Does Passion mediate the Effectof Character Strengths on the Resilience of Athletes? / ¿Media la pasión los efectos delas fortalezasdel carácter en la resiliencia de atletas apasionados? / A paixão medeia os efeitos das forças de caráter sobre a resiliência de atletas apaixonados?

This study investigates (a) the relationship between character strengths, passion and resilience in athletes in a sample of Spanish passionate athletes (elite, federated and recreational), and (b) if passion for sport mediates the relationship between character strengths and resilience. Using a cross-sectional design, participants (N = 480)completed measures of character strengths, passion, and resilience. Both Principal Components and Confirmatory Factor Analyses were conducted with character strengths, and five factors were extracted. All character strengths factors related positively to resilience. Harmonious passion (but not obsessive passion) partially mediated the relationship between all character strengths factors and resilience. Strengths and limitations of the study, as well as its implications are discussed. (AU)

Este estudio investiga (a) la relación entre las fortalezas del carácter, la pasión y la resiliencia de una muestra de atletas apasionados españoles (élite, federados y recreativos), y (b) si la pasión por el deporte media la relación entre las fortalezas del carácter y la resiliencia. Mediante un diseño transversal, los participantes (N = 480) completaron medidas de fortalezas del carácter, pasión y resiliencia. Se llevaron a cabo un análisis de componentes principales y un análisis factorial confirmatoriocon las fortalezas de carácter y se extrajeron cinco factores. Todos los factores de fortalezas del carácter se relacionaron positivamente con la resiliencia. La pasión armoniosa (pero no la pasión obsesiva) medió parcialmente la relación entre todos los factores de fortalezas del carácter y la resistencia. Finalmente, se discuten las fortalezas y limitaciones del estudio, así como sus implicaciones. (AU)

Este estudo investiga (a)a relação entre forças de caráter, paixão e resiliência de uma amostra de atletas espanhóis apaixonados (elite, federados e recreativos), e (b) se a paixão pelo esporte medeia a relação entre forças de caráter e resiliência. Usando um desenho transversal,os participantes (N = 480) completaram medidas de força de caráter, paixão e resiliência. Uma análise de componentes principais e uma análise fatorial confirmatória foram realizadas com forças de caráter e cinco fatores foram extraídos. Todos os fatores de força de caráter foram positivamente relacionados à resiliência. A paixão harmoniosa (mas não a paixão obsessiva) media parcialmente a relação entre todos os pontos fortes dos fatores de caráter e a resistência. Por fim, são discutidos os pontos fortes eas limitações do estudo, bem como suas implicações. (AU)

Character Strengths Predict an Increase in Mental Health and Subjective Well-Being Over a One-Month Period During the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown.

This study examines whether character strengths predict resilience (operationalized as stable or higher mental health and subjective well-being despite an adverse event) over a period of approximately 1 month during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Spain. Using a longitudinal design, participants (N = 348 adults) completed online measures of sociodemographic data, information regarding their situation in relation to the COVID-19, character strengths, general mental health, life satisfaction, positive affect and negative affect. All variables were measured at Time 1 and Time 2, except for sociodemographic and most COVID-related information (Time 1 only). Time 1 data collection was conducted between March 21, 2020 and April 2, 2020, i.e., approximately the second week of lockdown in Spain. Time 2 data collection was conducted between April 24, 2020 and May 18, 2020, after the Spanish government announced its intention to progressively release the lockdown. A principal component analysis of character strengths was conducted. Five character strength factors were extracted: fortitude, goodness, intellectual, interpersonal, and restraint. Factor structures at Times 1 and 2 were highly consistent. All character strength factors at Time 1 correlated positively with life satisfaction and positive affect, and negatively with negative affect and mental health at T2 (higher scores in the mental health measure indicate poorer mental health). Fortitude strengths showed the highest correlations. We conducted a series of regression analyses with strength factors at Time 1 as predictors, and mental health, life satisfaction, and positive and negative affect as dependent variables, controlling for their baseline levels. To test the directionality of the relationship between strengths and the dependent variables, all analyses were reversed. All character strength factors predicted an increase in mental health. They also predicted positive affect, with the exception of strengths of restraint. Fortitude, intellectual, and interpersonal strengths predicted an increase in life satisfaction. Finally, fortitude strengths, interpersonal strengths, and strengths of restraint, predicted a decrease in negative affect. None of the reversed analyses yielded significant effects. Limitations, implications, and possible character strengths-based interventions aimed at promoting mental health in the COVID-19 pandemic are discussed.

Validation of the Mexican Spanish Version of the Scale of Positive and Negative Experience in a Sample of Medical and Psychology Students.

The Scale of Positive and Negative Experience (SPANE) aims to measure affect with high transcultural validity. The bifactor model is the best theoretical option to represent affective balance, although it is not typically used in validation studies. The objectives of this research were to test a bifactor model vis-à-vis the traditional model composed of two correlated factors, to prove its invariance across sexes, and to provide evidence of concurrent validity. A nonprobability sample composed of 600 Mexican students of psychology and medicine was recruit. One-group and multigroup confirmatory factor analyses were carried out. The SPANE and the scales selected to assess depression, perceived stress, and satisfaction with life were applied. The bifactor model showed better goodness-of-fit indices than the two correlated factors model: Δχ2(11) = 121.436, p < . 001, Δχ2/Δdf = 11.04 > 5, ΔGFI = .034, ΔNFI = .025, ΔNNFI = .022, and ΔCFI = .023 >.01. The internal consistency for the general factor as well as for the factor of positive affect was excellent, whereas it was good for the factor of negative affect. The measurement model was valid across sexes. The general factor of affective balance had a very high correlation with depression, high with perceived stress, and medium with satisfaction with life. It is concluded that SPANE is reliable and shows evidence of validity among Mexican student of psychology and medicine, and the bifactor model is adequate to represent affective balance.

The effects of counting blessings on subjective well-being: a gratitude intervention in a spanish sample

This study examined a gratitude intervention repeating Emmons and McCullough study (2003) in a Spanish sample. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions (gratitude, hassles and any event) and kept daily records during 2 weeks of gratitude, affect, quality of relationships, physical and subjective well-being. We added design features to assess the intervention long-term impact (follow-up measures), and to improve the design control (pre-treatment measures). Following the cited authors’ analysis, i.e., comparing groups only in the post-test, we replicated their results, finding differences in positive affect and gratitude between the gratitude condition and the hassles condition. However, when including both the pre and the follow-up measures in the analysis, results were replicated only partially, as the difference in gratitude disappeared. Moreover, the difference in positive affect between groups in the post-test seemed to be influenced mainly by a decrease in positive affect in the hassles group. Post-test differences between groups in positive affect disappeared in the follow-up. Gratitude interventions may have an effect on well-being, but we consider other methods to promote gratitude besides gratitude journals should be tested (AU)

Este estudio examina una intervención en gratitud repitiendo el estudio de Emmons y McCullough (2003) en una muestra española. Los participantes fueron asignados de manera aleatoria a una de tres posibles condiciones (gratitud, escollos y cualquier suceso) y evaluaron diariamente durante dos semanas la gratitud, el afecto, la calidad de las relaciones, el bienestar físico y el bienestar subjetivo. Añadimos nuevos aspectos al diseño para evaluar el impacto de la intervención a largo plazo (medidas de seguimiento) y para mejorar el control (medidas pretest). Al hacer los mismos análisis que los autores previamente citados, es decir, al comparar los grupos sólo en el postest, replicamos sus resultados, ya que encontramos diferencias en afecto positivo y en gratitud entre el grupo de gratitud y el grupo de los escollos. Sin embargo, cuando incluimos las medidas pretest y las de seguimiento en el análisis, replicamos los resultados sólo de manera parcial, ya que la diferencia en gratitud desapareció. Además, la diferencia en afecto positivo entre los grupos en el postest parecía estar influida principalmente por un descenso en afecto positivo en el grupo de escollos. Las diferencias entre los grupos en afecto positivo en el postest desaparecieron en el seguimiento. Las intervenciones basadas en la gratitud pueden tener un efecto sobre el bienestar, pero consideramos que se deberían investigar otros métodos aparte de los diarios de gratitud (AU)

The effects of counting blessings on subjective well-being: a gratitude intervention in a Spanish sample.

This study examined a gratitude intervention repeating Emmons and McCullough study (2003) in a Spanish sample, Participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions (gratitude, hassles and any event) and kept daily records during 2 weeks of gratitude, affect, quality of relationships, physical and subjective well-being. We added design features to assess the intervention long-term impact (follow-up measures), and to improve the design control (pre-treatment measures). Following the cited authors' analysis, i.e., comparing groups only in the post-test, we replicated their results, finding differences in positive affect and gratitude between the gratitude condition and the hassles condition. However, when including both the pre and the follow-up measures in the analysis, results were replicated only partially, as the difference in gratitude disappeared. Moreover, the difference in positive affect between groups in the post-test seemed to be influenced mainly by a decrease in positive affect in the hassles group. Post-test differences between groups in positive affect disappeared in the follow-up. Gratitude interventions may have an effect on well-being, but we consider other methods to promote gratitude besides gratitude journals should be tested.

El estudio científico de las fortalezas trascendentales desde la psicología positiva / The scientific study of the transcendental strengths from the positive psychology perspective

Dentro del marco de la Psicología positiva existe una línea de investigación centrada en las virtudes y fortalezas del ser humano, entendidas como rasgos positivos de personalidad, que está elaborando una clasificación de ellas siguiendo un esquema similar al del Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). En este artículo se exponen algunos de los estudios que muestran los efectos beneficiosos de un grupo concreto de estas fortalezas, las trascendentales (espiritualidad, gratitud, esperanza, apreciación de la belleza y excelencia, humor), con la intención de promover su investigación

Within the framework of Positive Psychology there is a line of research focused on the virtues and strengths of human beings. Taking virtues and strengths as positive traits of personality, the Positive Psychology classifies them following a scheme similar to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). With the aim of promoting research, this article reviews some of the studies that show the beneficial effects of a subset of strengths, the transcendental strengths –i.e. spirituality, gratitude, hope, appreciation of beauty and excellence, and humor