Does Flourishing Mental Health Improve Perceived Quality of Life?

Flourishing mental health and quality of life (QoL) are related but distinct positive indicators of wellbeing. This study examined the relationship between flourishing mental health and QoL, specifically by using longitudinal data to determine the directionality of this relationship. Using three waves of data across six years from the Clergy Health Initiative Longitudinal Study (CHILS), we conducted the Random Intercept Cross-lagged Panel Model (RI-CLPM) approach to identify which of these variables may be best conceptualized as a mediator versus an outcome. Our analyses reveal that flourishing mental health had a significant effect on future QoL, while QoL was not significantly associated with future flourishing mental health. These findings indicate that flourishing mental health may be an upstream factor influencing QoL. We expect findings from this study to be relevant not only to policymakers and researchers of positive psychology, but also applicable to other helping professions that are demanding, care giving, and service-oriented in nature.