Selflessness, Self-Centeredness, and Mental Health Dynamics in Daily Life

Experiences of selflessness and happiness are interconnected in everyday life. Both between-person and within-person variations in selflessness are associated with higher and more stable happiness. However, little is known about the role of selflessness in shaping negative mental health at the experiential level. Moreover, self-centeredness, the second regulatory process proposed by the Self-centeredness/Selflessness Happiness Model (SSHM), has received little empirical attention. This experience sampling study addresses these gaps by examining the dynamic effects of selflessness and self-centeredness, between and within individuals. These effects were assessed on positive and negative mental health, as well as on relationship quality with others and nature. Results reveal distinct yet complementary roles for selflessness and self-centeredness: selflessness fosters and stabilizes mental health, self-centeredness undermines it and introduces greater variability. These findings offer insights into the psychological mechanisms underlying complete mental health and illuminate how these processes shape our connection with the social and natural environment.