Eudaimonic Well-Being as a Moderator of the Relationship between Depressive Symptoms and Life Satisfaction

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the potential protective role of eudaimonic well-being in mitigating the adverse effects of depressive symptoms. Background: The dual continua model conceptualizes mental well-being and mental illness as related yet independent dimensions. According to this framework, well-being can serve as an active defense against mental illness. Objective: Building on the dual continua model, the study aimed to investigate the relationship between depressive symptoms and life satisfaction and the potential moderating role of eudaimonic well-being. Methods: This hypothesis was tested using a national sample of 17,357 people from 8,162 households in South Korea. Bayesian multi-level modeling was used for data analysis. Results: The results showed that eudaimonic well-being moderated the relationship between depressive symptoms and life satisfaction. Depressive symptoms were found to have a significant negative effect on life satisfaction in individuals with low and moderate eudaimonic well-being. However, in individuals with high eudaimonic well-being, depressive symptoms had no significant effect on life satisfaction. Conclusion: These results suggest that eudaimonic well-being plays an important role in mitigating the effects of depressive symptoms on life satisfaction. © 2024 The Author(s).