Perceived mattering to family and friends, self-esteem, and well-being

This research examined the construct of perceived mattering, defined as the individual perception of being important for other people, and its relationship with self-esteem and well-being. A total of 134 Italian participants (mean age = 32.10, SD = 10.58) completed a questionnaire aimed at assessing the variables of interest. Perceived mattering was found to mediate the relationship between self-esteem and well-being. Notably, perceived mattering to family and friends and self-esteem – even though significantly interrelated – were found to differently contribute to individuals’ well-being. Overall, these research findings confirm that perceived mattering should receive greater attention as a relevant psychosocial construct, with significant implications for individuals’ general functioning. From a practical viewpoint, besides self-esteem, interventions to improve individuals’ well-being might focus on the perception of mattering, which was found to be a more direct predictor of such a positive outcome.