Positive Psychological Traits Research Articles

“The Sum Is Greater Than the Parts?”—The Role of Student Covitality in Flourishing

Existing studies have revealed associations of positive psychological traits with human thriving and flourishing. However, how these traits co-occur—known as covitality—and how it relates to flourishing remain relatively unexplored. This study aimed to investigate how student covitality as a second-order construct of four school experience-grounded positive psychological traits, namely gratitude, optimism, zest and persistence, predicts flourishing among primary school students. Participants were fourth to sixth graders (N = 1,107, 36.2% Grade 4, 32.8% Grade 5, and 31.0% Grade 6; 50.4% female) from 34 primary schools in Hong Kong (7.1% Hong Kong Island, 36.4% Kowloon, and 56.5% New Territories). In this study, structural equation modelling showed that student covitality as a second-order construct predicted flourishing directly (β = .594), and also indirectly through resilience (β = .111) and prosocial behaviour (β = .062). The findings suggest that student covitality as a latent construct better captures the mechanisms that drive student flourishing than the four individual first-order constructs of positive psychological traits. This study sheds light on future efforts in the field of children’s flourishing to consider school-related covitality as a critical variable in research and to develop school-based strategies that promote covitality in practice.

The Basic Principles of School Mental Health Education

School mental health education involves educators consciously, purposefully, and systematically influencingstudents’ psychology using psychological educational methods and means based on the physical and mental development characteristics of students. The objective is to enhance students’ psychological quality, develop their potential, cultivate optimistic and positive psychological traits, and promote the holistic development of their personalities. School mental health education is an integral component of quality education, a crucial element in cultivating high-quality talents for the 21st century, and a symbol of modern schools.

Positive psychological traits predict future sleep quality and quantity: exploring emotion regulation as a common mediator

Objective Mindfulness, self-compassion, gratitude, and optimism have each been associated with better sleep quality and quantity; however, their collective and relative contributions to future sleep outcomes remain unexplored. The current study therefore investigated whether baseline levels of these positive psychological traits could predict subsequent sleep quality and quantity. In addition, emotion regulation was examined as a potential common mediator of the relationships between each of the positive traits and sleep. Methods and Measures A prospective, correlational design was employed. Student participants (N = 220) completed self-report measures of mindfulness, self-compassion, gratitude, optimism, emotion regulation and sleep quality and quantity at three separate time-points, each approximately 12 wk apart. Results Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that, collectively, the positive traits at baseline predicted better sleep quality and quantity 12 wk and 24 wk later. Optimism emerged as a unique predictor of sleep at each time-point, with higher levels of optimism predicting better sleep. Maladaptive emotion regulation mediated the relationships between optimism and sleep and self-compassion and sleep. Conclusion Findings are consistent with the idea that positive psychological traits might help to facilitate good sleep quality and quantity and indicate that reductions in maladaptive emotion regulation may underpin associations between some positive traits and sleep.

Quality of life of family carers of people living with dementia: review of systematic reviews of observational and intervention studies.

Family members are the primary source of support for the growing number of people living with dementia (PLWD) worldwide. However, caring for a person living with dementia can have detrimental impacts on the carer quality of life (QoL). This review of systematic reviews explored the factors associated with the QoL of family carers of PLWD and interventions aimed at improving their QoL. Several health-related databases (PUBMED, Psychinfo, Google Scholar and COCHRANE) were consulted in November 2022. Nineteen systematic reviews were included, and their methodological quality was assessed via AMSTAR-2. Better carer physical and mental health, provision of formal support, relationship quality between carers and PLWD, as well as positive psychological traits were associated with better carer QoL. There is no one-size-fits-all intervention that can improve the QoL of all carers, but promising results were found in most of the interventions. There is inconsistency in evidence on the association between the carer age and QoL. The use of a wide range of QoL measures, particularly generic QoL scales, has contributed to inconsistencies when comparing the efficacy of interventions. Evidence suggests the need for a person-centred approach to improving carer QoL, considering individual and contextual needs as well as the continuum and progressive nature of dementia care. Future research should be focused on understanding how to best implement and measure person-centred care approaches to carer QoL, including cost-effectiveness. More qualitative studies are necessary to explore carer negative and positive experiences of QoL.

Exploration of Positive Parenting Styles in the Perspective of Positive Psychology

The application of positive psychology to the construction of parenting styles is one of the directions of development today and in the future. The study utilizes positive psychology as a basis and examines how different parenting styles affect the positive psychological qualities of students in both primary and middle schools. The study was conducted through questionnaires and interviews, and 420 primary and middle school students were surveyed using the Parenting Style Questionnaire and the Primary and Middle School Students Psychological Character Questionnaire. This study shows that positive parenting styles are crucial to forming positive psychological qualities in primary and middle school students. Positive parenting practices encourage the development of childrens positive psychological traits, while negative parenting does the opposite. Problems in current parenting styles are sorted out, and suggestions such as reinforcing positive experiences and model-based parenting styles are put forward.

Understanding the Association Between Social Desirability, Trait-Seriousness, and Trait-Cheerfulness in Indian Mothers

This quantitative study explores the positive psychological traits exhibited by Indian mothers and their implications for holistic parenting. The study intends to explore the influence of social desirability (SD) on trait-cheerfulness (TCH) has the potential to inform interventions and programs that promote positive parenting practices. Data were collected from 32 participants using a questionnaire with items from State-Trait-Cheerfulness-Inventory-T-60 (STCI-T-60) and The Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale-Short Form to measure TCH, trait-seriousness (SE), bad-mood (BD) and SD, respectively. The scores were converted to numerical values, SD = 88.46%, TCH = 86.25%, TSE = 80%, BM = 58.75%, for correlation analysis. The results suggest a positive relationship between SD and cheerfulness, emphasizing the importance of managing negative emotions and striking a balance between responsibility and playfulness in raising children. This research highlights the significance of supporting Indian mothers in managing negative emotions, fostering positive emotional climates, and maintaining a balance between responsibility and playfulness. By integrating these findings into parenting interventions, professionals can promote the overall well-being of Indian mothers and their children, creating a positive and nurturing environment for healthy development.

Investigating the combined and unique contributions of positive psychological traits to sleep and exploring emotion regulation as a common mediator

The identification of variables which facilitate good quality and quantity sleep represents an important step in tackling the current global sleep loss epidemic. Previous research has established links between good sleep and the positive psychological traits of mindfulness, self-compassion, gratitude and optimism. However, studies have typically focused on single traits, limiting understanding of their collective and independent associations. The two studies reported here address this gap by exploring the combined and unique contributions of mindfulness, self-compassion, gratitude and optimism to sleep; Study 2 further investigated emotion regulation as a common underlying mechanism. Participants in both studies (Study 1 N = 268; Study 2 N = 333) completed online questionnaires assessing the four positive psychological traits and sleep quality and quantity; participants in Study 2 also completed measures of adaptive and maladaptive emotion regulation. Multiple regression analyses revealed that mindfulness, self-compassion, gratitude and optimism collectively accounted for 24.96% (Study 1) and 15.81% (Study 2) of the variance in overall sleep quality and quantity. Optimism and mindfulness emerged as significant linear predictors in their own right, with higher levels of optimism and mindfulness respectively being associated with better sleep. Study 2 further identified maladaptive emotion regulation as a common mediating mechanism. Findings highlight the importance of positive psychological traits in relation to sleep and indicate that optimism and mindfulness might make unique contributions to the prediction of sleep outcomes. Findings also flag emotion regulation as a potential common mediator of associations between positive psychological traits and sleep.

Parenting stress and adolescent academic burnout: the chain mediating role of mental health symptoms and positive psychological traits

Parenting stress and adolescent academic burnout: the chain mediating role of mental health symptoms and positive psychological traits

Inclusive organizational behaviour – the dynamic rules of building new workplaces

Purpose This study aims to reflect on the future of work dimensions through the new concept of inclusive organizational behaviour (IOB) and its practices. Design/methodology/approach This work is a reflective concept development paper that focuses on new dimensions of organizational behaviour (OB) exploring IOB practices in the new workplace which can broaden the concept of OB that fits into the future of work. Findings The IOB practices will adapt and help in adapting to the new work dynamics that can create more humane and stimulating workplaces, thereby benefiting society at large. Individual positive psychological traits, team dynamics and a fusion of digital corporate culture with a human-centric approach and sustainability are highlighted in the redefined IOB, expanding the concept of OB from the three levels of analysis (individual, group and the entire organization’s behaviour) in the new normal post-COVID situation. Research limitations/implications Limited research studies are being conducted to investigate the future of work dynamics in the new standard post-COVID environment, which is dominated by digitization. The lack of literature and the changing situations that impact OB are the limitations. Practical implications Corporate houses, policymakers and leaders who understand the workplace dynamics in the post-COVID scenario can effectively leverage the insights from this work and may chalk out a road map for future work through IOB practices. Originality/value This research extends knowledge pertaining to IOB practices and the changing dynamics that need to be followed in the future OB practices.

Exploring the association among Hope, Self-Efficacy and Psychological Resilience: An Empirical Analysis on the flood victims of Lower Assam Division

Flood is a naturally occurring annual event in Assam. In the year, 1988, 2004 and recently in 2022, the Assam flood has brought a huge destruction to this riverine state. As the districts of Brahmaputra valley in Assam are often shocked by massive flood every year, it leaves victims with physical as well as psychological challenges. Since flood has become an inevitable feature in this state, people have no option left than being positive and resilient. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to find out the relation among hope, self-efficacy and psychological resilience which are considered as positive psychological traits. These are indispensable to fight with challenges and extreme situations. To carry out this research, a total of 200 sample are selected from four districts of Assam viz Barpeta, Darrang, Nalbari and Kamrup (R). The data have been collected through the help of standardized scales and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings are providing information for relevant intervention programs which can be carried out by counsellors, psychologists, mental health professionals and other para professionals to understand and mitigate the psychological challenges encountered by the flood victims of Assam.

Active coping, resilience, post-traumatic growth, and psychiatric symptoms among early and late liver transplant survivors.

Understanding survivorship experiences at different stages postliver transplantation (poat-LT) is essential to improving care. Patient-reported concepts including coping, resilience, post-traumatic growth (PTG), and anxiety/depression, have been implicated as important predictors of quality of life and health behaviors after LT. We aimed to descriptively characterize these concepts at different post-LT survivorship stages. This cross-sectional study featured self-reported surveys measuring sociodemographic, clinical characteristics, and patient-reported concepts including coping, resilience, PTG, anxiety, and depression. Survivorship periods were categorized as early (1y or below), mid (1-5y), late (5-10y), and advanced (10y or above). Univariable and multivariable logistic and linear regression modeling examined factors associated with patient-reported concepts. Among 191 adult LT survivors, the median survivorship stage was 7.7 years (interquartile range: 3.1-14.4) and median age was 63 years (range: 28-83); most were male (64.2%) and Caucasian (84.0%). High PTG was more prevalent in the early survivorship period (85.0%) than late survivorship (15.2%). High trait resilience was only reported by 33% of survivors and associated with higher income. Lower resilience was seen among patients with longer LT hospitalization stays and late survivorship stages. About 25% of survivors had clinically significant anxiety and depression, which was more frequent among early survivors and females with pre-LT mental health disorders. In multivariable analysis, factors associated with lower active coping included survivors ≥65 years, non-Caucasian race, lower levels of education, and nonviral liver disease. In a heterogeneous cohort including early and late LT survivors, there was variation in levels of PTG, resilience, anxiety, and depression at different survivorship stages. Factors associated with positive psychological traits were identified. Understanding determinants of LT survivorship has important implications for how we should monitor and support LT survivors.

Women engagement, psychological traits, and gender gaps in the small‐scale seaweed aquaculture in Chile

AbstractWomen's participation in small‐scale aquaculture is growing, but women producers remain in a disadvantaged position compared to men. Reducing gender gaps is at the core of many development programs, but little is known regarding the source of these differences. This paper investigates the main drivers of gender gaps in seaweed small‐scale aquaculture by focusing on the analysis of differences between male and women, and across a series of psychological traits. We use data from a sample of 152 seaweed producers from central‐southern Chile and perform a matching procedure to generate a balanced sample of male and female producers in the dimensions determining their performance in the sector. Our results show that female producers may exhibit more positive psychological traits such as patience and interpersonal trust. However, women's choices in seaweed farming may be incongruent with these characteristics, as expecting more immediate returns than males, and may not be able to exploit the advantages of collaboration in selling in the sector. This supports the notion that opportunity costs (e.g., other activities in the marine area) and outside options (e.g., fishing versus trade) may be one of the major drivers of gender gaps and suggests that there are barriers keeping women from exploiting their potentially advantageous individual characteristics. Results provide important insights for the design of support instruments aimed at reducing these barriers faced by women in the sector.

Evaluating Optimism, Hope, Resilience, Coping Flexibility, Secure Attachment, and PERMA as a Well-Being Model for College Life Adjustment of Student Veterans: A Hierarchical Regression Analysis

The purpose of this study is to examine (a) to what extent demographic covariates, foundational and emerging positive psychology traits (FEPPTs), and PERMA uniquely predict college life adjustment, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and life satisfaction of student military veterans; (b) PERMA as a happiness and well-being model for college life adjustment, HRQOL, and life satisfaction among student veterans; and (c) FEPPTs as predictors of PERMA (positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment). In addition, we tested whether total PERMA scores mediate the relationship between service-connected disability and college adjustment. A total of 205 student veterans responded to an online survey. Results revealed that demographic covariates (e.g., service-connected disability), FEPPTs (e.g., optimism), and PERMA (e.g., positive emotion) significantly accounted for college life adjustment, HRQOL, and life satisfaction of student veterans. In addition, a mediation analysis revealed that PERMA partially mediated the relationship between service-connected disability and college life adjustment of student veterans. The results of this study provide empirical supports for the use of PERMA as a comprehensive well-being model of college life adjustment for student veterans.

Positive psychological traits are associated with dietary behavior during the COVID-19 The impact of taste and smell changes in children with cancer undergoing chemotherapy: a qualitative study

Positive psychological traits are associated with dietary behavior during the COVID-19 The impact of taste and smell changes in children with cancer undergoing chemotherapy: a qualitative study

A Theoretical Analysis of Approaches to Enhance Students' Grit and Academic Engagement.

The role of teachers in developing positive traits in EFL students has been widely endorsed in the literature. Two such traits that have pivotal roles in language teaching and learning are grit and academic engagement. Despite the proliferation of correlational studies on these constructs, theoretical and systematic review studies on the role of EFL teachers’ approaches in strengthening and enhancing these variables are scant. To fill this wide gap, the present study aimed to review the theoretical and empirical underpinnings of students’ grit and engagement and their teachability. In so doing, the definitions, conceptualizations, and dimensions of the two variables were presented. Moreover, a number of practical teaching approaches were suggested to EFL teachers in various contexts. Finally, implications, research gaps, and future directions of this research strand are provided to enhance EFL stakeholders’ knowledge of teachability of grit, engagement, and many other positive psychological traits.

Structured, Progressive Exercise Training Improves Cardiovascular Psychophysiological Outcomes in Young Adult Women with a History of Adverse Childhood Experiences

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) represent psychosocial stressors that occur during critical developmental periods and are associated in a dose‐dependent manner with adverse cardiovascular outcomes in emerging adults, including greater age‐related increases in blood pressure (BP) and increased circulating endothelin‐1 (ET‐1), a psychosocial stress‐responsive, endothelium‐derived peptide and potent vasoconstrictor. ACEs have also been linked to lower resilience and hope, which is a motivational state based on goal‐directed energy (agency) and goal planning (pathways). Importantly, resilience and hope are each stable psychological traits that may protect against adversity. We examined the effects of a structured, progressive exercise training program on hope agency, hope pathways, resilience, BP, and circulating ET‐1 in young adult women with a history of moderate‐to‐severe (e.g., 4 or more) adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). We hypothesized that exercise training would increase resilience and hope, but lower systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP), and circulating ET‐1. We further hypothesized that changes in hope and resilience would be associated with changes in BP and ET‐1 across the intervention period in the young women with ACEs. Forty‐two otherwise healthy young adult women with either four or more (ACE+) or with no ACEs (ACE–) were recruited and completed this study. Participants with ACEs (ACE+) were randomly assigned to either an exercise (n=14) or non‐exercise (n=14) control group, whereas women without a history of ACEs (ACE–) were assigned to a non‐exercise control (e.g., negative control group; n=14). Statistical analyses included two‐way mixed (group x time) effects and bivariate correlational analyses. Changes are reported as means ± SE. Agency did not change in any group (p = 0.14), but pathways improved only in the ACE+ exercise group (+1.6 ± 0.74 au; p = 0.03). ET‐1 decreased in the ACE+ exercise group only (‐0.31 ± 0.29 pg/ml, p= 0.04). While the interactions for resilience and SBP did not reach significance (p = 0.06 and 0.05, respectively), forced post‐hoc analyses indicated that resilience improved (+4.9 ± 1.9 au, p = 0.01) and SBP tended to improve (‐4.0 ± 2.0 mmHg; p = 0.05) in the ACE+ exercise group only. DBP did not change in any group (p = 0.43). There were significant inverse associations between changes in pathways and SBP (ρ = ‐0.43, p= 0.02) and pathways and ET‐1 (ρ = ‐0.56, p= 0.003), and a significant direct association between changes in SBP and ET‐1 (ρ = 0.49; p = 0.01) in the ACE+ young women. Associations among resilience and BP and ET‐1 were weaker and non‐significant (ρ = ‐0.17–0.29, p≥ 0.13). Our results suggest that structured, progressive exercise training promotes improvements in positive psychological factors, SBP, and circulating ET‐1 levels in young adults with a history of ACEs. Further, changes in pathways were related to changes in SBP and ET‐1 across the intervention period, suggesting a potential psychophysiological relationship between positive psychological traits and cardiovascular risk factors in young women with ACEs.

Brief Training in Savoring Meditation Enhances Non-dual Awareness in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

Brief training in savoring meditation (SAV; a novel positive-affect generative meditation practice) may be a scalable method of augmenting reward system functioning in chronic pain patients, with implications for clinical disease endpoints. Recent data from our group also presented at this conference indicate that SAV augments functioning within the corticostriatal circuits, inhibits experimental pain, and increases positive affect relative to active control (non-mindful breathing; NMB) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. The present analysis examined the effects of SAV on trait-like non-dual awareness (NDA-T), or the capacity to experience self-transcendence and the blissful affective sequelae of transcendence, and mindfulness, or the tendency to relate to experiences with non-judgmental acceptance, relative to NMB. We also analyzed between-groups differences in patients' capacity to evoke state-like NDA (NDA-S) during meditation. Lastly, we correlated treatment-induced changes in NDA-T and mindfulness with change in clinical pain. RA patients were randomly assigned to complete 4 sessions of SAV (n = 21) or NMB (n = 23), followed by a laboratory session where they engaged in their assigned meditation practice. Clinical pain, NDA-T and mindfulness were collected at baseline, and again following the laboratory session along with NDA-S. Changes in NDA-T and mindfulness were assessed with multilevel models allowing for random intercepts. Correlations among change in NDA-T, mindfulness and pain were computed using difference scores. Between-groups differences in NDA-S were evaluated using linear regression. SAV increased NDA-T total scores and self-transcendence subscale scores, as well as NDA-S during meditation, more than NMB (p's < .05). Mindfulness was not different in either group (p > .05). Changes in in NDA-T and pain were uncorrelated (p > .05). Brief training in SAV augmented positive psychological states and traits. Future research directions include testing a longer meditation program to examine SAV-induced increases in NDA on pain outcomes. Grant support from NIH R61AT010134-01 NIH T32NS070201.

Psychological Hardiness and Grit Are Associated with Musculoskeletal Injury in U.S. Army Trainees

Musculoskeletal injuries (MSKIs) during U.S. Army Basic Combat Training (BCT) are pervasive, costly, and erode training effectiveness. Research has explored factors, particularly physical and demographic characteristics, which contribute to injury risk in military trainees. Psychological traits, such as hardiness and grit, have been associated with positive performance outcomes and retention during military training, but their relationship to injury risk is unclear. In this study, 2275 U.S. Army trainees completed validated measures of hardiness and grit at the start (T1) and end (T2) of BCT, and reported injuries sustained during BCT via weekly survey. A majority of trainees (70%) reported an injury during BCT. Trainees reporting high scores on grit and positive hardiness subscales at T1 had 20–30% lower odds of self-reported injury during training; those reporting high scores on negative hardiness subscales at T1 had 20–40% greater odds of self-reported injury. Trainees who reported an injury during BCT also reported higher scores on negative hardiness subscales at T2 compared to uninjured trainees. These findings provide novel evidence supporting an association between positive psychological traits and MSKI risk in military trainees, and underscore the importance of considering psychological resilience when assessing MSKI risk in military populations.

Four-Week Mentalizing Imagery Therapy for Family Dementia Caregivers: A Randomized Controlled Trial with Neural Circuit Changes

Introduction: Family caregivers of patients with dementia suffer a high burden of depression and reduced positive emotions. Mentalizing imagery therapy (MIT) provides mindfulness and guided imagery skills training to improve balanced mentalizing and emotion regulation. Objective: Our aims were to test the hypotheses that MIT for family caregivers would reduce depression symptoms and improve positive psychological traits more than a support group (SG), and would increase dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) connectivity and reduce subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC) connectivity. Methods: Forty-six caregivers participated in a randomized controlled trial comparing a 4-week MIT group (n = 24) versus an SG (n = 22). Resting state neuroimaging was obtained at baseline and post-group in 28 caregivers, and questionnaires completed by all participants. The primary outcome was change in depression; secondary measures included anxiety, mindfulness, self-compassion, and well-being. Brain networks with participation of DLPFC and sgACC were identified. Connectivity strengths of DLPFC and sgACC with respective networks were determined with dual regression. DLPFC connectivity was correlated with mindfulness and depression outcomes. Results: MIT significantly outperformed SG in improving depression, anxiety, mindfulness, self-compassion, and well-being, with moderate to large effect sizes. Relative to SG, participants in MIT showed significant increases in DLPFC connectivity – exactly replicating pilot study results – but no change in sgACC. DLPFC connectivity change correlated positively with mindfulness and negatively with depression change. Conclusions: In this trial, MIT was superior to SG for reducing depression and anxiety symptoms and improving positive psychological traits. Neuroimaging results suggested that strengthening DLPFC connectivity with an emotion regulation network might be mechanistically related to MIT effects.

Association between positive psychological traits and changes in dietary behaviour related to first COVID-19 lockdown: A general population-based study

BackgroundThe spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) led many countries to implement lockdown measures, which resulted in changes in dietary behaviours that could persist over the long term and have associated health consequences. Psychological traits may impact these changes given their known association with dietary behaviours. We aimed to investigate in a population-based study, whether positive psychological traits were associated with changes of snacking behaviour and food consumption observed during the first COVID-19 lockdown period. DesignIn 2016, levels of optimism, resilience, self-esteem, satisfaction with life, mindfulness and mastery were assessed in 33,766 adults of the French NutriNet-Santé cohort. Snacking and food group consumption were assessed in April–May 2020. Association between psychological traits and changes (no change, increase, decrease) in snacking and food group consumption were assessed using logistic regressions. Multiple correspondence analysis followed by ascending hierarchical classification were used to derive clusters of dietary behaviours. Covariance analyses were used to compare mean scores of psychological traits between clusters. Analyses were adjusted for sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics, anxiety and depressive symptomatology. ResultsParticipants with higher levels of optimism, resilience, self-esteem, satisfaction with life, mindfulness or mastery were less likely to change their snacking behaviour and food group consumption of various food groups. Individuals with lower levels were more likely to make changes, with either unhealthy (e.g., less fruits and vegetables, more processed meat) or healthy (e.g., more pasta/rice (whole-grain)) changes. Overall, individuals showed higher levels of positive psychological traits in the “no change” cluster, followed by the “healthy” and the “unhealthy” cluster (all P < 0.05). ConclusionsIndividuals with higher levels of optimism, resilience, self-esteem, satisfaction with life, mindfulness or mastery were less impacted by the lockdown in terms of dietary behaviours.