Positive Psychological Constructs Research Articles

An intervention study on the influence of altruistic teaching on L2 learners’ English research article abstract writing

Abstract A large mass of research has reported the significance and power of positive psychology (PP) constructs in second/foreign language (L2) education. As an offshoot of PP, altruistic teaching, which highlights teaching without self-focus, has recently initiated its way into L2 research territory. However, the way altruistic teaching influences L2 students’ academic literacy skills, such as abstract writing, has been left uncharted to date. To bridge this gap, the present study used an experimental design to investigate the contribution of altruistic teaching to 163 university students’ English abstract writing required in research article (RA)s. The results of t-test and ANOVA indicated a statistically significant difference between the learners’ RA abstract writing in the control and experimental groups in both the short and long run in light of altruistic teaching. The study discusses the results and presents the implications of altruistic teaching for L2 research and practice.

Positive psychology constructs associated with academic success in South African secondary schools: A scoping review

In the South African education system, there is consistent concern about academic success and how it can be supported. Using a positive psychology lens could add additional insight on aspects of positive psychological functioning that may be associated with academic success. This scoping review examined literature on positive psychology constructs identified in association with academic success in South African secondary schools. Databases and other relevant sources were searched for studies implemented between 2007 and 2022. The search strategy yielded 15 studies for analysis. The results indicate that out of 46 potential positive psychology constructs, only 25 have been investigated in South African literature. The most researched construct was social support, followed by achievement motivation, and hope.

Amor Fati and the Negation of Life: Examining Existential Meaning in Life and Regret as Processes Involved in the Association Between One’s Love of Fate and Suicidal Ideation

This study examined how amor fati, a positive psychological construct, was associated with suicidal ideation in a sample of 215 young adults. Specifically, components of existential meaning in life (viz., comprehension, purpose, and mattering) and regret were evaluated as potential mediators of the association between amor fati and suicidal ideation. Results of conducting bootstrapped mediation testing with multiple mediators indicated that amor fati was indirectly associated with suicidal ideation through comprehension and mattering. Purpose and regret were not found to mediate the association between amor fati and suicidal ideation. In support of partial mediation, however, the negative association between amor fati and suicidal ideation remained significant even after including components of existential meaning in life and regret in the model. The present findings indicate that amor fati is an important protective factor that should be considered in studies of suicidality in young adults.

Sustainable Growth of Learner Engagement and Well‐Being Through Social (Teacher and Peer) Support: The Mediator Role of Self‐Efficacy

ABSTRACTThe facilitation of learners' achievement may be enhanced by considering the role of different constructs of positive psychology (PP) such as well‐being and engagement. Besides, there is a widespread belief that self‐efficacy has become an important psychological construct that can affect learners' academic performance. Additionally, the interpersonal connections that learners have with their teachers and peers within the educational setting play a pivotal role in their intellectual development. Several studies have confirmed that both peers and teachers have a significant role in shaping the academic performance of learners. Nevertheless, there is a dearth of empirical research examining the potential relationship between peer and teacher support and its impact on learner engagement (LE), and well‐being with the mediator role of self‐efficacy. Therefore, this research was designed to examine it among 640 students in China. The package of five questionnaires, namely the teacher and peer support, LE, well‐being, and self‐efficacy was administered to collect the data. The results obtained from the structural equation model (SEM) indicated that students who receive higher levels of support from their educators and classmates were engaged more and had high well‐being. Moreover, regression analysis indicated that social (teacher and peer) support was a predictor of both well‐being (β = 0.436, p < 0.01) and engagement (β = 0.666, p < 0.01). Furthermore, social (teacher and peer) support was a strong predictor of efficacy (β = 0.768, p < 0.01). Indeed, self‐efficacy could predict both well‐being (β = 0.446, p < 0.01) and engagement (β = 0.183, p < 0.01). As a result, some suggestions are recommended for teachers, students, teacher educators and other members of the academic community.

Psychological profiles in patients receiving maintenance dialysis: Classification, correlates, and behavioral health outcomes.

This study identified psychological profiles based on depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, positive affect, and posttraumatic growth in 298 patients receiving maintenance dialysis, and examined their relationships with self-management at baseline and 1-year follow-up. Five psychological response profiles were identified: well-being (42.95%), resilient (26.17%), moderate-distress-with-growth (17.79%), distressed (11.07%), and high-distress-with-growth (2.01%). Patients were more likely to be in the distressed profile if they were younger, had less social support, received peritoneal dialysis, and suffered from a greater symptom burden of kidney disease. The well-being profile showed better self-management behavior at baseline and 1-year follow-up. The distressed profile was associated with worse self-management at baseline and the resilient profile was associated with worse self-management at follow-up. The findings highlighted the beneficial role of positive psychological constructs in promoting self-management behavior, which implied that beyond eliminating psychological distress, it is important to facilitate positive psychological well-being.

A conceptualization and psychometric evaluation of positive psychological outcome measures used in adolescents and young adults living with HIV: A mixed scoping and systematic review.

Sub-Saharan Africa bears the greatest burden of HIV, with comorbid mental conditions highly prevalent in people living with HIV. It is important to evaluate the mental health of adolescents and young adults living with HIV (AYALHIV) comprehensively by measuring both negative and positive psychological constructs. There has been a proliferation of interest in positive psychological outcome measures, but the evidence of their psychometric robustness is fragmented. This review sought to: 1) Identify positive psychological outcomes and corresponding outcome measures used in AYALHIV in sub-Saharan Africa. 2) Critically appraise the psychometrics of the identified outcome measures. Two reviewers independently searched articles in PubMed, Scopus, Africa-Wide Information, CINAHL, Psych INFO and Google Scholar. Searches were conducted from November 2022 to February 2023. Two separate reviewers independently reviewed retrieved articles. We applied a narrative synthesis to map the key constructs. The risk of bias across studies was evaluated using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist. The quality of the psychometric properties was rated using the COSMIN checklist and qualitatively synthesized using the modified Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation checklist. We identified 15 positive psychological constructs: body appreciation, confidence, coping, flourishing, meaningfulness, personal control, positive outlook, resilience, self-management, self-compassion, self-concept, self-efficacy, self-esteem, self-worth and transcendence, that had been used to assess ALHIV. The most measured constructs were resilience, self-concept, self-esteem, coping and self-efficacy. Construct validity and internal consistency were the properties most frequently considered, while content validity and structural validity were assessed less often. Few studies performed complete validations; thus, evidence for psychometric robustness was fragmented. However, this review shows the initial evidence of the feasibility of using positive psychological outcomes in low-resource settings. Instead of creating new outcome measures, researchers are recommended to leverage the existing measures, adapt them for use and, if appropriate, strive to maintain the factorial structure to facilitate comparisons. PROSPERO-CRD42022325172.

Resilience, Survival, and Functional Independence in Older Adults Facing Critical Illness

Older adults surviving critical illness often experience new or worsening functional impairments. Modifiable positive psychological constructs, like resilience, may mitigate post-intensive care morbidity. Is pre-ICU resilience associated with: (1) post-ICU survival; (2) the drop in post-ICU functional independence; and (3) a lesser decline of independence before versus after the ICU? We performed a retrospective cohort study using Medicare-linked Health and Retirement Study surveys from 2006-2018. We included Older adults ≥65 years admitted to an ICU. We calculated resilience before ICU admission. The resilience measure was defined from the Simplified Resilience Score which was previously adapted and validated for the Health and Retirement Study. Resilience was scored using the leave-behind survey normalized to 0 (lowest resilience) to 12 (highest resilience) point scale. Outcomes were survival and probability of functional independence. We modeled survival using Gompertz models and independence using joint survival models adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical variables. We estimated average marginal effects to determine independence probabilities. Across 3,409 patients ≥65 years old admitted to ICUs, pre-existing frailty (30.5%) and cognitive impairment (24.3%) were common. Most patients were previously independent (82.7%). Mechanical ventilation occurred in 14.8% and sepsis in 43.2%. Highest versus lowest resilience had lower risk of post-ICU mortality (aHR 0.81 95% CI [0.70, 0.94]). Higher resilience was associated with greater likelihood in post-ICU independence (estimated probability of independence 5 years post-ICU in highest-to-lowest resilience: 0.53 CI 95% [0.33, 0.74], 0.47 [0.26, 0.68], 0.49 [0.28, 0.70], 0.36 [0.17, 0.55] p<0.01). Resilience was not associated with a difference in the drop of independence across resilience groups, nor a difference in declines of independence post-ICU. ICU survivors with higher resilience had increased rates of survival and functional independence, though the slope of functional decline did not differ by resilience group pre- to post-ICU.

Unlocking technology acceptance among South African employees: A psychological perspective

Orientation: The study delves into technological acceptance within South African organisations, identifying psychological factors influencing employees’ willingness to adopt technology. Barriers to technology adoption are explored, emphasising the universal relevance of identified psychological constructs.Research purpose: To understand the psychological barriers influencing successful technological adoption in South African organisations.Motivations for the study: High failure rates in tech-implementation projects are linked to employee resistance, revealing a crucial gap in understanding psychological dynamics. Recognising human factors as pivotal to technological success, there is a need to transcend technical aspects, exploring individual experiences during organisational transitions.Research approach/design and method: Using a qualitative approach with non-random snowball sampling, 17 South African employees were interviewed in a semi-structured manner. Thematic analysis revealed specific categories of psychological barriers.Main findings: Identified barriers proved to be the antithesis of positive psychological constructs, including lack of psychological safety, lack of organisational trust, lack of psychological availability, negative emotions, low self-efficacy and low frustration tolerance. The presence of these barriers, hindering participants’ willingness to adopt new technologies.Practical/managerial implications: Organisations are advised to prioritise fostering a culture of psychological safety and trust, transparent communication and positive emotional experiences during technology adoption at the individual level. Training programmes enhancing self-efficacy and promoting mindfulness practices can mitigate barriers.Contribution/value-add: This research stresses the significance of the role of psychological factors in inhibiting an employee’s technological acceptance, providing practical guidance for industrial psychologists, HR professionals and change managers. The need to consider individual experiences during technological transitions, has universal implications across diverse workplaces.

The influence of athletes' gratitude on burnout: the sequential mediating roles of the coach-athlete relationship and hope.

Athlete burnout is a widespread psychological syndrome in competitive sports, negatively impacts athletes' competitive state and hampers the healthy development of sports organizations. With the rise of positive psychology, exploring the mechanisms of athlete psychological fatigue through the lens of psychological capital has become a focal point of recent research. This study introduces gratitude, a key element of psychological capital in positive psychology, to examine its effect on athlete burnout and its mechanism of action, with a particular focus on the sequential mediating roles of the coach-athlete relationship (CAR) and hope. A cross-sectional study design was utilized, involving 483 active Chinese athletes from national training teams and professional sports teams. The sample comprised both male (n=251) and female (n=232) athletes, with an average age of 19.24 ± 3.99 years. Participants were asked to complete self-administered questionnaires, including the Gratitude Questionnaire, CAR Questionnaire, Hope Questionnaire, and Athlete Burnout Questionnaire. Structural equation modeling in AMOS 24.0 and descriptive statistics and correlation analyses in SPSS 20.0 were employed for data analysis. The study revealed significant associations between athlete gratitude, CAR, hope, and athlete burnout. Notably, gratitude was found to both directly and indirectly (via CAR and hope) influence burnout levels among athletes, suggesting a sequential mediation effect. The findings highlight the importance of positive psychological constructs in buffering against athlete burnout. Specifically, gratitude, alongside a supportive CAR and elevated levels of hope, may play crucial roles in mitigating burnout symptoms. These insights offer promising directions for the development of targeted intervention strategies aimed at fostering athlete well-being and performance, advocating for the integration of positive psychology principles in the management and prevention of athlete burnout.

What are the roles of positive psychological construct in blended learning contexts? Integrating academic buoyancy into the Community of Inquiry framework.

In the post-epidemic era, blended learning has become a social trend for the future of higher education, and scholars have endeavored to understand the factors that influence student learning in these blended communities. Communities of Inquiry is a conceptual framework that describes the components of blended learning environments, indicating teaching presence, social presence, and cognitive presence. However, the framework fails to adequately explore how individual learning motivational factors influence student learning. Therefore, this study extends the Community of Inquiry framework by drawing on a positive psychological construct-academic buoyancy to reveal the relationship between academic buoyancy and the three presences through empirical research. The theoretical model was validated by SPSS 26.0 and smartPLS4.0. To evaluate the measurement and structural models, structural equation modeling (SEM) was carried out using the partial least squares (PLS) method. (a) Teaching presence positively predicts academic buoyancy, and academic buoyancy positively predicts social presence and cognitive presence; (b) academic buoyancy mediates teaching presence and social presence, as well as teaching presence and cognitive presence; and (c) academic buoyancy acts as a chain mediator between teaching presence and cognitive presence through social presence. The results of this study fill a gap in the multiple roles of individual positive psychological construct-academic buoyancy in blended learning communities, extend the Community of Inquiry theoretical framework, and provide empirical evidence for blended learning quality and practical improvement strategies.

From ADHD to well-being: The Role of Rejection Sensitivity in college life

IntroductionRejection-sensitivity is a prevalent yet understudied emotional symptom often associated with adult ADHD. While ADHD research typically focuses on behavioral and cognitive facets, emerging evidence highlights the significance of emotional symptoms. Emotional dysregulation in ADHD impacts psychological well-being and mental health. Our study examines how ADHD symptoms relate to rejection sensitivity, considering factors like resiliency, self-regulation, and overall well-being.ObjectivesOur study seeks to establish a direct connection between ADHD scores and rejection sensitivity among college students. We also investigate the mediating role of well-being, creative executive efficiency, self-regulation, and resilience, while exploring the moderating role of savoring capacity.Methods Between February and May of 2023, we conducted a cross-sectional study using an online questionnaire, gathering data from 304 Hungarian higher education students aged 18 to 35. The majority, 78.0%, were female, and 71.4% were full-time students. Most participants were pursuing a bachelor’s degree (56.6%), followed by undivided master’s (21.7%), doctoral studies (13.8%), and traditional master’s degrees (6.9%). We administered the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v.1.1), The Mental Health Test (MHT), and the Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire (A-RSQ) for our research.ResultsFirst, the ADHD scores were significantly associated with each mediator (well-being: β = -.343, p &lt; .001; creative and executive efficiency: β = -.183, p &lt; .01; self-regulation (β = -.230, p &lt; .001; and resilience: β = -.321, p &lt; .001). There was a direct effect of ADHD scores on rejection sensitivity scores (β = .466, p &lt; .001). Finally, we also detected the indirect effects of ADHD scores on rejection sensitivity scores through the four mediators (β = .227, p &lt; .001). Savoring capacity significantly moderated the relationship between ADHD and rejection sensitivity scores (β = -.244, p &lt; .001).Conclusions ADHD scores in our study population significantly correlate with well-being, creative and executive efficiency, self-regulation, and resilience. Furthermore, these scores directly influence rejection sensitivity, suggesting a heightened vulnerability to perceived rejection among those with higher ADHD scores. The indirect effects emphasize that the relationship between ADHD and rejection sensitivity is mediated by the aforementioned positive psychological constructs. This underscores the need for holistic interventions in ADHD populations, addressing not just core ADHD symptoms but also enhancing well-being, cognitive efficiency, self-regulation, and resilience to potentially mitigate rejection sensitivity.Disclosure of InterestV. Müller Grant / Research support from: This project received funding from the New National Excellence Program under the Ministry for Culture and Innovation, sourced from the National Research, Development, and Innovation Fund, reference #ÚNKP-23-3-SZTE-66., B. Pikó: None Declared

Should Positive Psychology Researchers Control for Response Style?

This study investigates self-deceptive enhancement (SDE) as a control for response style in measuring positive psychology constructs, focusing on work engagement and three self-reported individual performance components. Addressing the critiques of positive psychology, particularly its reliance on self-report measures and susceptibility to method variance, we examine the role of SDE—characterised by unconsciously inflated self-perceptions—in self-reported surveys. Using latent variable modelling with different model specifications, we assess the impact of controlling for SDE in the relationship between work engagement and self-reported performance outcomes in a sample of small and medium enterprise employees. Our results show that the baseline model, not accounting for SDE, indicates statistically significant paths between work engagement and all three performance outcomes. However, when SDE is controlled for as a marker variable or a predictor, these relationships change significantly, with a notable reduction in the explained variance for two of the three performance components. The results highlight how SDE can impact substantive findings, underscoring the importance of considering controlling for SDE as an unconscious response style in positive psychology research. All in all, controlling for SDE may become necessary for improving the accuracy and consistency of research results in this field.

A cluster randomized controlled trial of a brief positive healthy eating intervention.

Excessive sugar intake poses a significant risk factor for non-communicable diseases. A positive healthy eating (PHE) intervention was developed to promote low-sugar dietary practices in families. The PHE intervention capitalized on positive psychological constructs to overcome barriers to health behavior change by helping families associate feelings of joy, gratitude, and savoring with healthy eating. In a cluster randomized controlled trial, 1983 participants from 1467 families were recruited in Hong Kong. PHE included a core and booster session. Data were collected at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and at 1-month and 3-month follow-up. Compared to the control, PHE showed greater increase in intention to change at post-intervention, engagement in low-sugar dietary practices individually and with family members at 3-month follow-up, and greater reduction in sugar-sweetened beverage intake at 1-month and 3-month follow-up. Intentions to change mediated PHE's effects on low-sugar dietary practices. Focus group interviews revealed the behavior-change process and family quality of life.

Subjective Well-Being, Positive Affect, Life Satisfaction, and Happiness With Multiple Sclerosis: A Scoping Review of the Literature.

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) may face challenges maintaining their subjective well-being, life satisfaction, happiness, and positive emotions. This scoping review's purpose was to summarize studies on these positive psychological constructs among people with MS. Observational and interventional studies that included measures of subjective well-being, life satisfaction, happiness, or positive affect were identified. Variables associated with these constructs were classified using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). The review included 22 observational and 10 interventional studies. Variables were categorized into each of the ICF domains. Cognitive behavior therapy was the most common intervention, with content and dosing varying widely. Subjective well-being, life satisfaction, happiness, and positive affect are crucial components of community and individual health. The findings of this scoping review highlight the complex interplay between function, personal factors, and environmental conditions in influencing positive psychological constructs. Given the limited evidence, rehabilitation nurses should leverage their skills in delivering holistic care and adopt data-driven approaches to integrate positive psychological strategies into care plans. Further research is needed to measure and compare interventions aimed at improving these constructs and to examine the influence of personal and environmental factors among diverse MS populations.

Contributions of Positive Psychology to Higher Education Across Asia: A Scoping Review and Unifying Thematic Framework

Positive psychology offers a scientific window onto understanding and enhancing the welfare and growth of university communities, and as well as improving academic performance. This holistic approach is on the rise, yet most research is conducted in Western countries. This situation prevails despite the fact that two-thirds of the world’s population live in Asia. This review collated and synthesised published work on applications of positive psychology in higher education conducted in Asia, to describe the current status, explore conceptual perspectives and identify knowledge gaps. A total of 147 articles (157 experimental studies), published since 2000, were included. These were descriptive explorations (12.1%), quantifying associations between positive psychology constructs (62.4%), interventions (19.7%), and psychometric evaluations (5.7%). Key topics were academic leadership, organisational commitment, student engagement and foreign language learning. The thematic framework centered on ‘Optimal Functioning’, with ‘Personal Resources One Can Draw On’ and ‘How One Interacts With The World’ as direct influencing factors, and ‘Environment’ as an indirect factor. Across the Asian region, positive psychology’s major contribution is to identify what types of personal resources are associated with optimal functioning in higher education, but there is little high-quality evidence for intervention benefits, nor a deep understanding of how those resources can be effectively deployed to achieve well-being. As part of the third-wave positive psychology movement, scholars in Asia can play a greater leading role in re-evaluating traditional Western concepts to account for the socio-cultural context in which students and staff are embedded.

Introducing Entropy into Organizational Psychology: An Entropy-Based Proactive Control Model.

This paper provides a systematic review of the transfer and quantification of the concept of entropy in multidisciplinary fields and delves into its future applications and research directions in organizational management psychology based on its core characteristics. We first comprehensively reviewed the conceptual evolution of entropy in disciplines such as physics, information theory, and psychology, revealing its complexity and diversity as an interdisciplinary concept. Subsequently, we analyzed the quantification methods of entropy in a multidisciplinary context and pointed out that their calculation methods have both specificity and commonality across different disciplines. Subsequently, the paper reviewed the research on how individuals cope with uncertainty in entropy increase, redefined psychological entropy from the perspective of organizational management psychology, and proposed an "entropy-based proactive control model" at the individual level. This model is built around the core connotation of entropy, covering four dimensions: learning orientation, goal orientation, change orientation, and risk taking. We believe that psychological entropy, as a meta structure of individuals, can simulate, explain, and predict the process of how individuals manage and control "entropy" in an organizational environment from a dynamic perspective. This understanding enables psychological entropy to integrate a series of positive psychological constructs (e.g., lean spirit), providing extensive predictive and explanatory power for various behaviors of individuals in organizations. This paper provides a new direction for the application of the concept of entropy in psychology, especially for theoretical development and practical application in the field of organizational management.

The Flourishing Scale: Psychometric Properties in Breast Cancer Patients.

Promoting well-being is a key goal of cancer care, and it needs to be assessed using appropriate instruments. Flourishing is considered part of psychological well-being and it is commonly assessed with the Flourishing Scale (FS). To our knowledge, no studies have analyzed the psychometric properties of the FS in breast cancer patients. Our aim here was to provide validity evidence for use of the FS in this context. Participants were 217 Spanish women with breast cancer who completed the FS and other scales assessing positive psychology constructs (life satisfaction, positive affect, resilience, self-esteem, optimism) and indicators of psychological maladjustment (negative affect, depression, anxiety, and stress). The internal structure of the FS was analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). We calculated the average variance extracted (AVE) to evaluate convergent validity, and both McDonald's omega and Cronbach's alpha coefficients to estimate reliability. Item analysis was performed by computing corrected item-total correlations. Validity evidence based on relationships with other variables was obtained through Pearson correlation analysis, controlling for age and cancer stage. The CFA supported a single-factor structure, with adequate goodness-of-fit indices (CFI = 0.997, NNFI = 0.996, RMSEA = 0.069, and SRMR = 0.047) and standardized factor loadings ranging from 0.70 to 0.87. The value of the AVE was 0.63, and the reliability coefficient obtained with both procedures was 0.91. Corrected item-total correlations ranged from .62 to .78. Correlation analysis showed direct and strong associations between the FS score and scores on positive psychology constructs (range from 0.43 to 0.74), the strongest correlations being with positive affect and life satisfaction. The FS score was inversely correlated with scores on depression, anxiety, stress, negative affect, and pessimism (range from -0.14 to -0.52), the strongest association being with stress. The FS is a useful tool for exploring well-being in the breast cancer context, providing useful information for psychological assessment.

The influence of job crafting on employee flourishing : A comprehensive study among IT sector employees in India from the millennial and Gen Z generations

This research examines relationship of job crafting with employee flourishing among Gen Z and Millennials in Indian IT sector. The traditional top down and ‘one-size-fits-all’ job design approach does not effectively boost engagement and performance instead leads to employee dissatisfaction at workplace. By integrating this modern bottom-up method, individuals can thrive at their jobs and can drive better performance. This study explores job crafting’s connection to employee flourishing, a key positive psychology construct. In the research, job crafting levels and flourishing were measured using standard instruments and data was analysed and statistically proven significant. We also analysed three job crafting dimensions - task, relationship, and purpose crafting - and their role in driving employee flourishing. Various researches indicates that job crafting enhances employees’ psychological well-being and many other positive psychology variables. This study investigates this impact, particularly among younger individuals born after 1980s hence contributing valuable insights to both theory and practice about job crafting’s effect on employee flourishing. The findings are relevant for organizational leaders, HR professionals, and scholars interested in enhancing employee well-being and developing great workplaces.

The Development and Validation of the Glassboro Inventory for Twelve-Step (GIFTS)

ABSTRACT Twelve-step programs are a common tool used to help individuals struggling with addiction(s). Several measures exist to identify affiliation and involvement in these programs; however, most only target a handful of observable behaviors and are potentially missing twelve-step beliefs and behaviors salient to those in the twelve-step community. The current study describes the development of the Glassboro Inventory for Twelve-Step (GIFTS), a comprehensive assessment of twelve-step behaviors and beliefs using “twelve-step friendly” language developed by examining themes from two focus groups with Twelve-step members. Next, we aimed to initially validate the GIFTS, determine subscales, and examine correlations between subscales, addiction-related outcomes, and positive psychology measures. Participants included 285 individuals who were predominantly white (91.6%), female (55%), and an average age of 44 years. An exploratory factor analysis revealed 18 items converging on four factors: Beliefs, Actions, Social Environment, and Higher Power. The GIFTS subscales were internally consistent and correlated with indicators of twelve-step affiliation and measures of positive psychology constructs, providing initial support for the reliability and validity of the GIFTS. This tool can inform future treatment and intervention for individuals struggling with substance use disorders as well as research into the role of twelve-step beliefs and practices in the recovery process.

Proverbial positive psychology: can we leverage African ancient wisdom to promote flourishing?

ABSTRACT A potentially fructuous approach to fostering mental health and flourishing in Africa is to leverage traditional African proverbs and maxims aligned with positive psychology themes and constructs within the framework of positive psychology interventions (PPIs). This paper explores the potential for integrating (African) proverbs into PPIs to foster well-being and flourishing among African populations. I reference specific proverbs to explore their literal, metaphorical, moral, and epistemological import and inherent values, as well as their prospective utilization in promoting positive relationships, kindness and empathy, teamwork and collaboration, gratitude, truthfulness and honesty, and patience and humility, demonstrating how proverbs hold promise for promoting flourishing in the African context. I propose the CAPPI (Customization and Application of Proverbs in Positive Interventions) framework to guide researchers and practitioners in exploring and incorporating (African) proverbs into interventions. By embracing diverse cultural perspectives, positive psychology can enhance its impact on global well-being and create a more inclusive approach to research and intervention design.