Character Strength Virtues, Mental Wellbeing and Life Satisfaction in two Generations of Pakistan

Abstract

The present study was carried out to determine differences between character strengths virtues, mental wellbeing, and life satisfaction among two generations (Y & Z) of Pakistan. It was also aimed to determine gender difference among the three mentioned aspects within a generation. It was hypothesized that i) There will be significant differences in character strength virtues, mental well being and life satisfaction of generation Y and Z; and ii) There will be significant gender differences in character strength virtues, mental well-being and life satisfaction of generation Y and Z. The sample included 198 participants of generation Y (101 male & 97 female, Mage = 32.33, SD = 2.40) with age range 29-37 years and 201 participants of generation Z (81 men & 120 women, Mage = 21.41, SD = 1.99) with age range 16-24 selected through random sampling via online data collection and was recruited from different universities of Lahore, Pakistan. Participants responded to the Global Assessment of Character Strengths-24 (McGrath, 2017), Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing (Braunholtz et al., 2007), and The Satisfaction with Life Scales (Diener et al., 1985). Results indicated that the differences between character strength virtues, mental well-being, and life satisfaction between the two generations were statistically significant. Findings suggest that generation Y is better than generation Z in all the mentioned aspects and further revealed significant gender differences in terms of mental well-being among both generations. Men's mental well-being from both generation y and generation z was found to be better than females of their generation.