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The Values in Action Inventory of Strengths (VIA-IS; Peterson, Park, & Seligman, 2005a) is an English-language self-report questionnaire that measures 24 widely-valued character strengths. The present paper describes the creation and adaptation of the German version of the VIA-IS and its peer-rating form using a sample of 1,674 adults. The 24 subsc...
Contexts in source publication
Context 1
... Peterson, and Seligman (2005) found the core virtues of courage, justice, humanity, temperance, wisdom, and transcendence in various writings by philosophers and spiritual leaders in China, South Asia, and the West. Table 1 summarizes the classification of strengths and virtues. Peterson and Seligman (2004) proposed ten criteria that a positive trait had to satisfy to be included in the classifi- cation as a strength of character (e.g., it is fulfilling; it is morally valued in its own right; its display does not dimin- ish other people; it should be trait-like; and so on). ...
Context 2
... and Seligman (2004) claim, for example, that the virtue of wisdom can be achieved through creativity, curiosity, etc. As shown in Table 1, each of the six core virtues is constituted by three to five character strengths. The assignment of the strengths to the virtue categories was done on theoretical grounds as opposed to empirically. ...
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Citations
... It was anticipated by the Peterson and Seligman [1] study that their classification of the character strengths and virtues identified would be modified in the light of future further studies and this is indeed the case, with subsequent empirical research finding that character strengths may be better categorized into models with between five [24,25], four [26], and three [27] factors. Duan et al. [12] extended these studies in Mainland China by examining the factor structure and functional equivalence of a Simplified Chinese version of the VIA-IS (the six-virtue factor model by Peterson and Seligman [1]). ...
Character strengths and training have a great impact on students’ whole-person development. This study examined the applicability of the Chinese virtues questionnaire (CVQ) and the relationships between students’ perceptions of virtues and resilience in Hong Kong, SAR, China. A total of 2468 pupils from primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong were recruited as the sample for this study. The results of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supported a measurement model of Chinese virtues, and the results of structural equation modeling (SEM) suggested that Chinese virtues were positively related to positive resilience and succumbing. Significant relationships were found between gender and students’ positive resilience, and school grade level showed a significant impact on the Chinese virtues, which in turn affect resilience. Student resilience could be enhanced by nurturing virtues and related character strengths, keeping in mind the role of gender and grade level.
... To assess the 24 character strengths, the German version of VIA-Inventory of Strengths (VIA-IS) was used German version by Ruch et al., 2010). This questionnaire consists of 240 items and assesses 24 character strengths of CSV classification, with 10 items per strength. ...
... In the pretest, similar to Study 1, the VIA-IS ; German version by Ruch et al. (2010) was used to assess the 24 character strengths. We again adopted the SAPA method (Revelle et al., 2017) to reduce the length of the survey for participants without impacting the reliability of the measures. ...
Introduction:
The adaptation of own plans and behaviors to new circumstances seems to be a desirable personal quality in the modern world. it has been assumed that adaptability cannot be transferred to a single character strength.
Methods:
The present research examines this assumption using typical and daily behaviors of three aspects of flexibility (predictability, adaptability and orderliness) and 24 character strengths across two studies (N1 = 283, N2 = 188).
Results:
Flexibility showed a consistent and large overlap with character strengths. Adaptability was positively related to most of the strengths. Predictability was positively related to humility and prudence, and orderliness to perseverance, prudence, and selfregulation.
Discussion:
These results support our initial assumption and build a strong basis for further examining the relationships and interplay between flexibility and character strengths. They also constitute an important first step toward integrative positive interventions that target relevant aspects of flexibility and character.
... 4,this volume). There also is good evidence supporting the reliability and validity of the VIA Inventory of Strengths Ruch et al., 2010) and its more recent revision (McGrath & Wallace, 2021). ...
The chapter provides an overview of existing theories of health and well-being that are relevant for a positive psychology of religion and spirituality. Emphasis is given to theories that have an empirical basis or whose main constructs are operationalized through validated measurement instruments. This chapter covers several theories focused on spiritual well-being, holistic health, perceived wellness, eudaimonia (psychological well-being, self-determination theory, and eudaimonic identity theory), virtues and character strengths, and the PERMA model of wellbeing. To help facilitate programmatic research and greater synergy between the psychology of religion and spirituality, positive psychology, and mainstream psychological science, the chapter briefly describes Koenig’s (2012), MacDonald’s (2009), and VanderWeele’s (2017) theories that attempt to integrate available research into directional causal models.
... Objectifs et hypothèses de la présente étude 12 Ces différentes variables sont reconnues par les chercheur·es en psychologie de l'orientation, en psychologie positive et existentielle comme étant déterminantes pour la santé mentale. Dans la présente étude, nous cherchons à savoir dans quelle mesure (Peterson & Seligman, 2004 ;Ruch et al., 2010). La version française a été traduite par l'institut VIA mais n'a pas fait l'objet d'adaptation ou de validation. ...
Cette recherche explore dans une perspective longitudinale la nature des corrélations, l’évolution des scores moyens ainsi que les interrelations entre les ressources personnelles (adaptabilité de carrière et utilisation des forces psychologiques) et d’autres variables comme le sens des études, la persévérance et l’épanouissement chez les étudiant·es. L’étude est menée dans le cadre de l’implémentation d’une approche d’enseignement réflexive durant la crise sanitaire du COVID-19. L’échantillon comprend soixante étudiant·es issu·es d’une université française. Les analyses corrélationnelles indiquent une conservation de la nature positive des relations entre certaines variables, l’apparition et la disparition de certains effets positifs dans le temps. Alors que le score moyen de sens tend à s’accroître avec le temps, celui de l’épanouissement tend à décroître. Finalement, les interrelations entre les deux ressources et l’épanouissement semblent être prégnantes. La contribution probable du dispositif est discutée.
... Items (e.g., "I am always coming up with new ways to do things") are assessed on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Very Much Unlike Me, 5 = Very Much Like Me) and only include questions in the positive direction. Responses are averaged across the respective items to generate scores for each of the 24 character strengths (using four items per strength) and, by averaging further, five strength factors or categories (Ruch et al., 2010), which include categories such as emotional and interpersonal strengths (see Table 2). In the present study, the alpha coefficient of the VIA-IS across strengths was in the range of.59 ...
... The VIA Classification of 24 Character Strengths (McGrath, 2019) and Strength Factors (Ruch et al., 2010). ...
Background
The positive psychology and neurodiversity movements both aim to promote and improve wellbeing through strengths-based approaches. However, little is known about how positive psychology can support the wellbeing of autistic people. The present study investigated character strengths profiles as a potential tool to identify strengths-based interventions that could enhance wellbeing outcomes for autistic adults. To our knowledge, this is first study to use this method as a possible way of improving the wellbeing of autistic adults in the community in the UK.
Method
Forty-seven self-reported formally diagnosed (83%) and self-identifying (17%) autistic adults completed online self-rated standardised questionnaires about their character strengths and life satisfaction. Descriptive statistics and correlational analyses were used to evaluate the profile of character strengths and their relationship to overall life satisfaction.
Results
Character strengths most frequently reported by autistic adults were Honesty, Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence, Love of Learning, Fairness, and Kindness. Higher levels of life satisfaction were associated with character strengths of Gratitude, Hope, and Honesty.
Conclusions
The most frequent character strengths were consistent with autistic traits reported in the wider body of autism literature, such as intense interests and strong attention to detail. The present study provides preliminary findings and recommendations for potential future strengths-based interventions that could enhance life satisfaction of autistic adults in a community setting. Further investigation with larger samples is needed to replicate the emerging findings on this topic.
... Humour has also shown a positive association with the indicators of wellbeing and life satisfaction, when assessed as a character strength. (Ruch et al., 2010;Peterson et al., 2007). The previous research has also found humour and happiness to be positively correlated with each other (Ruch et al., 2010). ...
... (Ruch et al., 2010;Peterson et al., 2007). The previous research has also found humour and happiness to be positively correlated with each other (Ruch et al., 2010). According to Ruch and Carrell (1998), a broader and more inclusive sense of humour is also associated with cheerfulness. ...
Humour is one of the mesmerizing qualities possessed by human beings which provides a positive and funny outlook towards the stressful events that take place in one's life, making the coping process efficient. According to the studies conducted earlier, humour has been conceptualized as a multi-faceted construct, with adaptive and maladaptive styles of humour. The affiliative and self-enhancing styles of humour have been studied to be beneficial for mental health. Whereas, the aggressive and self-defeating styles of humour are considered to be detrimental to it. This research theorized that there is an association between the styles of humour and the types of self-esteem, which has been supported by various studies. The findings indicate that both types of self-esteem are positively associated with the self-enhancing and affiliative styles of humour and negatively associated with self-defeating humour. The possible positive relation between aggressive style of humour and explicit self-esteem is also discussed along with the implication of humour in various fields.
... The Values-in-Action Inventory of Strengths (VIA-IS; Peterson et al., 2005; German version by Ruch et al., 2010) is the 240-item self-report instrument for the assessment of the 24 character strengths from the VIA classification. Each strength is assessed with 10 items. ...
... A sample item is "I find the world a very interesting place" (curiosity). Ruch et al. (2010) report good internal consistency (0.71 ≤ α ≤ 0.90) and retest-reliability (r tt ≥ 0.65 for 6-month intervals and ≥ 0.62 for 9-month intervals) and provide evidence for criterion validity. ...
... The internal consistencies of the VIA-IS scales were in line with prior findings on the German-language version (e.g., Ruch et al., 2010), with α coefficients between 0.62 (self-regulation) and 0.93 (spirituality; α median = 0.76). The mean and SD values of the VIA-IS scales were comparable to Ruch et al.'s (2010) findings. ...
We studied the similarity among partners' character strengths (i.e., positively valued traits) across two studies. In Study 1, N = 68 couples completed the 240-item VIA Inventory of Strengths and in Study 2, N = 143 couples completed a 24-item brief-form and measures of life-and relationship satisfaction. We computed raw, normative, and distinctive profile similarities for the 24 strengths and found support for partners' similarity in both studies (normative: rs ≥ .84; raw: rs ≥.23; distinctive: rs ≥ .06). Actor-Partner Interdependence Model analyses (Study 2) provided no evidence for the notion that similarity relates to couples' satisfaction. We discuss our findings regarding prior research, assortative mating preferences, and extensions to the study of partner-and ideal partner perceptions.
... The VIA Inventory of Strengths and the broader scientific study of virtues and strengths have garnered a lot of attention in positive psychology (e.g., Stichter & Saunders, 2019; see also Ratchford et al.,Chapter 4,this volume). There also is good evidence supporting the reliability and validity of the VIA Inventory of Strengths Ruch et al., 2010) and its more recent revision (McGrath & Wallace, 2021). ...
... In addition, previously reported experiences can be reflected in this discussion. After the initial brainstorming, an overview of their virtues and strengths (see Table 1) is offered, based on the Values in Action Inventory of Strengths [39], to further support the identification of the songwriter's strengths. The identified strengths can be written down on post-it papers and collected on a blank sheet to symbolize the abundance of strengths of the songwriter. ...
(1) Background: An increasing number of people are living with late-life depression, yet non-pharmacological treatments to help manage symptoms are limited. Two interventions, positive psychology and music therapeutic songwriting, have independently led to decreased depressive symptoms and an improved wellbeing in older people over 65 years old. (2) Methods: This article describes the development of a therapeutic songwriting program for people living with late-life depression. Knowledge from positive psychology and therapeutic songwriting was combined to maximize the potential benefits. (3) Results: The intervention program has ten weekly 45 min sessions that incorporate elements from positive psychology into therapeutic songwriting. Using a three-song approach encompassing ongoing musical practices, different positive psychology interventions were incorporated to support the experiences associated with a flourishing life. The intervention protocol for older people presented here is distinct from previous deficit-orientated approaches in that it shifts the focus to positive experiences, resources, and the individual’s ability to decrease their own depressive symptoms and improve their wellbeing. (4) Discussion: This protocol presenting a therapeutic songwriting program meets the need to develop new non-pharmacological treatment options. However, further studies are needed to examine the feasibility and impact of the intervention program on late-life depression and wellbeing in older people.
... The German VIA Inventory of Strengths (VIA-IS; Ruch et al., 2010) comprises 240 items to assess the 24 character strengths of the VIA classification (e.g., courage, perseverance, forgiveness). Character strengths are measured by ten items per scale. ...
Primal world beliefs–primals–are a category of beliefs about the overall character of the world (e.g., the world is a safe place). Theory suggests that such beliefs drive personality development–or at least reflect personality differences, such as character strengths. We examined the relationships of primals with character strengths among 1122 German-speaking adults. The primary primal good explained the most variance in most character strengths, especially hope, spirituality, zest, gratitude, curiosity, and leadership. Including specific secondary (e.g., safe, enticing, alive) and tertiary primals (e.g., beautiful, needs me, funny) often yielded better predictions, but, with few exceptions, increments were typically smaller than that of the primary primal. We recommend including these primals in positive psychology interventions and describe three couplings of primals and character strengths that may prove especially fruitful for future research and practice.
