Adaptation of the Steen Happiness Index (SHI) to Brazil: A Comparison of the Psychometric Properties of the SHI and the Subjective Happiness Scale.

This study examined the psychometric properties of the Steen Happiness Index (SHI)-a measure of authentic happiness designed for intervention research-in a sample of Brazilian security workers. The SHI has yet to be used in a Brazilian sample and has the potential to assess both eudaimonic and hedonic happiness in Brazil. The psychometric properties of the SHI were also compared with those of the Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS), a widely used happiness measure, using classical test theory and item response theory. Military police officers, civilian police officers, and military firefighters (N = 435) completed the SHI, SHS, and measures of well-being, optimism, and psychopathological symptoms. Exploratory factor analysis provided support for a one-factor SHI-rather than the three-factor structure found in previous research. The unidimensional SHI also better discriminated between low, medium, and high levels of happiness, and did not demonstrate a ceiling effect when compared with the SHS. Advantages and disadvantages of both scales are discussed.

COVID-19: implicações e aplicações da Psicologia Positiva em tempos de pandemia / COVID-19: implications and applications of Positive Psychology in times of pandemic

A pandemia causada pela dispersão da COVID-19 no mundo obrigou muitos países a adotarem o isolamento social como medida de contenção do vírus. Pesquisas prévias indicam que pessoas submetidas ao isolamento social desenvolvem sintomas psicológicos variados, principalmente relacionados ao estresse, ansiedade e depressão, decorrentes da privação social e do confinamento. Este artigo objetiva apresentar pesquisas produzidas pela Psicologia Positiva e indicar como esses achados podem subsidiar intervenções para a promoção de saúde mental e bem-estar durante o isolamento social. Dentre os construtos descritos, destacam-se pesquisas sobre autocompaixão, resiliência, criatividade, otimismo, esperança, bem-estar subjetivo e práticas de meditação mindfulness para lidar com os efeitos adversos do isolamento. Considerações e implicações dessas práticas são discutidas em detalhes.

The pandemic caused by the dispersion of COVID-19 in the world has forced many countries to adopt quarantines to contain the virus. Previous researches indicate that people subjected to social isolation develop psychological symptoms mainly related to stress, anxiety, and depression due to social deprivation and confinement. This manuscript presents researches produced by Positive Psychology and indicates how these findings can support interventions to promote mental health and well-being during quarantines. We highlight researches focused on self-compassion, resilience, creativity, hope, optimism, subjective well-being, and mindfulness meditation practices to deal with the adverse effects of quarantines. Considerations and implications of these practices are discussed in detail.