The relationship between mood and subjective well-being

Abstract

The relationship between mood and subjective well-being (SWB) was tested in a 10-week longitudinal correlational study of 65 undergraduate subjects. A path analysis indicated that both current mood and previous SWB had significant effects (both p<0.001) on current SWB. The significant relationship of subsequent SWB with previous SWB demonstrated the stability of SWB responses. On the other hand, the significant relationship of SWB with current mood demonstrated that SWB measures are subject to transitory influences. Discussion centered on the methodological and theoretical implications of a two component model proposing that SWB has both stable and unstable components. © 1991 Kluwer Academic Publishers.