Unveiling the royal road to happiness: the predictive role of psychological hardiness, mediated by vitality and materialistic values

Abstract

The quest for happiness is highly esteemed in every culture. Based on the theory of the positive activity model, the current study examined the role of psychological hardiness in happiness among youth. The study also investigated the parallel mediating role of vitality and materialistic values in the relationship between psychological hardiness and happiness. Data were collected from 414 youths selected through purposive sampling techniques. The variables of the study were measured through standardized instruments. Findings generated through structural equation modelling with the maximum likelihood estimation technique revealed that psychological hardiness was a significant predictor of happiness. Additionally, vitality and materialistic values partially mediated the relationship between psychological hardiness and happiness. The present study is one of the first to include vitality and materialistic values as a parallel intermediary mechanism to explain the relationship between psychological hardiness and happiness. Implications of the study are discussed in light of the study findings.

Keywords

• Psychological hardiness
• vitality
• materialistic values
• happiness
• youth