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Positive Psychology Perspective on Quality of Life (eBook)

Anastasia Efklides, Despina Moraitou (Herausgeber)

eBook Download: PDF

2012 | 2013
VIII, 300 Seiten
Springer Netherlands (Verlag)
978-94-007-4963-4 (ISBN)

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The construct ''quality of life (QoL)'', since the 1980s, when it was introduced, is being used mainly in the context of health problems. Areas of one's life that contribute to QoL are good physical and mental health, efficient cognitive functioning, social support, being able to meet the requirements of professional life, positive emotions, etc (Power, 2003). Work on subjective well-being (SWB), on the other hand, was developed in the context of healthy everyday life; it also has a history of more than 30 years. During this 30-year period factors that have an impact on SWB, such as SES, gender, health, age, and religiosity have been identified (Diener, 2000). A third independent line of research pertains to what has been called Positive Psychology (Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000), that is, an emphasis on human strengths, such as optimism, hope, wisdom, positive emotions, resilience, etc., which contribute to positive functioning in life. Recently, SWB has been associated to human strengths and to the movement of positive psychology but this did not happen for QoL, possibly because of its emphasis on people with health problems. However, QoL can be conceived of as a generic term that pertains to all people, healthy or not. In this sense, it is closely related to SWB defined as happiness (Diener, 2000). Also, QoL encompasses positive emotions that go beyond happiness and has the advantage that it can be applied to many different domains of life such as interpersonal relations, health-related situations, and professional and educational strivings. Moreover, the mechanism(s) that underpin QoL and SWB can be studied in relation to people's goals and strengths of character, that is, from a positive psychological perspective. Such a perspective can reveal the specificities of 'quality' in the various domains of life and, specifically, the positive emotions and strengths that contribute to a happier, healthier, and more successful life, even in face of adversity. Therefore, despite the differences among the three theoretical traditions, namely QoL, SWB, and positive psychology, it is possible to find the common ground they share and each of them can benefit from notions developed in the others. The aim of the present book is to bring together these three traditions, show the interactions of variables emphasized by them, and give an integrative perspective from the positive psychology point of view. It also aims to extend the range of life situations in which one can look for quality and which go beyond the traditional emphasis of QoL on health problems. Thus, the content of the proposed book covers different age populations (from children to older adults), healthy and people facing health problems as well as people facing problems in their interpersonal lives or in their pursuits. It also discusses factors that contribute to marital satisfaction, well being in the school context, and things that people value and cherish. The chapters refer to notions such as happiness, interest, resilience, wisdom, hope, altruism, optimism, and spirituality/religiosity that represent unique human strengths. Finally, it emphasizes the role of goals and motivation that connect SWB with self-regulation and managing of one's life priorities. To conclude, the chapters included in the proposed edited book aim at bringing to the fore new theoretical developments and research on QoL, SWB, and positive psychology that bridges previously distinct theoretical traditions. The proposed book covers a broad range of topics, addresses different theoretical interests and paves the way for a more integrative approach. Finally, it brings together an international set of authors, from USA, Europe, Australia, and Asia.

Anastasia Efklides, Ph.D., Ph.D.h.c.

She is Professor of Experimental and Cognitive Psychology in the School of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. She has authored 4 books in Greek entitled ''Cognitive Psychology'', ''Psychology of Motivation'', ''Psychology of Thinking'', and ''Metacognitive Processes and Self-Regulation'' and edited or co-edited 20 books and special issues in Greek as well as 11 others in English. Author and co-author of more than 190 articles published in international and Greek journals and books as well as of more than 330 presentations, invited and others, in international and Greek conferences. She was Associate Editor (2002-2005) and Editor (2006-2009) of the journal Learning and Instruction, and Associate Editor of the journals European Psychologist (2004-2007), European Journal of Psychological Assessment (until 2005-2008), and European Journal of Education and Psychology (2008-). Currently she is Editor of the Hellenic Journal of Psychology (2002-).

Despina Moraitou, Ph.D.

She is Lecturer of Cognitive GeroPsychology in the School of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. She is author and co-author of 18 articles published in international and Greek journals and books as well as of 40 presentations, invited and others, in international and Greek conferences. She is member of the Editorial Board (2008-) of the Journal of Happiness Studies. She was Editorial Assistant (2006-2009) of the journal Learning and Instruction. She is also reviewer of the journals Hellenic Journal of Psychology and Social Indicators Research.

The construct ''quality of life (QoL)'', since the 1980s, when it was introduced, is being used mainly in the context of health problems. Areas of one's life that contribute to QoL are good physical and mental health, efficient cognitive functioning, social support, being able to meet the requirements of professional life, positive emotions, etc (Power, 2003). Work on subjective well-being (SWB), on the other hand, was developed in the context of healthy everyday life; it also has a history of more than 30 years. During this 30-year period factors that have an impact on SWB, such as SES, gender, health, age, and religiosity have been identified (Diener, 2000). A third independent line of research pertains to what has been called Positive Psychology (Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000), that is, an emphasis on human strengths, such as optimism, hope, wisdom, positive emotions, resilience, etc., which contribute to positive functioning in life. Recently, SWB has been associated to human strengths and to the movement of positive psychology but this did not happen for QoL, possibly because of its emphasis on people with health problems. However, QoL can be conceived of as a generic term that pertains to all people, healthy or not. In this sense, it is closely related to SWB defined as happiness (Diener, 2000). Also, QoL encompasses positive emotions that go beyond happiness and has the advantage that it can be applied to many different domains of life such as interpersonal relations, health-related situations, and professional and educational strivings. Moreover, the mechanism(s) that underpin QoL and SWB can be studied in relation to people's goals and strengths of character, that is, from a positive psychological perspective. Such a perspective can reveal the specificities of "e;quality"e; in the various domains of life and, specifically, the positive emotions and strengths that contribute to a happier, healthier, and more successful life, even inface of adversity. Therefore, despite the differences among the three theoretical traditions, namely QoL, SWB, and positive psychology, it is possible to find the common ground they share and each of them can benefit from notions developed in the others. The aim of the present book is to bring together these three traditions, show the interactions of variables emphasized by them, and give an integrative perspective from the positive psychology point of view. It also aims to extend the range of life situations in which one can look for quality and which go beyond the traditional emphasis of QoL on health problems. Thus, the content of the proposed book covers different age populations (from children to older adults), healthy and people facing health problems as well as people facing problems in their interpersonal lives or in their pursuits. It also discusses factors that contribute to marital satisfaction, well being in the school context, and things that people value and cherish. The chapters refer to notions such as happiness, interest, resilience, wisdom, hope, altruism, optimism, and spirituality/religiosity that represent unique human strengths. Finally, it emphasizes the role of goals and motivation that connect SWB with self-regulation and managing of one's life priorities. To conclude, the chapters included in the proposed edited book aim at bringing to the fore new theoretical developments and research on QoL, SWB, and positive psychology that bridges previously distinct theoretical traditions. The proposed book covers a broad range of topics, addresses different theoretical interests and paves the way for a more integrative approach. Finally, it brings together an international set of authors, from USA, Europe, Australia, and Asia.

Anastasia Efklides, Ph.D., Ph.D.h.c.She is Professor of Experimental and Cognitive Psychology in the School of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. She has authored 4 books in Greek entitled ''Cognitive Psychology'', ''Psychology of Motivation'', ''Psychology of Thinking'', and ''Metacognitive Processes and Self-Regulation'' and edited or co-edited 20 books and special issues in Greek as well as 11 others in English. Author and co-author of more than 190 articles published in international and Greek journals and books as well as of more than 330 presentations, invited and others, in international and Greek conferences. She was Associate Editor (2002-2005) and Editor (2006-2009) of the journal Learning and Instruction, and Associate Editor of the journals European Psychologist (2004-2007), European Journal of Psychological Assessment (until 2005-2008), and European Journal of Education and Psychology (2008-). Currently she is Editor of the Hellenic Journal of Psychology (2002-). Despina Moraitou, Ph.D.She is Lecturer of Cognitive GeroPsychology in the School of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. She is author and co-author of 18 articles published in international and Greek journals and books as well as of 40 presentations, invited and others, in international and Greek conferences. She is member of the Editorial Board (2008-) of the Journal of Happiness Studies. She was Editorial Assistant (2006-2009) of the journal Learning and Instruction. She is also reviewer of the journals Hellenic Journal of Psychology and Social Indicators Research.

A Positive Psychology
3
Contents 5
Contributors 7
Chapter 1: Introduction: Looking at Quality of Life and Well-Being from a Positive Psychology Perspective 9
1 Introduction 9
2 The Book 10
2.1 Organization of the Book 13
3 Part I. Subjective Well-Being, Quality of Life, and Positive Psychology 13
4 Part II. Positive Psychology and QoL 17
References 21
Part I: Quality of Life, Well-Being, and Positive Psychology 23
Chapter 2: Hierarchical Needs, Income Comparisons, and Happiness Levels 24
1 Introduction 24
2 Income and Happiness 25
3 Explanations of the Paradox 29
4 The Needs Hierarchy Approach 30
5 Income Comparisons 33
6 Concluding Comments 35
References 36
Chapter 3: Goals and Plans: Their Relationship to Well-Being 40
1 Introduction 40
2 Well-Being 41
2.1 Subjective Well-Being 42
3 Goals 42
4 Goals and Well-Being 44
4.1 Goal Progress 45
4.2 Goal Content 46
4.3 Goal Orientation: Approach Versus Avoidance Goals 48
4.4 Goal Organisation 49
4.5 Goal Excessiveness 50
5 Plans 50
5.1 What Are Plans? 50
5.2 Are Plans Linked to Well-Being? 51
5.3 How Are Plans Linked to Well-Being? 52
6 Conclusion 54
References 54
Chapter 4: Living in Accordance with One´s Implicit Motives: Cross-Cultural Evidence for Beneficial Effects of Motive-Goal Congruence and Motive Satisfaction 58
1 Introduction 58
2 Human Strivings and Well-Being 59
3 Types of Motivational Systems 60
4 Determinants of Motive Congruence 61
5 Consequences of Motive Congruence 62
6 Acknowledging Culture´s Impact on Behavior and Well-Being While Also Looking Beyond Culture 63
7 Cross-Cultural Findings on Beneficial Effects of Motive-Goal Congruence 65
8 Conclusion and Open Questions 69
References 71
Chapter 5: Positive Psychology and Subjective Well-Being Homeostasis: A Critical Examination of Congruence 74
1 Introduction 74
2 Definition 75
2.1 Positive Reviews of Positive Psychology 75
3 Subjective Well-Being Homeostasis 76
3.1 SWB Is Normally Stable and Positive 77
3.2 SWB Is Homeostatically Protected 77
3.3 Homeostasis Is Defending HP Mood 79
3.4 Normal Ranges 80
3.5 The Implications of Homeostasis for Positive Psychology 81
4 Evidence for the Claims of Positive Psychology 82
4.1 Meditation and Mindfulness 88
5 Other Critiques and Summary 89
References 90
Chapter 6: Life Satisfaction in Adults: The Effect of Religiosity, Worry, and Perceived Physical Health State 94
1 Introduction 94
2 Life Satisfaction and Other Components of Subjective Well-Being 95
3 Religiosity and Life Satisfaction 96
3.1 Religiosity in Greece 97
4 Aims and Hypotheses of the Study 98
5 Method 98
5.1 Participants 98
5.2 Instruments 99
6 Results 102
6.1 Individual Differences Effects 102
6.1.1 Life Satisfaction 102
6.1.2 Religiosity 102
6.1.3 Worry 102
6.1.4 Perceived Physical Health State 103
7 Relations Between Life Satisfaction, Religiosity, Worry, and Perceived Health State 103
7.1 Predictors of Life Satisfaction 104
8 Discussion 105
8.1 Life Satisfaction 105
8.2 Religiosity 106
8.3 Worry 106
8.4 Perceived Physical Health State 106
9 Predictors of Life Satisfaction 107
9.1 Life Satisfaction and Religiosity 107
9.2 Life Satisfaction in Relation to Worry and Perceived Health State 108
9.3 Religiosity and Worry 109
10 Limitations of the Study and Future Research 109
References 110
Chapter 7: Altruism and Health: Theoretical Perspectives 114
1 Introduction 114
2 A Serendipitous Beginning 115
3 Theoretical Model 116
4 Altruism and Health in Healthy Samples 118
4.1 Health Correlates in Healthy Adults 118
4.2 Health Correlates in Healthy Adolescents 119
5 Cause or Effect? 121
6 Salutogenic Evidence of Altruism in Patient Samples 122
7 Revisiting Theory 124
8 Implication for Social Networks and Community 126
9 Implication for Cognitive Reserve and Disability 127
10 Directions for the Future 128
11 Conclusion 129
References 129
Chapter 8: Marital Quality and Well-Being: The Role of Gender, Marital Duration, Social Support and Cultural Context 132
1 Introduction 132
2 Marital Quality and Well-Being 133
3 Marital Quality and Well-Being: The Role of Gender 135
4 Marital Quality and Well-Being: The Role of Age and Marital Duration 136
5 Marital Quality and Well-Being: The Role of Social Support and the Cultural Context 137
6 A Cross-Sectional Study with Greek Married Couples 139
7 Method 140
7.1 Participants 140
7.2 Instruments 140
8 Results 141
8.1 Preliminary Analyses 141
8.2 The Relationship Between Marital Quality, Social Support and Depressive Symptoms: Bivariate Analyses 141
8.3 The Relationship Between Marital Quality, Social Support and Depressive Symptoms: The Actor-Partner Interdependence Model 143
9 Discussion 145
References 148
Part II: Positive Psychology and Human Strengths 153
Chapter 9: The Role of Dispositional Optimism in Physical and Mental Well-Being 154
1 Introduction 154
2 Optimism 154
2.1 Development of Optimism 157
2.2 Temporal Stability of Optimism 158
2.3 Optimism as a Predictor of Health Outcomes 158
3 Physical Health 158
3.1 Physical Functioning and Perceived Health 158
3.2 Morbidity and Mortality 159
4 Mental Well-Being 163
5 Potential Mechanistic Correlates of Optimism 164
5.1 Coping Style 164
5.2 Social Integration 165
5.3 Health Behaviors 166
5.4 Systemic Stress, Oxidative Stress, and Inflammation 167
6 Interventions to Increase Optimism 168
7 Concluding Remarks and Recommendations 170
References 171
Chapter 10: The Relation of Optimism to Cardiac Patients´ Subjective Health Through Illness Representations: Does the Level of Optimism Matter? 179
1 Introduction 179
1.1 Optimism 179
1.2 Optimism and Illness Representations 180
2 Method 181
2.1 Participants and Procedure 181
2.2 Measures 182
2.3 Statistical Analysis 183
3 Results 183
4 Discussion 187
References 190
Chapter 11: Wise Thinking, Hopeful Thinking, and Positive Aging: Reciprocal Relations of Wisdom, Hope, Memory, and Affect in Young, Middle-Aged, and Older Adults 193
1 Wisdom, Hope, and Positive Aging 193
2 Psychological Theories of Wisdom 194
2.1 Wisdom as a Synthetic Skill: Wise Thinking as Integrated Dialectical Thinking and Awareness of Life Uncertainty 194
2.2 Wisdom as an Analytic Skill: Wise Thinking as Practical Wisdom 195
3 Wise Thinking, Age, and Demographic Characteristics 196
4 Wise Thinking, Memory, and State Affect 197
5 Wise Thinking and Hopeful Thinking 198
6 Hopeful Thinking, Age, and Demographic Characteristics 199
7 Hopeful Thinking, Memory, and State Affect 200
8 The Present Study 201
8.1 Hypotheses 201
8.2 Method 202
8.2.1 Participants and Procedure 202
8.2.2 Instruments 203
8.2.3 Statistical Analyses 205
8.3 Results 206
8.3.1 Reciprocal Effects Between Hope and Wisdom 206
8.3.2 Reciprocal Effects Between Wisdom and Memory 209
8.3.3 Reciprocal Effects Between Hope, Wisdom, and State Affect 210
8.3.4 The Integrated ``Picture´´ of the Relationships Among Hope, Wisdom, Memory, and State Affect: The All-Embracing Recursiv... 211
8.3.5 The Effects of Age, Education, and Gender on Hope, Wisdom, Memory, and Affect 213
8.4 Discussion 213
8.4.1 Reciprocal Effects Between Hopeful and Wise Thinking 213
8.4.2 Wisdom and Memory: Reciprocal Effects Between Wise Thinking and Memory Performance 216
8.4.3 Hope, Wisdom, and State Affect 216
8.4.4 The Integrated Model 217
8.4.5 The Effects of Age and Demographic Characteristics on Hopeful and Wise Thinking, State Affect, and Memory 218
8.4.6 Limitations of the Study 219
8.4.7 Conclusions: Implications of the Study 220
References 221
Chapter 12: Dispositional Hope and Action-State Orientation: Their Role in Self-Regulated Learning 223
1 Introduction 223
2 Hope 224
2.1 Hope Versus Other Positive Psychology Constructs 225
2.2 Hope, Learning Strategies, and Academic Achievement 226
3 Action Control 228
3.1 Action Control, Learning Strategies, and Performance 229
4 Aim: Hypotheses 230
5 Method 231
5.1 Participants 231
5.2 Instruments 231
5.3 Procedure 235
5.4 Statistical Analysis 235
6 Results 236
6.1 Path Analysis 236
7 Discussion 239
7.1 Effects of Hope on SRL Strategy Use and Course Attainment 239
7.2 Effects of Action Control on SRL Strategy Use and Course Attainment 240
7.3 Effects of SRL Strategy Use on Course Attainment 241
7.4 Relations Between Hope and Action Control 241
7.5 Limitations of the Study 242
References 242
Chapter 13: One Ingredient in the Mix: Interest and Psychological Well-Being 246
1 Introduction 246
2 The Ubiquity of Interest 248
2.1 Interest and Curiosity 248
2.2 Interest and Enjoyment 249
2.3 Interest and Self-regulation 249
2.4 Developed Interest Schemas 250
3 Interest Schemas and Psychological Well-Being 251
3.1 Interest and Curiosity as Character Strength 251
3.2 Interaction with Carers and Early Interest Schemas 253
3.3 Positive Youth Development 254
3.4 Well-Being, Positive Affect and Adult Life 256
3.5 Positive Affect and Life Satisfaction 257
4 Conclusion 259
References 259
Chapter 14: From Burnout to Engagement During Transition from School to Work 262
1 Introduction 262
2 Burnout and Engagement at School 262
3 Educational Track and School Burnout 264
3.1 Demands-Resources Model in the School Context 266
4 Transition From Upper-Secondary School to University 267
5 Transition to Tertiary Education and Gap Year 269
6 From University to Work 270
7 Discussion 272
References 274
Chapter 15: A Comparative Study of Resilience in Greece and Cyprus: The Effects of Negative Life Events, Self-Efficacy, and Social Support on Mental Health 276
1 Introduction 276
1.1 Criteria for the Identification of Resilience: Adversity and Adaptation 277
1.2 The Role of Resources in Resilience 278
1.3 A Cross-Cultural View of Resilience 279
1.4 The Scope of the Present Study 280
2 Method 281
2.1 Sample Characteristics 281
2.2 Measures 281
3 Results 283
3.1 Demographic Effects in the Total Sample 283
3.2 Demographic Effects Within Each Country 288
3.3 Cross-Country Comparisons 288
3.4 The Mediational Role of Self-Efficacy and Social Support 289
4 Discussion 290
4.1 The Influence of Demographic Factors on Resilience 292
4.2 The Role of Negative Life Events in the Process of Resilience 293
4.3 The Manifestation of Resilience 294
4.4 Limitations of the Study, Contribution and Directions for the Future 295
References 295
Index 298

Erscheint lt. Verlag	2.11.2012
Reihe/Serie	Social Indicators Research Series
Zusatzinfo	VIII, 300 p.
Verlagsort	Dordrecht
Sprache	englisch
Themenwelt	Geisteswissenschaften ► Psychologie ► Allgemeine Psychologie
	Geisteswissenschaften ► Psychologie ► Humanistische Psychotherapien
	Studium ► Querschnittsbereiche ► Prävention / Gesundheitsförderung
	Sozialwissenschaften ► Politik / Verwaltung
	Sozialwissenschaften ► Soziologie
Schlagworte	Altruism • Engagements • Happiness • Marital Satisfaction • Mental Health • Motivation • negative life events • optimism • Positive Aging • positive psychology • Psychological well-being • quality of life • Religiosity • Resilience • School-burnout • self-efficacy • Social • Spirituality • Subjective Well-Being
ISBN-10	94-007-4963-5 / 9400749635
ISBN-13	978-94-007-4963-4 / 9789400749634

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