Parenthood & Well-Being
For years, scholarly and media accounts painted a dismal picture of parenting. My work, however, suggests that happiness and parenthood can indeed coexist, but also that the link between parenthood and well-being is incredibly complex. Do mothers and fathers--young and old, single and married, rich and poor--share similar parenting experiences? How and why do their differences relate to their well-being?
I propose that parenthood is associated with greater well-being to the extent that it provides opportunities to pursue meaningful goals and enhanced life purpose, greater fulfillment of human needs, more positive emotions, and enhanced social roles. By contrast, I propose that parenthood is associated with lower well-being when it leads to subsequently greater negative emotions, financial stress, sleep disturbance and fatigue, and strained partner relationships.
Selected Publications:
I propose that parenthood is associated with greater well-being to the extent that it provides opportunities to pursue meaningful goals and enhanced life purpose, greater fulfillment of human needs, more positive emotions, and enhanced social roles. By contrast, I propose that parenthood is associated with lower well-being when it leads to subsequently greater negative emotions, financial stress, sleep disturbance and fatigue, and strained partner relationships.
Selected Publications:
- Nelson, S. K., Kushlev, K., English, T., Dunn, E. W., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2013). In defense of parenthood: Children are associated with more joy than misery. Psychological Science, 24, 3-10. <pdf>
- Nelson, S. K., Kushlev, K., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2014). The pains and pleasures of parenthood: When, why, and how is parenthood associated with more or less well-being? Psychological Bulletin, 140, 846-895. <pdf>
Improving Well-Being With Simple Behaviors
My second approach to human happiness focuses on understanding how simple day-to-day behaviors influence well-being. I have been exploring how the thoughts and behaviors common among naturally happy people--for example, affirming one's core values or practicing acts of kindness--can be nurtured, acquired, or directly taught. Specifically, I have investigated the mechanisms underlying the efficacy of simple behaviors or "positive activities" to boost well-being. For example, in several longitudinal experiments, I have found that affirming one's core values, performing acts of kindness, and practicing optimism lead to increases in happiness and meaning in life.
Selected Publications:
Selected Publications:
- Nelson, S. K., Fuller, J. A. K., Choi, I., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2014). Beyond self-protection: Self-affirmation benefits hedonic and eudaimonic well-being. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 40, 998-1011. <pdf>
- Nelson, S. K., Layous, K., Cole, S. W., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2016). Do unto others or treat yourself? The effects of prosocial and self-focused behavior on psychological flourishing. Emotion. <pdf>