Summary: New research finds that a sense of meaning in life and strong self-efficacy—the belief in one’s ability to succeed—are central to psychological well-being for both sexes. Men in the sample reported slightly higher levels of passion and self-efficacy, but men and women were similar across measures such as grit, growth mindset, flourishing, and emotional affect.
The study shows the most powerful predictor of flourishing is the combination of purpose and confidence in one’s abilities. The authors emphasize the value of fostering self-efficacy through mentorship, appropriate challenges, and opportunities for mastery.
Key Facts
- Self-efficacy advantage: Belief in one’s capacity to succeed predicts higher well-being.
- Many shared similarities: Men and women showed comparable levels of grit, growth mindset, flourishing, and emotional balance.
- Meaning is central: A clear sense of purpose had the strongest link with feeling good about one’s life.
Source: NTNU
Emotions are complex.
Researchers examined gender differences and how personal motivation relates to overall well-being. Their results indicate that while some differences exist, the same core factors—meaning in life and self-efficacy—play the dominant role in predicting psychological health.
“We explored gender differences and the relationships among factors that shape motivation and well-being,” said Professor Hermundur Sigmundsson of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) Department of Psychology.
Sigmundsson has long researched what helps people reach their goals. In this study he and his colleagues broadened their perspective to examine how motivational traits and holistic well-being relate across genders.
Their full findings are published in Acta Psychologica.
Men report higher passion and belief in their ability to succeed
The researchers observed that men in the sample reported somewhat higher levels of general passion and self-efficacy than women. Self-efficacy refers to the conviction that one can successfully perform tasks and reach goals.
“This study supports earlier results showing higher reported passion among men,” Sigmundsson explained.
Despite these differences, men and women were largely similar on most other measures. No meaningful gender differences emerged for grit, growth mindset (belief that abilities can develop), sense of meaning in life, flourishing (psychological functioning over time), or the typical balance of positive and negative emotions.
Meaning in life and self-efficacy are fundamental to well-being
The relationships among motivational traits and well-being are intricate, but two factors stood out as most influential. A strong sense of meaning in life showed the highest association with psychological flourishing. Self-efficacy also had a substantial and consistent relationship with positive emotions and overall well-being, irrespective of gender.
“Having high self-efficacy is a major advantage—the firm belief that you can accomplish tasks. We see strong links between self-efficacy and positive affect, and among those who truly flourish, self-efficacy plays a central role,” Sigmundsson said.
Because of these links, cultivating self-efficacy is an important target for interventions aimed at improving mental health and life satisfaction.
How to develop self-efficacy
- Mentors—parents, teachers, coaches—are crucial. By assigning tasks that fit an individual’s current skills, mentors help build confidence through achievable challenges.
- Appropriate challenges foster flow, a state in which one experiences engaged mastery. Flow experiences strengthen feelings of competence and support the development of self-efficacy.
- Stronger self-efficacy encourages an “I CAN” mindset, making people more willing to approach new challenges and persist when difficulties arise.
These findings underscore the dynamic interplay between motivation (passion, grit, growth mindset, self-efficacy) and well-being outcomes (meaning in life, flourishing, positive affect). Targeted support that combines skill development, feedback, and meaningful goals can reinforce both competence and purpose.
Limitations and need for wider cultural study
This study analyzed 479 participants from Iceland—336 women and 143 men—with an average age of 32. The authors note potential limitations, including the gender imbalance in the sample, cultural context, and reliance on self-report measures.
They recommend follow-up research that includes more balanced samples and participants from diverse cultural backgrounds to assess the generalizability of the findings.
About this research
Author: Nancy Bazilchuk
Source: NTNU
Contact: Nancy Bazilchuk – NTNU
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Open access. “Motivation, meaning and well-being: Exploring gender differences and associations in participants from Iceland” by Hermundur Sigmundsson et al., published in Acta Psychologica.
Abstract
Motivation, meaning and well-being: Exploring gender differences and associations in participants from Iceland
Abstract
This study evaluated personal motivational characteristics—passion, grit, mindset, and self-efficacy—and their associations with broader well-being measures, including meaning in life, psychological well-being (flourishing), and positive and negative affect. The sample consisted of 479 Icelandic participants (336 females, 143 males), with an average age of 32.22 years (SD = 13.46).
Personal motivational factors
Passion was measured using the Passion for Achievement scale. Grit was assessed via the Grit-S scale. Mindset was evaluated with the Theories of Intelligence Scale (TIS), and general self-efficacy was measured with a 10-item self-efficacy scale.
Holistic well-being factors
Psychological well-being was measured with the Flourishing Scale. Meaning in life was gauged using selected items from the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ). Positive and negative affect were assessed using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS).
Gender differences
Significant gender differences emerged for two of eight measured variables: passion (males 4.02 vs. females 3.76) and self-efficacy (males 3.24 vs. females 3.14), both favoring males.
Correlations
The strongest correlations were between meaning in life and psychological well-being (r = 0.66), psychological well-being and positive affect (r = 0.58), and self-efficacy and positive affect (r = 0.54). Mindset showed the weakest correlations with other variables.
Overall, the results highlight modest gender differences in passion and self-efficacy and reveal meaningful interactions between motivational traits (passion, self-efficacy, mindset) and holistic well-being indicators (meaning in life, psychological well-being, positive affect).