The literature on well-being has increasingly recognized the importance of mattering, a construct that refers to the perception of being significant, valued, and capable of adding value to others and to one's broader social contexts. Previous studies have demonstrated that mattering plays a critical role in fostering happiness and wellbeing at individual and relational level, yet the relationship between mattering and the multiple domains of wellbeing and social justice has not been sufficiently explored.
This study addresses that gap by investigating the role of mattering across seven domains of wellbeing as measured by the I COPPE scale (Interpersonal, Community, Occupational, Physical, Psychological, Economic, and Overall wellbeing). Data were collected from a national convenience sample of 3,163 Italian citizens, with analyses conducted on 2,524 valid cases. Using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and Latent Path Analyses, findings confirm that mattering is a strong determinant of each domain of multidimensional well-being. Importantly, the study also highlights a mediating role of social justice, conceptualized through the Belief in a Just World construct, in the relationship between mattering and wellbeing outcomes.
The results offer robust empirical evidence of the interconnectedness between mattering, perceptions of social justice, and multidimensional wellbeing. This contributes to advancing theoretical understanding by situating mattering not only as an intrapersonal construct but also as one embedded within multiple life contexts, such as family, friendships, work, and community. The study provides further validation of mattering as a key determinant of wellbeing and the findings underscore the importance of designing interventions and policies aimed at strengthening people's sense of significance and fairness in society, as a pathway to enhance overall wellbeing.