PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING AND INTERNALIZING DIFFICULTIES IN ITALIAN EMERGING ADULTS

The new theoretical view of well-being considers happiness not only as “feeling good” psychologically but, in a wider perspective, as an optimal experience in human functioning. In the last years research has examined the trajectory of psychological well-being (PWB) over the lifespan, in particular during different life transition period, and its relationship with psychological health. Few studies specifically focused on emerging adulthood, a life stage characterized by many developmental challenges. As conceived by Ryff’s model of PWB, it is a complex and multifaced construct with different dimensions. The aims of this paper were to explore the PWB dimensions in a specific population of Italian emerging adults and to analyse the link between the psychological well-being and internalizing emotional difficulties. Findings showed in Italian EA higher scores in specific dimensions of PWB such as personal growth and purpose in life, and lower scores in self-acceptance and environmental mastery. Moreover, results highlighted negative relationships between all PWB dimensions with internalizing difficulties. This study suggests the importance of exploring the specificities of PWB both in clinical and health contexts in order to promote more tailored interventions specifically aimed for internalizing difficulties. KEY WORDS: Psychological well-being, happiness, internalizing difficulties, emotional difficulties, emerging adulthood.