scholarly journals Self-Leadership and Psychological Capital as Key Cognitive Resources for Shaping Health-Protective Behaviors during the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 41
Author(s):  
Sherry A. Maykrantz ◽  
Luke A. Langlinais ◽  
Jeffery D. Houghton ◽  
Christopher P. Neck

As COVID-19 has become a global pandemic, health researchers and practitioners have focused attention on identifying the factors that may help to shape health-protective behaviors, protecting individual health and well-being, and helping to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. This study explores the potential role of self-leadership and psychological capital (PsyCap) as key cognitive resources for shaping health-protective behaviors. Using multiple theoretical frameworks (social cognitive theory, psychological resources theory, and the health belief model), this paper develops and tests a hypothesized serial mediation model in which PsyCap and coping self-efficacy mediate the relationship between self-leadership and health-protective behaviors including hand washing, wearing face masks, and social distancing. Results suggest that PsyCap and coping self-efficacy mediate the positive relationship between self-leadership and health-protective behaviors. These results yield valuable insights regarding the usefulness of self-leadership and PsyCap as cognitive resources for shaping health-protective behaviors and for possible self-leadership and PsyCap interventions, potentially tailored to at-risk populations, which should have practical benefits for both the current and future pandemics and health crises.

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 352-360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Bonino ◽  
Federica Graziano ◽  
Martina Borghi ◽  
Davide Marengo ◽  
Giorgia Molinengo ◽  
...  

Abstract. This research developed a new scale to evaluate Self-Efficacy in Multiple Sclerosis (SEMS). The aim of this study was to investigate dimensionality, item functioning, measurement invariance, and concurrent validity of the SEMS scale. Data were collected from 203 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients (mean age, 39.5 years; 66% women; 95% having a relapsing remitting form of MS). Fifteen items of the SEMS scale were submitted to patients along with measures of psychological well-being, sense of coherence, depression, and coping strategies. Data underwent Rasch analysis and correlation analysis. Rasch analysis indicates the SEMS as a multidimensional construct characterized by two correlated dimensions: goal setting and symptom management, with satisfactory reliability coefficients. Overall, the 15 items reported acceptable fit statistics; the scale demonstrated measurement invariance (with respect to gender and disease duration) and good concurrent validity (positive correlations with psychological well-being, sense of coherence, and coping strategies and negative correlations with depression). Preliminary evidence suggests that SEMS is a psychometrically sound measure to evaluate perceived self-efficacy of MS patients with moderate disability, and it would be a valuable instrument for both research and clinical applications.


Author(s):  
Pilar Sanjuan ◽  
David Guillen ◽  
Ana María Pérez-García

 Abstract: Personality traits and psychological resources as predictors of emotional well-being in adolescents with and without training in bullfighting schools. The main objective of this study was to analyse how being in training in bullfighting schools can affect the emotional well-being (EW), the personality and the psychological resources of adolescents. The sample consisted of 196 boys, 95 from bullfighting school group (BSG) and 101 from a control group (CG). The BSG, in relation to CG, scored significantly more on conscientiousness, agreeableness and openness to experience, as well as on self-efficacy, problem-solving (PSC) and social support coping (SSC), and EW. The EW was predicted by feeling self-efficacy and not using avoidance coping, and in the CG by being extraverted, showing conscientiousness, being low in neuroticism, feeling self-efficacy and using PSC and SSC. It discusses the psychological adaptive profile of adolescents in the BSG and the need to promote well-being in adolescence through the promotion of self-efficacy and active coping.Resumen: El objetivo principal de este estudio fue analizar cómo la formación en escuelas de tauromaquia puede afectar al bienestar emocional (BE), la personalidad y los recursos psicológicos de los adolescentes. Participaron 196 chicos, 95 del grupo de escuelas taurinas (GET) y 101 del grupo control (GC). El GET, en relación con el GC, puntuaba significativamente más en tesón, afabilidad y apertura, así como en autoeficacia, afrontamiento de solución de problemas (ASP) y basado en los demás (AD), y BE. El BE se predecía en el GET por sentirse eficaz y no usar el afrontamiento de evitación, y en el GC por ser extravertido, mostrar tesón, ser bajo en neuroticismo, sentirse eficaz y emplear el ASP y AD. Se discute sobre el perfil psicológico adaptativo que presentan los adolescentes del GET y la necesidad de promover el bienestar en la adolescencia mediante el fomento de la autoeficacia y el afrontamiento activo.


Author(s):  
Ingunn Hagen ◽  
Stine Kofoed ◽  
Usha Nayar

In this chapter, we will address how Yoga may contribute to psychological wellbeing. The chapter will be based on review of relevant literature in the backdrop of the theoretical framework of Self-Efficacy developed by Albert Bandura in his comprehensive ‘social cognitive theory of human motivation and learning'. Illustrations are included from our study: “Yoga to promote young people's mental health and well-being?” First, we will address some current social tendencies that contribute to everyday stress and challenges to people's general wellbeing. Second, we aim to have some conceptual clarification related to the concepts in our title “Yoga for psychological wellbeing”. Third, we will address how Yoga may function as a tool for self-regulation and its relationship with self-efficacy. Fourth, we will describe how Yoga is perceived as a mean to cope with stress. We will discuss how different people use Yoga to cope with stress, and how this partly relates to the role of Yoga as a tool for self-regulation.


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annita Gibson ◽  
Richard Hicks

The uncertainty of today’s working environment, including prevalence of temporary employment conditions in many industries, has affected the psychological well-being of people in the workforce. Psychological well-being affects all aspects of a person’s life, including: pleasure, job satisfaction and fulfilment, and life meaning (Seligman, 2002). Previous studies have investigated how Psychological Capital (PsyCap) and Core Self-evaluations (CSE) are positively related to job satisfaction and performance, but there is little research on the relationships of PsyCap and CSE with psychological well-being (PWB). This present study explored the relationships among PsyCap, CSE, and PWB in a convenience workplace sample of 121 Australian working adults. Results revealed that both PsyCap (involving hope, optimism, resilience and self-efficacy) and CSE (involving evaluations of one’s own locus of control, self-esteem, generalised self-efficacy, and adaptive vs ‘neurotic’ behaviour) were separately positive predictors of wellbeing, consistent with previous studies. There were overlaps in concepts but both PsyCap and CSE together predicted higher levels of well-being than either alone, and CSE was found to be a partial mediator between PsyCap and well-being indicating that both elements were needed in prediction of well-being. Practical implications include that PsyCap and CSE measures can be used together in the workplace in assessment, selection, training and development to help improve the quality of health and well-being of employees.  Limitations and future research directions are indicated.


Author(s):  
Agota Kun ◽  
Peter Gadanecz

AbstractHappiness and well-being at work has been an increasingly popular topic in the past two decades in academic and business contexts alike, along with positive psychology, through which organizations aim to find out, what makes working environments engaging and motivating. Few studies have focused on education, however, especially from a solution-focused perspective, even though it is a sector where employees are highly exposed to stress and burnout. Accordingly, the purpose of his study was to investigate the relationship between teachers’ psychological resources through the concept of psychological capital, workplace well-being and perceived workplace happiness. We used both qualitative (open-ended question) and quantitative (test battery) methods to examine the relation between the various factors. Content analysis of responses in our qualitative research suggests that the main pillars of teachers’ workplace happiness were realization of goals, feedback, finding meaning in work and social relationships. The results of our quantitative study indicated that workplace well-being and happiness correlated with inner psychological resources, hope and optimism in particular. We conclude that the future focus on employee well-being must take into account positive contributing factors and adopt a positively-oriented approach to promoting well-being. Suggestions for practical implications are also discussed.


Author(s):  
Anton Grobler ◽  
Yvonne T. Joubert

Background: Although attention has been given to the importance of positivity in the workplace, it has only recently been proposed as a new way in which to focus on organisational behaviour. The psychological resources which meet the criteria for positive organisational behaviour best are hope, self-efficacy, optimism and resilience. Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the construct validity of the Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PCQ), with specific reference to its psychometric properties. Setting: The sample included a total of 1749 respondents, 60 each from 30 organisations in South Africa. Methods: A multi-factorial model was statistically explored and confirmed (with exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis, respectively). Results: The results support the original conceptualisation and empirically-confirmed factorial composition of Psychological Capital (PsyCap) by four elements, namely Hope, Optimism, Resilience and Self-efficacy. However, the study yielded a three-factor solution, with Hope and Optimism as a combined factor and Resilience and Self-efficacy made up of a reconfigured set of substantively justifiable items (three of the original 24 items were found not to be suitable). The three reconfigured factors showed good psychometric properties, good fit (in support of construct validity) and acceptable levels of convergent and discriminant validity. Recommendations were made for further studies. Conclusion: Based on the results obtained, it seems that the PCQ is a suitable (valid and reliable) instrument for measuring PsyCap. This study could thus serve as a reference for the accurate measurement of PsyCap.


2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karolina Zalewska-Łunkiewicz ◽  
◽  
Agata Chudzicka-Czupała ◽  

The situation of mental crisis and psychiatric hospitalization is a difficult one, which may be described in the category of stress that affects individuals’ subjective well-being. Also the post-discharge period, the time of recovery, is related to the necessity of coping with many difficulties-stigma, treatment, occupational problems. The aim of the study was to assess the levels of perceived distress during the time of psychiatric hospitalisation and in post-discharge period, coping strategies, self- efficacy and also associations of these variables with subjective well-being in people who prepare to the role of peer support workers. The pilot study covered a group of 35 subjects -participants of one of the first realised in Poland workshop for peer support workers. The following questionnaires were used: Psychological Well-Being PWB, The General Self-Efficacy Scale GSES, Distress Thermometer DT, Brief-COPE. The results point to the existence of the associations of subjective well-being in future peer support workers and their difference of distress appraisal between the time of crisis and the time of recovery, self-efficacy and the complex set of coping with stress strategies. The research demonstrates that further empirical explorations are justified of the subjective well-being and coping of individuals after a psychiatric hospitalization crisis, who wish to help other mental disorder sufferers. Key words: health assistants, subjective well-being, self-efficacy, coping with stress


Author(s):  
Teresa Mª Perandones González ◽  
Lucía Herrera Torres ◽  
Asunción Lledó Carreres

Abstract.PERSONAL STRENGTHS AND VIRTUES OF TEACHERS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH TEACHER SELF-EFFICACYThis study examines the relationship between personal strengths and virtues and teacher selfefficacy. For it, it is based on two theoretical frameworks, on the one hand, the contributions of Positive Psychology, and secondly, the principles of Social Cognitive Theory. The study was conducted at all levels of education, from Childhood education to Higher education, in two countries, Dominican Republic and Spain, with a sample of 454 teachers. The instruments used were the Personal Strengths Questionnaire VIA (Values in Action Inventory of Strengths: VIA-IS), which assesses personal strengths, and Teacher Efficacy Scale (Teacher Efficacy Scale), which measures two dimensions: Teacher Effectiveness and Personal Effectiveness. The results obtained through the analysis of correlation and regression indicate, firstly, significant correlations between the two dimensions of the Teacher Efficacy Scale and the six Personal Virtues, and, secondly, the predictive ability with respect to the Effectiveness teaching, a Personal Virtue: Humanity and Love. From this empirical justification, in discussions of work incorporate arises in the initial and continuing teacher education, the Personal Strengths and Virtues, since they are the basis for growth personal and professional effectiveness, well-being and development of the potential of each person.Keywords: personal strengths and virtues, teacher self-efficacy, well-being, love, personal and professional growthResumen.Este estudio analiza la relación entre las fortalezas y virtudes personales y la autoeficacia docente. Para ello se sustenta en dos marcos teóricos de referencia, por una parte, las aportaciones de la Psicología Positiva, y por otra, los postulados de la Teoría Social Cognitiva. El estudio se ha llevado a cabo en todos los niveles educativos, desde la Educación Infantil hasta la Educación Superior, en dos países; República Dominicana y España, con una muestra de 454 docentes. Los instrumentos utilizados han sido el Cuestionario VIA de Fortalezas Personales (Values in Action Inventory of Strengths: VIA-IS), que evalúa las fortalezas personales, y la Escala de Eficacia Docente (Teacher Efficacy Scale), la cual mide dos dimensiones: la Eficacia Docente y la Eficacia Personal. Los resultados obtenidos a través de los análisis de correlación y de regresión señalan, por una parte, correlaciones significativas entre las dos dimensiones de la Escala de Eficacia Docente y las seis Virtudes Personales; y, por otra, la capacidad predictiva, respecto a la Eficacia Docente, de una Virtud Personal: la Humanidad y el Amor. Partiendo de ésta justificación empírica, en las discusiones del trabajo se plantea la incorporación, en la formación inicial y permanente del profesorado, de las Fortalezas y Virtudes Personales, puesto que son la base para el crecimiento y la efectividad personal y profesional, el bienestar y el desarrollo de la potencialidad de cada persona.Palabras clave: fortalezas y virtudes personales, autoeficacia docente, bienestar, amor, crecimiento personal y profesional


2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 30-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina L. Rusinova ◽  
Viacheslav V. Safronov

This study is devoted to psychologically mediating the social structuring of health. According to theoretical views, which have not yet received a convincing justification, the decline in the social status of an individual is accompanied by the loss of the psychological resources necessary to overcome the difficulties of life and the stresses caused by them, which leads to deteriorating health in the lower social strata. The verification of this assumption was carried out using data from the European Social Survey — representative surveys of the population of 27 countries conducted in 2012–2013. Studying indirect psychological effects has demonstrated that in many of these countries such a psychological characteristic as self-efficacy is indeed a mediator of the social structuring of health, especially prominent in many post-communist societies, but not in the most developed western countries where mediating effects turned out to be weak or completely absent. A two-level analysis of psychological mediation, depending on the factors of the economic well-being of countries, the development of a social state and cultural identity, does not support the assumption of the importance of an individualistic culture for the manifestation of mediation, and convincingly demonstrates that indirect effects are related to the social and economic context. In countries with a strong economy and social state, the distribution of psychological resources is barely related to the social structure — the relative well-being of the lower social strata, due to the developed system of state social guarantees, allows for many of them to maintain self-respect and optimism. Psychological resources, the distribution of which does not reflect social stratification, lose the role of a mediator. In the less developed part of Europe, where the lower strata cannot rely on comprehensive government assistance, the hardships of life and the stresses they generate lead to a loss of faith in themselves and in the possibility of changes for the better among people with low status, resulting in psychological resources acting as a mediator of health social structuring.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego García-Álvarez ◽  
Juan Hernández-Lalinde ◽  
Rubia Cobo-Rendón

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, educational centers and universities in Venezuela have closed their physical plants and are migrating to emergency remote education to continue with academic programs. This empirical study aimed to analyze the predictive capacity of academic self-efficacy and emotional intelligence skills on each of the dimensions of psychological well-being. We employed a cross-sectional predictive design. The sample comprised 277 university students, of which 252 were female (91.00%). Their ages ranged from 18 to 45 years, with a mean of 20.35 (SD = 2.29). Non-probabilistic chance sampling was used. For data collection, we used an anonymous online form, contacted students by mail, and invited them to participate in the study. Questionnaires were available between 217 and 227 days of decreed quarantine in Venezuela. The results indicated average levels of academic self-efficacy (Me = 4; IQR = 2), emotional intelligence: clarity (Me = 27; IQR = 10), attention (Me = 25; IQR = 10) y repair (Me = 25; IQR = 12), and psychological well-being (Me = 35; IQR = 5). We found differences according to sex and age, specifically in emotional regulation (z = 3.73, p < 0.001, d = 0.438) and in bonds of psychological well-being (z = 2.51, p = 0.012, d = 0.276) favoring men (Me = 33, IQR = 9; Me = 8, IQR = 1), respectively. Regarding age, statistically significant differences were found in the group of students older than 21 years with higher perception of psychological well-being (z = 3.69, p < 0.001, d = 0.43) and in each of its dimensions. Emotional intelligence and academic self-efficacy were found to be significant predictors of psychological well-being and its dimensions, specifically on control (R2-Cox = 0.25, R2-Nagelkerke = 0.34, 69.90% of total correct classification), links (R2-Cox = 0.09, R2-Nagelkerke = 0.12, 65.07% of total correct classification), projects (R2-Cox = 0.32, R2-Nagelkerke = 0.46, 78.40% of total correct classification), acceptance (R2-Cox = 0.17, R2-Nagelkerke = 0.23, 68.28% of total correct classification), and total well-being (R2-Cox = 0.52, R2-Nagelkerke = 0.71, 87.16% of total correct classification). It was concluded that emotional intelligence and academic self-efficacy are protective psychological resources of psychological well-being that should be promoted at university to mitigate the negative effects of the pandemic on the mental health of young people.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document