Self-Actualization, Psychological Well-Being and Daily Hassles during Adulthood

Abstract

The research featured the effect of experienced and daily hassles on self-actualization and psychological wellbeing in adolescents. The study involved 360 people: 126 men and 234 women aged 20–60 years. The experiment determined the level of experienced stress and daily hassles, as well as its separate types. The women demonstrated a significantly higher level. The greatest severity of daily hassles was observed in the sphere of work, well-being, family, and finance. A comparative analysis of the level of subjective and psychological well-being by gender revealed a significantly higher level of autonomy and competence in men. An analysis of the features of self-actualization showed that the male group had higher indicators of self-understanding, autonomy, ability to live in the present, and professional self-realization, if compared to women. The women demonstrated higher indicators of orientation to universal human values, a more positive view of human nature, and higher levels of creativity. An analysis of the relationship of psychological well-being, parameters of self-actualization and stress revealed their closer ties in women than in men. The level of experienced stress and daily hassles in men and women was related to competence, autosympathy, professional self-realization, life satisfaction, satisfaction of professional activities, and financial situation. In the male group, the level of daily hassles also depended on a positive view of human nature. The women stressed the importance of self-acceptance and satisfaction with communication with parents.

Keywords

• stressors of everyday life
• perceived stress
• self-realization
• life satisfaction
• personal resources
• age differences