PERSONAL PROJECTS IN EVERYDAY PLACES: PERCEIVED SUPPORTIVENESS OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING

The study examined whether perceived supportiveness of the environment in connection with personal projects is related to psychological well-being (satisfaction with life and depression) and which characteristics of personal projects and everyday places are associated with the level of perceived supportiveness of the environment. The results are based on 167 interviews with adults approximately 30 years old. The interview contained the Little's Personal Project Inventory and questions about everyday places and well-being. The subjects connected 36% of all of their personal projects to a specifiable place. Most frequently mentioned project places were home, workplace and sports facilities. The results showed that perceived supportiveness of the environment in connection with personal projects predicted life satisfaction but was not indicative of depression. High supportiveness of the environment was associated with accomplishable, socially supported and practically incompatible projects. Frequently depressed persons were characterized by abstract, stressing and self-related projects. Each aspect of the environment was perceived to have supportive function. Informal action was perceived to support personal projects more often than the official program in a setting.

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