Golden Ratio of Social Science and Education
Vol. 6 No. 1 (2026): December - May

The Relationship Between People Pleaser Behavior and Psychological Well-Being in Generation Z

Ayu, Fikriyah Futik (Unknown)
Warastri, Annisa (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
17 May 2026

Abstract

Generation Z in Indonesia faces increasingly complex social pressures, particularly in interpersonal relationships that emphasize acceptance and social harmony. One emerging response to these pressures is people-pleasing behavior, defined as an excessive effort to satisfy others at the expense of one’s own needs. This study aims to examine the relationship between people-pleasing behavior and psychological well-being among Generation Z in the Special Region of Yogyakarta, while highlighting its psychological implications within the Indonesian socio-cultural context. A quantitative correlational design was employed, involving 103 respondents aged 18–25 years. The instruments used were the People Pleaser Scale and the Psychological Well-Being Scale, both of which demonstrated adequate validity and reliability. The results indicated that the majority of respondents exhibited low levels of psychological well-being (87.4%) and high levels of people-pleasing behavior (61.2%). Product moment correlation analysis revealed a very strong negative relationship between people-pleasing behavior and psychological well-being (r = −0.852) with a significance value of 0.000 (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the results of the coefficient of determination test showed an R Square value of 0.726, indicating that the people-pleaser variable contributes 72.6% to psychological well-being among Generation Z in the Special Region of Yogyakarta. These findings contribute novel insight by demonstrating that people-pleasing tendencies among Indonesian Generation Z are not merely adaptive social strategies, but may constitute a significant risk factor for diminished psychological well-being. This study enriches the field of developmental psychology and mental health by emphasizing the importance of strengthening autonomy, self-acceptance, and personal boundaries among Generation Z. Practically, the findings provide a foundation for psychological interventions, counseling services, and self-development programs aimed at enhancing psychological well-being and preventing the adverse effects of people-pleasing behavior among young people in Indonesia.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

grsse

Publisher

Subject

Religion Humanities Education Social Sciences Other

Description

Golden Ratio of Social Science and Education (GRSSE) encourages courageous and bold new ideas, focusing on contribution, theoretical, managerial, and social life implications. Golden Ratio of Social Science and Education (GRSSE) welcomes papers: Arts, Anthropology Communication Education Education ...