Authenticity as a Predictor of Social Safeness in Turkish University Students

Abstract

Background. Authenticity which is an old and important concept within humanistic theory and many kinds of psychotherapy, surprisingly little empirical research has focused on it (Sheldon, 2009). No previous investigation has examined the relationships between authenticity and social safeness. Purpose. The purpose of this research is to examine the relationship between authenticity and social safeness. Participants. Participants were 294 university students who completed a questionnaire package that included the Authenticity Scale and the Social Safeness and Pleasure Scale. Method. The relationship between authenticity and social safeness was examined using correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis. Results. According to results, social safeness was predicted negatively by accepting external influence and self-alienation and positively by authentic living. Results were discussed in the light of literature. Limitations. Participants were university students and the data reported in this study are limited to self-reported data. Future studies should be made in order to generate a more solid relationship and multiple methods should be used to provide better understanding of directionality.