Authors
Kristin Layous, Jaime Kurtz, Joseph Chancellor, Sonja Lyubomirsky
Publication date
2018/5/4
Journal
The Journal of Positive Psychology
Volume
13
Issue
3
Pages
301-308
Publisher
Routledge
Description
We explored a counterintuitive approach to increasing happiness: Imagining time as scarce. Participants were randomly assigned to try to live this month (LTM) like it was their last in their current city (time scarcity intervention; n = 69) or to keep track of their daily activities (neutral control; n = 70). Each group reported their activities and their psychological need satisfaction (connectedness, competence, and autonomy) weekly for 4 weeks. At baseline, post-intervention, and 2-week follow-up, participants reported their well-being – a composite of life satisfaction, positive emotions, and negative emotions. Participants in the LTM condition increased in well-being over time compared to the control group. Furthermore, mediation analyses indicated that these differences in well-being were explained by greater connectedness, competence, and autonomy. Thus, imagining time as scarce prompted people to seize the …
Total citations
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Scholar articles
K Layous, J Kurtz, J Chancellor, S Lyubomirsky - The Journal of Positive Psychology, 2018