Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/31101
Title: Thinking about the best possible self: A unique individual difference characteristic
Contributor(s): Schutte, Nicola S  (author)orcid ; Malouff, John M  (author)orcid 
Publication Date: 2023
Early Online Version: 2021-07-10
DOI: 10.1007/s12144-021-02043-5
Handle Link: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/31101
Abstract: 

Two studies investigated whether thinking about the best possible future self might be an individual-difference characteristic. In Study 1325 adults rated themselves on items derived from the Best Possible Self activity and completed measures related to the validity of the proposed characteristic. Exploratory factor analyses suggested a one-factor structure for the proposed characteristic. A measure of the proposed trait of thinking about the future self (TOPS) was created. In Study 1, the scale had an internal consistency of .95. Associations between thinking about the best possible future self with positive affect, optimism and life satisfaction contributed information regarding construct validity. Associations with the Big Five personality dimensions contributed information regarding discriminant validity. In Study 2, 224 adults completed the TOPS scale and a measure of state positive affect. After completing the pre-test measures, participants were randomly assigned to a Best Possible Self activity or a control condition, after which they completed a state-level TOPS measure and again completed the state measure of positive affect. A confirmatory factor analysis showed a marginally acceptable fit to the results of the exploratory factor analysis of Study 1, and in Study 2 both the trait and state TOPS measures showed good internal consistency at .95 and .98 respectively. Compared to participants in the control condition, those in the Best Possible Self exercise condition scored higher on state-level thinking about the possible self and state positive affect. State-level thinking about the possible self mediated the effect of condition on positive affect. The results suggest that the proposed new characteristic of thinking about the best possible future self may be a psychological strength.

Publication Type: Journal Article
Source of Publication: Current Psychology, v.42, p. 7336-7346
Publisher: Springer New York LLC
Place of Publication: United States of America
ISSN: 1936-4733
1046-1310
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020: 520503 Personality and individual differences
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020: 200409 Mental health
Peer Reviewed: Yes
HERDC Category Description: C1 Refereed Article in a Scholarly Journal
Appears in Collections:Journal Article
School of Psychology

Files in This Item:
2 files
File Description SizeFormat 
Show full item record

SCOPUSTM   
Citations

2
checked on Nov 25, 2023

Page view(s)

1,498
checked on Jul 23, 2023

Download(s)

2
checked on Jul 23, 2023
Google Media

Google ScholarTM

Check

Altmetric


Items in Research UNE are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.