Associations between love of life and affect

Purpose The aim of this study is to explore the love of life associations with scales of positive affect (self-efficacy, life satisfaction, happiness, self-esteem, mental health, religiosity, well-being and optimism) and scales of negative affect (suicidality, obsession, pessimism, anxiety, neuroticism and depression). Design/methodology/approach A sample of Alexandria University undergraduates took part in the study (N = 480). They responded to the Love of Life (LOL) Scale as well as to 14 short scales of positive and negative affect. Findings Men obtained significantly higher mean total scores than did women for self-efficacy and well-being. Women had significantly higher mean total scores than did men for satisfaction, obsession, anxiety and neuroticism. Pearson correlations of love of life and positive affect scales were positive and higher than that with negative affect scales (negative). Principal components analysis extracted three components that were labeled as “positive affect” and “negative affect”, as well as a residual component. Regression analysis indicated that the predictors of love of life were satisfaction, lack of anxiety, mental health, lack of depression (men), optimism, lack of suicidality, happiness, religiosity, mental health and well-being (women). Research limitations/implications Love of life is associated more with positive affect scales than negative affect scales, indicating good convergent validity of the LOL Scale. Originality/value Love of life is considered as a good addition to the subjective well-being domain in positive psychology.