Functioning but not thriving: Self-concept clarity as a predictor of flourishing in early adults

Emerging adulthood is a transitional period involving exploration of identity, education, work, and relationships. During this period, purpose in life and relationship quality are important aspects of flourishing. The purpose of this study is to examine the role of self-concept clarity in predicting flourishing among emerging adults. A quantitative cross-sectional correlational design involved 206 participants aged 18–29 years who were students and/or workers recruited through convenience sampling. Data were collected online using the Self-Concept Clarity Scale and Flourishing Scale and analyzed through simple linear regression with 5,000 bootstrap resamples. The results showed that self-concept clarity positively and significantly predicted flourishing, B = .297, β = .374, t = 5.762, p < .001. The model explained 14% of the variance in flourishing, and the bootstrap analysis confirmed this association, 95% CI [.219, .388]. These findings indicate that clearer self-concept is associated with higher flourishing among emerging adults.