Introduction This study aims to examine the impact of social capital on college students’ academic adaptation and to explore the underlying mechanism—specifically, the mediating role of positive emotional experience. By integrating perspectives from social capital theory and positive psychology, it seeks to enrich theoretical understandings of higher-education adaptation. Methods A total of 428 undergraduates from a comprehensive university participated in this study. Data were gathered using a self-developed Social Capital Scale, an Academic Adaptation Scale, and a Positive Emotional Experience Scale. Descriptive statistics and confirmatory factor analysis were conducted in SPSS 26.0 and AMOS 24.0, respectively. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesized paths, and the mediating effect of positive emotional experience was assessed via Hayes’s PROCESS macro (Model 4) with 5,000 bootstrap samples. Results Social capital had a significant direct predictive effect on academic adaptation ( β = 0.251, p < 0.001). The path from social capital to positive emotional experience was also significant ( β = 0.679, p < 0.001), as was the path from positive emotional experience to academic adaptation ( β = 0.583, p < 0.001). Bootstrap analysis indicated an indirect effect of 0.396 (95% CI [0.283, 0.523]), excluding zero, demonstrating that positive emotional experience partially mediates the relationship between social capital and academic adaptation. Discussion These findings support social capital theory and broaden-and-build theory, revealing a synergistic mechanism whereby external social support resources enhance students’ positive emotional experiences, which in turn promote academic adaptation. Practically, universities should foster strong teacher–student and peer support networks while implementing interventions to cultivate positive emotions, thereby leveraging both pathways to improve students’ adaptation to academic life.

The 2023 Kahramanmaraş-Hatay earthquakes caused widespread collective trauma across Türkiye, affecting both directly and indirectly exposed populations. This crisis underscored the urgent need to understand psychological factors that foster resilience and mental well-being in disaster-affected groups. Positive childhood experiences (PCEs) are key developmental assets that shape mental health across the lifespan. Yet, the mechanisms through which these early relational strengths influence adult well-being, particularly in non-Western and ecologically disrupted contexts, remain underexplored. Drawing on resilience theory and psychological flexibility frameworks, this study tested a serial mediation model in which resilience and psychological flexibility sequentially mediate the relationship between PCEs and adult mental well-being. Data were collected from 952 adults (91.5% female; Mage = 39.48, SD = 8.71, range = 18-66) across 75 Turkish cities in the post-earthquake period, offering a unique context to examine protective psychological mechanisms under macro-level adversity. Structural equation modeling confirmed the hypothesized model, revealing significant indirect effects of PCEs on mental well-being through both resilience and psychological flexibility. This study contributes to the literature by (1) offering a dynamic, process-oriented framework explaining how early developmental strengths promote adult mental health; (2) extending resilience theory to a national post-disaster context, emphasizing how early assets buffer against collective trauma; and (3) broadening positive psychology research through a socioeconomically and geographically diverse Turkish sample. The findings underscore the importance of culturally sensitive interventions that strengthen early relational resources and promote adaptive psychological capacities to sustain lifelong mental well-being.

Various adverse mental health outcomes (e.g., burnout) have been reported and shown to impact the longevity of veterinarians' careers, especially during the early career. Both compassion fatigue (CF) and compassion satisfaction (CS) are significant predictors of burnout. Increasing attention is being paid to positive psychology, including psychological wellbeing (PWB) and resilience, as they have the potential to enhance wellbeing in the profession. The objectives of this research were to measure various psychological outcomes of newly graduated veterinarians in Canada and identify underlying profiles based on empirical data. An online questionnaire with validated psychometric scales was distributed to graduates of all five Canadian veterinary schools in 2022 and 2023. Latent profile analysis (LPA) (n = 189) revealed two profiles, interpreted as follows: thriving (n = 116; high PWB, CS and resilience, and low burnout and CF) and surviving (n = 73; low PWB, CS and resilience, and high burnout and CF). The sample size was smaller than typically recommended for LPA. Our findings revealed that 61% (116/191) of newly graduated veterinarians were considered to have good mental wellbeing or were 'thriving'. Our study amplifies the need for more research on positive wellbeing outcomes and interventions to strengthen veterinary students' and veterinarians' wellbeing.

Previous studies on older widows have focused on the negative aspects of spousal loss, such as loneliness, anxiety, and depression, positioning them as vulnerable groups. This perspective tends to overlook the potential of older widows in achieving successful aging. This study aimed to map the concepts within the scope of positive psychology that have been applied in research on older widows, and to explore how these approaches can support healthy and successful aging. A literature search was conducted on Google Scholar, covering publications from 2016 to 2025. A total of 9,480 articles were identified and screened based on predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. After reviewing abstracts and full texts, eight articles were included in this scoping review. There is a consistent pattern: older widows can achieve successful aging through positive psychology and spirituality. However, several contradictions between concepts were found, particularly regarding the sources of emotional resilience, between external social support and internal spiritual strength. Views on the meaning of life also vary, rooted in past achievements and acceptance of painful experiences and present hopes. Adaptation is described through both active (autoplastic adaptation) and passive (surrender to fate) approaches. Optimism is often considered a universal strength, but it has not been widely studied in the context of the socioeconomic limitations faced by older widows. The integration of intrapersonal aspects, e.g., resilience, meaning in life, well-being, and optimism, along with social and spiritual dimensions, including social support and spirituality, contributes to helping older widows achieve successful aging.

The Solution-focused Intervention for Mental health (SIM): description and feasibility testing of a positive psychology intervention in Swedish adolescents

Purpose: This paper focuses on cultivating employees’ experience of thriving at work (TAW) within the context of hospitality organisations. Specifically, it conceptualises and empirically tests a selection of antecedents to employees' TAW, as well as its consequences. Methodology/Approach: The study gathered data from 346 employees working in the hospitality industry. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was utilised with SmartPLS 4 to examine and validate the proposed conceptual framework. Findings: Leadership autonomy support, working as a team, and employee engagement have positive impacts on cultivating employees' TAW. TAW has positive consequences on service quality and organisational attractiveness. Additionally, both work as a team, and employee engagement was found to mediate the relationship between leadership autonomy support and TAW. Research Limitation/Implication: The study is limited to exploring only a selection of antecedents and consequences of TAW. However, the paper contributes theoretically to the field of hospitality research by enhancing our understanding and insights into the concept of TAW, as well as having several practical implications for managers of hospitality organisations. Originality/Value of paper: The study contributes to a relatively new research domain within positive psychology, focusing on employees' TAW.

This article aims to provide a holistic solution to the fundamental existential problem of modern man, the sense of "meaninglessness," from the intersection of ancient wisdom and contemporary science. The main problem of the study is how to overcome internal and external obstacles to individual and social peace. For this purpose, the concept of "self-discipline", which is at the center of the Islamic Sufi tradition, is reinterpreted as a universal model of character development. As a methodology, the basic principles of Sufi psychology have been subjected to an interdisciplinary synthesis with the findings of current neuroscience, positive psychology (PERMA Model), emotional intelligence (EI) and educational sciences (SEL Programs). The main findings of the article are grouped on three axes: First, the biggest obstacle to the search for a meaningful life is not external conditions, but internal mental pitfalls, such as cognitive biases and misconceptions. The second is that the process of "self-discipline" is based on concrete psychological and neurobiological mechanisms that increase the control of the prefrontal cortex over the limbic system and promote neuroplasticity. The third is that this internal "domestication" carried out at the individual level must be complemented by the search for a universal language of communication that will transcend the "wildness of language" at the social level. As a result, this study provides a practical and theoretical framework that aims at both personal "well-being" and collective peace by ensuring the integrity of individual maturation (morality) and social function (profession).

Introduction to part 1 of the themed issue: Positive psychology concepts in community psychology

Employee well-being has become a critical organizational concern that directly influences productivity, satisfaction, and retention. Among various dimensions of well-being, psychological well-being (PWB) has emerged as a significant predictor of employees' attitudes and behaviors in the workplace. This secondary research paper aims to synthesize existing empirical and theoretical literature to examine the role of psychological well-being in enhancing job satisfaction and reducing turnover intentions. Drawing upon theories such as the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model, Social Exchange Theory (SET), Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory, and Positive Psychology, this paper analyzes how PWB affects employees' affective states, motivation, and retention decisions. Findings from prior studies consistently demonstrate that high levels of PWB enhance job satisfaction, reduce burnout, strengthen engagement, and significantly diminish turnover intentions. Job satisfaction also emerges as a powerful mediator between well-being and retention. The implications underscore the need for organizations to design well-being-centric HR policies, strengthen work-life balance, reduce job stressors, and promote supportive leadership. Limitations and directions for future research are discussed to advance scholarly understanding in this field

This study aims to analyze the effect of happiness on accountants’ performance using the framework of Positive Psychology Theory. Happiness in this research is measured through six main dimensions: Pleasure, Meaning, Subjective Happiness, Life Satisfaction, Need for Cognition, and Perceived Relative Income. These dimensions represent emotional, cognitive, and social aspects that potentially influence psychological well-being and professional performance among accountants. The study employs a quantitative causal explanatory approach. Primary data were collected through questionnaires distributed to 181 professional accountants working across various sectors, both financial and non-financial. Data analysis was conducted using multiple linear regression. The results show that Meaning, Pleasure, and Perceived Relative Income have a positive and significant effect on accountants’ performance. This finding indicates that accountants who find meaning in their work, experience pleasure in performing their duties, and perceive their income as fair and competitive tend to demonstrate higher levels of performance. Conversely, Subjective Happiness, Life Satisfaction, and Need for Cognition do not have a significant effect on performance. This suggests that personal happiness, general life satisfaction, and the tendency to engage in deep thinking do not directly contribute to productivity but may serve as supporting factors for long-term psychological well-being. The study emphasizes the importance of applying Positive Psychology principles in human resource management within the accounting profession. Organizations should strengthen aspects of work meaning and happiness by fostering a supportive environment, ensuring fair reward systems, and providing opportunities for professional growth.

This study examines how leaders could use spiritual values to influence the adaptive performance of health workers to deliver quality care to patients through the mediation and moderation effects of optimism and trust, respectively. We employed a quantitative approach to collect data from 356 health workers and used the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS -SEM) technique to test the hypotheses in the study. The study found that health leaders' application of spiritual values positively influenced the adaptive performance of health workers in delivering quality patient care. Moreover, health workers' optimism was identified as a mediating variable in the relationship between spiritual leadership and adaptive performance, indicating that optimistic attitudes partially explain how spiritual leadership translates into improved adaptability. While trust among health workers was positively associated with their adaptive performance, it did not moderate the relationship between spiritual leadership and adaptive performance. This suggests that although trust is important for performance, it does not strengthen the influence of spiritual leadership on adaptability. This study offers new insights into the mechanisms and boundary conditions through which health leaders can leverage spirituality to enhance health workers' performance in delivering quality healthcare. By examining the sequential roles of optimism (as a mediator) and trust (as a moderator), the study integrates elements of positive psychology into the framework of spiritual leadership theory. This approach deepens our understanding of how intervening personality traits can shape the relationship between leadership styles and employee performance, thereby highlighting the psychological pathways that support improved outcomes in healthcare settings.

This study conducts a bibliometric analysis to examine global research developments on teacher wellbeing in early childhood education (ECE) from 2020 to 2025. The growing recognition that teachers’ psychological, emotional, and professional wellbeing affects children’s learning outcomes underscores the need to systematically map this field. Drawing on data from Scopus, SciVal, and VOSviewer, a total of 151 documents were analyzed to evaluate research productivity, citation impact, collaboration patterns, and thematic evolution. The findings indicate a significant growth in publication output, accompanied by strong international collaboration and a Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) of 1.23, reflecting above-average global influence. Science mapping identified five major thematic clusters: (1) psychological dimensions of wellbeing, including burnout and mental health; (2) job demands–resources and institutional policy; (3) resilience and intervention studies in the post–COVID-19 context; (4) positive psychology and self-efficacy enhancement; and (5) links between teacher wellbeing and child development outcomes. Overall, the results highlight a paradigm shift from stress- and burnout-centered research toward strength-based, growth-oriented wellbeing models. Despite the dominance of high-income countries such as the United States, China, and Hong Kong, substantial research gaps persist in developing contexts. These findings underscore the need for context-sensitive, self-care–based, and digital wellbeing interventions to support sustainable ECE teacher wellbeing globally.

Based on Social Cognitive Theory and Positive Psychology, this study addresses a research gap by examining internet entrepreneurial self-efficacy as a mediating mechanism between psychological capital and internet entrepreneurial intention in the digital context—a relationship rarely explored among engineering students in Eastern European economies. Using a quantitative, cross-sectional design, data were collected from 900 undergraduates enrolled in three Romanian technical universities who completed a set of specific instruments. Entrepreneurial intention was measured with the Individual Entrepreneurial Intent Scale adapted for online entrepreneurship; entrepreneurial self-efficacy in the online context was assessed using the Internet Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy Scale; and psychological capital was measured with the Psychological Capital Questionnaire adapted for the student environment. The mediation analysis conducted through PROCESS-macro showed that psychological capital exerts a significant indirect effect on internet entrepreneurial intention via internet entrepreneurial self-efficacy. Psychological capital exerted a strong effect on internet entrepreneurial self-efficacy (β = 0.538), which in turn influenced the intention to start an online business (β = 0.213), while the direct effect on internet entrepreneurial intention remained relatively reduced (β = 0.037). The results indicate that positive psychological resources foster entrepreneurial intention by strengthening confidence specific to the digital environment. This study advances Social Cognitive Theory by demonstrating that internet entrepreneurial self-efficacy operates as the proximal cognitive pathway through which psychological capital is translated into entrepreneurial intention in online settings, clarifying how general psychological resources acquire domain-specific relevance in digital entrepreneurship.

This study repositions hospitality as a moral virtue rather than merely an industry construct. Drawing on classical virtue ethics and positive psychology, it explores how the enactment of hospitality—through empathy, execution, and embrace—contributes to human flourishing. Central to this process is phronesis, or practical wisdom, which mediates the relationship between hospitality and flourishing. The research proposes two complementary pathways: a self-oriented path fostering contentment and self-connectedness, and an other-oriented path promoting prosocial behavior and civic engagement. By linking hospitality virtue to flourishing via phronesis, this study advances a holistic, ethically grounded framework for understanding hospitality's transformative potential.

This study aims to develop a conceptual model of Islamic economic character education based on the integration of positive psychology and maqasid al-shariah theories. The main problem addressed concerns how PERMA, PROSPER, PRIMED, and maqasid al-shariah can be integrated into a comprehensive character education system to cultivate a morally conscious economic character through daily charity activities in secondary schools. A conceptual literature study was conducted using thematic analysis guided by Creswell and qualitative data analysis techniques from Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña. The analysis resulted in the integrative P3M model (PERMA–PROSPER–PRIMED–Maqasid) that explains the mechanism for developing spiritual-social economic character, referred to as the Altruistic Flourishing Economic Character . This model represents a theoretical novelty by bridging Western perspectives on psychological well-being with Islamic ethics of public good. The study contributes to strengthening economic character education in schools and supports the achievement of SDG 4 (quality education) and SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production).

A growing body of research has linked PERMA+4 to employee well-being and performance, yet the role of self-compassion as a psychological mechanism remains unexplored. This study tested a dual-pathway model using mediation and latent profile analyses to examine how PERMA+4 and self-compassion jointly influence work-related outcomes. A sample of full-time employees (N = 576) completed an online survey assessing PERMA+4, self-compassion, and psychological functioning. Mediation analyses showed that self-compassion partially mediated the relationship between PERMA+4 and PsyCap (β = 0.10), JAWS-positive (β = 0.04), JAWS-negative (β = −0.08), job stress (β = −0.10), and turnover intentions (β = −0.05). Latent profile analysis identified two psychological profiles: Flourishers and Strugglers. Flourishers reported higher well-being across all outcomes. These findings offer support for a dual-pathway model of flourishing and provide practical implications for organizations seeking to improve employee well-being through integrated positive psychology interventions targeting both PERMA+4 and self-compassion.

Advancing the field’s exploration of cultural strengths and expanding conceptions of the factors that contribute to wellness, we introduce a new model, the communities of color cultural strengths model (CCCSM). In this paper, we begin by exploring connections among counseling and positive psychologies as well as psychologies of communities of color (CC) to provide a backdrop of how these areas are complementary. We then discuss Black psychology as an exemplar for examining links between psychologies of CC and positive psychology. We highlight the scholarship of two prominent Black psychologists, Drs. Joseph White and Linda James Myers, to illustrate how psychologies of CC inform identifying cultural strengths. Next, we discuss the three facets of the CCCSM which include: (a) influences on cultural strengths, (b) cultural strengths foci, and (c) education-training domains. We conclude with recommendations for application of the CCCSM in research, practice, and advocacy.

BackgroundWell-being literacy is a relatively new construct that refers to an individual’s capacity to intentionally use, understand, and communicate language and knowledge to promote and sustain well-being for oneself and others. Although gaining attention in positive psychology, empirical research on its impact and mechanisms remains limited, particularly regarding its mechanisms of influence on well-being and mental health outcomes in non-English-speaking contexts.ObjectiveThis study had two primary aims: (i) to validate the applicability and initial validation of the six-item Well-Being Literacy Scale (Well-Lit 6) among Turkish undergraduate students for the first time, and (ii) to examine whether optimism mediates the relationship between well-being literacy and psychological adjustment problems, life satisfaction, and psychological well-being.MethodThe study recruited 893 undergraduate Turkish students (58.90% female; M = 21.53 ± 3.99) from Batman University, representing a non-English-speaking educational context. Participants completed the Well-Lit 6, Optimism and Pessimism Questionnaire (optimism subscale), Brief Adjustment Scale–6, Life Satisfaction Scale and Riverside Eudaimonia Scale using an online survey. To validate the Well-Lit 6, confirmatory factor analysis was performed. The proposed mediation model was tested using the PROCESS macro for SPSS (Model 4), with bootstrapping procedures to assess indirect effects.ResultsThe findings indicated that the Well-Lit 6 had a single-factor structure with high reliability. Mediation analysis showed that well-being literacy was positively related to optimism, life satisfaction, and psychological well-being, and negatively related to psychological adjustment problems. Optimism partially mediated the positive relationships between well-being literacy and both life satisfaction and psychological well-being, as well as the negative relationship with psychological adjustment problems. All indirect effects were statistically significant based on bootstrapped confidence intervals.Discussion/conclusionThese findings underscore the significance of interventions that promote an optimistic mindset, as such interventions may amplify the positive psychological impact of well-being literacy on life satisfaction and psychological well-being, while also mitigating its negative effects on psychological adjustment difficulties.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40359-025-03618-8.

The growing geriatric population creates a greater need for integrated psychosocial therapies in old-age homes to enhance mental health, cognition, and social integration. This article provides an evidence-based description of well-established psychosocial therapies, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), reminiscence therapy, mindfulness practices, positive psychology interventions, social activity programs, and creative therapies like art and music therapy. Drawing on previous theoretical frameworks, such as the Successful Aging Model, Socioemotional Selectivity Theory, and the Cognitive Reserve Hypothesis, this study investigates how these interventions influence psychological resilience and quality of life in aging populations. A central focus is given to the translatability of psychosocial therapies to institutional settings, with consideration of challenges such as resource limitations, training, and resistance to change. Best practice for psychosocial integration, including the application of custom-designed care models and technology solutions, is reviewed. Ethical dilemmas, including autonomy, informed consent, and cultural responsiveness, are considered against the background of elder dignity and rights. Moreover, policy options highlight age-friendly healthcare policies based on prioritization of integrated holistic well-being. The findings emphasize the importance of multi-dimensional psychosocial care of the older population and invite continued research on the effectiveness of long-term intervention, cross-cultural applicability, and innovative digital strategies to older populations. With an emphasis on evidence-based methods, this article aims to contribute to the evolution of psychosocial care in older adult care towards increasing dignity, activity, and emotional strength in older age.

PurposeAlthough an increasing number of studies have found that career adaptability is beneficial to individual career development, research on the mechanisms by which career adaptability affects job search behavior and subjective well-being among university students is relatively scarce. Based on the career construction model of adaptation and career construction theory, two studies were conducted to explore how career adaptability influences job search behavior and subjective well-being, and under what conditions these influences occur.MethodsStudy 1 conducted a behavioral experiment with 224 Chinese university students to examine how career adaptability and career choice optimistic bias affect job search behavior and subjective well-being. Study 2 employed a multi-wave questionnaire survey of 404 college seniors to test a moderated mediation model.ResultsThe results showed that career adaptability directly affects their job search behavior and indirectly affects their subjective well-being by influencing their job search behavior. Students with high career adaptability had higher levels of subjective well-being than those with low career adaptability, regardless of their optimistic or pessimistic biases. In addition, students with high career adaptability engaged in more job search behavior when they had optimistic or not excessively pessimistic bias (no bias and low pessimistic bias). Furthermore, the mediating effect of job search behavior in linking career adaptability to subjective well-being was stronger with increased career choice optimistic bias.ConclusionThis study explores the influence mechanism of career adaptability on university students’ job search behavior and subjective well-being from the perspective of career construction. Moreover, career adaptability affects university students’ job search behavior and subjective well-being differently under varying levels of career choice optimistic bias. These findings contribute to the integration of positive psychology into career psychology.