Positive Psychology Literature Research Articles

How Passion for Work Shapes Work-Family Interactions: A Conceptual Framework Exploring the Roles of Psychological Capital and Self-Regulation Failure

The belief that a life of passion is a life well-lived serves as a perpetual motivator to pursue work aligned with one’s passion. Both work and family are essential life domains in many people’s lives, and they often interconnect, impacting each other. In the workplace, passion is a highly desired but under-researched employee characteristic, offering benefits like positive emotions and improved performance but also carrying risks, such as inflexibility. Drawing on job demands-resources theory and conservation of resources theory, our inquiry offers an integrative conceptual framework that combines insights from positive psychology, organizational behavior, and human resource development (HRD) literature. This framework enhances our understanding of how work passion connects to the work-family interface, considering the roles of psychological capital and self-regulation failure in interactions beyond work. Our study includes implications for HRD practitioners motivated to promote change initiatives and an agenda for future research for HRD scholars.

A bibliometric review of positive psychology and well-being research in Africa.

Positive Psychology rapidly developed into an influential field of study and intervention, initially situated in Psychology, and later becoming multidisciplinary. Research interest in the study of (psychological) well-being has gained global popularity, with increasing salience in Africa. Although the global trends of these developments are relatively well-known, a bibliometric analysis of positive psychology research in Africa was necessary to shed light on the present hotspots and trends and future trajectories in this region of the world. The data source of the present bibliometric analysis study was Scopus, from which Positive Psychology and well-being research literature from Africa between 1983 and 2023 were searched. Using biblioshiny and VOSviewer, the 622 extracted articles were analysed, from which findings about the current condition, research hotspots, and thematic developmental patterns could be made. Africa experienced an initial slow growth period from 1983 until 2005, after which a rapid growth in research productivity, relevance and impact was experienced. In this regard, the results show that the focal point of scientific productivity is South Africa, with the dominance of South African institutions, particularly the North-West University, from where most positive psychology research is produced and cited. Even with potential access to international journal, African researchers seem to prefer to place their publications in the regional journals such as Journal of Psychology in Africa and South African Journal of Psychology. The research reviewed tends to be characterised by more dominant thematic clusters of positive psychology, psychological well-being, and subjective well-being, with a focus on human individuals. An increasing concern for contextual factors and potential antecedents and dynamics of well-being is also observed. The findings provide a good map from which identification of future research priorities can be deduced. As such, we speculate that future positive psychology research in Africa ought to be concerned with the following: greater distribution and intercountry collaborations across the continent, questions of conceptual clarity of terms, better understanding of contextual factors which influence well-being, and well-being research embracing the complexity of bio-psycho-social-ecological well-being, and science concerned with health-promotion interventions.

Employee Psychological Resources as a Microfoundation for Organizational Knowledge Creation Across Cultures: A Yin–Yang Dialectical Systems View

In the new normal, characterized by intensifying digitalization and cross-cultural conflicts, organizational knowledge creation (KC) for the purpose of innovation necessitates better orchestration of stakeholders with culturally distinct beliefs and polychronic working patterns. This implies an imperative to address organizational KC from a microangle that can help decipher profound cultural codes in human mental programming. Thus, this research departs from a Yin–Yang dialectical system view that can interpret cross-cultural cognitive paradoxes and uses a microfoundational approach to explore how employees’ psychological capital (PsyCap) affects the KC capability and moderating effects of social capital-enhancing HR configuration on the above mechanisms. Using cross-border e-business models as the setting, the results of this article show an inverse U-shaped relationship between hope/optimism/self-efficacy and KC and a positive association between resilience and KC. Moreover, we found that social capital-enhancing HR configuration may intervene in these relationships. Our study adopts a Yin–Yang dialectical system framework to theoretically decode how different components of PsyCap act as a microfoundation to co-engineer KC processes with culturally diverse stakeholders, enriching the positive psychology and knowledge management literature. The results offer implications for orchestrating the intertwining streams of polychronic KC among multinationals in turbulent times.

Efficacy of the “Feel Good - Think Positive”, a school-based positive psychology intervention targeting optimism and hope in children

ABSTRACT This study examined the effectiveness of the ‘Feel Good – Think Positive’, a school-based, multi-component, positive psychology intervention (PPI) for elementary school children, designed to enhance optimism and hope. Participants were 361 elementary school children (8–12 years old, M = 9.91, SD = 1.26, 158 boys and 203 girls), assigned to an intervention group (n = 229) or to a control group (n = 132), who completed several measures at baseline and after the intervention’s completion. Children in the intervention group exhibited increased optimism, hope, diverse coping strategies, social skills, and self-esteem, and decreased pessimism and anxiety, compared to children in the control group who only showed a significant decrease in anxiety. Mediator analyses revealed that gender had a significant effect on anxiety, age on pessimism, emotion-focused coping, seeking social support, and likeability, and parental educational level had no effect. Results are discussed in relevance to positive psychology literature.

Strengthening Parents' and Children's Wellbeing Through Positive Psychology: A Qualitative Study of Parents' Experiences of a Structured Training in Mindfulness and Character Strength

AbstractFew studies have examined how positive psychology can be implemented in a family context. Further, there is a lack of qualitative research of participant's experiences of mindfulness and character strengths. This study examined how Flourishing Families, a structured training in mindfulness and character strengths, may improve parental wellbeing and family life. Data were gathered through questionnaires and a total of 37 parents participated. A qualitative thematic analysis was used to examine the parents' experiences. Three main themes arose from the analysis: positive, negative and ambivalent experiences. The results demonstrated that a majority of the parents experienced positive effects on their wellbeing, parenthood and family dynamics after the training. Some parents reported stress and performance anxiety while others were uncertain if they had benefited from the course. These findings offer insights into how individuals experience mindfulness and character strengths and shed light on some common obstacles with the practices. The results contribute to the positive psychology literature by offering insights into how parents build their wellbeing and grow as parents.

Wellbeing-responsive community: a growth target for intentional mental health promotion.

With mental illness remaining a significant burden of disease, there is an ongoing need for community-based health promotion, prevention, and responses (or "mental health promotion activities"). The health promotion, community development, and positive psychology literature identifies significant heterogeneity in the design and delivery of these activities. This variability spans: (1) individual vs. group outcomes, (2) psychological vs. sociological determinants of change, (3) promoting wellbeing vs. reducing mental health symptoms, and (4) the degree activities are contextualized vs. standardized in design and delivery. Mental health promotion activities do not easily accomplish this level of complexity within design and implementation. This has led to the emergence of the complexity-informed health promotion literature and the need for innovative tools, methods, and theories to drive this endeavor. This article directly responds to this call. It introduces "wellbeing-responsive community": a vision and outcome hierarchy (or growth target) for intentionally delivered mental health promotion. The construct enables the design and implementation of interventions that intentionally respond to complexity and contextualization through the drivers of co-creation, intentionality, and local empowerment. It represents a community (support team, programme, agency, network, school, or region) that has the shared language, knowledge, methods, and skills to work together in shared intent. In other words, to integrate best-practice science with their local knowledge systems and existing strengths, and intentionally co-create and deliver contextualized wellbeing solutions at both the individual and community levels that span the "system" (e.g., whole-of-community) to the "moment" (e.g., intentional support and care). Co-creation, as applied through a transdisciplinary lens, is emerging as an evidence-based method to respond to complexity. This article describes the rationale and evidence underpinning the conceptualization of a wellbeing-responsive community through the integration of three key disciplines: (1) positive psychology, (2) ecological or systems approaches, and (3) intentional practice (implementation science). A definitional, contextual, and applied overview of the wellbeing-responsive community is provided, including a hierarchy of outcomes and associated definitions. Its purported application across education, mental health, community service, and organizational settings is discussed, including its potential role in making complexity-informed health promotion practical for all knowledge users.

Are You So Good That They Cannot Ignore You? Effect of Coworker Support on Knowledge Sharing Through an Affective Events Theory Perspective

Drawing on affective events theory, this study considers knowledge sharing as an outcome of emotional responses resulting from an individual’s experience of workplace events. This study aimed to empirically examine how coworker support as a work event encourages employees’ knowledge contribution and knowledge-seeking behaviors through feelings of vitality. A structured, questionnaire-based survey was administered to 430 employees of knowledge-based organizations in India. The retrieved data were further analyzed using structural equation modeling. The results indicate that perceived coworker support positively influences the knowledge contribution and knowledge-seeking behavior of individuals in the workplace. Furthermore, vitality mediated the positive association between perceived coworker support and knowledge sharing. This implies that the perception of coworker support in the workplace augments employees’ feelings of vitality, which further motivates them to contribute to and seek knowledge from coworkers. Therefore, this study critically underscores the existence of a “performance loop” in knowledge sharing, as coworkers find it difficult to bypass an employee because of their outstanding performance and the fact that the same virtuous cycle elicits greater knowledge sharing by coworkers. Such perceived goodwill makes employees so good that they cannot be ignored within an organizational setting. This is a pioneering study investigating how coworker support in the workplace stimulates knowledge sharing among employees by considering the mediating effect of feelings of vitality. This study also contributes to the positive psychology and knowledge management literature by revealing the implications of vitality for extra-role behaviors such as knowledge sharing.

Exploring the effect of perceived fun at work on hospitality employees’ behaviors in and out of work

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to draw on positive psychology literature and the affective spillover theory to gain a comprehensive understanding of the effects of perceived workplace fun (WF) on hospitality employees’ behaviors in and out of work.Design/methodology/approachMultirater data were collected via surveys from 247 hospitality employees and their direct supervisors and spouses. Data were analyzed using the AMOS and Macro processes in SPSS.FindingsThe results revealed that employees’ positive affect at work mediates the relationship between perceived WF and both employees’ organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs) and family-related social behaviors (i.e. engagement in social activities outside work with their spouses). Personal attitudes toward fun at work moderate the indirect association between perceived WF and the study outcomes (OCBs and family-related social behaviors).Social implicationsBy fostering a workplace environment that prioritizes the perception of enjoyment, organizations can effectively stimulate greater employee engagement in OCBs and promote positive social interactions beyond the workplace. It underscores the significance of an enjoyable environment that benefits employees, organizations and society.Originality/valueThis study extends the existing research on the relationship between WF and employees’ behaviors in and out of work and provides new insights into the underlying mechanisms that influence this relationship.

Beyond polarization towards dynamic balance: harmony as the core of mental health.

Worldviews are culturally derived assumptions that influence individual and collective behaviors, values, and representations of reality. The study of mental functions is not exempt from this influence, as reflected in scientific theories, methodological approaches, and empirical studies. Despite acknowledging the interplay of mental processes with developmental, environmental, and cultural dimensions, psychological research is still primarily based on quantitative methods, and on the conceptualization of mental phenomena as unfolding along polarized continua. A lively epistemological debate surrounds this approach, especially underscoring the risk of blurring the distinction between constructs derived from statistical models and real-life processes and experiences. Based on this debate and on recent empirical evidence derived from the positive psychology literature, this paper is aimed at proposing an integrated view of mental health, as a holistically patterned, contextually imbedded, and dynamic phenomenon changing over time and across life events, with harmony, harmonization and dynamic balance as core qualities. The heuristic potential of investigating the qualitative configuration patterns of mental health dimensions across individuals and groups, beyond their position along a quantitative continuum, is outlined. The development of more integrated approaches and methodologies to investigate mental health as a harmonization process, taking into account personal, contextual and developmental features, would be aligned with evidence derived from the integration of traditional nomothetic and ideographic approaches, and other life sciences. However, the development of a transdisciplinary line of research requires further inputs from different epistemological views, as well as higher attention to the potential contribution of different philosophical traditions.

Who is More Authentic? A Moderator Effect of Gender Between Flow Experiences and Authenticity

Authenticity is essential to self-awareness and self-acceptance in personal development. Researchers have attempted to underline authenticity's antecedents, but little is known about the predictive role of gender differences and flow experiences together. Authenticity and flow experiences have been widely studied in psychology, sociology, and philosophy and have profoundly impacted an individual's well-being and happiness. Since it is a multi-component concept that many areas can discuss for personal growth and self-discovery, we focused on authenticity's individual and socio-demographic antecedents. In the current study, we examined flow experiences as an individual concept that may explain authenticity and the moderator role of gender in the relations between flow experiences and authenticity. Considering the antecedents of authenticity, it is beneficial to indicate how flow experiences lead to authenticity and gender differences in it. We used the Flow State Scale and Authenticity Scale as data collection tools. We followed a cross-sectional and correlational research design. The participants consist of 310 university students (190 females and 120 males) studying at various departments of Ataturk University. Results revealed that there was a significant correlation between flow experiences and authenticity. Furthermore, regression-based moderation analysis demonstrated that flow experiences were a significant predictor of authenticity, and gender moderates the relationship between flow experiences and authenticity. Results were interpreted as grounded in positive psychology literature.

Self-experience consistency and life satisfaction: The mediating role of the need for relatedness and the moderating role of Zhong-yong thinking

Self-experience consistency has an important effect on life satisfaction; however, the underlying mechanism of this relationship remains unclear. This study aims to examine why self-experience consistency is related to increased life satisfaction. To do so, we investigated the relationships between self-experience consistency, the need for relatedness, Zhong-yong thinking, and life satisfaction in a sample of 456 undergraduate students. We also tested a moderated mediation model examining Zhong-yong thinking as a moderator. The results suggest that self-experience consistency related to life satisfaction was due, in part, to an increased need for relatedness. However, interpretation of this finding is limited by the use of cross-sectional data. Furthermore, Zhong-yong thinking moderated the self-experience consistency—need for relatedness link, such that the link was stronger for individuals with high/moderate levels of Zhong-yong thinking. Overall, these findings address a major gap in the positive psychology literature. Finally, implications for research are discussed.

Work Engagement and Turnover Intention in the Palestinian Nonprofit Sector: Do Personal Resources Matter?

There is no doubt that the relationships between work engagement, turnover intention, and psychological capital have been examined in the for-profit sector and Western context. However, there is a dearth of studies that investigate such relationships in the nonprofit sector and the Eastern setting. Drawing on the Job Demand-Resource Theory and the Broaden and Build Theory, this study endeavored to investigate the moderating role of psychological capital in the relationship between work engagement and turnover intention of paid employees in the nonprofit sector. Data were gathered from 423 employees employed by 30 nonprofit organizations in Palestine and were analyzed through structural equation modeling. The findings showed a substantial inverse link between work engagement and turnover intention. The study also discovered that psychological capital strengthened the negative association between work engagement and turnover intention. This study, thereby, plugs such empirical gaps within the nonprofit and positive psychology literature. Future research may incorporate job resources or strategic HRM bundles into the model to investigate how job and contextual resources may shape such relationships.

Stress and depressive symptoms in university students in Hong Kong under the pandemic: Moderating effect of positive psychological attributes.

There are very few studies examining the psychological well-being of university students in Hong Kong under the COVID-19 pandemic. Besides COVID-19-related stress, the "social event" in 2019-2020 has caused significant stress in young people. As such, we attempted to answer several research questions in this paper. First, what are the relationships between stresses (COVID-19 and "social event" related stresses) and psychological well-being indexed by depressive symptoms? Based on the stress and coping perspective, we predicted that there would be positive relationships between both types of stress and depression. Second, what are the relationships between different positive psychological factors (including life satisfaction, resilience and emotional management, flourishing, and beliefs about adversity) and depression? Based on different theoretical models of positive psychology, we hypothesized that negative relationships would exist between positive psychological factors and depressive symptoms. Third, do positive psychological attributes moderate the associations between stresses (COVID-19 and "social event" related stresses) and depressive symptoms? Based on the positive psychology literature, we hypothesized that positive psychological attributes would buffer the negative impact of stresses on depression. We recruited university students roughly one year after the first wave of the pandemic (N = 1,648) in early 2021. We used 25 items to measure COVID-19-related stress and "social event" related stress. For psychological well-being indexed by depressive symptoms, we used the "Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale Revised (CESD-R)". For positive psychological attributes, we employed established measures of life satisfaction, resilience and emotional management, flourishing, and beliefs about adversity. Regarding the relationship between stress and depression, we found positive relationships between both types of stress and depressive symptoms. As predicted, negative relationships existed between all positive psychological attributes and depressive symptoms. Besides, the positive psychological attributes significantly moderated the effects of stresses on depression, suggesting that these factors can reduce the negative impacts of stresses on depression. The present findings provide support for those models, highlighting the importance of positive psychological attributes as protective factors for university students' depression. The findings of this study underscore the important role of positive psychological attributes in the stress-depression relationship in university students under the pandemic. The findings also generalize the positive youth development theory in the Chinese context. In terms of practice, university administrators and service providers should consider cultivating positive psychological attributes in university students with the purpose of promoting their psychological well-being.

Development of a Positive Psychology Well-Being Intervention in a Community Pharmacy Setting.

Background: Community pharmacies are well-placed to deliver well-being interventions; however, to date, nothing has been produced specifically for this setting. The aim of this study was to develop a positive psychology intervention suitable for a community pharmacy setting with the goal of increasing the well-being of community members. Methods: Intervention development consisted of three steps: Step 1-identify the evidence-base and well-being model to underpin the basis of the intervention (Version 1); Step 2-model the intervention and gather user feedback to produce Version 2, and Step 3-revisit the evidence-base and refine the intervention to produce Version 3. Results: Findings from nine studies (seven RCTs, one cross-sectional, one N-1 design plus user feedback were applied to model a 6-week 'Prescribing Happiness (P-Hap)' intervention, underpinned by the PERMA model plus four other components from the positive psychology literature (Three Good Things, Utilising Your Signature Strengths in New Ways, Best Possible Selves and Character Strengths). A PERMA-based diary was designed to be completed 3 days a week as part of the intervention. Conclusions: This work is an important development which will direct the future implementation of interventions to support well-being in this novel setting. The next stage is to gain the perspectives of external stakeholders on the feasibility of delivering the P-Hap for its adoption into community pharmacy services in the future.

Investigation of Subjective Well-Being Levels of Disabled Individuals Doing and Not Doing Sport

This study offers a comparative analysis of the subjective well-being of disabled individuals according to whether they do sport or not. The study was designed as a quantitative research. It is seen in the positive psychology literature that research on quality of life accelerate research on subjective well-being. Subjective well-being affects almost all aspects of life, and therefore, the fact that children, adolescents, adults and disabled people lead a healthy life is directly related to their level of well-being. The aim of this study is to investigate the subjective well-being levels of visually disabled individuals doing sport and not doing sport and to evaluate the differences between the subjective well-being of disabled individuals who do sport and those who do not. A total of 100 visually disabled individuals voluntarily participated in the study, including disabled individuals doing sport and not doing sport.The Turkish version of the PERMA measurement tool was used to evaluate the well-being of the participants. As a result of the research, disabled individuals who do sport had statistically significantly higher subjective well-being parameters compared to disabled individuals who do not do sport. The results showed that sport or physical activities have positive effects on the life quality of disabled individuals, in social life, in supporting psychological and social development and in maintaining a stable emotional life. Sustainable exercise or sportive social life is recommended for a healthier, dynamic and social life.Keywords: Sport, exercise, physical activity, disabled individuals, subjective well-being.

Meaningful Leadership and Employees’ Well-being: Process through Meaningful Work

Based on the principle of intrinsic motivation of self-determination theory, the purpose of the present research was to unearth the effect of meaningful leadership on followers’ positive emotional well-being indirectly through meaningful work. The following 665 workers were recruited from varied organizations and surveyed 3 times over a period of one month. To test the current study’s hypotheses, we checked whether meaningful work explained meaningful leadership’s relationship with employees' positive emotional well-being in the form of intrinsic motivation. Structural equation modelling was applied interesting of a mediation model in Mplus. The results suggested that the employees who perceive their leaders’ behaviors as meaningful recognize their work more meaningful and ultimately have positive emotional well-being. Overall, the results of our study support and contribute to the positive organizational psychology literature, specifically empirically found that meaningful leadership contributes to the meaningful work of the followers and positive emotional well-being. Further, suggested measures for managers to improve the well-being of employees

Psychological need satisfaction and academic stress in college students: mediator role of grit and academic self-efficacy

Students, who are trying to complete academic activities in an educational environment, are objected to academic stress. Research results indicated that this stress can be reduced by the individual and psychosocial resources of them. So, this study aimed to determine the mediating role of grit and academic self-efficacy in the relationship between students’ psychological need satisfaction and academic stress. The research was conducted on 967 college students who are studying at education, theology, and medical education faculty. We used serial mediation analysis to determine the mediator effect. Results demonstrated that there are statistically significant positive relationships between autonomy, competence, and relatedness, which are the components of psychological need satisfaction, grit, and academic self-efficacy, and negative relationships between academic stress. Mediation analysis results showed that the serial mediator effect of grit and academic self-efficacy was statistically significant in the relationship between autonomy, competence, relatedness, and academic stress. The research findings were interpreted according to the self-determination theory and positive psychology literature.

New horizons in group psychotherapy research and practice from third wave positive psychology: a practice-friendly review.

Group psychotherapy has been shown to be equivalent to individual therapy for many disorders, including anxiety, depression, grief, eating disorders, and schizophrenia (Burlingame & Strauss, 2021). In addition to effectiveness in reducing symptoms, group offers members a sense of belonging, purpose, hope, altruism, and meaning throughout treatment (Yalom & Leszcz, 2020). These additional outcomes are especially important considering the COVID-19 pandemic and national/international conflicts, given the trauma, disruptions, and losses people have experienced. Applying recent developments in positive psychology to group therapy can enhance treatment. A practice-friendly review examined recent advances in the positive psychology literature, demonstrating how group therapy offers members unique growth opportunities in addition to reducing symptoms. Key findings from studies applying positive psychological constructs to group therapy outcomes are synthesized. Our review sheds light on the relevance of third wave positive psychology to enrich group therapy (Lomas et al., 2021). Specifically, group therapy can facilitate the development of vitalizing psychological virtues, and these can be used to assess treatment outcome: humanity, wisdom, transcendence, courage, temperance, and justice. Interrelatedly, we present support for including attachment theory and mentalization within a positive psychological group framework. Implications are explored for group therapy research, clinical work, and training.

Positive Psychology Interventions in Medical Populations: Critical Issues in Intervention Development, Testing, and Implementation.

Positive psychological well-being is prospectively associated with superior health outcomes. Positive psychology interventions have promise as a potentially feasible and effective means of increasing well-being and health in those with medical illness, and several initial studies have shown the potential of such programs in medical populations. At the same time, numerous key issues in the existing positive psychology literature must be addressed to ensure that these interventions are optimally effective. These include (1) assessing the nature and scope of PPWB as part of intervention development and application; (2) identifying and utilizing theoretical models that can clearly outline potential mechanisms by which positive psychology interventions may affect health outcomes; (3) determining consistent, realistic targets for positive psychology interventions; (4) developing consistent approaches to the promotion of positive psychological well-being; (5) emphasizing the inclusion of diverse samples in treatment development and testing; and (6) considering implementation and scalability from the start of intervention development to ensure effective real-world application. Attention to these six domains could greatly facilitate the generation of effective, replicable, and easily adopted positive psychology programs for medical populations with the potential to have an important impact on public health.

Self‐transcendent emotions and their influence on organizational effectiveness: A literature review and synthesis

Self‐transcendent emotions are positive emotions that arise out of other‐focused appraisals. These emotions shift attention from the self to the needs and concerns of others. Limited work, however, focuses on self‐transcendent emotions and the underlying cognitive and behavioural mechanisms by which they benefit organizations. We review the disparate streams of research on self‐transcendent emotions and detail the thought‐action repertoires of four self‐transcendent emotions (compassion, gratitude, inspiration, and awe), explaining how each contributes to effective organizational functioning. Central to achieving this aim is the broaden‐and‐build theory. We show how the four self‐transcendent emotions broaden cognitive processes and build the necessary resources leading to specific positive organizational outcomes. We conclude our review with four themes: (a) the importance of delineating levels of analysis in self‐transcendent emotion research, (b) acknowledging contextual and cross‐cultural differences shaping the experience of self‐transcendent emotions, (c) addressing measurement concerns, and (d) the examination of other self‐transcendent emotions. In effect, we synthesize the positive psychology and organizational behaviour literature, generating a framework that prompts theoretical and practical considerations for the role of self‐transcendent emotions in organizations.