Optimism and self-efficacy mediate the association between shyness and subjective well-being among Chinese working adults

EFL teachers' burnout in technology enhanced instructions setting: The role of personality traits and psychological capital

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a great alteration in teaching methodologies by adding technology to the syllabi. Indeed, the integration of technology has presented significant opportunities for language teachers to adjust to the current situation. However, it gives rise to challenges and stressors that cause burnout. Beyond work-associated issues, burnout is believed to be influenced by various factors, and with the advent of the Positive Psychology (PP) approach, there has been a shift in understanding that negative emotional states experienced by individuals can be redirected toward a positive trajectory. This shift has spurred an increasing interest in investigating the value of teachers' Psychological Capital (PsyCap) in dealing with burnout. Furthermore, the study recognizes the significance of other personal factors, including individual differences and the personality of teachers. Therefore, the present study makes efforts to unravel the intricate relationships among personality traits, PsyCap, and burnout experienced by Chinese EFL teachers in the context of Technology-enhanced instructions (TEIs). To achieve this, a total of 550 Chinese EFL teachers currently engaged in TEI settings were selected, and they responded to three relevant questionnaires. Using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), the study found that teachers' burnout was negatively associated with PsyCap and certain personality traits, specifically openness, extroversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. Conversely, an increase in neuroticism was found to be positively associated with higher levels of teachers' burnout. These results highlight the importance of enhancing PsyCap and fostering positive personality traits to mitigate burnout among EFL teachers in technology-enhanced instructional settings.

Psychometric Properties of a New Mexican Optimism Scale: Ethnopsychological Approach

BACKGROUND

In this paper, a Mexican Optimism Scale was constructed to investigate and estimate psychometric properties (reliability and validity based on the measurement model). The convergent validity and validity criterion were evaluated for a sample of young Mexicans.

METHODS

The scale was presented to 848 Mexican young people aged between 17 and 30 years from three different regions of Mexico. The scale was reduced to 20 items on the basis of CFA and analyses of internal consistency.

RESULTS

The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) suggested a three-factor structure of optimism: affective resources, positive vision and hope. The data provided evidence for convergent validity with positive affect, negative affect and coping. Additionally, males scored higher on affective resources and positive vision than females. Finally, the results support the reliability of the instrument.

CONCLUSIONS

The psychometric properties of the Mexican Optimism Scale proved to be highly acceptable and allow for a novel assessment of optimism from an ethnopsychological perspective. Validity, reliability and invariance were determined, as well as percentiles for the practical use of the scale. This scale may be of crucial importance for future research on optimism and health.

Professional Quality of Life Among Professionals Working with People with Eating Disorders: The Interplay Between Meaning in Work, Optimism, and Career Duration

Purpose

Scientific literature findings reflect the challenges experienced by healthcare professionals (HCPs) whose work is dedicated to helping clients with eating disorders (EDs) in various treatment centers (wards). These challenges can affect the professional quality of life (comprised of compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress) of HCPs. The present study delved into this relationship and explored the moderating role of dispositional optimism and the role of career duration in ED wards in the link between meaning in work and professional quality of life.

Methods

Two hundred HCPs working in ED wards in Israel were recruited through their professional social networks. Participants completed self-report questionnaires related to socio-demographic and work data, professional quality of life, meaning in work, and dispositional optimism.

Results

Career duration in ED wards was negatively associated with secondary traumatic stress, while dispositional optimism and meaning in work were positively associated with compassion satisfaction and negatively associated with burnout and secondary traumatic stress. With respect to the moderation effect of dispositional optimism and EDs ward career duration, the findings revealed that the positive relationship between meaning in work and compassion satisfaction weakened as dispositional optimism scores increased. Additionally, the negative relationship between meaning in life and burnout was significant only when the career duration in EDs wards was less than 12.31 years.

Conclusion

HCPs working in ED wards could draw on the findings to improve their professional quality of life, especially through enhancing meaning in work. Attention should be paid especially toward HCPs with many years (>12.31) of experience in the ED wards.

The effect of prosocial behaviours on Chinese undergraduate nursing students' subjective well-being: The mediating role of psychological resilience and coping styles

This study aimed to explore the effect of prosocial behaviours on Chinese undergraduate nursing students' subjective well-being (SWB) and examine the roles of psychological resilience and coping styles. The sample for this study included 683 nursing students from two undergraduate universities in Henan Province, China. SWB, prosocial behaviours, psychological resilience, and coping styles were assessed by the Index of Well-Being, the Prosocial Behavioural Tendency Scale, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, and the Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire, respectively. We adopted Pearson's correlation analysis and the PROCESS Macro Model 81 in regression analysis to explore the relationships among prosocial behaviours, psychological resilience, coping styles, and SWB. Prosocial behaviours of undergraduate nursing students had a positive predictive effect on SWB; psychological resilience and coping styles both were the mediating variable between prosocial behaviours and undergraduate nursing students' SWB; psychological resilience and coping styles played a chain mediating role between the prosocial behaviours and SWB of undergraduate nursing students. The results indicated that prosocial behaviours not only directly affected the SWB of undergraduate nursing students but also affected the SWB of undergraduate nursing students via psychological resilience and coping styles. These results offer certain theoretical support and guidance for the research and improvement of undergraduate nursing students' SWB and emphasize the importance of interventions to increase prosocial behaviours, improve psychological resilience, promote positive coping styles, and address negative coping styles.

Family functioning and life satisfaction among female university students during COVID-19 outbreak: the mediating role of hope and resilience

BACKGROUND

Literature review has showed that family functioning is positively associated with satisfaction with life. However, the internal mechanisms of this relationship are still unclear, especially during the COVID-19. This study examined the mediating role of hope and resilience in the association between family functioning and life satisfaction of female university students in COVID-19 pandemics.

METHODS

A cross-sectional online study was done throughout the fifth wave of the COVID-19 outbreak in Iran. A total of 480 female students were recruited from Lorestan University. Data was collected by the State Hope Scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale, Family APGAR Index, and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. Data analysis were based on structural equation modeling.

RESULTS

Family functioning exerted a significant direct effect on hope, on resilience and on life satisfaction. Also, according to the findings, hope and resilience pose a significant mediating effect in the association between family functioning and life satisfaction.

CONCLUSION

This study provides a better perspective regarding the protective role of hope, family functioning, and resilience on life satisfaction among female university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Training of such skills is needed to increase life satisfaction in female university students.

Family Functioning and Optimism as Protective Factors of Life Satisfaction Among Stroke Patients During the COVID-19 Epidemic in Shenyang, China

The coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic may result in detrimental consequences for stroke patient's wellbeing. Family functioning and optimism could help stroke patients cope with crises leading to possible improvements in life satisfaction. This study aims to explore the protective effects of family functioning and optimism on life satisfaction among stroke patients during the COVID-19 pandemic in China. This study was designed as a cross-sectional survey. A total of 207 stroke inpatients who were receiving pharmacotherapy and rehabilitation in general public hospital of Liaoning province during the COVID-19 pandemic in China were consecutive selected and interviewed by online questionnaires via the WeChat platform effectively from April 8 to 30, 2020. The scales included: Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Family Adaptation, Partnership, Growth, Affection, and Resolve (APGAR) Scale and Revised Life Orientation Test (LOT-R). Hierarchical multiple regression (HMR) analysis was conducted to test the associated factors of life satisfaction. Stroke patient's life satisfaction was at a high level (Mean = 26.46, SD = 6.23) during the pandemic. Stroke patient's residence, duration of stroke, stroke type, and community shut down measures were the strong predictors of life satisfaction. Family functioning and optimism increased life satisfaction among stroke patients. This study contributes to the research on the association between family functioning and optimism on life satisfaction among stroke patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Interventions that improve family functioning and enhance optimism should be provided in order to elevate life satisfaction for stroke patients.

Self-Efficacy, Optimism, and Academic Performance as Psychoeducational Variables: Mediation Approach in Students

Background: During the various stages of education, adolescents undergo emotional and motivational experiences that can play key roles in their development. This study aims to analyse the relationship among academic self-efficacy, optimism, and academic performance. Methods: This study comprised 1852 adolescent (male, N = 956, 51.61% and female, N = 896, 48.38%) aged 12-19 years (M = 14.77; SD = 1.80) from twelve secondary schools in Spain. The instruments used for the evaluation were the Academic Self-Efficacy Scale (ASES) and the Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R); the students' average marks were used to measure their academic performance. Results: The results of the study revealed significant correlations among self-efficacy, optimism and academic performance. Conclusions: These results emphasise the importance of academic self-efficacy as a mediating variable between the other two variables as well as its central role in the promotion of adaptive behaviours in the classroom, leading to adequate personal development, helping to prevent early school dropout and contributing to a more satisfactory academic experience.

Ethnic discrimination and psychological stress among Hispanic emerging adults: Examining the moderating effects of distress tolerance and optimism

Hispanic emerging adults are often exposed to ethnic discrimination, yet little is known about coping resources that may mitigate the effects of ethnic discrimination on psychological stress in this rapidly growing population. As such, this study aims to examine (1) the associations of ethnic discrimination, distress tolerance, and optimism with psychological stress and (2) the moderating effects of distress tolerance and optimism on the association between ethnic discrimination and psychological stress. Data were drawn from a cross-sectional study of 200 Hispanic adults ages 18-25, recruited from two urban counties in Arizona and Florida. Hierarchical multiple regression and moderation analyses were utilized to examine these associations and moderated effects. Findings indicated that higher optimism was associated with lower psychological stress. Conversely, higher ethnic discrimination was associated with higher psychological stress. Moderation analyses indicated that both distress tolerance and optimism moderated the association between ethnic discrimination and psychological stress. These study findings add to the limited literature on ethnic discrimination among Hispanic emerging adults and suggest that distress tolerance may be a key intrapersonal factor that can protect Hispanic emerging adults against the psychological stress often resulting from ethnic discrimination.

Impact of Shyness on Self-Esteem: The Mediating Effect of Self-Presentation

BACKGROUND

Although the relationship between shyness and self-esteem is well described in the psychological literature, far less is known about the potential mechanisms that underlie this association. The main goal of the current work is to verify whether self-presentation acts as a mediating variable between both constructs.

METHODS

The study was carried out among 198 adults. The Revised Cheek and Buss Shyness Scale, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and the Self-Presentation Style Questionnaire were applied.

RESULTS

A large and positive correlation coefficient was observed between the following variables: (1) self-esteem/self-promotion; (2) shyness/self-deprecation. All other variables correlated negatively: (1) shyness/self-esteem; (2) shyness/self-promotion; (3) self-esteem/self-deprecation; (4) self-promotion/self-deprecation. Moreover, both self-promotion and self-deprecation acted as mediators between life satisfaction and self-esteem.

CONCLUSION

The outcomes of the present study show a new mediating aspect for the direct relationship between shyness and self-esteem in the form of two styles of self-presentation. The results indicate that the tendency of shy people to avoid others can have a lower effect on their overall sense of self-esteem when they try to present themselves in a clearly favorable light. By contrast, shyness may have a stronger impact on their sense of self-worth when they present themselves as helpless, unsure, and incompetent.

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

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

Healthy Behavior as a Mediator in the Relationship Between Optimism and Life Satisfaction in Health Sciences Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Purpose

This study examines the indirect relationship between optimism and life satisfaction via healthy behavior among health sciences students.

Participants and Methods

The cross-sectional study involved 349 health sciences students, including 58% of women, ranging in age between 19 and 30 years (M = 22.15, SD = 1.83). Self-report questionnaires were used to measure dispositional optimism (the Life Orientation Test-Revised, LOT-R), life satisfaction (Satisfaction with Life Scale, SWLS), and health behaviors (Health Behavior Inventory, HBI), with four subscales: healthy diet (HD), preventive behavior (PB), positive mental attitudes (PMA), and healthy practices (HP). In addition, a single mediation model (with the total HBI as mediator) was compared with a parallel mediation model (with four subscales of the HBI). Gender was controlled as a confounding variable.

Results

Women scored higher in the total HBI (p < 0.01), HD (p < 0.001) and PB (p < 0.01) than men, while men scored slightly higher in dispositional optimism (p < 0.01). General health behavior (total HBI) completely mediates the relationship between dispositional optimism and life satisfaction, R² = 0.32. In the parallel model, only PMA was determined as a mediator of the association between dispositional optimism and satisfaction with life, R² = 0.36. The single mediation model showed perfect fit (X²/df = 0.00, RMSEA = 0.00, SRMR = 0.00, CFI = 1.00, IFI = 1.00, NFI = 1.00), better than the parallel mediation model (X²/df = 2.353, p = 0.095, RMSEA = 0.062, SRMR = 0.020, CFI = 0.995, IFI = 995, NFI = 991).

Conclusion

The interplay mechanism between personal resources and behavioral health-related habits may explain 32% of life satisfaction variance. The intervention focused on increasing optimistic expectancies and health behaviors should be implemented in universities to increase students’ well-being and prevent depression.

Measuring TechnoWellness and Its Relationship to Subjective Well-Being: the Mediating Role of Optimism

Background

The relationship between technology use and subjective well-being is controversial, with recent research suggesting both positive and negative links. Thus, it is important to determine whether using technology actually leads to flourishing and well-being. To do so, the construct of TechnoWellness, which includes both adaptive and maladaptive modes of using technology, could be particularly useful. Moreover, the mechanisms that account for these relationships have been insufficiently explored.

Objective

With this study, we had two objectives. First, we aimed to test the relationships between TechnoWellness and the three components of subjective well-being (positive affect, negative affect, and satisfaction with life). Secondly, we aimed to investigate whether optimism mediates those relationships.

Design

A total of 366 participants (122 men and 244 women, mean age = 22.34 years old) took part in this study. In this cross-sectional investigation, we measured TechnoWellness, optimism, positive and negative affect, satisfaction with life, and some demographic variables, using an online form. To verify our aims we used structural equation modeling (SEM) with mediation.

Results

Among the positive factors of TechnoWellness, only using technology for physical activity was directly associated with satisfaction with life. Among the negative factors, the stress caused by technology use was directly associated with negative affect. Optimism mediated the relationships between these two factors (using technology for physical activity and stress caused by technology use) and all the components of subjective well-being.

Conclusion

Using technology to foster wellness is related to actual subjective well-being. However, the purpose, frequency, and type of its use are important elements to be considered when studying its effects.

Ok Google: Using virtual assistants for data collection in psychological and behavioral research

Because of the increasing popularity of voice-controlled virtual assistants, such as Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant, they should be considered a new medium for psychological and behavioral research. We developed Survey Mate, an extension of Google Assistant, and conducted two studies to analyze the reliability and validity of data collected through this medium. In the first study, we assessed validated procrastination and shyness scales as well as social desirability indicators for both the virtual assistant and an online questionnaire. The results revealed comparable internal consistency and construct and criterion validity. In the second study, five social psychological experiments, which have been successfully replicated by the Many Labs projects, were successfully reproduced using a virtual assistant for data collection. Comparable effects were observed for users of both smartphones and smart speakers. Our findings point to the applicability of virtual assistants in data collection independent of the device used. While we identify some limitations, including data privacy concerns and a tendency toward more socially desirable responses, we found that virtual assistants could allow the recruitment of participants who are hard to reach with established data collection techniques, such as people with visual impairment, dyslexia, or lower education. This new medium could also be suitable for recruiting samples from non-Western countries because of its wide availability and easily adaptable language settings. It could also support an increase in the generalizability of theories in the future.

The Relationship Between Contextual and Dispositional Variables, Well-Being and Hopelessness in School Context

The literature's interest has been focused on the study of well-being or depression. However, there has been little research that investigates the relationship between well-being and hopelessness (HPL) and the underlying contextual and dispositional variables. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between some contextual (need-supportive interpersonal behavior and need-thwarting interpersonal behavior) and dispositional variables (dispositional optimism, positive/negative affectivity, explanatory style), academic achievement, general well-being, and school HPL in adolescent students. The results showed that general well-being was positively predicted by need-supportive interpersonal behavior, dispositional optimism, positive affectivity, and adaptive explanatory style (attribution to commitment in the school context), while it was negatively predicted by negative affectivity. Meanwhile, school HPL was positively predicted by need-thwarting interpersonal behavior, negative affectivity, dysfunctional explanatory style (attribution to luck in the school context), while it was negatively predicted by attribution to commitment in the school context and academic achievement. These results provide useful data for the implementation of well-being promotion and school HPL prevention. The implications are discussed as follows.

Testing a model of subjective well-being: The roles of optimism, psychological vulnerability, and shyness

This research extended current positive psychological research by investigating the mediating effect of shyness on the association between optimism, psychological vulnerability and subjective well-being. Two hundred fifty-five volunteer university students (131 females and 124 males, mean age = 23.14) participated in the study. The structural equation modeling revealed shyness fully mediated the effect of psychological vulnerability on subjective well-being, while shyness partially mediated the effect of optimism on subjective well-being. Also, bootstrapping procedures confirmed that psychological vulnerability was indirectly associated with subjective well-being through shyness, whereas optimism was directly associated with subjective well-being. The implications for future studies and the limitations of the study were discussed in the context of the relevant literature.