The Unique Contribution of Positive Orientation to Optimal Functioning

2012 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guido Alessandri ◽  
Gian Vittorio Caprara ◽  
John Tisak
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Functioning ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Unique Contribution ◽  
Critical Component ◽  
Positive Orientation ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Common Mode ◽  
Optimal Functioning

Literature documents that the judgments people hold about themselves, their life, and their future are important ingredients of their psychological functioning and well-being, and are commonly related to each other. In this paper, results from a large cross-sectional sample (N = 1,331, 48% males) are presented attesting to the hypothesis that evaluations about oneself, one’s life, and one’s future rest on a common mode of viewing experiences named “Positive Orientation.” These results corroborate the utility of the new construct as a critical component of individuals’ well functioning.

Positive orientation: explorations on what is common to life satisfaction, self-esteem, and optimism

2010 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gian Vittorio Caprara ◽  
Patrizia Steca ◽  
Guido Alessandri ◽  
John R. Abela ◽  
Chad M. McWhinnie
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Functioning ◽  
Classical Test Theory ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Test Theory ◽  
Positive Orientation ◽  
Potential Conflict ◽  
New Findings ◽  
Latent Dimension ◽  
University Of Rome ◽  
The University

Aim– Literature documents that the judgments people hold about themselves, their life, and their future are important ingredients of their psychological functioning and well-being, and are commonly related to each other.Methods– We used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) under the classical test theory, regression analysis, and a cross national design.Results– This study provides new findings attesting to the hypothesis that evaluations about oneself, one's life, and one's future rest on a common mode of viewing experiences which we named “Positive Orientation”.Conclusions– Results from an Italian and a Canadian study are resented, attesting to a latent dimension that lies at the core of positive evaluations and that corroborates the utility of the new construct as a critical component of individuals’ well-functioning.Declaration of Interest:This study was partially supported by Grants from the MIUR, 2002 and 2005, and by a Grant from the University of Rome “La Sapienza”, 2002 to Gian Vittorio Caprara. Authors declare “no potential conflict of interest”.

Hope and Stress Resilience

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony D. Ong ◽  
Taylor Standiford ◽  
Saarang Deshpande
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Functioning ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Phenomenological Experience ◽  
Direct Association ◽  
Beneficial Impact ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Clinical Populations

A sizeable literature has implicated hopelessness in the phenomenological experience of various mood disorders, vulnerability to psychopathology, and overall poor psychological functioning. By contrast, how hope contributes to resilience and well-being has been understudied. This systematic review integrates findings from cross-sectional, longitudinal, ambulatory, and experimental studies that investigate the impact of hope and well-being outcomes in both healthy and clinical populations. Although the literature is not without theoretical gaps and methodological inconsistencies, the pattern of findings suggests that aggregate or trait measures of hope provide the most consistent evidence of a direct association between hope and well-being in healthy and clinical populations. More limited empirical data exists on the protective effects of hope. The chapter concludes that more rigorous and theoretically informed research is needed before firm conclusions can be drawn about the possible beneficial impact of hope on well-being.

scholarly journals Chronic multimorbidity among older adults in rural South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. e001386 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Y Chang ◽  
Francesc Xavier Gómez-Olivé ◽  
Collin Payne ◽  
Julia K Rohr ◽  
Jennifer Manne-Goehler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Psychological Functioning ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Sociodemographic Factors ◽  
Multiple Chronic Conditions ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Rural South ◽  
Rural South Africa

IntroductionThe rapid ageing of populations around the world is accompanied by increasing prevalence of multimorbidity. This study is one of the first to present the prevalence of multimorbidity that includes HIV in the complex epidemiological setting of South Africa, thus filling a gap in the multimorbidity literature that is dominated by studies in high-income or low-HIV prevalence settings.MethodsOut of the full sample of 5059 people aged 40+, we analysed cross-sectional data on 10 conditions from 3889 people enrolled in the Health and Ageing in Africa: A longitudinal study of an INDEPTH Community in South Africa (HAALSI) Programme. Two definitions of multimorbidity were applied: the presence of more than one condition and the presence of conditions from more than one of the following categories: cardiometabolic conditions, mental disorders, HIV and anaemia. We conducted descriptive and regression analyses to assess the relationship between prevalence of multimorbidity and sociodemographic factors. We examined the frequencies of the most prevalent combinations of conditions and assessed relationships between multimorbidity and physical and psychological functioning.Results69.4 per cent (95% CI 68.0 to 70.9) of the respondents had at least two conditions and 53.9% (52.4–55.5) of the sample had at least two categories of conditions. The most common condition groups and multimorbid profiles were combinations of cardiometabolic conditions, cardiometabolic conditions and depression, HIV and anaemia and combinations of mental disorders. The commonly observed positive relationships between multimorbidity and age and decreasing wealth were not observed in this population, namelydue to different epidemiological profiles in the subgroups, with higher prevalence of HIV and anaemia in the poorer and younger groups, and higher prevalence of cardiometabolic conditions in the richer and older groups. Both physical functioning and well-being negatively associated with multimorbidity.DiscussionMore coordinated, long-term integrated care management across multiple chronic conditions should be provided in rural South Africa.

scholarly journals The psychological effects of providing personal care to a partner: a multidimensional perspective

2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Hansen ◽  
Britt Slagsvold
Keyword(s):  
Life Course ◽  
Psychological Functioning ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Effects ◽  
Personal Care ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Increasing Demand ◽  
Education And Employment

The expected increasing demand for informal care in aging societies underscores the importance of understanding the psychological implications of caregiving. This study explores the effect of providing regular help with personal care to a partner on different aspects of psychological well-being. We use cross-sectional data from the Norwegian Life Course, Ageing and Generation study (n. ~15,000; age 40-84) and two-wave panel data from the Norwegian study on Life Course, Ageing and Generation (n. ~3000; age 40-84). To separate the effects of providing care from those of the partner’s disability, caregivers are contrasted with non-caregivers with both disabled and nondisabled partners. We separate outcomes into cognitive well-being (life satisfaction), psychological functioning (self-esteem, mastery), and affective well-being (happiness, depression, loneliness). Findings show that caregiving has important cross-sectional and longitudinal detrimental psychological effects. These effects are fairly consistent across all aspects of well-being, demonstrating that caregiving has a broad-based negative impact. Among women, however, these effects are similar to if not weaker than the effects of a partner’s disability. Caregiving effects are constant by age, education, and employment status, but stronger among caregivers with health problems. Providing personal care to a partner is associated with marked adverse psychological effects for men and women irrespective of age and socio-economic status. Hence, no socio-demographic group is immune from caregiving stress, so programs should be targeted generally. The results also suggest that the health needs of caregivers demand more attention.

scholarly journals Job crafting and well-being in the elderly care sector: the effect of over-commitment

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 405-419 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Romeo ◽  
Montserrat Yepes-Baldó ◽  
Miguel Ángel Piñeiro ◽  
Kristina Westerberg ◽  
Maria Nordin
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Functioning ◽  
Longitudinal Design ◽  
Elderly Care ◽  
General Health Questionnaire ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Job Crafting ◽  
Positive Interaction ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the moderation effect of over-commitment in the job crafting–well-being relationship, in the elderly care sector in Spain. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional design was implemented and a final sample of 353 participants were assessed using the Job Crafting Questionnaire, an adaptation of the Over-commitment Scale from the Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire, and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). Findings A positive interaction between relational and task crafting and over-commitment is observed in the prediction of well-being levels. Specifically, the effect of over-commitment in the task crafting–well-being relationship proved to be statistically significant when opposed to low, medium and high levels of over-commitment. Additionally, the effect of over-commitment in the relational crafting–well-being relationship proved to be statistically significant only when opposed to medium and high levels of over-commitment. Finally, a direct and simple effect was observed between cognitive crafting and well-being, not moderated by over-commitment. Research limitations/implications Implementation of non-behavioral measurements, and a non-longitudinal design are suggested. The development of behavioral measures for job crafting is encouraged, along with the implementation of longitudinal designs sensitive to changes in over-commitment. Possible over-commitment results are biased by an economically contracted environment. Practical implications Job crafting training, over-commitment early detection and further research on job crafting strategies’ preferences are suggested. Originality/value The moderating role of over-commitment in the job crafting–well-being relationship in the elderly care sector represents one of these attempts to better understand evidences of how work-related efforts modify a worker’s psychological functioning and adaptation, which is the reason why, specially in contexts of uncertainty, its study becomes relevant.

Proprietŕ psicometriche della scala di orientamento positivo nel contesto lavorativo

RISORSA UOMO ◽  
2009 ◽  
pp. 323-336
Author(s):  
Guido Alessandri ◽  
Ramona Di Domenicantonio ◽  
Sherilyn Boccianti
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Citizenship ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Organizational Setting ◽  
Citizenship Behaviors ◽  
Positive Orientation ◽  
Optimal Functioning ◽  
Orientation Scale ◽  
Order Factor ◽  
Report Measure

- The aim of the study is to investigate the psychometric properties of the positive orientation scale, in an organizational setting. This study involves 360 individuals working for a national organization. Results from confirmative factor analysis demonstrated the structural stability of the scale, composed by three first order factors (orientation toward self, the others and the future) and one second-order factor (positive orientation). Criterion validity was further corroborated with regard to self-report measure (such as perceived work self-efficacy and job satisfaction) as well as with regard to other evaluated (colleagues) organizational citizenship behaviors.Keywords: positive orientation, organizational citizenship behaviours, optimal functioning, well-being.Parole chiave: orientamento positivo, comportamenti di cittadinanza organizzativa, funzionamento ottimale, benessere.

scholarly journals THE LATENT CONTENT MODEL OF ECONOMIC GROWTH

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 13
Author(s):  
Ntogwa Ng’habi Bundala
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Unique Contribution ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Economic Variables ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Mediation Effects ◽  
Linear Modelling ◽  
Latent Content

Purpose: This paper aimed to establish a latent content (LC) model of economic growth that integrates both economic and non-economic variables. Methodology: The study used a cross-sectional survey research design. The checklist questionnaires were used to collect primary data. The sample size of the study was 2011 individuals, randomly sampled from Mwanza and Kagera regions in Tanzania. Cronbach’Alpha and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to test reliability and validity of questionnaires respectively. The study used both linear and non-linear modelling data analytics methods to examine assumptions of the LC model of economic growth.  Clearly, the study used automatic linear modelling, stochastic structural-factor frontier analysis, and structural equation modelling to test the linearity assumption of the LC model. Moreover, the probit model and neural network analysis were used to examine the non- linearity assumption of the LC model. Findings: The study evidenced that the LC model was significantly determined by capital, psychological well-being (PWB), and labour. However, the labour was found significant negatively impacts economic growth. The subjective well-being (SWB) indicators were found insignificantly impacting the economic growth, however they have indirect impacts. Furthermore, the study confirmed that non-economic variables had less probabilistic power than economic variables. The paper concluded that an optimal economic growth (GDP) was direct related to capital, psychological wellbeing and inversely proportional to labour. However, the effectiveness of capital and labour were due to mediation effects of subjective well-being and psychological well-being respectively. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The LC model of economic growth introduces a modern theory of economic growth, that its adoption will affect the traditional economic theories, practices and policy settings. The model was found empirically valid, hence, the paper recommended the adoption of the LC model in pre-and post micro and macro-economic policy and strategy designs/planning. The adoption of the model will increase the probability of an individual of getting a high economic growth (output) as well as the strengthening of psychosocial resources. However, this study suggested further study by using longitudinal data to attest the LC model as the current study only limited on the cross-sectional data.  

Conflict Avoidance in Old Age

GeroPsych ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 61-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lia Oberhauser ◽  
Andreas B. Neubauer ◽  
Eva-Marie Kessler
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Conflict Avoidance ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Adult Lifespan ◽  
Set Up

Abstract. Conflict avoidance increases across the adult lifespan. This cross-sectional study looks at conflict avoidance as part of a mechanism to regulate belongingness needs ( Sheldon, 2011 ). We assumed that older adults perceive more threats to their belongingness when they contemplate their future, and that they preventively react with avoidance coping. We set up a model predicting conflict avoidance that included perceptions of future nonbelonging, termed anticipated loneliness, and other predictors including sociodemographics, indicators of subjective well-being and perceived social support (N = 331, aged 40–87). Anticipated loneliness predicted conflict avoidance above all other predictors and partially mediated the age-association of conflict avoidance. Results suggest that belongingness regulation accounts may deepen our understanding of conflict avoidance in the second half of life.

Perceived Overprotection and Its Association With Quality of Life in Dementia

GeroPsych ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 125-134
Author(s):  
Mechthild Niemann-Mirmehdi ◽  
Andreas Häusler ◽  
Paul Gellert ◽  
Johanna Nordheim
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Patient Autonomy ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Negative Association ◽  
Significant Positive Association ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Mental Well Being

Abstract. To date, few studies have focused on perceived overprotection from the perspective of people with dementia (PwD). In the present examination, the association of perceived overprotection in PwD is examined as an autonomy-restricting factor and thus negative for their mental well-being. Cross-sectional data from the prospective DYADEM study of 82 patient/partner dyads (mean age = 74.26) were used to investigate the association between overprotection, perceived stress, depression, and quality of life (QoL). The analyses show that an overprotective contact style with PwD has a significant positive association with stress and depression, and has a negative association with QoL. The results emphasize the importance of avoiding an overprotective care style and supporting patient autonomy.

Psychological Resilience Provides No Independent Protection From Suicidal Risk

Crisis ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 130-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danica W. Y. Liu ◽  
A. Kate Fairweather-Schmidt ◽  
Richard Burns ◽  
Rachel M. Roberts ◽  
Kaarin J. Anstey
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Psychological Resilience ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Life Project ◽  
Resilience Factors ◽  
First Time

Abstract. Background: Little is known about the role of resilience in the likelihood of suicidal ideation (SI) over time. Aims: We examined the association between resilience and SI in a young-adult cohort over 4 years. Our objectives were to determine whether resilience was associated with SI at follow-up or, conversely, whether SI was associated with lowered resilience at follow-up. Method: Participants were selected from the Personality and Total Health (PATH) Through Life Project from Canberra and Queanbeyan, Australia, aged 28–32 years at the first time point and 32–36 at the second. Multinomial, linear, and binary regression analyses explored the association between resilience and SI over two time points. Models were adjusted for suicidality risk factors. Results: While unadjusted analyses identified associations between resilience and SI, these effects were fully explained by the inclusion of other suicidality risk factors. Conclusion: Despite strong cross-sectional associations, resilience and SI appear to be unrelated in a longitudinal context, once risk/resilience factors are controlled for. As independent indicators of psychological well-being, suicidality and resilience are essential if current status is to be captured. However, the addition of other factors (e.g., support, mastery) makes this association tenuous. Consequently, resilience per se may not be protective of SI.

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