Psychological predictors of positive affect and meaningful work: A cross-sectional study

Background: Positive affect (PA)—encompassing emotions such as joy, interest, and alertness—and the experience of meaningful work (MW) are vital to psychological well-being. While both have been widely studied as individual outcomes, their shared psychological foundations remain underexplored. Two constructs central to this process are differentiation of self (DoS), the ability to maintain a clear sense of identity while staying emotionally connected to others, and cognitive-emotional regulation (CER), the capacity to manage emotions effectively, especially under stress. Although DoS and CER have shown relevance in clinical populations, their role in fostering Positive affect (PA) and the experience of meaningful work (MW) in healthy adults is not well understood. Given the rise in emotional burnout and the growing pursuit of meaning in work, there is a need to identify psychological traits that sustain emotional vitality and purpose. Aim: To investigate the role of differentiation of self and cognitive-emotional self-regulation in positive affect and meaningful work among adults. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 62 healthy adults aged 20 to 45 years were assessed using standardized psychological measures: the Differentiation of Self Inventory, the Cognitive Emotional Regulation Questionnaire, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, and the Work and Meaning Inventory. Statistical analyses, correlation, regression, mediation analysis and one-way ANOVA was used. Results: Significant correlations were found among DoS, CER, PA, and MW. DoS and CER were significant predictors of both PA and MW. PA and MW showed a reciprocal predictive relationship, where each reinforced the other. Catastrophizing mediated the relationship between DoS and NA. Self-employed individuals scored higher on MW and positive refocusing. Conclusion: The psychological constructs of differentiation of self and cognitive-emotional regulation play an important role in fostering positive affect and a sense of meaningful work. These constructs can be used in therapy to enhance well-being and satisfaction with work.