Identity, personal projects and happiness: Self construction in everyday action

Abstract

Abstract This study reviewed archival data from 120 adults ages 19–79 in order to explore the identity‐related dimensions of their personal projects. Influenced by recent findings in action psychology that suggest a key link between the identity dimensions of projects, and both meaning and happiness or subjective‐well being (SWB), it was hypothesized that project ratings on various dimensions would show the central influence of self‐identity within project systems and significantly predict SWB. Analysis of factors extracted from project dimensions revealed that projects influence happiness based on their beneficial impact and their ability to enable self‐expression, demonstrate social significance, and reflect confidence. The challenge offered by a project and the overall effort required completing it also account for variance in measures of well‐being. For the overall sample, the self‐expression factor emerged as a significant predictor of SWB. When individual sub samples grouped by age were analyzed, different patterns emerged. Only the perceived social significance of projects emerged as a predictor of SWB in all three age groups. Additional analyses designed to explore the project dimensions of integrity (being genuine) and efficacy (getting the job done) were also conducted. These also showed differences among the subgroups, which were interpreted in light of developmental theories of adulthood. Overall, the findings supported a constructionist view that goal directed projects provide important opportunities for shaping identity.