The Moderating Role of Psychological Needs on the Relationship between Eudaimonia and Mental Health

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The study presents an interesting topic. It needs improvements which I identify below:

Summary – must include the methodology of the study and which is not present and makes it difficult to understand the study.

In the framework, the term eudaimonia remains to be defined, what it consists of, its origin…

In terms of materials and methods, the methodological nature of the study is also lacking. This must be presented and the choice justified. The same for the sampling method.

It does not inform whether “Eudaimonia Scale from The Hedonic and Eudaimonic Motives for Activities” is validated for the study population. The same for the remaining scales used in this study.

Discussion – on line 188, review the formation of the text.

Still in the discussion, there are results that require discussion with other results and authors, for example eudaimonia and negative mental health.

The discussion does not identify all the limitations of the study:

- The reduced sample size limits the generalization of the results.

- The self-report nature of the data collected by questionnaire.

It is important to consider these limitations when interpreting study results and applying conclusions in practical or clinical settings.

The implications for clinical practice presented are not clear enough.

The conclusion should indicate the main results of the study, I think it could be improved by highlighting these results.

More than 65% of references are more than 5 years old, they must update sources to ensure more recent information/data/knowledge.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Minor editing of English language required

Author Response

 

Responses to Reviewer # 1

We thank reviewer # 1 for taking the time to make a thorough review and for their constructive remarks (in bold). Responses to each of the reviewer’s comments are below (in red)

• Summary – must include the methodology of the study and which is not present and makes it difficult to understand the study.

Thank you for this remark. We have included information with reference to the design, questionnaires and the type of analyses employed in the Abstract section of the manuscript.

• In the framework, the term eudaimonia remains to be defined, what it consists of, its origin…

Thank You for this suggestion. At the beginning of the Introduction section the following text has been added: “Eudaimonia is a Greek word which has its roots in Aristothelian phylosohy [1]. Aristotle described eudaimonia as behaviour that exercises excellence, virtue and the best within us [2]. Eudaimonia in general and its components (courage, honesty, justice, intellectual activity) have been promoted as a means of acquiring optimal functioning and health [3]. …“

• In terms of materials and methods, the methodological nature of the study is also lacking. This must be presented and the choice justified. The same for the sampling method.

As required the information has been added to

• the Intrument section: “Several scales have been used in the study. Using this method of assessment allowed gathering of data on a large number participants. Also, by using subjective measures the subjective perception of the presence of negative and positive mental health symptoms along with eudaimonic tendencies and the degree of psychological need satisfaction was able to be acquired acurately. The description of the used scales can be found in the following section::“
• the Design section to complete information on the sampling method: „The study was part of a larger project where the relationship between eudaimonia and mental health was investigated preliminary among Croatian young adults. For this purpose the conveniance sample of university students has been used. Three faculties of the J. J. Strossmayer University of Osijek were randomly selected for this study. Departments of these faculties have been randomly selected as well as study groups within those departments until the wanted number of participantshad been achieved. The participants were approached during compulsory lectures to ensure access to the entire study group that was chosen. The data collection was cross-sectional“

 

• It does not inform whether “Eudaimonia Scale from The Hedonic and Eudaimonic Motives for Activities” is validated for the study population. The same for the remaining scales used in this study.

Thank you for indicating this shortcoming in the Instrument section. The required information has been added.

• Discussion – on line 188, review the formation of the text.

The sentences have been restructured in order to make text clearer.

• Still in the discussion, there are results that require discussion with other results and authors, for example eudaimonia and negative mental health.

Due to this remark we have added text to the Discussion section regarding the relationship between eudaimonia and negative mental health: „The relationship between eudaimonia and negative mental health is acknowledged by previous research. It is argued that lack of eudiamonic priciples causes symptoms of deteriorated mental health. Depression or anxiety results from lack of purpose, lack of values and value focused behaviour, diminished personal growth and gratitute, while the presence of pathology in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy arises from lack of focus on present moment and disconnection from emotions. The confirmaton that low levels of eudaimonia are associated with psychopathology is evident not only cross-sectional but prospective studies too.“

• The discussion does not identify all the limitations of the study:

- The reduced sample size limits the generalization of the results.

The sentence has been added to the limitation section addressing this shortcoming: “The generalizability of the results is also compromised due to the relatively small sample size. Although moderation effects of relatedness on the relationship between eudaimonia and mental health measures are significant (explaining in total 1% of the variance in general mental health and 2% of the variance of negative mental health) the size of the effects is small questioning the true validity of the findings. For these purposes, a much larger and more diverse sample is recommended in future attempts to be able to conclude findings with greater certainty.“

- The self-report nature of the data collected by questionnaire. Thank you for point out to this limitation. A sentence pointing to this drawback of the study has been added to the section:” Collecting data through self-reports also carries limitations. Using self-reports for measurement of eudaimonia and mental health aspects may have contributed to subjects responding in a favorable way portraying themselves as being high in eudaimonia and positive mental health while lacking negative mental health symptoms. It is expected that the relationships between eudaimonia and mental health facets could be weaker or non-existent if objective measures of variables were used. The employment of self-reports could also contribute to participants responding in a biased way regarding need satisfaction. The participants are in a developmental stage where the need for intimacy and sex is emphasized [52] so it is not unexpected that satisfaction of the need for relatedness was extracted as the moderator of the relationships“

• It is important to consider these limitations when interpreting study results and applying conclusions in practical or clinical settings.

The above sections explain how have we addressed mentioned shortcomings

• The implications for clinical practice presented are not clear enough.

We have added the following section to explain implications of the findings for clinical practice in a great detail: For example, counselling centers could offer short prevention programs and student assistance programs where healthy young people along with those already experiencing psychological difficulties would be taught how to develop values and life orientation that would benefit them and others. They could be encouraged to take part in charity work with disadvantaged youth or shelter animals or assisting freshman students with adaptation to student lifestyle.”

• The conclusion should indicate the main results of the study, I think it could be improved by highlighting these results.

In line with this suggestion at the beginning of the Conclusion section we have added following text explaining the findings in greater details: “Despite the shortcomings of the study the results clearly demonstrated that of all psychological needs the need for relatedness, moderates the relationship between eudaimonia and mental health. The need for relatedness moderates the relationship between eudaimonia and general mental health in a way that the most prominent positive effects of eudaimonia on general mental health is found among individuals whose need for relatedness is highly satisfied. Similarly, the need for relatedness moderates the association between eudaimonia and negative mental health. The fewest mental health issues are found among young adults who had high eudaimonia and highly satisfied need for relatedness.”

• More than 65% of references are more than 5 years old, they must update sources to ensure more recent information/data/knowledge.

We acknowledge this shortcoming however, the information included research is not largely investigated so for this reason we had a difficulty to replace the existing findings with the ones that point to same conclusions but are more up to date. Further, in the process of adding new text to the manuscript due to suggestions of the reviewers we tried to add studies with latest date possible considering information that wanted to be added to this paper.

 

 

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Thank you for the opportunity to review this interesting paper. I've got some minor remarks regarding the manuscript itself:

 

What is the relationship between Eudaimonia, Resilience and Antonovsky's theory? Reading the introduction, they sound similar.

 

Technical issue- it would be good to move Table 2 to page 5 so it won't be split into two pages.

 

Why did the authors focus on participants between 18 and 30? What about older adults? 

 

A longitudinal study would be interesting to observe the changes in the study group.

 

The Authors mention cultural diveristy- it can be expected that it might be powerful factor that might affect the results.

Author Response

 Responses to Reviewer # 2

We thank reviewer # 2 for taking the time to make a thorough review and for their constructive remarks (in bold). Responses to each of the reviewer’s comments are below (in red)

 

• What is the relationship between Eudaimonia, Resilience and Antonovsky's theory? Reading the introduction, they sound similar.

The additional sentences that explain the link between eudaimonia and Antonovsky’s work on resilience has been added in the Introduction section as following: “Antonovsky’s work on sense of coherence also demonstrated the importance of eudaimonia through its component of meaningfulness that seen as the most important element for resilience trajectory. Strong sense of coherence provides a person with strong coping mechanisms against life stressors helping them to develop strength that contributes to absence of psychological disturbances among healthy adults and higher quality of life among patients with psychological disturbances.”

 

• Technical issue- it would be good to move Table 2 to page 5 so it won't be split into two pages.

Thank you for this remark. The table has been moved in the process of adding more text to the Introduction section.

• Why did the authors focus on participants between 18 and 30? What about older adults? 

The research was part of a larger project preliminary investigating the effects of eudaimonia on mental health of students. Therefore, the existing age range of the sample reflects naturally occurring age range of student population.

• A longitudinal study would be interesting to observe the changes in the study group.

Thank you for noting this shortcoming of the study. We have mentioned it in the limitations of the study by adding following text: “The cross-sectional nature of this study could have been another limitation. The employment of a longitudinal study design could potentiate that other psychological need moderate the relationship between eudaimonia and mental health as the cumulative effect of satisfaying one psychological need increases the satisfaction of the other need over time. Also, there is a reciprocal relationship between eudaimonia and psychological needs that develops over time which could strengthen the association between eudaimonia and particular psychological need which could affect the results“

• The Authors mention cultural diveristy- it can be expected that it might be powerful factor that might affect the results.

Thank you for this remark. We added more information on how culture may have affected levels of eudaimonia and its contribution to mental health in this study: “Another way collectivistic culture could affect the results of this study is through participant's preference for low-arousal emotion which is common for the cultural practisies. According to different research low-arousal positive emotions include pleased, relaxed, serene, calm, and peaceful emotions which not only arise from practicing eudaimonia but define states that are commonly found in the domain of mental health. In individualistic countries high-aroused positive states, such as happiness, are expected to have an effect on mental health due to the greater preference towards such emotional states. Furthermore, as self-transcendence (e.g. seeking the ultimate ideals of goodness, curiosity, seeking one’s calling) is more practiced by individuals in collectivistic cultures it is not unusual that greater eudaimonia was associated with the state of mental health in this study. After all, the more endorsed cultural values are by the person, the greater is the presence of high self-esteem.

 

 

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This article, after the suggested changes have been made, is suitable for publication.