Self-report Of Psychological Well-being Research Articles

Interconnections between Emotion Recognition, Self-Processes and Psychological Well-Being in Adolescents

Background: Adolescence is a critical developmental period for mentalization and emotion regulation skills. Studies show that during this time, adolescents may experience greater vulnerability to challenges of mental and emotional well-being. Studies also show that self-skills, such as mentalization, self-compassion, and self-control are independently associated with feelings of global self-worth or psychological well-being. To date, no known studies have explored interconnected relations among these self-skills, despite significant overlaps in the social-biological development of these skills. Aims: To investigate interconnected relations among psychological well-being, mentalization, self-compassion and self-control. Gender differences in these relations are explored. Method: As part of a larger, longitudinal study of adolescent well-being, this cross-sectional study drew on a variety of self-report measures, investigating relations among adolescents’ self-reports of psychological well-being, emotion recognition, self-control, and self-compassion. Participants consisted of 88 girls and 57 boys, mean age 13.38. Results: Main results showed associations among emotion recognition, self-control and self-compassion and feelings of global self-worth. Specifically, results showed that understanding negative emotions in others relates to lower levels of self-compassion and feelings of self-worth. Further, adolescents who report low levels of self-control reported uncompassionate self-responding and lower levels of self-worth. Gender differences and implications for further research and adolescent social-emotional interventions are discussed.

Development and initial validation of the Positive Sexuality Scale for female adults.

To develop and initially validate the Positive Sexuality Scale (PSS) to assess adult female-positive sexuality. While traditional approaches focus on negative sexual experiences and sexual dysfunctions, within the positive psychology framework positive sexuality is a subjective experience of happiness and fulfilment with one's sexual expression, which contributes to well-being. No measure exists that specifically measures adult female-positive sexuality and can be confidently used with women of any fertility/childlessness status. Two-stage cross-sectional study with a 4-week test-retest, which follows the STROBE guidelines. Participants were 912 Italian women aged 18-45 (52.74% mothers, 23.79% voluntarily childless and 23.46% primary infertile), who completed the 5-item PSS and a self-report of psychological well-being. A subsample (n=61) completed the 4-week test-retest. Factor analyses supported a one-factor model with measurement invariance across adulthood stage and fertility/childlessness status and good reliability. Younger and fertile women showed higher PSS scores, and moderate-to-high variability in infertile women's well-being was accounted for by PSS scores. The PSS is a brief self-report with initial evidence of validity and reliability that could be used in sex research, practice and education. The PSS could assist health professionals to identify a positive resource to which women can draw on to deal with sex-related issues. Implementing the assessment of female-positive sexuality in infertility protocols could help professionals to identify a potential resource within couples facing infertility and its treatment.

Impact of Family Caregiving by Youth on Their Psychological Well-Being: A Latent Trait Analysis

Secondary data analyses were conducted on a survey dataset from 1,281 middle school students to analyze the impact of family caregiving on self-reports of psychological well-being using the Multiple Indicators, Multiple Causes (MIMIC) model. Factor analysis resulted in four latent factors underlying psychological functioning, and the MIMIC model revealed significant caregiver effects on three factors: anxiety/depression, engaged coping, and disengaged coping, but not life satisfaction. Youth caregivers, especially those living with the care recipient, reported significantly higher anxiety/depression and a greater use of both coping styles compared to non-caregivers. Caregiving has a negative influence on the emotional well-being of youth with dual student-caregiver roles. The utilization of more coping strategies may reflect needing to try many approaches to school/family stressors because supports and experience are limited. Research to clarify how caregiving mediates the behavioral health and academic success of youth and also impacts care recipients and the family is warranted.

A Longitudinal Study of the Adaptation of International Students in the United States

The authors conducted a longitudinal study of international students ( N = 90) attending a U.S. university to examine the effects of the initial cross-cultural transition on their psychological well-being and social and academic adaptations. The results indicate a significant decline in self-reports of psychological well-being, increased identification with the host culture, and stable identification with home cultures. Students who exhibit a separation strategy previous to their sojourn have the lowest level of social adaptation to the host culture.