Personal growth initiative: Relation to Hedonia and Eudaimonia happiness among South African university students

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between personal growth initiative (PGI) and hedonic and eudaimonic happiness among a sample of South African university students (N = 235; mean age = 20.38, SD = 1.55; female = 61.70%). Students completed measures on personal growth initiative, hedonic happiness, and eudaimonic happiness. Regression analysis indicated personal growth initiative to positively predict students’ reported scores on hedonic and eudaimonic measures. The findings underscore the importance of PGI among student populations in advancing well-being among university students. It is proposed that higher education student development and support services should tap into PGI as a resource for enhancing student self-directed change and happiness.

Keywords:

• academic support and and counselling
• eudaimonic well-being
• happiness
• hedonic well-being
• personal growth initiative
• student counselling
• subjective well-being