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Examining Mediators of the Link Between Generativity and Well-being

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Abstract

Generativity involves raising and guiding the next generation, contributing to society, and creating new products and ideas. It has clearly been related to personal well-being, yet little is known about why this relationship exists. According to McAdams and de St. Aubin (J Pers Soc Psychol, 62:1003–1015, 1992), generativity is motivated by a desire for symbolic immortality, a need to be needed, and society’s expectation that one should be a contributing member. It was therefore hypothesized that the satisfaction of these variables would fully mediate the relationship between generativity and well-being. Structural equation modeling showed that symbolic immortality alone fully mediated the relationship.

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Correspondence to Veronika Huta.

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Huta, V., Zuroff, D.C. Examining Mediators of the Link Between Generativity and Well-being. J Adult Dev 14, 47–52 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10804-007-9030-7

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