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Objectives: Being affected by a natural disaster or helping victims can impact mental health. This study aimed to examine whether a digital mindfulness intervention positively affects self-compassion, life satisfaction, and positive affect, and alleviates negative affect, perceived stress, and pathological symptoms in victims and volunteers of the flood disaster in Germany in July 2021. Method: Participants were 146 people affected by the flood (via house, n = 88; friends, n = 100; workplace, n = 54) and/or volunteered after the disaster (n = 86). After the randomized assignment, 74 received a 6-week application-based mindfulness intervention, and 72 were allocated to the wait-control condition. The control group received the same intervention 6 weeks later. Before (T1) and after (T2) the intervention of the first group and after the intervention of the control group (T3), participants filled out questionnaires regarding different aspects of mental health. Results: We found significant interaction effects of time and intervention for all variables (self-compassion, life satisfaction, positive and negative affect, perceived stress, and pathological symptoms), indicating effectiveness of the digital mindfulness intervention. No deterioration were found between T2 and T3 in the intervention group for any of the variables. Conclusions: The 6-week digital mindfulness program positively affected the mental health of both disaster victims and volunteers. Therefore, a digital mindfulness intervention could be a good alternative in situations where group programs or face-to-face meetings are infeasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research sought to test the overarching hypothesis that the happiest people, that is, people with the highest level of psychological well-being, are those (1) who experience the highest levels of passion (and especially harmonious passion) in several enjoyable everyday life activities, and (2) who display higher levels of autonomous regulation for less enjoyable activities such as chores and duties. Results of two studies (Study 1, N = 260; Study 2, N = 392) provided support for this hypothesis. Furthermore, results from three additional studies (Study 3, N = 251; Study 4, N = 526; Study 5, N = 255) showed that positive affect represents the key mediating processes between harmonious passion and autonomous regulation on the one hand and psychological well-being on the other. Conversely, negative affect mediated the negative relationship between obsessive passion and controlled regulation and well-being. Finally, Studies 4 and 5 also showed that the autonomous global orientation (Guay et al., 2003) is a major determinant of harmonious passion and autonomous regulation for engaging in chores and duties, whereas the controlled global orientation serves as a determinant of obsessive passion and controlled regulation. This research represents a significant advancement in integrating the perspectives of passion, self-regulation, and affect, contributing to our understanding of how individuals' engagement in life activities influences their psychological well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the subjective well-being (SWB) of children and adolescents (10‒18 years old) during the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia for two periods (May to July 2020 and March to May 2021), using cross-sectional data from two distinct samples of N = 1,011 (M age = 14.61) and N = 1,640 (M age = 14.86), respectively. Its aims are twofold: (1) to examine the state of SWB among Indonesian children, including its cognitive component (measured using the CW-SWBS), positive affect (PA), and negative affect (NA), and the participants' satisfaction with their contact with friends and how they spend their time; and (2) to compare the evolution of these SWB-related aspects from the first to the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected using Google Forms and convenience and snowball sampling. Results showed that boys displayed significantly higher mean SWB scores than girls, while elementary students displayed significantly higher mean scores for the cognitive component than middle and high school students for both data collection periods. Boys also displayed significantly higher mean PA scores than girls. There were significant school grade differences on PA and NA, depending on the period of study. In the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, children and adolescents displayed lower scores on satisfaction with their contact with friends than in the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic. These results suggest that children and adolescents adapted to the COVID-19 situation during the second year, and this adaptation protected their SWB from further decrease, as defended by the homeostasis theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Appropriate regulation of emotions is vital to daily functioning. Previous studies have shown that regulating negative emotions can improve health and wellbeing. However, the relationship between positive and negative emotion regulation and their interactions with positive and negative affect, life satisfaction, and health is not well understood. In addition, no studies have investigated the role of attention control and trait mindfulness in positive and negative emotion regulation. This study examined the associations between positive and negative emotion regulation abilities and health, affect, life satisfaction, attention control, and trait mindfulness. A total of 490 participants (284 females and 206 males, mean age = 25.8 ± 2.9 years, range = 20–29 years) completed questionnaires and attention measuring tasks. Multiple regression analyses revealed that negative emotion regulation ability was associated with affect, life satisfaction, and health, whereas positive emotion regulation ability was related to negative affect and mental and physical health. Additionally, negative rather than positive emotion regulation ability was more strongly associated with trait mindfulness and attention control. Positive emotion regulation may benefit those who have difficulty in regulating negative emotions. By focusing on both negative and positive emotion regulation, this study elucidates the relationship between emotion regulation ability, positive and negative affect, life satisfaction, health, mindfulness, and attention control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Co-use of cannabis is increasing in nicotine users and presents additional challenges in addressing nicotine dependence. This study examined the links between regular co-use of cannabis and nicotine with biobehavioral and affective changes in response to stress during nicotine withdrawal and ad libitum use. Methods: Participants (N = 79) who regularly used nicotine-only, cannabis-only, both substances, or neither substance were invited to attend two laboratory stress assessment sessions. For nicotine users, one session occurred during ad libitum nicotine use and one occurred after abstinence from nicotine. During the stress sessions, participants provided saliva samples for cortisol assay and completed measures of subjective states. Cardiovascular measures were collected during resting baseline, exposure to acute stressors, and a recovery rest period. Results: Nicotine-only users had higher average cortisol levels in the second lab session (nicotine withdrawal) relative to the first lab session (ad libitum nicotine use). Compared to nicotine non-users, nicotine users reported less positive affect and exhibited attenuated cortisol and systolic blood pressure (BP) stress responses. Cannabis users exhibited exaggerated diastolic BP responses to stress compared to cannabis non-users, and co-users of nicotine and cannabis had higher levels of cannabis craving than cannabis-only users (p <.01). Conclusions: This study partially replicated earlier findings on the effects of chronic nicotine use and provided novel results regarding the influence of cannabis co-use on physiological and affective responses to stress in nicotine users during nicotine withdrawal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has represented a source of stress for teachers by adding new challenges. The objective of this study was to assess the association between emotion regulation and coping strategies, on the one hand, and perceived stress and affective experience on the other among teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic. A sample of 1178 of Italian pre-primary, primary, and secondary school teachers completed an online survey. Three hierarchical linear regression analyses were run to evaluate teachers' emotion regulation, coping strategies, years of teaching experience, perceived workload, and perceptions about online teaching in predicting their perceived stress and positive and negative affect. The findings showed that cognitive reappraisal and positive attitude were associated with a lower level of perceived stress and negative affect and a higher level of positive affect. Problem orientation strategies were also associated with a higher level of positive affect. By contrast, expressive suppression was correlated with a higher level of perceived stress. Avoidance coping strategies were associated with higher perceived stress and negative affect and a lower level of positive affect. The perceived burden of online teaching was positively related with perceived stress and negative affect. Confidence in using educational technologies predicted lower levels of perceived stress, and previous online teaching experience was positively correlated with positive affect. The findings of this study could be useful for implementing teacher training programmes on emotion regulation and coping strategies to reduce stress and promote positive affect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the association between temperament—i.e., positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA)—and emotion regulation (ER), and what momentary factors influence the selection of rumination or reappraisal during adolescents' daily life. The type of social situation in which negative events occurred, the self-rated degrees of discomfort, the types of predominant emotions experienced, and the use of reappraisal and rumination were assessed at 24 different times with an ecological momentary assessment approach given to 71 adolescents. PA, NA, and ER style were evaluated using self-reports. Bivariate Pearson correlations analysis revealed that NA and negative ER style correlated positively with the rumination use whereas PA correlated negatively with the rumination use. Negative ER style moderated the relationship between NA and the frequency with which rumination was used. The moderated function of positive ER style could not be tested due to its lack of association with the rumination use. Adolescents selected rumination more often during family-related events and when experiencing depression-like emotions. No interaction effects were shown between negative ER style and the momentary factors related with the type of social situation and the type of prevailing emotion during negative event. No associations between study variables and reappraisal were found. This study provides a better understanding of ER patterns in adolescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parental antenatal attachment refers to the bond developed from parents to their unborn child. This attachment is established based on parents' emotions, perceptions, and behaviors towards their unborn baby. The present research is exploratory and aims to assess the underlying mechanisms linking positive and negative affect to antenatal attachment in first-time mothers, and whether resilience and self-esteem can mediate these relations. Participants were contacted before their prenatal consultation and invited to answer the survey remotely. We performed one study, considering a sample of 265 women (Mage = 29.49; SDage = 5.95) in different stages of their first pregnancy. Our results showed that all variables were significantly related. We then created a mediational model, considering 5000 bootstrap simulations. Results indicated that antenatal attachment is predicted by positive and negative affect, with resilience and self-esteem mediating these relations. Such findings might help better understand the underlying mechanisms that enhance the bonding between mother and child. Environments that promote positive affect, resilience and self-esteem in soon-to-be-mothers might help to enhance the antenatal attachment between mother and the unborn child. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing research base supports the separate and distinct role of Anxiety Sensitivity (AS) in the etiology of anxiety disorders. AS is a belief that experiencing anxiety will cause negative consequences cognitively, psychologically, and physically. There is an interest in understanding how well transdiagnostic factors such as Anxiety Sensitivity can identify different anxiety disorders. This study examined the role of anxiety sensitivity as measured by the Anxiety Sensitivity Index- 3 (ASI-3; Taylor et al., 2007) in relation to social anxiety symptoms using two different measures: Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS; Mattick & Clarke, 1989) and the Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation (BFNE, Leary, 1983). One hundred ninety-eight participants completed self-report measures assessing anxiety sensitivity, trait anxiety, positive and negative affect and social anxiety symptoms. Regression analyses results showed that the ASI-3 Social Concerns factor significantly estimated both BFNE and SIAS symptoms. Trait anxiety and positive and negative affect were differentially effective in estimating BFNE and SIAS symptoms. Seven variables accounted for 50% of the variance in self-reported social anxiety symptoms. These findings provide insight into the etiology of Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) and support the transdiagnostic value and incremental validity of the ASI-3 in predicting social anxiety symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is an important issue that was included as a tentative disorder in the DSM-5. The aim of the present study was to contribute to the increasing understanding of IGD by examining the indirect relationships between psychobiological components of personality, positive and negative affect, and IGD among a sample of Iranian university students. In a cross-sectional study, 481 Iranian university students (50.3% female; Mage = 22.41 years [SD = 4.62]) were recruited from four universities and completed self-report psychometric scales, including the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale (IGDS), Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). Structural equation modeling was used to empirically explore the relationships. The model of positive affect and negative affect being a mediator between psychobiological components of personality and IGD fit the data. Individuals with higher levels of negative affect had higher levels of IGD (r = 0.60, p < 0.001). Furthermore, bootstrapping results showed that psychobiological components of personality affected IGD via negative affect. Findings demonstrated that negative affect mediated the relationships between temperament dimensions of harm avoidance (β =.126), reward dependence (β =.054), persistence (β = −.127), as well as character dimensions of cooperativeness (β = −.047), and self-directedness (β = −.042) with IGD (all p-values <0.001). Findings contribute to the knowledge in the field, and support the proposed models showing that negative affect appears to have an important role in IGD. Clinical implications and study limitations are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Government of India implemented a nationwide lockdown from March 24, 2020 in response to the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. This study examines the effects of two positive psychological resources on the mental health of Indian citizens during the early days of the lockdown. The effects of psychological capital (PsyCap) and internal locus of control on psychological distress of people via affect balance were tested. Data were collected through an online survey from 667 participants. Psychological distress was assessed using the GHQ-12, and affect balance was assessed as the preponderance of positive over negative affect. Results reveal that psychological capital and internal locus of control were negatively associated with psychological distress. In addition, affect balance mediated the relationship between psychological capital and psychological distress and the relationship between internal locus of control and psychological distress. Thus, both the psychological resources through affect balance acted as buffers protecting people from mental health deterioration during COVID-19 lockdown. However, the direct and indirect effects of psychological capital on psychological distress is stronger than that of internal locus of control. Implications and directions for future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Religion can fulfill both positive and negative functions in coping with stress. There is a lack of research regarding the mechanism underlying the link between religious coping and mental health. The purpose of this study was to verify how religious coping is related to mental health. Two indirect mechanisms were tested for finding meaning in life and emotional regulation. The study was conducted with 115 students from Poland. According to the results, both positive and negative religious coping were indirectly related to hopelessness through finding meaning in life and affectivity. More frequent use of negative religious coping was positively related to the intensity of negative affect and problems with finding meaning in life, which, in turn, led to a higher level of hopelessness. Meanwhile, more frequent use of positive religious coping was correlated with a greater intensity of positive effect and supported individuals in finding meaning in life. Finding meaning in life was related to a lower level of hopelessness, but positive affect was not correlated with hopelessness. The research confirmed the role played by finding meaning in life and affectivity within the mechanism underlying the link between religious coping and hopelessness. In conclusion, theoretical and practical implications are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-compassion is beneficial for individuals' emotional health, but debates regarding its conceptualization are increasing. The present study aimed to explore the neural basis of self-compassion and its compassionate and uncompassionate dimensions and the indirect path from neural basis to emotional health. Structural MRI and Resting-state fMRI data were used to measure the gray matter volume (GMV) and the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) in 88 healthy college students. We found that individuals with higher self-compassion had decreased GMV in the prefrontal cortex, cerebellum as well as lower ALFF in the occipital lobe. The compassionate and uncompassionate dimensions of self-compassion shared some similarities (e.g., common correlation with GMV in the medial prefrontal cortex, ALFF in the occipital lobe) but also had some differences (e.g., only uncompassionate dimensions correlated with GMV in the lateral prefrontal cortex, ALFF in medial temporal lobe/striatum). The indirect path analyses revealed that corresponding brain characteristics could have associations with emotional health through self-compassion, as well as its uncompassionate dimension, but not compassionate dimension. This exploratory whole-brain study showed some preliminary findings that compassionate and uncompassionate dimensions of self-compassion were related to distinct brain regions, which are both important to the current conceptualization of self-compassion and intervention study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the effect of fluctuations in negative and positive affect on momentary sexual motivation in a sample of women and men in a steady relationship (n = 133). Sexual motivation was regarded as the aggregate of sexual desire, subjective sexual arousal and openness to sexual contact. Experience sampling methodology was used to collect up to 70 measurements per participant over a period of seven consecutive days of sexual motivation, and negative and positive affect. Using multilevel analysis, we investigated cross-level interactions between affect and trait measures as specified in the dual control model (DCM). This model postulates sexually excitatory and inhibitory mechanisms as relatively independent systems that together can explain individual differences in sexual motivation and behavior. Results implicated that any intensification of feelings, positive or negative, was associated with a momentary increase in sexual motivation for participants more prone to sexual excitation. In the lagged analysis, higher preceding negative affect, measured 1-2 h earlier, forecasted an increase in current sexual motivation for participants more prone to sexual excitation. The lagged analysis included the autoregressive effect or inertia of sexual motivation. Inertia reflects the extent to which sexual motivation lingers and persists at similar levels. Our findings showed that sexual motivation levels persisted less in individuals with higher sexual inhibition proneness due to threat of performance failure. This study demonstrated how experience sampling methodology can be used to extend research on associations between mood and sexual motivation and implicates that DCM factors moderate these associations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although extensive research has been conducted to explain what contributes to subjective wellbeing, still a substantial part of its variance remains unexplained. This study investigated whether psychological concepts 'peace of mind' and 'meaningfulness' contribute to SWB beyond the basic and psychological needs while using several needs theories as a theoretical basis and thereby hypothesizing that both concepts are actionable and help enhance SWB. Methods: The cross-sectional data (N = 3770) of the Belgian National happiness study (2018) were used. Three components of SWB (life satisfaction, positive and negative affect) were identified as predicted variables and used in threefold stepwise forward regression analyses. Results: As expected both basic and psychological needs explained a considerable part of the three SWB components. However, including meaningfulness and peace of mind in the last step of the models resulted in a substantially higher total variance that was explained in these components (i.e. 56.7% for life satisfaction, 37.2% for positive affect, and 56.1% for negative affect). More specific, in the final models: basic needs, feelings of autonomy and relatedness, peace of mind and meaningfulness were significantly associated with the life satisfaction component. For the positive affect component: psychological needs, peace of mind, and meaningfulness were the significantly associated factors. Finally, the negative affect component was most significantly associated with basic needs, psychological needs, and peace of mind, while meaningfulness did not play a significant role in explaining negative affect. Discussion: This study reconfirms the value of several needs theories in explaining the components of SWB and the role of universal needs. The final steps of the models also indicate that different needs contribute independently to the different SWB components. This is the first study demonstrating that 'meaningfulness' and 'peace of mind' contribute substantially to SWB beyond the typical basic and psychological needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Research within the Italian context on the determinants of attitudes toward gay men and lesbian women is relatively poor compared with the large number of investigations carried out in other countries. Our goal is to examine Italians' attitudes toward gay men and lesbian women, as well as the factors that encourage these perspectives. We are interested in whether socio-demographic characteristics such as gender, age, education level, and religiosity predict negative attitudes toward gay men and lesbian women. Another goal is to examine affectivity and sexism's role in predicting attitudes toward homosexuality. Methods: The study was conducted online with 1328 Italian heterosexual participants (women, 67.3%; men, 32.7%) ranging in age from 18 to 78 (women: M = 23.9, SD = 5.2; men: M = 26, SD = 8.9). Results: The results show that men, older people, more religious people, sexists, and those who had higher negative affectivity were more predisposed to having negative attitudes toward gay men and lesbian women. Conclusions: The results are discussed, while considering their practical implications for prevention and education programs focused on reducing discrimination against lesbian and gay people in Italian society today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study investigated whether preference for positive affect would be observed in the context of a higher order control process with increasing age given the premise of affective prioritization with ageing. The study examined how affect interacted with cognitive control mechanisms across young, middle-aged and older adults. Conflict monitoring and adaptation for affective stimuli was examined with a face-word Stroop task using happy and fearful facial expressions. The participants' task was to detect the emotional expression (Happy or Fear) of the face shown with a distractor word (Happy or Fear) written across the face. Reaction time and accuracy data was analysed to compare adaptation effect and Stroop interference as a function of age, valence and previous trial congruence. The results demonstrated a stronger adaptation effect for negative affect in young adults and for positive affect in middle-aged adults and older adults. These results can be explained in terms of the socio-emotional selectivity theory of affective bias in the elderly and the involvement of attentional control mechanisms. This study empirically demonstrates shifts in affective bias towards positive affect with ageing through the implicit recruitment of cognitive control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The character of the relationship between religiosity and resilience depends to a large extent on mediation and moderation mechanisms which rely on cognitive and emotional processes. Research conducted within hope theory and the broaden and build theory indicates that hope and affect can mediate and moderate this relationship. The present study explored whether the relationship of the religious meaning system with resilience in spouse caregivers of cancer patients can be mediated by hope and simultaneously moderated by positive and negative affect. A total of 241 spouse caregivers completed a set of questionnaires. The results revealed that hope mediated the relationship between the religious meaning system and resilience. Furthermore, positive affect but not negative affect moderated the indirect effect of the religious meaning system to resilience through hope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigates the impact of 45-min daily mindfulness sessions attended for 11 weeks by 26 Portuguese public healthcare workers (9 men and 17 women) of average age 44.58 years, in measures of psychological functioning. Measures of Mindfulness (Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, FFMQ), Stress (Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale, DASS-21), Positive and Negative Affect (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, PANAS), Self-compassion (Self-Compassion Scale, SCS), Compassion for Others (Compassion Scale, CS) and Empathy (Interpersonal Reactivity Index, IRI) were collected before and after the 11 weeks training. After the training the participants had statistically higher values (P <.003) of Acting with Awareness (FFMQ) and Self-Compassion (SCS, total scale score), and a lower Self-Judgment (SCS) score. Marginal significant results (.003 < p value<.009) indicated an increase in Positive Affect (PANAS, for men), Describing (FFMQ), and a decrease in Negative Affect (PANAS), Stress (DASS-21), and Over-identification (SCS). These findings suggest that practicing mindfulness meditation may be a useful strategy for improving employees' psychological well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-determination theory proposes that the fulfillment of the three basic psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness is important for optimal functioning. While support for this proposition have been well-documented, little attention has been paid to how these needs interact within individuals and whether having equally low, medium or high level of need fulfillment (i.e., balanced need satisfaction) has additional effects over and above the aggregated need fulfillment itself. The present study addresses these questions by examining the importance of having balanced versus imbalanced need fulfillment by adopting latent profile analysis, making it possible to distinguish quantitative and qualitative need-related differences. This research also documents the relations of these need profiles in relation to theoretically-relevant profile predictors (perceived interpersonal behaviors) and outcomes (affect and passion). A total of 1094 adults (female = 746, Mage = 26.00, SDage = 7.69) participated in this study. A four-profile solution appeared to be the most optimal: (1) balanced, all needs are highly satisfied, (2) imbalanced, only relatedness is highly satisfied, (3) balanced, all needs are average, and (4) balanced, all needs are frustrated. Interestingly, these profiles differed from one another in terms of obsessive passion, negative affect, and, to a smaller extent, positive affect, but not harmonious passion. Finally, profile membership was predicted by the perceived need nurturing global factor as well as by some of the specific factors. These results support the hypothesis that, apart from need fulfillment, need balance is also important for wellbeing and optimal functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While trait emotional intelligence (EI) has been found to be related to young adolescents' affect, the underlying mechanisms need to be further explored. Previous findings are also limited by common method problems arising from the use of cross-sectional design involving single-wave data capture. Objective: The study aims to clarify the relation between trait EI and young adolescents' positive and negative affect by further exploring the mediating roles of personal resilience, social support, and prosocial behavior. Method: We conducted a three-wave survey among 714 Chinese junior high school students (mean age of 11.11 years) with temporal separations of the research measures to reduce common method variance. Trait EI was measured at the beginning of Grade 6; personal resilience, social support, and prosocial behavior were measured at the end of Grade 6; positive and negative affect were measured at the end of Grade 7. Results: Trait EI at the beginning of Grade 6 was positively related to positive affect and negatively related to negative affect by the end of Grade 7. The influence of trait EI on positive affect was fully mediated by personal resilience, social support, and prosocial behavior at the end of Grade 6. Its influence on negative affect was also fully mediated by social support. Conclusions: The findings clarify the mechanisms underlying the trait EI effect and highlight the importance of future youth programs targeting mediation mechanisms. In particular, we suggest the worth of utilizing trait EI to better facilitate personal and social resources when facing difficulties, and to help others in appropriate and effective ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conscientiousness is typically seen as a positive or desired personality trait in the workplace, with the overall assumption being "the more, the better". Drawing on the behavioral concordance model, we challenge this assumption, expecting that the highest level of positive affect and the lowest level of negative affect will correspond at the point where state and trait conscientiousness converge. Using an experience sampling study and an event reconstruction study, we show that deviations from one's level of trait conscientiousness relate to variations in positive and negative affect, but not in a straightforward way. While wellbeing was lower when people behaved less conscientiously than they normally do, increases beyond one's typical conscientiousness level were largely unrelated to wellbeing. Moreover, people high in trait conscientiousness suffered more from negative deviations from their trait level than people low in trait conscientiousness. As a whole, our findings suggest that the interplay of personality states and personality traits is complicated, with both the state level and deviations from the trait level being relevant to wellbeing—calling for an integrative approach to personality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An outgrowth of research has established an association between attachment to God dimensions and psychosocial indices. There has been a dearth of studies, however, examining variables that mediate these relationships. This study examined three categories of coping strategies (emotion-focused, problem-focused, and dysfunctional) as mediators in the relationship between attachment to God dimensions and psychological adjustment. This study employed a cross-sectional design to examine the association among attachment to God dimensions, coping strategies, and psychological adjustment among 315 undergraduate students at a midsize southeastern university. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire, the Attachment to God Inventory, the Brief COPE, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. Structural equation modeling was used to examine direct and indirect effects. Analyses revealed an indirect influence of secure God attachment on positive affect via emotion-focused coping, as well as an indirect influence of secure God attachment on all three mental health indices—positive and negative affect and depression—via dysfunctional coping. Analyses also revealed an indirect influence of avoidant God attachment on depression and both positive and negative affect via dysfunctional coping, as well as an indirect influence of ambivalent God attachment on depression and both positive and negative affect via dysfunctional coping. Although causality cannot be established, results suggest that attachment to God dimensions are associated with psychological adjustment through the use of specific coping strategies. Future research should employ longitudinal designs in order to identify temporal influences among attachment to God dimensions, coping styles, and psychological indices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study re-investigated whether need satisfaction and frustration are better represented as two opposite ends of the same continuum or two distinct constructs through the application of the bifactor exploratory structural equation modeling (bifactor-ESEM) framework. Also, the criterion-related validity of the final representation was tested in relation to indicators of wellbeing. Using a sample of 774 participants (501 females, Mage = 27.86, SDage = 9.52), several alternative models were contrasted. The results supported the multidimensional bifactor-ESEM representation including one global factor of need fulfillment and the six specific factors being the combination of satisfaction and frustration with autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Most items tapped into meaningful specificity once the global factor was accounted for. Finally, the global factor was substantially and positively related to positive affect and negatively to negative affect. Competence satisfaction further predicted positive affect, while competence and relatedness frustration predicted negative affect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Unaccompanied refugee minors (UMs) experience worry and rumination, owing to living in refugee shelters and confronting many stressors that range from finances to health problems to personal safety concerns. The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility of a mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) for UMs residing at the shelters of Minor Ndako in Belgium.Methods: Of the 34 residents attending an information session, 13 expressed an interest to participate. Participants were between 13 and 18 years old. A MBI was offered in small groups between March 2015 and July 2016. The impact on symptoms of depression, positive and negative affect and on symptoms of post-traumatic stress was examined using questionnaires. Four individuals participated in a qualitative assessment on how they experienced the mindfulness.Results: Quantitative findings suggest that a MBI may reduce negative affect and improve positive affect, both with a medium effect size, and reduce symptoms of depression with a large effect size. Qualitative analyses show that experiences are unique and different among participants. Participants who completed the training make use of the mindfulness exercises as a new coping strategy in combination with other familiar coping strategies.Conclusions: Although the feasibility in this population is not straightforward, results suggest that it may be useful to deliver MBIs in refugee shelters for UMs. These results are preliminary and have to be interpreted with caution due to the small self-selected sample. Therefore the results of this study can only be interpreted as initial, and in need of replication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to elucidate the potential profiles of mobile phone addiction among Chinese undergraduate freshmen and its relationship with emotion. Administering scales to a sample of 3327 participants (Mage = 18.33, SD = 0.81; 43.67% males) with the Mobile Phone Addiction Index Scale (MPAI) and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), and the research employs latent profile analysis to elucidate the heterogeneity in mobile phone addiction within this demographic. Furthermore, the study scrutinizes the influence of various demographic variables on this heterogeneity. Our findings delineate four distinct latent profiles of mobile phone addiction: Non-addicted, Low-addicted, Moderately-addicted, and Highly-addicted. Notably, female students, individuals from rural backgrounds, and those with experiences of being left-behind emerge as particularly susceptible to varying degrees of mobile phone addiction. Additionally, students classified as Non-addicted exhibited significantly higher positive affect scores compared to those in the Low-addicted, Moderately-addicted, and Highly-addicted profiles. In contrast, students in the Highly-addicted profile had significantly elevated negative affect scores relative to the Non-addicted, Low-addicted, and Moderately-addicted groups. The study furnishes a theoretical foundation for higher education institutions to implement stratified and typological prevention and intervention measures aimed at mitigating student mobile phone addiction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to describe the levels of depression, positive and negative affect, optimism and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in a group of recently diagnosed multiple sclerosis (MS) patients (up to 3 years since the diagnosis), taking into account gender, age, and disease duration differences, and to investigate the possible role of identity, sense of coherence (SOC), and self-efficacy in MS (SEMS) on patients’ depression, positive and negative affect, optimism, and HRQOL. The cross-sectional study involved 90 MS patients (61% women; age: M = 37, SD = 12) with an Expanded Disability Status Scale score between 1 and 4 (mild to moderate disability). Patients completed measures of depression (CESD-10), positive and negative affect (PANAS), optimism (LOT-R), HRQOL (SF-12), identity motives, SOC, and SEMS. Depression scores were near the cut-off level for clinically significant depressive symptoms, and negative affect was higher and HRQOL was lower than those in the general population. Women and younger patients reported better adjustment as time passes since the diagnosis. Results of multiple regressions indicated that higher SOC was related to higher mental health, lower negative affect and lower depression. Higher SEMS was predictive of greater positive affect and lower negative affect, whereas higher identity satisfaction was predictive of higher positive affect and optimism and lower depression. The results suggest the usefulness of addressing identity redefinition, SOC and self-efficacy in psychological interventions aimed at promoting patients’ adjustment to MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's world, researchers frequently utilize indirect measures of implicit (i.e., automatic, spontaneous) evaluations. The results of several studies have supported the usefulness of these measures in predicting behavior, as compared to utilizing direct measures of explicit (i.e., purposeful, deliberate) evaluations. A current, under-debate issue concerns the origin of these implicit evaluations. The present genetically sensitive multi-group study analyzed data from 223 twin pairs and 222 biological core families to estimate possible genetic and environmental sources of individual differences in implicit and explicit self-esteem and affect. The results show that implicit self-esteem and affect maintain a substantial genetic basis, but demonstrate little influence from the shared environment by siblings (e.g., shared familial socialization in childhood). A bivariate analysis found that implicit and explicit evaluations of the same construct share a common genetic core which aligns with the motivation and opportunity as determinants (MODE) model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poor mental health was prevalent among HIV positive men who have sex with men (HIVMSM), and a tremendous burden extents on their families and society. The present study investigated the prevalence of depression and its relationship with social support, HIV self-stigma, positive affect and negative affect among 321 HIVMSM in Chengdu, China. The study was conducted during July 2013 through October 2013. Findings showed that 55.8 % of the participants had mild to severe depression. The results of structural equation modeling showed that social support and positive affect were negatively associated with depression, while HIV self-stigma and negative affect were positively associated with depression. Social support, positive affect, and negative affect mediated the association between HIV self-stigma and depression. The hypothesized model had a satisfactory fit. Interventions improving mental health among this population are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alcohol use and abuse are a problem on college campuses. Religious behaviors (religious attendance, prayer, and importance) have been shown to be a protective factor against alcohol use among college students. This study examined the role religious behaviors and positive and negative affect had on drinking (alcohol use and alcohol to intoxication). College students (765) completed an online survey. The results showed that college students who attended religious services were less likely to use alcohol than those who did not attend religious services. The results have important implications for college administrators and policy makers. Limitations and future research will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field of positive psychology has identified brief interventions that increase individuals' well-being and decrease depressive symptoms. An example is the best possible self (BPS) activity. It is a writing exercise that asks participants to project themselves into the future, and imagine they have met all their goals in every domain of their life. The first objective of this study was to examine the effectiveness of BPS in increasing subjective well-being of youths in an Asian context. 191 participants were recruited from an institute of higher learning in Singapore. Classes were randomly assigned to either the experimental or control group. The experimental group was given instructions for the BPS intervention while the control group was asked to write about their past week. Participants completed two sessions that were 1 month apart. Results indicated that for the first session, the experimental group exhibited a significantly larger decrease in negative affect compared to the control group. Analyses of change scores indicated that changes in positive affect were related to changes in optimism scores whereas changes in negative affect were related to changes in life satisfaction and depressive symptoms. Implications of the findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focusing on adolescents' subjective well-being, the present study comprised three parts. The first examined the role of two coping mechanisms, self-control and social support, in predicting subjective well-being. The second related to the role of age and gender in predicting adolescents' subjective well-being. The third raised the question of whether exposure to familial crisis would predict adolescents' subjective well-being and whether self-control and social support would moderate the link between crisis and adolescents' subjective well-being. Participants included 380 adolescents ages 13-17 years ( M = 15.32, SD = .98; 194 boys, 176 girls, 10 unspecified), from six integrative junior-high and high schools in central Israel. All schools served a heterogeneous Jewish student population. Based on responses to a questionnaire identifying adolescents who reported experiencing a severe life crisis during the last year (e.g., severe illness in family, parent death or separation/divorce), the sample was divided into two groups: exposure to familial crisis ( n = 96) and no exposure to familial crisis ( n = 284). Outcomes revealed that both self-control and social support predicted adolescents' subjective well-being. As expected, older adolescents presented lower levels of subjective well-being than younger ones. In contrast to the hypothesis, gender did not predict subjective well-being. Although exposure to crisis did not predict higher negative affect or lower positive affect, an interaction emerged between self-control and crisis in predicting positive affect. Thus, among adolescents who experienced crisis, better self-control skills predicted higher levels of positive affect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the mediating effects of affect (positive and negative affect) and loneliness on the relationship between core self-evaluations (CSE) and life satisfaction among two groups of Chinese adolescents. Three hundred adolescents (169 males and 131 females) from Shenzhen and Xi'an in China completed the Core Self-evaluations Scale, Positive and Negative Affect Scale, UCLA Loneliness and Satisfaction with Life Scale. Research revealed that positive and negative affect, and loneliness fully mediated the relationship between CSE and life satisfaction. The relationship between CSE and loneliness was partially mediated by positive and negative affect. Loneliness partially mediated the relation between positive and negative affect and life satisfaction. The final model also indicated two significant paths from CSE through positive and negative affect and loneliness to life satisfaction. Furthermore, a multi-group analysis found that the paths did not differ across gender. Limitations of the study are considered and implications of the results for enhancing adolescents' life satisfaction are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the structure and the temporal invariance of the Portuguese version of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. Previous studies are not consensual whether PANAS measures two or three affect factors and whether such factors are independent or correlated. In order to fill in this gap, we compared the original PANAS, as an independent bi-dimensional structure, with several other alternative structures. Two hundred forty five university students and professional trainees answered the questionnaire in two distinct moments with a two month interval. The model of PANAS with a structure of two independent factors, Positive Affect (PA) and Negative Affect (NA), as proposed by the authors of the scale, was tested. However, the best model consisted of two independent factors, PA and NA, with the cross-loading of the item "excited" between PA and NA, and specified error correlations between the same categories of emotions. Another gap in the literature is the temporal invariance analysis of the PANAS. This paper assesses the temporal invariance of the scale, using the structural equation modeling analysis. Although it was used in its state form version, the PANAS scale showed temporal stability in a two month interval. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on self-determination theory (Deci and Ryan in Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in human behavior. Plenum Publishing Co., New York, ) and the broaden-and-build theory (Fredrickson in Am Psychol 56:218-226, ), the purpose of the present research was to propose and test an integrative model on the role of positive and negative affect as mediators of the situational motivation-performance relationship. Specifically, the hypothesized model posits that autonomous motivation predicts positive affect, while controlled motivation and amotivation both lead to negative affect. In addition, amotivation negatively predicts positive affect. In turn, positive and negative affect positively and negatively predict performance, respectively. The model was confirmed in three studies using correlational (Studies 1 and 2) and experimental designs (Study 3) with a cognitive task (anagrams). In addition, the role of individual differences (Study 2) and situational factors (Study 3) as triggers of the 'Motivation-Affect-Performance' sequence was confirmed. Theoretical implications and directions for future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers often debate about whether there is a meaningful differentiation between psychological well-being and subjective well-being. One view argues that psychological and subjective well-being are distinct dimensions, whereas another view proposes that they are different perspectives on the same general construct and thus are more similar than different. The purpose of this investigation was to examine these two competing views by using a statistical approach, the bifactor model, that allows for an examination of the common variance shared by the two types of well-being and the unique variance specific to each. In one college sample and one nationally representative sample, the bifactor model revealed a strong general factor, which captures the common ground shared by the measures of psychological well-being and subjective well-being. The bifactor model also revealed four specific factors of psychological well-being and three specific factors of subjective well-being, after partialling out the general well-being factor. We further examined the relations of the specific factors of psychological and subjective well-being to external measures. The specific factors demonstrated incremental predictive power, independent of the general well-being factor. These results suggest that psychological well-being and subjective well-being are strongly related at the general construct level, but their individual components are distinct once their overlap with the general construct of well-being is partialled out. The findings thus indicate that both perspectives have merit, depending on the level of analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is considerable evidence that two higher order factors underlie the Big-Five dimensions and that these two factors provide a parsimonious taxonomy. However, not much empirical evidence has been documented as to the extent to which these traits relate to certain psychological constructs. In this study, we tested a structural model to investigate the individual differences in well-being and ill-being by examining the mediating effects of autonomy, relatedness, and competence on the extent to which two higher order factors of personality, namely Stability and Plasticity, are linked to life satisfaction and depression. In testing the model, we controlled for the effects of current affect. A large community sample participated and responded to self-measures of The Big-Five personality, basic psychological needs satisfaction, satisfaction with life, depressive symptoms, and positive and negative affect. The results revealed that satisfaction of basic psychological needs fully mediated the relationship between Plasticity and life satisfaction, as well as depression. It also fully mediated the relationship between Stability and life satisfaction, and partially mediated the relationship between Stability and depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To examine the association of affective experience and health-related quality of life in lung cancer patients, we hypothesized that negative affect would be positively, and positive affect would be negatively, associated with perceived health. Methods: A sample of 133 English-speaking lung cancer patients (33% female; mean age = 63.68 years old, SD = 9.37) completed a battery of self-report surveys. Results: Results of our secondary analysis indicate that trait negative affect was significantly associated with poor physical and social functioning, greater role limitations due to emotional problems, greater bodily pain, and poor general health. Positive affect was significantly associated with adaptive social functioning, fewer emotion-based role limitations, and less severe bodily pain. In a full model, positive affect was significantly associated with greater levels of social functioning and general health, over and above the effects of negative affect. Conclusions: Reduction of negative affect is an important therapeutic goal, but the ability to maintain positive affect may result in greater perceived health. Indeed, engagement in behaviors that result in greater state positive affect may, over time, result in dispositional changes and enhancement of quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study contrasts how need for cognition and perceived control relate to positive and negative affect in 351 adults experiencing the transition to retirement (age range 44–79 years, M = 60). Structural equation modeling was used to identify significant pathways between exogenous variables of conscientiousness, openness, and education to need for cognition, and between neuroticism and health to perceived control. Need for cognition and perceived control emerged as separate and distinct forms of motivation, contributing to positive and negative affect in this model through differing patterns and to different degrees. Mediators between need for cognition and positive affect were frequency of cognitive activity and problem-focus coping. Perceived control had direct effects on positive and negative affect and indirect effects through cognitive activity on positive affect. The model helps to explain some of the psychological mechanisms instrumental in successful adaptation to change in adulthood. The dispositional motivation of need for cognition is described as a character strength with unique predictive value for older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the contributions of orientations to happiness (pleasure, engagement and meaning) to subjective well-being. A sample of 12,622 adults from the United States completed on-line surveys measuring orientations to happiness, positive affect, negative affect, and life satisfaction. A sample of 332 adults from Australia also completed these surveys as well as a measure of the big five factor personality traits. Hierarchical regressions generally supported the hypothesis that the three orientations to happiness predict subjective well-being (satisfaction with life, positive affect and negative affect) beyond sociodemographic variables and personality. Meaning and engagement explained the greatest variance in all three components of subjective well-being. Overall, these findings support the importance of a eudaimonic approach in addition to the hedonic approach to achieving happiness. Moreover, findings were relatively consistent in both the Australian and US samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Despite a shift in the cancer culture and language used to describe individuals diagnosed with this disease, the extent to which individuals with cancer adopt a particular cancer-related identity and the impact of these identities in relation to their well-being is virtually unknown.Materials and Methods: Using a cross-sectional study design and a metropolitan tumor registry, a mail questionnaire to examine post-treatment quality of life was sent to prostate cancer (PCa) survivors. The sample consisted of 490 PCa survivors, ranging in age from 49-88 (M = 69.7; SD = 7.8), one to eight years after diagnosis. The outcome measure used in these analyses was the PANAS to assess positive and negative affect.Results: The most frequently reported cancer-related identity was "someone who has had PCa" (57%). The least reported self view was "victim" (1%). Twenty-six percent of men self-identified as "survivors" while 6% thought of themselves as "cancer conquerors." Only 9% self-identified as a "patient." Multivariate analyses, adjusted for potential confounders, show respondents who identified themselves as "survivors" or "cancer conquerors" reported significantly higher scores on positive affect than men who self-identified as "patients" (p < .001).Conclusions: Although the majority of respondents identified themselves as "someone who has had cancer," identifying as a "survivor" or "someone who has conquered cancer" appears to have adaptive value for positive mood.Implications For Cancer Survivors: Those who perceive themselves as survivors of prostate cancer may derive some benefit in well-being associated with this self assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on 10 weekly telephone interviews with first-year college students ( N=202; 63% women; M=18.8 years, SD=.4), within- and between-person associations of positive and negative affect with alcohol use were examined. Multi-level models confirmed hypothesized within-person associations between weekly positive affect and alcohol use: Higher positive affect weeks had greater alcohol consumption, more drinking and heavy drinking days in the same week, and less plans to drink the following week. However, between-person, average positive affect did not predict individual differences in alcohol use. The negative affect—alcohol use association was complex: Within-person, higher negative affect was associated with less drinking days but between-person, with more drinking days; lability in negative affect was associated with greater average alcohol use and more drinking and heavy drinking days. Health promotion efforts for late adolescent and emerging adult students are advised to recognize these paradoxical effects (e.g., promoting dry celebratory campus-events, strategies to manage negative mood swings). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Past research indicates that Self-Oriented Perfectionism (SOP: P. L. Hewitt & G. L. Flett, 1991) has been linked to psychopathology but can have both positive and negative elements. The purpose of the present study is to examine whether the relationship of SOP to positive and negative affect would be mediated by the presence of specific cognitions regarding “Personal Standards (PS),” and “Concern over Mistakes (CM)” as well as goal motivations. Two mediations involved in SOP were hypothesized: (1) in the presence of approach goals, the cognition of PS emerges from activated SOP and leads to positive affect; and (2) in the presence of avoidant goals, the cognition of CM emerges from activated SOP and leads to negative affect. In Study 1, 358 college students completed the research questionnaire, and structural equation modeling was used to test the mediation model. In Study 2, 60 participants, 30 rated high and 30 rated low in SOP, were presented with either an approach or an avoidant goal for an experimental task, and asked to rate their perfectionism cognitions and affects. The findings provided partial support for the hypotheses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thirty-seven male veterans with combat-related PTSD completed measures of hostile automatic thoughts, hope, and positive and negative affect. Responses to the items of each measure were presented in two formats: (a) the veteran's feelings today and (b) (on a separate form) how he felt while in combat. Veterans reported significantly higher levels of hostility and negative affect in combat as opposed to today. Contrary to predictions, high levels of both positive affect and automatic positive thoughts also were reported in combat relative to today. Hope levels varied primarily as a function of being employed rather than unemployed. The implications and limitations of this methodology and these findings for combat veterans and other groups are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]