what one has is enough: Mindfulness, financial desire discrepancy, and subjective well-being
Brown, Kirk Warren Kasser, Tim Ryan, Richard Michael Linley, P. Alex Orzech, Kevin
Brown, Kirk Warren
Kasser, Tim
Ryan, Richard Michael
Linley, P. Alex
Orzech, Kevin
Abstract
Research has associated financial desire discrepancies (the gap between current and desired states) with poorer subjective well-being (SWB). Because acquiring more wealth appears ineffective in decreasing financial desire discrepancies, we examined whether a theoretically meaningful psychological factor, termed mindfulness, would close the aspiration gap by “wanting what one has,” and thereby enhance SWB. Study 1 revealed that mindfulness was associated with a smaller financial desire discrepancy, which helped explain a positive association between mindfulness and SWB in undergraduates. Two further studies with working adults showed that these results occurred independently of financial status and changes therein. A final, quasi-experimental study with mindfulness trainees extended these findings. Reasons why mindfulness may help to promote the perception of having “enough” are discussed.
Keywords
mindfulness, desire discrepancy, subjective well-being, wealth
Date
2009
Type
Journal article
Journal
Journal of Research in Personality
Book
Volume
43
Issue
5
Page Range
727-736
Article Number
ACU Department
Institute for Positive Psychology and Education
Faculty of Education and Arts
Faculty of Education and Arts