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Meaning in life and hope as predictors of positive mental health: Do they explain residual variance not predicted by personality traits?

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Abstract

The study examines the question whether meaning in life and hope can explain unique variance of positive mental health not predicted by personality traits. The sample consisted of 148 adolescents (73 males, 75 females) ranging in age from 16 to 19 years - mean age 16.84. NEO-FFI was used to measure the big five traits, Halama's Life Meaningfulness Scale for measuring meaning in life and Snyder's Hope Scale for measuring hope. To measure positive mental health, use was made of Diener's Satisfaction with Life Scale and Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale. The correlation analysis showed that personality traits, meaning in life and hope have significant correlations with positive mental health variables. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that the big five traits explain 26.1 % of life satisfaction variance. Meaning in life but not hope explained additional 8% of variance of life satisfaction. The Big five traits explained 42.4% of self-esteem variance, hope explained additional 8% and meaning in life 4%. The results confirmed that meaning in life is an independent predictor of both life satisfaction and self-esteem, and hope is an independent predictor of self-esteem.
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... Extraverted individuals, for instance, tend to exhibit greater vitality and joy in life, which facilitates an optimistic perspective on the future (Costa & McCrae, 1980). Similarly, individuals with a strong sense of responsibility or openness to experience often approach challenges as opportunities, enhancing their hopefulness about future outcomes (Halama & Dedova, 2007;Rostami et al., 2022). These findings suggest that individuals with positive personality traits are better equipped to maintain hope, as they possess the psychological flexibility and positive affect necessary to envision and strive for a successful future. ...
... To put it differently, individuals exhibiting more positive personality traits tend to harbor a more hopeful outlook toward the future. The research results underscore the positive impact of positive personality traits on hope, aligning with previous studies (Chioqueta & Stiles, 2005;Cloninger & Zohar, 2011;Di Fabio et al., 2018;Halama & Dedova, 2007;Halama, 2010;Nieto et al., 2023;Rostami et al., 2022;Wei & Taormina, 2014). ...
... When scrutinizing the definitions of responsibility and hope, both classified as personality traits, it becomes evident that both are oriented towards individuals' capabilities to achieve their goals (Halama & Dedova, 2007). Individuals characterized by a strong sense of responsibility tend to exhibit organizational and disciplined traits, allowing them to resiliently navigate negative emotions and face the future with confidence. ...
... Alongside these factors, however, emphasis can also be placed on the impact of personality traits acting as a specific developmental context interacting with the mentioned factors. Although there are some differences in the results of the studies [26][27][28][29][30], on the whole it can be stated that conscientiousness, emotional stability, extraversion, openness, and agreeableness are positively related with hope. ...
... In the first place, we analyzed the correlations between the investigated variables. The positive relationships we found of extraversion, conscientiousness, emotional stability, intellect, with hope for success remain relatively consistent with the findings of other authors [26][27][28][29][30]. Similarly, the observed positive relationships of hope for success, conscientiousness, intellect, with task orientation are also in line with the predictions. ...
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The main objective of this study was to determine whether hope for success mediates the relationship between personality and goal orientation in high performance and recreational athletes. The cross-sectional study included 289 high performance and recreational athletes of various sports (age: M = 20.34, SD = 1.86). To examine personality, we used the Big Five IPIP-BFM-20 questionnaire. To assess hope for success, we used the Hope for Success Questionnaire. The Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire (TEOSQ) was employed to examine goal orientation. Hope for success significantly mediates the relationships between conscientiousness, extraversion, emotional stability, intellect, and task goal orientation in sport. Higher levels of these personality traits are related to athletes’ higher hope for success, which, in turn, is positively related to their task orientation. Personality traits may underpin the hope for success that develops from childhood. This, in turn, appears to be an important component on which, combined with the positive interaction and support from coaches, a task goal orientation beneficial to sport can be shaped in athletes.
... E. Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000;M. E. P. Seligman et al., 2009); among these are positive mental health (Bjørnsen et al., 2019;Halama & Dědová, 2007;Keyes, 2013;Lukat et al., 2016), engagement (Kotera & Ting, 2021;Ouweneel et al., 2013;Sweetman & Luthans, 2010), and organizational climate (Singha, 2024). However, despite the relevance of each of these variables, their interrelation has been scarcely explored, especially at the university level. ...
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This study aimed to examine the relationships between mental health, organizational climate, and engagement through a structural equation model, for which a quantitative methodology was developed. A total of 1971 students from a public university in Lima (between 16 and 56 years of age, with a mean age of 21.09 years and standard deviation of 3.2) participated in the study. Three instruments with high internal consistency were used: the Positive Mental Health Scale, the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, and the FOCUS Organizational Climate Questionnaire. The results show that organizational climate is positively related to mental health and engagement, with life satisfaction being the most significant dimension in mental health (0.768), the vigor the strongest in engagement (0.814), and the innovation climate stood out in organizational climate (0.819). At the same time, mental health directly impacts engagement. The structural model revealed that organizational climate directly influences mental health (0.64) and engagement (0.49), while mental health has a direct impact on engagement (0.43). In addition, this structural model presents an adequate fit. The findings highlight the need to design interventions prioritizing students’ psychosocial well-being and managing a positive organizational climate as a premise. Implications of the study are discussed.
... V slovenskej verzii bol použitý napr. v práci o zmysle života a nádeji ako možných prediktorov pozitívneho duševného zdravia (Halama & Dědová, 2007). ...
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Hoci pracovný režim "home office" (HO) je často používaným benefitom v organizáciách, miera jeho čerpania, v súvislosti s osobnostnými črtami pracovníka a spokojnosťou so životom nebola doteraz overená v slovenskom pracovnom kontexte. Cieľom štúdie je vyplniť túto medzeru. Výskumný súbor tvorilo 110 participantov vo veku od 23 do 73 rokov (M = 39,5; SD = 8,55), ktorí si mohli sami určiť podiel práce na HO. Medzi osobnostnými črtami (podľa BFI-2) a mierou čerpania HO sa preukázal štatisticky významný vzťah len v prípade extraverzie. Pracovníci s vyššou mierou extraverzie uprednostnili prácu na HO menej často. Zároveň sa potvrdila signifikantná pozitívna korelácia medzi extraverziou a spokojnosťou so životom. Negatívna emocionalita však korelovala so spokojnosťou so životom v negatívnom smere. V skúmanom súbore sa neoveril štatisticky významný vzťah medzi mierou čerpania HO a spokojnosťou so životom.
... It consists of 5 positively worded items, and participants responded on a 7-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). It was translated into Slovak language by Halama and Dědová (2007). This scale was included in the second data collection of the retest sample and showed high internal consistency (α = .89) ...
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Objectives. The study focuses on the psychometric examination of the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ) in a Slovak translation.Sample and settings. The sample consisted of 1368 Slovak participants (mean age 41.58 years). To assess the questionnaire's stability over time and predictive power, a subset of participants (421 adults) was invited to retest after approximately six months.Statistical analyses. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed to assess the internal structure of the MLQ and its measurement invariance across gender and age groups. Item response theory (IRT) using a single-factor generalized partial credit model was applied for item analysis. Hierarchical linear regression analysis was performed to examine the predictive power of the MLQ.Results. The MLQ showed good internal consistency for both subscales, but the CFA showed perfect fit only for the Presence of Meaning subscale; fit for the Search for Meaning subscale was borderline acceptable. Both subscales were found to be invariant across gender and age groups. Correlation analysis revealed positive associations between Presence of meaning and subjective well-being, whereas Search for meaning was only weakly correlated or not correlated at all. Longitudinal analysis revealed that the Presence of meaning (but not the Search for meaning) significantly predicted life satisfaction after controlling for personality and emotion-based measures of well-being.Limitations. The limitation of the study is specific sample recruited through a research panel agency based on self-selection of participant.
... Our sense of meaning involves our ability to understand our history and life circumstances, to be aware of our motivations, and to feel that our life and group memberships are important (Martela & Steger, 2016). A sense of meaning serves to both promote and protect well-being (Dulaney et al., 2018;Halama & Dedova, 2007;Kiang & Fuligni, 2010). For individuals, a sense of purpose can contribute to physical and mental health, reduced risk behaviors, increased prosocial behaviors, goal-directed orientations, hope, positive affect, and happiness. ...
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... He states sufficient internal consistency and convergent validity. Other researches found positive correlations of hope with satisfaction with life, meaningfulness in life, extraversion, and conscientiousness (Halama, 2010;Halama & Dědová, 2007). Levels of forgiveness were measured through the Heartland Forgiveness Scale (Thompson et al., 2005; translated by Chlebcová & Greškovičová, 2019). ...
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... When life is perceived as meaningful, it can lead to a reduction in negative emotions, such as anxiety and depression, ultimately decreasing the risk of mental illnesses (Feldman and Snyder, 2005). One of the most notable definitions of the meaning of life was proposed in 1984 by Frankel, who posited that people find meaning within themselves when they engage in their favorite activities, interact with others, or immerse themselves in nature (Halama and Dedova, 2007 improves the overall quality of life. Moreover, group therapy can foster acceptance, facilitate the expression of illness-related emotions, and provide a supportive peer network (Montañés-Masias et al., 2022). ...
... Meaning has been associated with higher life satisfaction and a reduction in psychological distress (Halama & Dědová, 2007;Zika & Chamberlain, 1992). Furthermore, research into meaningful living for young adults during the pandemic has established its positive predictive effect on positive affect and resiliency (Yıldırım et al., 2021). ...
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Responds to comments by A. C. Bohart and T Greening, S. B. Shapiro, G. Bacigalupe, R. Walsh, W. C. Compton, C. L. McLafferty and J. D. Kirylo, N. Abi-Hashem, A. C. Catania, G. K. Lampropoulos, and T. M. Kelley (see records 2002-15384-010, 2002-15384-011, 2002-15384-012, 2002-15384-013, 2002-15384-014, 2002-15384-015, 2002-15384-016, 2002-15384-017, 2002-15384-018, and 2002-15384-019, respectively) on the January 2000, Vol 55(1) special issue of the American Psychologist dedicated to positive psychology. M. E. P. Seligman and M. Csikszentmihalyi expand on some of the critical themes discussed in the commentaries. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
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The aim of the study was the replication of the analysis of the structure of Rosenberg's scale of self-evaluation and the relationship of selfesteem factors and temperament and interpersonal characteristics conducted originally in the sample of university students. In the framework of a broader research project the Rosenberg's scale of self-evaluation, Eysenck's Personality Inventory, and Leary's ICL were presented to the sample of 428 grammar-school students (184 boys, 244 girls, mean age 16 years). As regards the selfesteem structure, the results are not quite consistent with the previous research. Repeatedly, the factor of selfesteem appeared, based on the comparison with others. On the contrary, the extraction of the factors of positive and negative items failed: they form a single bipolar factor in investigated sample of adolescents. The factor based on the social comparison is connected to dominance, extraversion, and emotional stability in both samples. The dominance mediates the influence of extraversion and emotional stability to the regression estimation of selfesteem in both the samples. In the sample of adolescents affiliation also contributed to the prediction of sefsteem.
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The aim of this study was to examine the factor structure of a translated version of the Satisfaction With Life Scale to facilitate the use of the scale among Czech samples. The scale items were translated into Czech and administered to a sample of 109 Czech University students. Data was analyzed using both exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Exploratory maximum likelihood factor analysis suggested that the scale was unidimensional. A single factor confirmatory factor analysis using polychoric correlations and an appropriate weight matrix estimated using LISREL8 was an acceptable description of the data. In addition, the scale was found to have high reliability. Comparisons are made with previously reported data using the original version of the scale among different cultural groups. The Czech translation of the Satisfaction With Life Scale can be recommended for use among Czech language samples.
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Self-actualization and hope were explored in a sample of 149 graduate and undergraduate students attending a private university. The sample varied widely as to age (M = 23.7 yr., SD = 18.0). Principal axis (oblique) factor analysis of the variables Brief Index of Self-Actualization, life satisfaction, subjective health, age, and Hope Scale components of pathways and agency produced a 2-factor model representing Striving and Fulfillment. Brief Index scores loaded at criterion on both factors. However, Hope Scale components did not load on the factor Fulfillment. This pattern of loadings supported self-actualization as a broader construct than hope. Also, the factor analysis helped to differentiate self-actualization from hope, and supported the Brief Index of Self-Actualization as a measure of Maslow's ideas.
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In implicit psychology, Western culture primarily equates quality of life with good health, a well-functioning family and then with the possession of material goods or mammon money. According to the political élite in advanced countries, the quality of life is ensured mainly by economy - height of the GDP symbolized mainly by the cost of the shopping basket. But what about the sick, the handicapped and the aging? The non-quality of their life was first noticed by medical experts in the early 30s of the 20th century. They primarily underlined relief from pain discomfort, independence from medicaments, medical aids, the milieu. More or less in parallel with them, the quality of life also came to be noted by psychologists. Their principal criteria for it came to be subjective experiencing of satisfaction, well-being and happiness. Gradually, the phenomenon of quality of life became a subject of scrutiny by sociologists, environmentalists, political scientists; their numerous criteria for the quality of life are selectively dealt with here. The present study understandably lays stress on the psychological concepts of the quality of life. The principal terms are delimitated in confrontation with the views of various authors, methodical procedures are dealt with as problematic issues and certain methods. The author gives an outline of his own model of the quality of life which, in comparison with existing concepts, and underlines especially the basal (universal) plane, from the individualspecific (civilizing) and meta (cultural-spiritual) level. Quality of life represents a mega-problem for the oncoming epoch of mankind, bringing along paradigmatic changes in psychology, both on the theoretical plane and in application; from psycho-correction, psychotherapy, to optimization and prevention. These are the aims of the new challenge to psychologists for developing positive psychology.
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The questionnaire NEO-FFI was correlated with two different meaningfulness measures: Reker's Personal Meaning Index (PMI) and Halama's Life Meaningfulness Scale (LMS). NEO-FFI and PMI were administered to two groups of subjects: university students (N = 82, mean age 21.13) and elderly people (N = 107, mean age 62.20), and NEO-FFI together with LMS was administered to two groups of similar age (N = 149, mean age 21.56, N = 67, mean age 57.3). Correlation coefficients for extraversion and meaningfulness ranged from 0.29 to 0.42, and for neuroticism and meaningfulness from -0.39 to -0.60. A close relationship was also identified between meaningfulness and conscientiousness (correlations from 0.31 to 0.57). Small but significant correlations of individual dimensions of meaningfulness measures with openness in the sample of the elderly, and with agreeableness in the sample of university students were also found.
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The paper presents the first experience with newly developed scale concerning life meaningfulness. The scale is based on the three-component model of personal meaning (Reker, Wong, 1988), which consider three basic aspects of life meaningfulness: the cognitive (beliefs, cognitive schemas, interpretations), the motivational (commitment to goals, values), and the affective (happiness, fulfilment, satisfaction). The scale contains throe dimensions corresponding to these three components. It has 18 items (six for every dimension). The process of development of the scale using the sample of university students is described. The basic psychometric features of the scale presented in the paper show adequate factor structure of the scale, satisfactory internal consistency, and good validity with regard to several other meaningfulness scales.
Chapter
The chapter explores the relationship of hope and the experience of dysphoria and depression. It hypothesizes that the hope theory can be used both to understand the onset and experience of depression, and to intervene to combat depressive symptoms. High-hope individuals set more goals than their low-hope counterparts. This engagement in more than one goal at a time ensures that a goal blockage is not devastating. The chapter uses the hope theory as an explanation for depression. Specifically, it discusses the roles of goal blockage, agency loss, and pathway reduction in the experience of dysphoria and depression. The Hope Scale is designed to measure an individual's belief that he or she has the capability to produce workable routes and requisite mental energy to initiate and sustain progress along those routes. Researchers have shown that, in addition to the beliefs about agency and pathways, high-hope people actually generate more pathways and sustain more agency than medium- or low-hope individuals. The chapter further enumerates the reasons why hopeful thinking protects against depression. The chapter suggests applications of hope in treating depression. It is believed that most nonbiological depressions can be explained as a lack of hopeful thinking and that depressive symptoms can be treated successfully by raising clients' hopes.
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In a panel study, the relationship between Emotional Stability (ES), Extraversion (E) and Subjective Well-Being (SWB) was tested against questionnaire data from 264 Norwegian folk high school students. After a careful reading of recent studies concerned with relationships between personality and subjective well-being, it was hypothesized that the effect from ES on SWB indicators (Life Satisfaction, presence of Positive Affect and absence of Negative Affect) is stronger than the corresponding effect from E. Moreover, it was anticipated that if ES was controlled for, the effect from E on SWB would decrease substantially. In several multiple regression analyses, it was found that, on average, the amount of SWB variance accounted for by ES was 34%, while similar figures for E were 1%. The results are discussed with reference to cultural values and traditions.
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The aim of this study was to add and corroborate findings concerning the relationship between meaning in life and mental well-being by examining the relationship between meaning in life or its absence and the extent to which a non-clinical sample of 92 university students manifest pathological indicators. The hypothesis addressed is that meaning in life is positively associated with mental well-being irrespective of the nature of the psychopathology. This hypothesis stems from an existential perspective on psychopathology (and consequently psychotherapy) which holds that a sense of meaning in life is a vital element in providing coherence to an individual's worldview and hence to his/her mental well-being. Ss completed the Purpose in Life Test, the MMPI, and the revised Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Neuroticism Scale. Correlational analyses on data corroborated that meaning in life is associated with a wide spectrum of conventional categories of psychopathology as well as with general neurosis. Statistically significant correlations were established. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)