This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Sheldon, K. M. Articles by Reis, H. T. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Sheldon, K. M. Articles by Reis, H. T. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

What Makes for a Good Day? Competence and Autonomy in the Day and in the Person

University of Rochester sheldon{at}scp.rochester.edu

Richard Ryan

University of Rochester

Harry T. Reis

University of Rochester

This diary study examined the proposal that satisfaction of two psychological needs, competence and autonomy, leads to daily well-being. Between-subjects analyses indicated that participants higher in trait competence and trait autonomy tended to have "better" days on average. Independently, within-subject analyses showed that good days were those in which participants felt more competent and autonomous in their daily activities, relative to their own baselines. Other predictors of daily well-being included gender, whether the day fell on a weekend, and the amount of negative affect and physical symptomatology felt the day before. Although past diary studies have tended to focus on threats to daily well-being, the authors suggest that psychological need concepts offer promise for understanding its positive sources.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. V. Smith In pursuit of 'good' sex: Self-determination and the sexual experience Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, February 1, 2007; 24(1): 69 - 85. [Abstract] [PDF]

				T. A. Brickell, N. L. D. Chatzisarantis, and G. M. Pretty Autonomy and Control: Augmenting the Validity of the Theory of Planned Behaviour in Predicting Exercise J Health Psychol, January 1, 2006; 11(1): 51 - 63. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K. M. Sheldon, R. M. Ryan, E. L. Deci, and T. Kasser The Independent Effects of Goal Contents and Motives on Well-Being: It's Both What You Pursue and Why You Pursue It Pers Soc Psychol Bull, April 1, 2004; 30(4): 475 - 486. [Abstract] [PDF]

				G. E. West, D. Ouellet, and S. Ouellette Resident and Staff Ratings of Foodservices in Long-Term Care: Implications for Autonomy and Quality of Life Journal of Applied Gerontology, March 1, 2003; 22(1): 57 - 75. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K. S. Rook Exposure and Reactivity to Negative Social Exchanges: A Preliminary Investigation Using Daily Diary Data J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., March 1, 2003; 58(2): P100 - 111. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Kasser, R. Koestner, and N. Lekes Early Family Experiences and Adult Values: A 26-Year, Prospective Longitudinal Study Pers Soc Psychol Bull, June 1, 2002; 28(6): 826 - 835. [Abstract] [PDF]

				H. T. Reis, K. M. Sheldon, S. L. Gable, J. Roscoe, and R. M. Ryan Daily Well-Being: The Role of Autonomy, Competence, and Relatedness Pers Soc Psychol Bull, April 1, 2000; 26(4): 419 - 435. [Abstract] [PDF]

				R. M. Ryan, V. I. Chirkov, T. D. Little, K. M. Sheldon, E. Timoshina, and E. L. Deci The American Dream in Russia: Extrinsic Aspirations and Well-Being in Two Cultures Pers Soc Psychol Bull, December 1, 1999; 25(12): 1509 - 1524. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. Oishi, E. F. Diener, R. E. Lucas, and E. M. Suh Cross-Cultural Variations in Predictors of Life Satisfaction: Perspectives from Needs and Values Pers Soc Psychol Bull, August 1, 1999; 25(8): 980 - 990. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K. M. Sheldon and T. Kasser Pursuing Personal Goals: Skills Enable Progress, but Not all Progress is Beneficial Pers Soc Psychol Bull, December 1, 1998; 24(12): 1319 - 1331. [Abstract]