scholarly journals Displaying character strengths in behavior is related to well-being and achievement at school: Evidence from between- and within-person analyses

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Wagner ◽  
Willibald Ruch
Keyword(s):  
Character Strengths ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Character Strength ◽  
Unique Variance ◽  
School Study ◽  
Daily Behavior ◽  
Additional Variance ◽  
Classroom Level

In two studies, we establish the association between different assessments of character strengths (i.e., traits, habitual and daily behavior at school) with well-being and achievement at school. Study 1 (N = 414, mean age = 14.14 years) demonstrated that habitual strengths-related behavior at school accounted for unique variance in well-being at school and in achievement beyond the influence of the respective character strength trait. Further, the desirability of certain strengths (e.g., perseverance, fairness, forgiveness, and humor) at the classroom level accounted for additional variance in students’ well-being. Study 2 (N = 186, mean age = 14.27 years) used a diary design across five days to replicate the between-person associations and study within-person associations. Results revealed that daily strengths-related behavior predicted well-being on the following day. Overall, the results underline the importance of strengths-related behavior at school and suggest that all 24 character strengths are relevant for well-being at school.

scholarly journals Character Strengths Beatitudes: A Secular Application of Ancient Wisdom to Appreciate Strengths for Spiritual Happiness and Spiritual Growth

Religions ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1000
Author(s):  
Ryan M. Niemiec
Keyword(s):  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Spiritual Growth ◽  
Gospel Of Matthew ◽  
Character Strengths ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Spiritual Journey ◽  
Character Strength ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Sermon On The Mount ◽  
The Individual

A beatitude is a blessing. It is a form of appreciation that can be directed toward others or oneself. Theologically speaking, some frame the original beatitudes from The Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew as pertaining to “spiritual happiness”, and recent scholars have offered a compelling argument that they are a call to flourishing. The focus here involves the creation and description of 24 blessings, or beatitudes, using the lens of one of the foundational and most researched areas in the sciences of flourishing, well-being, and positive psychology, which is the science of character strengths. Recent research has framed the 24 universal character strengths as spiritual strengths, hence particularly aligned for secular and nonsecular contexts of spiritual blessings. Each of the 24 character strengths was created into a blessing using the structure of the original beatitudes—with an opening description of the personal quality or attribute that is blessed and a follow-up outcome or core benefit that arises from the expression of that quality. In this way, these character strength beatitudes or character strength blessings offer an opportunity to appreciate the best positive qualities of others. These blessings are framed as primarily a mechanism of appreciating the character strengths of others, resting theoretically in both the grounding path and the sanctification path, the two types of integration of character strengths and spirituality that researchers have proposed. They are discussed, secondarily, as applied to the individual, for self-understanding, insight, and growth. These two purposes are relevant to the deepening of the spiritual journey, providing support as individuals pursue meaning in life and/or the sacred as they go deeper within themselves, up and beyond themselves, and sideways and interconnected to others. Practical applications, based in science, are discussed and point to avenues by which these character strengths beatitudes might both foster the appreciating of others’ strengths and support one’s own spiritual happiness, spiritual coping, and spiritual growth.

Examining the Link Between Character Strengths and Positive and Negative Mental Health Indicators in Iranian Adolescents

2021 ◽  
pp. 073428292110053
Author(s):  
Mahsa Jabbari ◽  
Shahriar Shahidi ◽  
Leili Panaghi ◽  
Mohammad Ali Mazaheri ◽  
Eva Oberle
Keyword(s):  
Convergent Validity ◽  
Character Strengths ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Health Indicators ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Positive Development ◽  
Response Patterns ◽  
Confirmatory Factor ◽  
Grade Level Differences

Character strengths are an important foundation for positive development and thriving in adolescence. Most research on character strengths has been conducted with youths in Western cultures. We examined character strengths in relation to positive and negative well-being indicators in a sample of Iranian youths. We investigated the reliability and validity of the Farsi version of the Values in Action Inventory of Strengths for Youth (VIA Y-96)—a self-report survey commonly used in Western contexts. Participants were adolescents in Iran ( N = 1,359; 48.5% female; M age = 13.54, SD = 1.00) who completed the VIA Y-96 and questionnaires assessing life satisfaction, positive/negative experiences, depression, anxiety, and stress. We found that reliability coefficients were acceptable for most of the VIA subscales. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), as well as a second-order CFA, supported the construct validity of the Farsi VIA Y-96. Correlations between the character strengths and positive and negative well-being indicators supported convergent validity. Measurement invariance for the VIA Y-96 was established in this study comparing boys’ and girls’ response patterns. Sex and grade level differences were found for some of the subscales. Overall, the Farsi VIA Y-96 had acceptable psychometric properties, suggesting that it can be used in research on character strengths with Iranian youths.

scholarly journals Influence on Forgiveness, Character Strengths and Satisfaction with Life of a Short Mindfulness Intervention via a Spanish Smartphone Application

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 802
Author(s):  
Juan Pablo Pizarro-Ruiz ◽  
Nuria Ordóñez-Camblor ◽  
Mario Del-Líbano ◽  
María-Camino Escolar-LLamazares
Keyword(s):  
Negative Affect ◽  
Satisfaction With Life ◽  
Character Strengths ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Smartphone Application ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Psychological Practice ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Reducing Stress ◽  
Positive Effect

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) are a recognized effective psychological practice characterized by attention control, awareness, acceptance, non-reactivity, and non-judgmental thinking obtained through the practice of meditation. They have been shown to be useful in reducing stress and enhancing well-being in different contexts. In this research, the effectiveness of an MBI was evaluated on variables that can promote successful job performance such as mindfulness trait, positive and negative affect, forgiveness, personality strengths and satisfaction with life. The intervention was carried out through a smartphone application called “Aire Fresco” (Fresh Air) during 14 days in the middle of the quarantine produced by the Covid-19 pandemic. The study sample was composed of 164 Spanish people who were distributed in two groups: control group and experimental group, which were evaluated before and after the intervention. The MANCOVA performed showed an overall positive effect of the intervention on the variables evaluated. The different ANCOVAs carried out showed that the intervention was beneficial in increasing mindfulness trait, reducing negative affect or increasing life satisfaction, among others. Our study is, as far as we know, the first to demonstrate the effectiveness of a brief intervention in mindfulness conducted using a smartphone application in Spanish.

scholarly journals Subjective Well-Being: Linear Relationships to Character Strengths

2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catiane Oliveira ◽  
Maiana Farias Oliveira Nunes ◽  
Eduardo José Legal ◽  
Ana Paula Porto Noronha
Keyword(s):  
Character Strengths ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Linear Relationships

scholarly journals LIFETIME AND RECENT INCIDENCE OF ADVERSITY DIFFERENTIALLY IMPACTS CHARACTER STRENGTHS AND WELL-BEING IN MIDLIFE

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. 181-182
Author(s):  
F J Infurna ◽  
S S Luthar ◽  
K J Grimm
Keyword(s):  
Character Strengths ◽  
Well Being

scholarly journals Exploring Self-Compassion and Versions of Masculinity in Men Athletes

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 368-379
Author(s):  
Nathan A. Reis ◽  
Kent C. Kowalski ◽  
Amber D. Mosewich ◽  
Leah J. Ferguson
Keyword(s):  
Gay Men ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Negative Evaluation ◽  
Fear Of Negative Evaluation ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Internalized Shame ◽  
Unique Variance ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
Specific Scenario

Despite a growing emphasis on self-compassion in sport, little research has focused exclusively on men athletes. The purpose of this research was to explore the interaction of self-compassion and diverse versions of masculinity on the psychosocial well-being of men athletes. The authors sampled 172 men athletes (Mage = 22.8 yr) from a variety of sports, using descriptive methodology with self-report questionnaires. Self-compassion was related to most variables (e.g., psychological well-being, fear of negative evaluation, state self-criticism, internalized shame, reactions to a hypothetical sport-specific scenario) in hypothesized directions and predicted unique variance beyond self-esteem across most of those variables, as well as moderated relationships between masculinity and both autonomy and attitudes toward gay men. In addition, self-compassion was differentially related to inclusive and hegemonic masculinity. Our findings support self-compassion as a promising resource for men athletes to buffer emotionally difficult sport experiences.

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