The full life revisited: Examining hedonia and eudaimonia as general orientations, motives for activities, and experiences of wellbeing

Abstract

We examined the concepts of hedonia and eudaimonia with respect to general orientations to life, motives for activities, and experiences of wellbeing among young Canadian adults (N = 325; M age = 19.10, SD = 2.18; 87% female). Within concepts, moderate positive correlations were observed across facets of hedonia and eudaimonia. Between concepts, correlations were strongest for wellbeing and weakest for motives. Unique predictive associations of eudaimonic general orientations and motives for daily activities were found for both types of wellbeing. In support of the ‘full life’ hypothesis the highest levels of each form of wellbeing were found among individuals characterized by high (top 33%) levels of hedonic and eudaimonic general orientations and motivations for recent activities. Findings support distinguishing between hedonia and eudaimonia as related but independent concepts, and provide new insights concerning hedonic and eudaimonic general orientations and motivations for activities in characterizing the full life.