Publication Type
Journal Article
Version
acceptedVersion
Publication Date
4-2026
Abstract
Prioritizing positivity is the tendency to use positive emotions as a key criterion to structure daily life. Research shows that prioritizing positivity is associated with better psychological health. However, none of this research was preregistered and prioritizing positivity’s links with ill-being remain understudied. In five preregistered studies (Sample A: n = 388, Sample B: n = 214, Sample C: n = 301, Sample D: n = 290, Sample E: n = 453), we found that prioritizing positivity was associated with more well-being (positive emotions, satisfaction, meaning), less ill-being (negative emotions, depressive symptoms, anxiety), and more hypomania, a mixed construct. We also examined if socioeconomic status (SES) moderated the link between prioritizing positivity and each psychological health indicator and found no support, except for meaning. This paper provides a broader, updated understanding of the psychological health correlates of prioritizing positivity.
Keywords
Prioritizing positivity, happiness, well-being, positive emotions, ill-being, socioeconomic status
Discipline
Social Psychology
Research Areas
Psychology
Publication
Journal of Positive Psychology
First Page
1
Last Page
10
ISSN
1743-9760
Identifier
10.1080/17439760.2026.2651079
Publisher
Taylor and Francis Group
Citation
CATALINO, Lahnna I., TOV, William, & HOORN, Madeline Q..(2026). Examining the well-being and ill-being correlates of prioritizing positivity and investigating SES as a moderator. Journal of Positive Psychology, , 1-10.
Available at: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/4490
Copyright Owner and License
Authors
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Additional URL
https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2026.2651079