scholarly journals Integrating Humor and Positive Psychology Approaches to Psychological Well-Being

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 557-570 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadia Brittany Maiolino ◽  
Nicholas A. Kuiper
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Positive Psychology ◽  
Positive Affect ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Humor Styles ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Trait Gratitude

In this study we investigated how individual differences and personality constructs taken from the positive psychology and humor domains of psychology may play an important role in psychological well-being. Participants completed measures assessing trait gratitude, savoring, and humor styles; along with several positive and negative indicators of psychological well-being (e.g., life satisfaction, positive affect, depression, and anxiety). We first examined the degree of empirical and conceptual overlap among the personality constructs from these two domains. Here, we found that higher levels of gratitude and savoring were associated with higher levels of self-enhancing and affiliative humor, whereas higher levels of aggressive and self-defeating humor were primarily associated with lower levels of gratitude. Subsequent regression analyses indicated that the positive psychology construct of gratitude was predictive of several different indices of positive and negative well-being, whereas savoring was most predictive of greater positive affect. In addition, these regression analyses also revealed that the humor styles of self-enhancing and self-defeating humor provided a significant increase in the prediction of several positive and negative indices of well-being, above and beyond the effects attributable to the positive psychology constructs alone. These findings were then discussed in terms of developing a broader and more integrated theoretical approach to the understanding of psychological well-being.

scholarly journals Application of Positive Psychology Education in Chinese Medical Students to Increase Their Psychological Well-being: A Pilot Study

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao-Qin Zhang ◽  
Bao-Shuai Zhang ◽  
Meng-Die Wang
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Positive Psychology ◽  
Training Program ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Satisfaction Scale ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Psychology Education ◽  
Chinese Medical Students

Abstract Background Anxiety and depression have been on rise in Chinese medical students due to the heavy academic pressure of medical practice and the deteriorating doctor-patient relationship in China. The psychological well-being of the Chinese medical students has become a critical focus of attention for the medical education community. In the present study, we aimed to explore the potential effect of positive psychology education on improving the mental health of Chinese medical students. Methods A total of 49 undergraduate students (mean age =19.5 years old) at their year-2 and year-3 medical study in our institute were enrolled in an 8-week positive psychology training course, which was embedded into a regular school curriculum. Their hope scale, life satisfaction scale, subjective happiness scale, as well as depression and anxiety scales were measured before and after the training program, respectively. Results The analyses results showed that over 95% of the participants reported an improved mental status after the training program. Their positive emotions, including hope, life satisfaction and happiness, significantly increased, while the negative emotions, including depression and anxiety, were significantly relieved. Conclusions These evidence suggest that positive psychology education holds promise for increasing the mental well-being and reducing psychological distress among Chinese medical students. Further research is required to demonstrate the efficacy of this program using larger representative sample cohorts.

scholarly journals Sense of Humor, Stable Affect, and Psychological Well-Being

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 464-479 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arnie Cann ◽  
Chantal Collette
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Positive Affect ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Longitudinal Design ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Humor Styles ◽  
Good Sense ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Sense Of Humor

A good sense of humor has been implicated as a quality that could contribute to psychological well-being. The mechanisms through which sense of humor might operate include helping to reappraise threats, serving as a character strength, or facilitating happiness. The current research attempts to integrate these possibilities by examining whether a good sense of humor might operate globally by helping to maintain a more stable positive affect. Stable positive affect has been shown to facilitate more effective problem solving and to build resilience. However, not all humor is adaptive humor, so we also examine the roles that different styles of humor use might play. Individual differences in humor styles were used to predict stable levels of affect. Then, in a longitudinal design, humor styles and stable affect were used to predict subsequent resilience and psychological health. The results indicated that stable affect was related to resilience and psychological well-being, and that a sense of humor that involves self-enhancing humor, humor based on maintaining a humorous perspective about one’s experiences, was positively related to stable positive affect, negatively related to stable negative affect, and was mediated through stable affect in influencing resilience, well-being and distress. Thus, while a good sense of humor can lead to greater resilience and better psychological health, the current results, focusing on stable affect, find only self-enhancing humor provides reliable benefits.

scholarly journals Humor at work: validation of the short work-related Humor Styles Questionnaire (swHSQ)

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tabea Scheel ◽  
Cornelia Gerdenitsch ◽  
Christian Korunka
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Turnover Intentions ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Work Relationships ◽  
Humor Styles ◽  
Work Context ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Daily Interactions ◽  
Integral Element

AbstractAs part of daily interactions humor is an integral element of work relationships with consequences for well-being or turnover intentions. However, its adequate assessment in the work context has yet to be improved. While the Humor Styles Questionnaire (HSQ; Martin et al. 2003. Individual differences in uses of humor and their relation to psychological well-being: Development of the Humor Styles Questionnaire.

Perceived Discrimination, Ethnic Identity, and Psychological Well-Being Among Arab Americans

2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (7) ◽  
pp. 899-921 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rawan Atari ◽  
Suejung Han
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Ethnic Identity ◽  
Perceived Discrimination ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Arab Americans ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Identity Resolution ◽  
Negative Effect

In this study, we examined associations among perceived discrimination, ethnic identity dimensions (exploration, resolution, affirmation), and psychological well-being (self-esteem, life satisfaction, flourishing) among 156 Arab Americans. Multiple moderated regression analyses revealed that perceived discrimination was negatively associated, and ethnic identity resolution and affirmation were positively associated, with psychological well-being. Ethnic identity affirmation moderated the association between perceived discrimination and flourishing by buffering the negative effect of perceived discrimination. Ethnic identity resolution and exploration did not moderate the associations between perceived discrimination and psychological well-being. Affirmation both promoted and protected well-being, resolution promoted well-being, and exploration was not associated with promoting or protecting well-being. We discuss implications to help Arab American clients develop and capitalize on their ethnic identity, promote their well-being, and buffer against perceived discrimination.

Individual differences in uses of humor and their relation to psychological well-being: Development of the Humor Styles Questionnaire

2003 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rod A. Martin ◽  
Patricia Puhlik-Doris ◽  
Gwen Larsen ◽  
Jeanette Gray ◽  
Kelly Weir
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Humor Styles ◽  
Psychological Well Being

scholarly journals Ténacité et flexibilité dans la poursuite de projets personnels: Impact sur le bien-être à la retraite

2001 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 557-576 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucie Trépanier ◽  
Sylvie Lapierre ◽  
Jacques Baillargeon ◽  
Léandre Bouffard
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Personal Goals ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Psychological Well Being

ABSTRACTThis research pertained to personal goals during retirement and especially to the influence of tenacity and flexibility on measures of psychological well-being. The participants (N = 147) had been retired for less than three years and were aged between 49 and 75 years (M = 58 years). The participants had to identify four personal goals and rate each of them along 15 dimensions. Psychological well-being was evaluated with scales of depression, self-esteem and life satisfaction. Regression analyses showed that flexibility in the presence of obstacles to the realization of goals accounts for 44 per cent of the variance in depression, 29 per cent of life satisfaction and 25 per cent of self-esteem. Tenacity had a more modest impact. Flexibility seems to be the strategy which is most useful in facing difficulties in the pursuit of goals during retirement.

scholarly journals Application of a Classroom-Based Positive Psychology Education Course for Chinese Medical Students to Increase Their Psychological Well-Being: A Pilot Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao-Qin Zhang ◽  
Bao-Shuai Zhang ◽  
Meng-Die Wang
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Positive Psychology ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Subjective Happiness ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Satisfaction Scale ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Psychology Education ◽  
Chinese Medical Students ◽  
Life Satisfaction Scale

Abstract Background Anxiety and depression have been increasing among Chinese medical students. The psychological well-being of Chinese medical students has become a critical focus of attention for the medical education community. Increasing evidence shows that positive psychology interventions can be effective in the enhancement of psychological well-being, and may help to prevent depressive symptoms in university students. In the present study, we aimed to explore the potential effect of positive psychology education on improving the mental health of Chinese medical students. Methods An 8-week classroom-based positive psychology intervention workshop, which was established as an elective course embedded in the regular school curriculum, was conducted at the School of Medicine, South China University of Technology (SCUT), China. Undergraduate medical students of the institute in year-2 or year-3 of academic study participated in this training course voluntarily. The participants’ self-reported data on the hope scale, life satisfaction scale, subjective happiness scale, and depression and anxiety scale were collected and analyzed at pre-course (n=61) and post-course (n=49) times. The investigation was also validated with an independent cohort of students who enrolled in the course in the year following the preliminary study. Results The analyses showed that the psychological well-being of the participants were improved after the intervention. Their mean scores on the hope scale, life satisfaction scale and subjective happiness scale were significantly improved (P<0.05), while their symptom levels of depression and anxiety were significantly reduced (P<0.01). A similar trend was observed in the validation cohort. Conclusions These preliminary findings suggest that positive psychology education holds promise for improving psychological well-being among Chinese medical students. Further investigations with larger and well-controlled sample cohorts may yield more convincing and reliable results.

scholarly journals Spiritual Struggles among Atheists: Links to Psychological Distress and Well-Being

Religions ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron E. Sedlar ◽  
Nick Stauner ◽  
Kenneth I. Pargament ◽  
Julie J. Exline ◽  
Joshua B. Grubbs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Multilevel Model ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Two Samples ◽  
Spiritual Struggles

Religious and spiritual struggles (R/S struggles)—tension or conflicts regarding religious or spiritual matters—have been robustly linked to greater psychological distress and lower well-being. Most research in this area has relied on samples consisting predominantly of participants who believe in god(s). Limited research has examined R/S struggles among atheists, generally conflating them with agnostics and other nontheists. This study investigated the prevalence of R/S struggles among atheists and compared atheists to theists in two samples (3978 undergraduates, 1048 Internet workers). Results of a multilevel model showed that atheists experience less demonic, doubt, divine, moral, and overall R/S struggles than theists, but similar levels of interpersonal and ultimate meaning struggles. Correlation and regression analyses among atheists demonstrated links between moral, ultimate meaning, and overall R/S struggles and greater distress (depression and anxiety symptoms) as well as lower well-being (life satisfaction and meaning in life). Even after controlling neuroticism, ultimate meaning struggles continued to predict lower well-being and higher distress across samples; moral struggles also predicted distress independently. This study demonstrates the relevance of R/S struggles to atheists and reinforces the applicability of previous results to atheist samples, but also highlights substantial differences between atheists and theists in certain R/S struggles.

Social support and psychological well-being of nursing home residents in Hong Kong

2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 1185-1190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheung-Tak Cheng ◽  
Coty Kit Ling Lee ◽  
Pizza Ka-Yee Chow
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Nursing Home ◽  
Positive Affect ◽  
Nursing Home Residents ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Network Size ◽  
Chinese Society ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Contact Frequency

ABSTRACTBackground: This study sought to investigate the extent to which structural and functional social support promotes psychological well-being among nursing home residents in a Chinese society.Methods: 71 nursing home residents (57 women, 14 men) provided ratings on contact frequency and emotional and instrumental support exchanges with network members. Psychological well-being was measured using depression, loneliness, positive affect, and life satisfaction.Results: Network size was associated with well-being, but was largely nonsignificant after controlling for frequency of contact or functional support. Contact and support from staff and fellow residents were consistently related to all well-being variables, whereas interactions with family were associated with life satisfaction and positive affect only. Being able to reciprocate support was also related to well-being in this sample of frail elderly, controlling for other factors.Conclusion: Interactions with staff and residents in the institution are more protective of well-being than interactions with family members. Even in a society where familism is strongly valued, assimilation into the institution facilitates support exchange when needed.

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