Personal Asset and Gratification Delay among Youths: Eudaemonic Well-being as a Potential Mediator

Abstract

This study was intended to investigate the relationships between personal developmental assets, eudemonic well-being, and the ability to delay gratification among youths. Personal asset and gratification delay were treated as independent and dependent constructs respectively, whereas eudemonic well-being was used as a mediator. The participants of the study were 614 students selected from secondary schools. Specifically, this study examined the extent to which the stated model fits the data. In addition, the direct effect of personal assets on eudaemonic well-being and gratification delay; the contribution of eudaemonic well-being to gratification delay and the indirect effect of personal assets on gratification delay were investigated. Data were collected using selected items from gratification delay, Ryff psychological well-being, and developmental asset profile scales. Data were analysed with confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling. The result revealed that the model fits the data well. The personal asset has a considerable direct effect on both eudemonic well-being and the ability to delay gratification. In addition, eudaemonic well-being has a significant effect on the ability to delay gratification. Furthermore, eudemonic well-being partially mediates the relationship between personal assets and the ability to delay gratification. Personal asset has a direct and indirect significant relationship with the ability to delay gratification. It is concluded that intervention in enhancing the personal assets and eudaemonic well-being of youths is a necessary condition to enhance the ability to delay gratification. The implications of the findings are discussed.