Two mediators of power on subjective well-being in China ¬リニ

Power may enhance well-being via authenticity, but it can also lead to misery, which arises as a consequence of assertiveness. To address inconsistencies in the results of previous studies, we took the literature regarding well-being and personality of agency into account. Consequently, we formed a hypothesis in which the complex effects of power on subjective well-being could be explained via agency and unmitigated agency. Because power increases agency, which contributes to subjective well-being, it could enhance subjective well-being by encouraging people to become more agentic. However, when agency is not mitigated by communion that is referred to as unmitigated agency, it reduces subjective well-being due to dissatisfaction with relationships. Therefore, we hypothesized that power would enhance subjective well-being via greater agency and reduced unmitigated agency. Three surveys completed by 202 Chinese participants showed consistent evidence that power, both dispositional and role-specific, was positively related to subjective well-being and role satisfaction via agency and unmitigated agency. Both agency and unmitigated agency mediated the effects of power on subjective well-being. These results elucidate the complex psychological mechanisms underlying the influence of power on subjective well-being from the perspective of personality and provide a basis for future research. 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. ‘The mutual impact of power and personality is a topic of enduring human interest (p. 7)’. [(Lasswell, 2009)] How power affects well-being has recently moved to the forefront of many researchers’ attention (Anderson, John, & Keltner, 2012; Keltner, Gruenfeld, & Anderson, 2003). Evidence from a number of studies shows that possessing power can allow individuals to experience higher self-esteem and well-being (Adler, Epel, Casterllazzo, & Ickovics, 2000; Wojciszke & StruzynskaKujalowicz, 2007). However, increased power may give rise to emotions and behaviours, such as anger and aggression, which are harmful to others (Fast&Chen, 2009;Tiedens, 2001) andmay reduce well-being via low relationship satisfaction (Kwan, Bond, & Singelis, 1997). Drawing on theory and research linking power, agency, and well-being, we proposed that the seemingly contradictory effects of power on subjective well-being (SWB) could be explained via positive and negative sides of agency. The research reported here sought to determine whether power is linked to SWB, which is the affective and cognitive evaluation of one’s own life, both generally and in specific roles (Diener, 2000), through greater agency and reduced unmitigated agency. 1. Agency as mediator between power and SWB Power, a fundamental aspect of daily social life, is typically defined as an individual’s relative capacity to modify others’ states by providing or withholding resources or administering punishment (Keltner et al., 2003). Evidence fromanumber of studies shows that possessing power can lead to more positive affect and higher self-esteem (Duguid & Goncalo, 2012; Wojciszke & StruzynskaKujalowicz, 2007). Meanwhile, power results in more consistent behaviour with respect to internal traits and desires (Keltner et al., 2003) and allows people to express their true attitudes (Galinsky, Magee, Gruenfeld,Whitson, & Liljenquist, 2008). Results fromprevious studies suggest that power contributes to agency, which involves self-affirmation and individualization (Bakan, 1966; Goldman & Kernis, 2002). Considering that agency has a pervasive and positive influence on well-being (Helgeson, 1994; Saragovi, Koestern, & Aube, 1997), we hypothesized that powerwould predict SWB by motivating people to become more agentic. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2014.12.042 0191-8869/ 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. q This work was supported by China Postdoctoral Science Foundation [grant number 2014M550636]. ⇑ Present/Permanent Address: Room 405, Yingdong Building, 19 Xinjiekouwai St., Haidian District, Beijing 100875, China. Tel./fax: +86 10 58806154. E-mail address: [email protected] Personality and Individual Differences 77 (2015) 22–26