Healthy Relationships on the Autism Spectrum (HEARTS): A feasibility test of an online class co-designed and co-taught with autistic people

This study tested the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a six-session online class on healthy relationships for autistic individuals ages 18–44 years old ( N = 55). The content of the Healthy Relationships on the Autism Spectrum class was informed by formative research with 25 autistic individuals, and developed collaboratively by two non-autistic professionals and seven autistic self-advocates. Fifty-five autistic people participated in Healthy Relationships on the Autism Spectrum and completed pre- and post-surveys. The study found that it was feasible to deliver Healthy Relationships on the Autism Spectrum online. Pairing an autistic and non-autistic person to co-teach was well-received. Participants decreased hostile automatic thoughts ( p < 0.05), involvement in dating abuse in intimate relationships ( p < 0.05), fight-or-flight response ( p < 0.05), and rejection sensitivity ( p < 0.001). Participants experienced improved flourishing ( p < 0.001), coping with rejection and jealousy ( p < 0.001), motivation to engage with others for socializing ( p < 0.05), self-compassion ( p < 0.05), and positive thinking ( p < 0.05). Scores on a measure of interpersonal competence did not change, and loneliness did not decrease. The majority of participants reported high satisfaction with the class. Healthy Relationships on the Autism Spectrum is a promising healthy relationships promotion class that should be evaluated through a randomized controlled trial. Lay abstract The Healthy Relationships on the Autism Spectrum class is unique because autistic people helped to develop it and co-taught it. It is an online, six-session class. The class was piloted in 2020–2021 with 55 autistic people who were ages 18–44 years old. This feasibility study found that most people who took the class liked it. Surveys filled out by the students before and after the class showed that they became less sensitive to rejection, used more positive thinking skills, and were more interested in being social. However, the class may not have made them feel less lonely. The team that invented the class is using the feedback to improve it. The class holds promise for improving the quality of friendships and dating relationships for autistic adults and should be tested further.

Dispositional Mindfulness and Positive Mindset in Emerging Adult College Students: The Mediating Role of Decentering

Emerging adulthood is often recognized as a time of uncertainty, confusion, pressure, and stress. This time period also coincides in the Western world with attending college. Many emerging adults arrive at this developmental stage feeling the pressure and obligation for success, but lack the interpersonal resources needed to make required choices. The purpose of this study was to provide insight into the psychological and mental state of this particular group by focusing on mechanisms of self-awareness and its connection to psychological health. The present study examines whether an indirect path could explain the relationships between mindfulness, positive thinking, and positive affect. Path analysis was used to test whether decentering fosters positive thinking and positive affect. Participants were surveyed for dispositional mindfulness, frequency of positive and negative feelings, positive thinking, and rumination. Results show decentering mediates between mindfulness and positive affect but does not mediate between mindfulness and positive thinking. Rumination counteracts the effects of mindfulness and predicts negative affect.

Positive Thinking Schools: Projects From Teachers

This study was carried out within the scope of the Art of Happiness, Positive Thinking, and Subjective Well-Being Project. Within the scope of the project, 8-session pre-training was provided to teachers to inform them on the scope of positive thinking and in order to support their subjective well-being. Within the scope of positive thinking applications at schools, which formed the second stage of the project, teachers developed and applied their own projects at their schools. In the study, teachers' views on the scope of the projects they applied at schools and the project application process were analyzed. As the study design, the case study design was applied. The study group consisted of 28 voluntary teachers who received positive thinking training in the first stage of the project and were entitled to get a certificate of achievement. Within the scope of the study, teachers planned their projects and reported on the process. In addition, they kept researcher diaries regarding their applications and noted down their observations. In the research process, 28 teachers at 15 different schools developed and applied 17 different projects. The teachers' views were analyzed in the context of interviews, reports, and diaries. In the study, teachers' observations and evaluations regarding positive thinking education realized in the COVID-19 process were discussed.

ON THE STRUCTURE OF PERSONAL MATURITY OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

The article sets out a problem aimed at determining the structure of personal maturity in the period of early adulthood. The theoretical study revealed a lack of unanimity in terms of interpreting and conceptualizing the concept of personal maturity and defining its structural and content elements. The empirical study involved humanitarian students from the first to the third courses (females (103) and males (22) aged 17-20 years). As a result of the exploratory factor analysis procedures, an integrative variable of personal maturity has been calculated which is considered as a set of cognitive (self-understanding, positive thinking), emotional (self-sympathy) and behavioral characteristics (autonomy, sociability). The personality of a mature subject in the period of early adulthood can be described as distinguished by an optimistic view of the world and a deep understanding of his or her identity combined with positive emotions and self-attitude and the ability to maintain personal boundaries even creating close relationships with others. The considered algorithm for calculating the integral variable can be applied in studies aimed at studying latent psychological phenomena.

The Effect of English as a Foreign Language Teachers’ Optimism and Affectivity on Their Psychological Well-Being

Psychological well-being is considered a key component for the mental and physical health of individuals that is influenced by various attributive factors. Some of the important attributes that have a constructive and encouraging effect on the improvement and progress of good habits, positive thinking, behavior, and well-being of individuals like teachers are emotions. Educators’ emotions and emotive features have essential roles in educational circumstances as they affect nearly all facets of their occupation. Moreover, optimism as a new concept is changing from the inspection on positive psychology, social principle, and communal school possessions in education. The present review surveyed the role that affectivity and optimism have regarding the psychological well-being of EFL teachers. In brief, the implications for educators, school managers, teacher-trainers, and forthcoming researchers are provided.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POSITIVE THINKING AND SELF ACCEPTANCE ON ELDERLY IN THE NURSING HOMES: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Background: Low elderly self-acceptance in nursing homes affects their quality of life. Elderly difficult to adapting so they feel stressed, lose of control of lives, lose identity. Positive thinking is a form of adaption that can be done by the elderly to have good self acceptance to live in nursong homes. Objective: To know the relationship betwen positive thinking and self-acceptance elderly in nursing homes. Design: A Whittemore and Khanfl’s integrative review was used in this review. Data Sources: This systematic review searched 4 electronic database Scopus, Proquest, Pubmed, Science Direct that published in 2015-2020. Review Methods: Key terms and phrases that utilized were positive thinking OR optimism, self acceptance, elderly OR aged, nursing homes OR orphanage. The JBI Guideline used to asses the quality of each study. Data tabulation and narrative analysis were performed. Results: A total of 11 papers were included in this review. The included studies were divided into three-part, positive thinking in the elderly (n=4), self-acceptance (n=3) and both (n=4). The average number of samples used in each study was 35 people. Conclusion: Positive thinking related to self-acceptance of the elderly in nursing homes. Elders who think positively have a positive mind about themselves, acknowledge and accept various aspects including the good and bad and look at life positively, so they get life satisfaction. The elderly more often feels happiness, enthusiasm to support life, actively appreciate the environment. Good quality of life will increase welfare.

Placebo effect unboxed: A Review

As in our body, brain is the most powerful part and our mind could be excellent healing tool when any chance is provided. The idea that our brain can be one of the convincing parts in our body for the fake treatment is the real point this is called as placebo effect [1]. This effect refers to the impact of placebo on any one. However, treatments which are not active also were also demonstrated measurable and positive health response [2]. The ability of placebo effect is reviewed as psychological process [1]. In some cases, placebos can exert an influence powerful enough to mimic the effects of real medical treatments. This effect is more than positive thinking [3]. When this response occurs, many people have no idea they are responding to what is essentially a "sugar pill." Placebos are often utilized in medical research to help doctors and scientists discover and better perceive the physiological and mental effects new medications [2] For exactly understanding the placebo effect importance it is crucial to know more about how and why it works. This article explains how this effect is recognized in modern medicine and elements of placebo effect and suggests few conditions under which making utilization of therapeutic potential of this effect could be ethically acceptable, if not warranted.

Positive Thinking Schools: Projects From Teachers

This study was carried out within the scope of the Art of Happiness, Positive Thinking, and Subjective Well-Being Project. Within the scope of the project, 8-session pre-training was provided to teachers to inform them on the scope of positive thinking and in order to support their subjective well-being. Within the scope of positive thinking applications at schools, which formed the second stage of the project, teachers developed and applied their own projects at their schools. In the study, teachers' views on the scope of the projects they applied at schools and the project application process were analyzed. As the study design, the case study design was applied. The study group consisted of 28 voluntary teachers who received positive thinking training in the first stage of the project and were entitled to get a certificate of achievement. Within the scope of the study, teachers planned their projects and reported on the process. In addition, they kept researcher diaries regarding their applications and noted down their observations. In the research process, 28 teachers at 15 different schools developed and applied 17 different projects. The teachers' views were analyzed in the context of interviews, reports, and diaries. In the study, teachers' observations and evaluations regarding positive thinking education realized in the COVID-19 process were discussed.