Project overview
Purpose: This study explored whether the relationship between symptoms of psychological distress and subjective wellbeing (SWB) is non-linear, as proposed by the theory of SWB homeostasis. This theory holds that the level of SWB over time is normally stabilised by homeostatic processes. If the level of the challenge exceeds homeostatic capacity, a nonlinear departure of SWB from the setpoint is predicted.
Methods: Data were obtained from a cross-sectional survey of 821 participants. The relationships between SWB and symptoms of depression and stress were tested using generalized additive models (GAMs). Models were created for two dependent variables as SWB measured by the Personal Wellbeing Index and Homeostatically Protected Mood (HPMood). These two dependent variables differ in their affective composition derived from the attendant emotion. Symptoms of stress and depression were measured by a subset of items from the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale, and combined into one measure, stress-depression.
Results: A non-linear model (relative to linear) was the best fit for the relationship between HPMood and the symptoms of stress-depression. The results also suggested a resilience effect, such that HPMood levels above 45-50 percentage points were resistant to moderate levels of stress-depression, with a nonlinear decrease below this level. No such relationship was found between the symptoms and SWB.
Conclusion: The findings support the theory of SWB homeostasis and contribute to theory development in suggesting the affective component of SWB is the key to homeostatic activation under challenge.