ABSTRACT
During the pandemic, older adults were perceived as a vulnerable group without considering their various strengths. This study explored the associations between character strengths and resilience, and verified if some of these could predict resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. A sample of 92 participants (women = 79.1%), ≥ 70 years of age (mean = 75.6 years), completed an online version of the Values in Action Inventory of Strengths - Positively keyed (VIA-IS-P) to assess 24 character strengths (grouped under six virtues) and the Connor and Davidson Resilience Scale. Results showed that 20 of the 24 strengths correlated positively and significantly with resilience. A multiple regression analysis revealed that the virtues of courage and transcendence, as well as attitudes toward aging, uniquely predicted the level of resilience. Interventions should be developed to improve certain strengths (e.g., creativity, zest, hope, humor, and curiosity), while reducing ageism, in order to promote resilience.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Pandemics , Humans , Female , Aged , Character , Aging , VirtuesABSTRACT
Resumo Sentido de vida é uma variável que tem sido considerada central para compreensão do bem-estar humano nas últimas décadas. Entretanto, o estudo desse conceito é muito mais antigo e ele já recebeu contribuições da filosofia, da psicologia humanista, da logoterapia e, recentemente, da psicologia positiva e da psicometria, o que possibilitou que tal construto fosse mensurado. Este artigo explora os caminhos de sentido de vida enquanto construto ao longo do tempo, discutindo as contribuições que o conceito recebeu de diversas teorias psicológicas, incluindo o recente modelo tripartite de sentido de vida. Por fim, são discutidos os desafios enfrentados por pesquisadores e clínicos que buscam trabalhar com essa variável.
Résumé Le sens de la vie est une variable qui a été considérée comme essentielle pour comprendre le bien-être humain au cours des dernières décennies. Cependant, son étude est beaucoup plus ancienne, en ayant reçu des contributions de la philosophie, de la psychologie humaniste, de la logothérapie et récemment, de la psychologie positive et de la psychométrie, rendant ce concept mesurable. Cet article discute les voies de sens de la vie en tant que concept construit au fil du temps, en examinant les contributions qu'il a reçues de diverses théories psychologiques, y compris le récent modèle tripartite de sens de la vie. Enfin, on discute les défis auxquels sont confrontés les chercheurs et les cliniciens qui cherchent à travailler avec cette variable.
Resumen El sentido de la vida es una variable que se ha considerado fundamental para comprender el bienestar humano en las últimas décadas. Sin embargo, el estudio de este concepto es mucho más antiguo y ya ha recibido aportes de la filosofía, la psicología humanística, la logoterapia y, recientemente, de la psicología positiva y la psicometría, haciéndolo medible. Este artículo explora las trayectorias del sentido de la vida como un constructo a lo largo del tiempo, discutiendo las contribuciones que el concepto ha recibido de varias teorías psicológicas, incluido el reciente modelo tripartito de sentido de la vida. Finalmente, se discuten los desafíos que enfrentan los investigadores y clínicos que buscan trabajar con esta variable.
Abstract Meaning in life has been considered a key variable to the understanding of human well-being in the last decades. However, the study of this concept is much older and has received contributions from Philosophy, Logotherapy and, recently, Positive Psychology and psychometric studies, thus becoming measurable. This article explores the paths of meaning in life as a construct over time and discusses the contributions of some psychology theories to the concept, including the tripartite view of meaning in life. Finally, we discuss the challenges faced by researchers and clinical psychologists to work with this construct.
