Do cognitive resources matter for Eudaimonia? The role of inhibitory control in psychological well-being

• Main Authors: TOH, Wei Xing, YANG, Hwajin
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University 2022
• Subjects: Inhibitory control; Personal growth; Positive relations; Psychological well-being; Cognitive Psychology; Social Psychology
• Online Access: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/3761
• Institution: Singapore Management University

Although past work has investigated the psychosocial and biological correlates of psychological well-being (PWB), little is known regarding the cognitive underpinnings of PWB. Given that prior research has predominantly relied on indices of general cognitive abilities and PWB, we examined the relations between Ryff’s (1989) six-factor model of PWB and inhibitory control (i.e. the ability to actively maintain pertinent goals by resisting interference from irrelevant information or prepotent responses). Using structural equation modelling (N = 170), based on three inhibition measures and six facets of PWB, we found that better inhibitory control was associated with greater personal growth, when cognitive, demographic, and personality covariates were controlled for. Additionally, there was equivocal evidence for the link between inhibitory control and positive interpersonal relations, and no other significant relations were found for other PWB dimensions (i.e. environmental mastery, purpose in life, autonomy, and self-acceptance). The asymmetric associations between inhibitory control and the various PWB facets emphasise the importance of a multidimensional approach for a more precise understanding of the cognitive correlates of PWB.