Heterogeneity in Vulnerability and Resilience Among Centenarians

Given their exceptional longevity, centenarians have long been considered as examples of successful aging. Yet, with increases in empirical studies, findings suggest that they may show vulnerability and resilience at the same time. This symposium offers a more in-depth perspective on both constructs in centenarians. Zaccaria and colleagues investigated the link between social isolation and loneliness within the Fordham Centenarian Study. Results indicate the existence of four subgroups combining expressions of isolation and loneliness, suggesting different vulnerability patterns in centenarians. Uittenhove and colleagues analyzed patterns of coping strategies in the Second Heidelberg Centenarian Study. Cluster analysis identified two coping profiles, one characterized by a wide coping repertoire including problem-directed and internal strategies, while the other showed low problem-solving. Lampraki and Jopp examined the effects of (lacking) resources and psychological strengths (optimism) on depressive symptoms in the Fordham Centenarian Study. Findings suggest that the effect of resources is mediated by psychological strengths, demonstrating their beneficial value in very old age. Jopp and colleagues report findings from the ongoing SWISS100 Study. Based on telephone interviews conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, they found that centenarians did not feel vulnerable. While half of the centenarians and their proxies reported no changes in everyday life, the other half experienced substantial challenges due to lack of activities and absence of social contacts due to governmental regulations. In sum, centenarians are vulnerable and resilient at the same time, highlighting the future research needs on its predictors, and the application of this knowledge within the context of crisis.

Basic Resources and Psychological Strengths as Predictors of Depressive Symptoms

Loss of personal resources is expected to have a negative effect on well-being in all ages, however, in very old age, this effect may be exacerbated. Centenarians, who are confronted with accumulated age-related losses, may be at higher risk of experiencing depressive symptoms. This study investigated the link between basic resources (i.e., health, social network) and depressive symptoms and whether it was mediated by psychological strengths (i.e., meaning, optimism) in 119 centenarians and near-centenarians (Mage = 99.7 years). Results indicated that meaning in life fully mediated the link between health and depressive symptoms, and the link between social network size and depressive symptoms. Similarly, optimism mediated the link between network and depression, but no mediation effect was found when considering health as basic resource. In sum, basic resources are only indirectly associated to depressive feelings, with psychological strengths playing an important intervening role in very old age.

The Importance of Positive Psychological Strengths in Well-Being and Adjustment of Romanian Emerging Adults: A Pattern and Variable-Oriented Approach

Transition to adulthood in countries that have seen recent historical structural changes in society as well as changes in what it means to be an adult represents important contexts for investigations of ways in which positive development and transition to adulthood are experienced. Situated in such context, this cross-sectional study aimed to (1) describe profiles of positive psychological strengths, as measured by the Five Cs of positive youth development (PYD) and (2) document how identified profiles might differ in relation to other aspects of positive and problematic development. Participants were 272 Romanian emerging adults attending university (76% female; aged 19–29 years old, Mage = 21 years old). Latent class analysis was performed to identify patterns of psychological strengths using the Five Cs theory of positive youth development. Pairwise Wald chi square difference tests were then conducted to determine if the identified Five Cs profiles were associated with significant differences in other key outcomes. Findings indicated that, a two-class model emerged as the best fitting model, and in this model, Class 1 was similar to Class 2 on strengths of competence, confidence, and connection. However, the two classes were distinguishable by caring and character, with Class 2, the numerically more common profile (89%), being elevated on character and caring relative to Class 1 (which was a less frequently occurring profile, 11%). This finding highlights the importance of examining the diversity of positive development, even within the same theoretical framework. Further results indicated that the two identified classes showed similarities in problematic behaviors as well as in purpose in life and psychological complaints. Other group difference tests by profile/class indicated that Class 2 was higher in general and social well-being relative to Class 1, with a trend in the same direction for hope. However, an unexpected finding was that Class 2 was also elevated in somatic complaints relative to Class 1. These are important findings not only because of the contribution to the generalizability of the Five Cs theory and measure but also because of the implications of the findings to research, policy, and practice in the Romanian context and beyond.

Psychological Strengths Contributing to Rural Student’s Academic Performance in Kadazandusun

Achieving academic success is a shared dream among students. To achieve academic success, psychological strengths, such as psychological well-being, academic self-efficacy, and motivation, are predictors of students’ academic achievement. To examine these factors, a study was conducted on rural students from the Kadazandusun community residing in the interior Sabah division. It is predicted that each of these psychological factors may contribute to the academic achievement of these rural students. There were 668 Kadazandusun rural students from 17 rural schools in Sabah who participated in this study. A set of questionnaires comprising four parts was used to measure all the variables based on the following sequence: Section A measured demographic variables, Section B measured psychological well-being, Section C measured achievement motivation, and Section D measured academic self-efficacy. The simple regression analysis showed that each psychological factor moderately affected academic achievement. Psychological well-being, achievement motivation, and academic self-efficacy contributed 4.4%, 2.2%, and 5.1% of the variance in students’ academic achievement, respectively. This study’s results may give the Ministry of Education, schools, and parents a glimpse of hope that despite educational limitations, such as lack of infrastructure and geographical location, students’ psychological strengths can enhance rural students’ academic performance. Therefore, the educational authorities can provide more programmes regarding works that increase psychological well-being, motivation, and academic efficacy, which may contribute to the academic success of rural students.

Relationship between Skills of Study, Positive Psychological Strengths and Examination Anxiety between Students at the Government Own Education Colleges in Nigeria

Examination plays a vital role in every contemporary educational set up, as well as being used as a measure to place students in their appropriate position after being examined. Nonetheless a phenomenon associated with the low academic outcomes is a number of students' experiences of examination anxiety that leads to a lack of focus on taking the right examination decision. The aim of this study was therefore to determine the level of study abilities, positive psychological strengths, examination anxiety and the relationship between the variables used in the study with a population of 315 students and 315 students. A positive significant relationship was shown by the relationship of the path model between study abilities and examination anxiety. Also the structural analysis shows that there was a strong relationship between positive psychological strengths and examination anxiety. The Structural Analysis of Research Skills has been very successful and shows a positive coefficient. Positive psychological strengths, with a positive path coefficient, showed a high level of influence on examination anxiety. The study results show that study skills were effective and improved their level of study skills in managing the anxiety of the examination.

Resilience, Hope, and Subjective Happiness Among the Turkish Population: Fear of COVID-19 as a Mediator

Psychology deals with not only mental disorders but also psychological strengths within individuals. Psychological strengths will play an important role in struggling with the global novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The present study tested a model concerning the relationship between resilience, hope, and subjective happiness using structural equation modeling to identify the mediating role of fear of COVID-19. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among a convenience sample of 971 Turkish individuals (aged 18 to 74 years) from 75 of 81 cities in Turkey. The survey included the Subjective Happiness Scale, Fear of COVID-19 Scale, Brief Resilience Scale, and the Dispositional Hope Scale, and data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). The SEM demonstrated an association between resilience–hope and subjective happiness was mediated by fear of COVID-19 (CMIN/df = 2.664, CFI = 0.994, NFI = 0.984, TLI = 0.984, GFI = 0.994, RMSEA = 0.044, SRMR = 0.024, AIC = 81.334, ECVI = 0.084). Resilience had a direct effect and an indirect effect on subjective happiness via fear of COVID-19. Hope also had a direct effect and an indirect effect on subjective happiness via fear of COVID-19. Consequently, in the fight against COVID-19, individuals who are resistant to stress and have a belief that they can find a way to cope can help prevent the fear of COVID-19 and so enhance good mental health.