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Meaning in life is the process in which individuals make sense of their lived experiences and the world around them. In adolescence, youth face developmental challenges and stressors that can threaten their well-being. Knowledge of the mechanisms and contributors to protective factors, such as meaning in life, can enhance counselors' and school counselors' delivery of services to adolescents and support their optimal growth. In this study, we conducted multiple regression analyses to examine the relationship between participants' meaning in life, emotional intelligence, and personal growth initiative in a youth sample (n = 203). Our findings indicated that meaning in life was related to students' personal growth initiative and emotional intelligence. Specifically, we identified that meaning in life predicted personal growth initiative and emotional intelligence for participants in this study. Based on our findings, we offer practical implications for school counselors and counselors working with youth. Implications for research are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objective: Stress stemming from practical or financial obstacles is among the top sources of stress for college students. The current study examined if one new positive psychological strength factor, personal growth initiative, functioned as a buffer to protect young adults’ life satisfaction, anxiety, and depression from practical stress. Participants: Undergraduate students (N = 353, age range 18–23, 73.9% female) at a public university. Method: Participants were recruited through classes and on campus via flyers and completed self-report surveys online. Results: Personal growth initiative significantly moderated the relation between practical stressors and life satisfaction. Specifically, the negative effect of practical stressors on life satisfaction decreased as personal growth initiative levels increased. Practical stress significantly predicted anxiety and depression, though no significant interactions were identified in this model. Conclusion: Overall, results highlighted the protective function of personal growth initiative for life satisfaction in the context of practical stressors faced by young adults in college. Implications and future directions for research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultural norms and their regulation in society account for individual behaviour and related psychological processes. This study investigated if and how cultural norm regulation mediated the relationship between identity processing styles and intentional personal growth. A sample of 613 students (mean age = 19.72 years, SD = 1.67 years; female = 454, 74.1%) completed the Revised Identity Styles Inventory-5; the Personal Growth Initiative Scale-2; and the Cultural Tightness– Looseness Scale. To investigate the hypothesised mediation, we tested direct and indirect effects models in Mplus. Of the 14 possible direct effects between the two viable identity styles (informational and diffuse-avoidant) and four dimensions of personal growth initiative (readiness for change, planfulness, using resources, and intentional behaviour), 12 were significant. And of the 12 pathways, only three were mediated by cultural tightness, namely informational style to readiness for change, planfulness, and intentional behaviour. The findings demonstrate the value of strict cultural norm regulation in facilitating intentional personal growth in this group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study primarily aims to examine the mediating role of core self-evaluation and the moderating role of personal growth initiative (PGI) in the relationship between upward social comparison and senior high school students' depression and to explore the gender difference in this association. A total of 721 Chinese senior high school students (61.16% boys; M = 16.21 years, SD = 1.07) completed measures of upward social comparison, core self-evaluation, personal growth initiative, and depression. Results showed a significant positive correlation between upward social comparison and depression. Core self-evaluation partially mediated this association, and a gender difference in the indirect effect was revealed; that is, the effect was shown to be stronger for girls than for boys. Moreover, for boys, the mediating effect of core self-evaluation was moderated by PGI, and the effect was more potent for individuals with high PGI than for those with low PGI. However, no moderating effect of PGI on the indirect effect was found for girls. These findings suggest that prevention and interventions focusing on reducing upward social comparison and enhancing core self-evaluation may alleviate adolescents' depression symptoms and that more attention should be given to girls with low core self-evaluation and boys with high PGI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today's youth face multifaceted challenges in a time when society is more aware of the consequences of unhealthy decision-making. In this study, we tested the effectiveness of an emerging intervention, GPS for SUCCESS, a classroom-based 5-week program that helps students build their purpose in life while securing a commitment to achieve it. We employed a quasi-experimental study that included a nonrandom assignment to a treatment and comparison group. Findings indicated that the treatment group had statistically significant higher posttest scores on measures of meaning in life and personal growth initiative when compared to the comparison group and while controlling for their pretest scores. We discuss these findings and their implications for theory, practice, and future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the role of self-control in the relationship between personal growth initiative and smartphone addiction among university students. A convenience sample of 783 Chinese students (female = 75.7%; mean age = 20.34 years, SD = 1.44 years) completed measures of personal growth initiative, self-control, and smartphone addiction. Hierarchical regression and bootstrapping analyses indicated that those self-reporting with personal growth also reported a lower risk for smartphone addiction. A sense of good self-control mediated the relationship between personal growth initiative and risk for smartphone addiction, lowering the risk for smart phone addiction among those with a higher sense of self-control. The findings highlight the importance of personal growth initiative and self-control in reducing risk for smartphone addiction problems among university students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the relationship between personal growth initiative (PGI) and hedonic and eudaimonic happiness among a sample of South African university students (N = 235; mean age = 20.38, SD = 1.55; female = 61.70%). Students completed measures on personal growth initiative, hedonic happiness, and eudaimonic happiness. Regression analysis indicated personal growth initiative to positively predict students' reported scores on hedonic and eudaimonic measures. The findings underscore the importance of PGI among student populations in advancing well-being among university students. It is proposed that higher education student development and support services should tap into PGI as a resource for enhancing student self-directed change and happiness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hall-Simmons and McGrath have proposed that character strengths can moderate the impact that clinical symptoms have on functioning. This notion is reasonable in light of existing evidence. Specifically, we provide secondary analyses from recently published data suggesting that character strengths can moderate the impact of psychopathology on functioning. We argue however that this conceptual work should only the first step in developing a comprehensive model of how flourishing can be promoted and languishing avoided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the extent to which individual differences in personal growth initiative (PGI) and self-esteem are effected by parenting style. The sample consisted of 329 Japanese university students. The Parental Authority Questionnaire (PAQ) measuring three parenting styles (authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive), the PGI, and the self-esteem scale were used to guide data collection. Multiple regression analyses showed that PGI and self-esteem were significantly affected by the authoritative parenting style. The study also showed that most of the subscales of PGI and self-esteem were not significantly affected by the authoritarian parenting style whereas, for female students, readiness for change which is subscale of PGI was significantly affected by the authoritarian parenting style. On the other hand, PGI and self-esteem were not significantly affected by the permissive parenting style. These results indicate the importance of the influence of the authoritative parenting style on each PGI and self-esteem among Japanese university students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined emotional intelligence and personal growth initiative influences on the level of subjective happiness among university students in Ghana Two hundred and sixty undergraduate students were participants (female = 69 8%; mean age = 21 72 years, SD = 3 61 years) They responded to measures of emotional intelligence, personal growth initiative, and subjective happiness After controlling for their demographic characteristics, and following hierarchical regression analysis, results indicate emotional intelligence and intentional behaviour domain of personal growth to predict students' level of subjective happiness These findings suggest that students' ability to manage and utilise their emotions, as well as their personal growth initiative contribute significantly to their level of happiness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study examined the inconsistent relationship found between personal growth initiative (PGI) and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) by exploring potential subgroups. In addition, after identifying the subgroups, potential predictors of these subgroups were examined. Participants: Participants were 534 undergraduate students who experienced a potentially traumatic event (PTE). Data collection occurred from March 2013 to December 2014. Methods: Because this was a preliminary study, archival data was used. Participants consisted of students who experienced a PTE within the past three years. Results: Latent profile analysis indicated a five-class model as the best-fitting model. Direct exposure and intentionality of the event were significant predictors of class membership;length of time since event and gender did not predict class membership. Conclusions: The current study provides a potential explanation of the inconsistent results between PGI and PTSS and also highlights the importance of acknowledging subgroups when utilizing PGI after a PTE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined defensive pessimism, viewed as a self-regulatory strategy in Western cultures, in China among college students, and explored its relationship with Chinese cultural values and students’ psychological health operationalized as adult hope and personal growth initiative. Two-hundred and thirty Chinese students from a comprehensive university in Beijing, China, participated in the study. Data were analyzed by using structural equation modeling. The results showed that all the measures used in the study were valid for our sample. The inferential modeling demonstrated that reflectivity, but not pessimism, subscale of defensive pessimism correlated with Chinese cultural values. Additionally, pessimism and reflectivity predicted psychological health in opposite directions. Reflectivity contributed to hope and positive growth initiative, but pessimism decreased these psychological health indicators. The results seemed to suggest that reflectivity, but not pessimism, captured the essence of defensive pessimism for Chinese college students. Limitations and directions for future research were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective: This study explored the extent to which personal growth initiative (PGI) may predict posttraumatic stress and growth in student service members/veterans (SSM/V). Participants: Participants were 136 SSM/V (79% men) representing multiple branches of the armed forces. Forty-four percent of participants reported having combat experience. Methods: Data collection occurred from October 2013 to February 2014. Data were collected via a Web-based survey that included demographics and measures of personal growth initiative, posttraumatic stress, posttraumatic growth, and perceived social support. Results: Results indicated that PGI is not a unique predictor of posttraumatic stress but is a unique predictor of higher levels of posttraumatic growth. PGI appears to be at least as important as perceived social support in facilitating growth in SSM/V. Conclusions: This study provides further evidence for PGI's potential to facilitate growth after a traumatic event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study examined the role of personal growth initiative (PGI) in predicting posttraumatic growth and posttraumatic stress, and the extent to which rumination styles explain these relations among 286 college students. As predicted, results showed that the cognitive component of PGI negatively predicted posttraumatic stress. Also, there was a significant positive indirect effect of behavioral PGI on posttraumatic growth through deliberate rumination. However, contrary to our hypothesis, there were also significant positive indirect effects of behavioral PGI on posttraumatic stress through intrusive and deliberate rumination. The current study creates new insights on the application of PGI in trauma research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]