Future Optimism and Subjective Well-Being Across Societies: Reciprocal Links and the Role of Cultural Flexibility–Monumentalism

Although subjective well-being is frequently studied as an outcome of social and psychological factors, little is known about its longitudinal association with future optimism in diverse cultural settings. This study used data from 119,642 participants across 23 societies in the Global Flourishing Study to examine longitudinal associations between future optimism and subjective well-being. Multilevel analyses revealed reciprocal associations between optimism and well-being. However, future optimism at baseline was not significantly linked to subsequent subjective well-being until cultural context was considered. The cultural dimension of flexibility–monumentalism moderated these dynamics, with stronger links observed in flexible societies and weaker associations in more monumentalism contexts. These findings underscore the importance of considering cultural orientations when studying the temporal interplay between optimism and well-being across diverse populations.