Teaching is considered to be one of the most highly demanding professions, and one that is associated with high levels of stress and sometimes deleterious outcomes. Although research demonstrates that burnout and attrition are often associated with specific characteristics of the occupation (e.g., challenging workload, standardized testing, merit-based salary) minimal research focuses on how to better support teachers’ well-being. The field of positive psychology affords a new perspective in how to obtain quality mental health without solely focusing on psychopathology within a deficits-based approach. This includes the implementation of interventions (i.e., positive psychology interventions [PPI]) that target constructs of well-being (e.g., character strengths, hope, optimism, gratitude, etc.) and are associated with positive changes in authentic happiness. This study examined how a strength-based, PPI entitled Utilizing Signature Strengths in a New Way (Seligman, Steen, Park, & Peterson, 2005) impacts dimensions of teacher well-being, as well as other relevant outcomes (i.e., flourishing, burnout) within the school context. Previous research has shown that strengths-based intervention to be the PPI with the most substantial impact and the longest lasting outcomes (Seligman et al., 2005). Utilizing a concurrent multiple baseline single-case design with eight teachers, the study evaluated the effects of the strengths-based PPI on teacher’s overall happiness (i.e., subjective well-being) as indicated by self-report measures of life satisfaction and positive and negative affect. The teachers exhibited significant gains in life satisfaction and reductions in negative affect from pre- to post-intervention that were also evident one month following the intervention. Although positive affect did not significantly change from pre- to post-intervention, a significant gain was apparent at one-month follow-up. Single-case analytic strategies (i.e., visual analysis, masked visual analysis, and hierarchical linear modeling) found that the intervention positively impacted teachers’ overall subjective well-being (composite of standardized life satisfaction, positive affect, and negative affect scores). Results for single indicators of subjective well-being found variability in basic effects among different individuals (i.e., some teachers benefited more than others) further supporting the theory of person-activity fit. Regarding the intervention’s effects on secondary outcomes that were examined only at pre, post, and one-month follow-up time points, findings indicated the teachers experienced a significant increase in work satisfaction immediately following the intervention, as well as a significant increase in feelings of flourishing at follow-up. Significant decreases in negative dimensions of teachers’ mental health including stress and burnout (i.e., emotional exhaustion) were also demonstrated. Findings from the current study provide initial support for the efficacy of a teacher-focused, strengths-based intervention and its ability to improve multiple components of teacher well-being within an elementary school. Implications for school psychologists and policy, contributions to the literature, and future directions are discussed.

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Submitted by isabela.moljf@hotmail.com (isabela.moljf@hotmail.com) on 2017-06-01T15:59:50Z No. of bitstreams: 1 eduardarezendefreitas.pdf: 965579 bytes, checksum: 3111cce5877f119df5d013cf7c8f555e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2017-06-02T15:57:10Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 eduardarezendefreitas.pdf: 965579 bytes, checksum: 3111cce5877f119df5d013cf7c8f555e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-02T15:57:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 eduardarezendefreitas.pdf: 965579 bytes, checksum: 3111cce5877f119df5d013cf7c8f555e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-11-13 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / FAPEMIG - Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais / Promover as forças do caráter parece ser um caminho possível e necessário para um envelhecimento positivo. Com o objetivo de desenvolver uma proposta de Educação para o Caráter Baseada em Forças para Idosos (Educafi), realizaram-se duas revisões sistemáticas de literatura, sendo uma sobre o estado da arte das pesquisas sobre forças do caráter e outra sobre aspectos positivos na Terapia Cognitivo-Comportamental em Grupo (TCCG). Artigos que relatam pesquisas com idosos em suas amostras foram selecionados para os dois estudos. Constatou-se, em ambos, uma produção científica limitada, sendo a coorte etária de idosos pouco pesquisada. Nesse cenário, a Educafi surge como intervenção positiva desenvolvida especificamente para promover todo o conjunto de forças do caráter proposto pelo Values in Action e elevar os índices de satisfação com a vida e bem-estar psicológico dessa coorte etária. Trata-se de uma atividade de educação para o caráter que, de acordo com os princípios da TCCG, pode ser classificada como de orientação/treinamento. São propostos 26 encontros, totalizando aproximadamente 40 horas. Uma vez que atividades educacionais favorecem um desenvolvimento saudável até idades avançadas, é possível afirmar que a Educafi é promissora e, portanto, deve ser testada empiricamente em diferentes contextos. / Promote character strengths appears to be a possible and necessary way for a positive aging. Aiming to develop a proposal for the Character Education Based on Strengths for the Elderly (Educafi), two systematic literature reviews were made, one on the state of the art research on character strengths and another about positive aspects in Cognitive-Behavioral Group Therapy (CBGT). Articles reporting research with old people in their samples were selected for the two studies. It was found, in both, a limited scientific production, being the age cohort of the elderly little researched. In this scenario, the Educafi appears as a positive intervention specifically developed to promote the full range of character strengths proposed by Values in Action and raise the levels of satisfaction with life and psychological well-being in this age cohort. It is a character education activity that, according to the principles of CBGT, can be classified as orientation/training. 26 meetings are proposed, totaling about 40 hours. Once educational activities support healthy development into old age, it can be said that the Educafi is promising and should, therefore, be tested empirically in different contexts.

The aim of this study is to discover to what extent and in what way Peterson and Seligman’s (2004) twenty-four character strengths are present in Winnie the Pooh storybooks, and how they are depicted. Character strengths are a well-known theory in positive psychology and the analysis of children’s literature is a respected genre. A qualitative examination of the text was conducted using content and thematic analyses to extract examples of the strengths. The exemplars were coded and recoded before being subjected to a peer and supervisor review. The excerpts indicated that all strengths are depicted in the text, but Pooh is the only character to exhibit them all. A discussion of the findings revealed that no single strength could be deemed more prominent as they are intrinsically interconnected. It is recommended that the findings be reworked into a training manual for guardians to foster character strengths in young children. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

This thesis looks into evidence-based character education as it is researched and applied in the Anglo-Saxon countries, particularly in the United States and the United Kingdom, as a parallel to Personal and Social Education in the Czech Republic. Its aim is to provide an overview of scientifically studied approaches to the development of human character, inclusive of efficient means of their dissemination. The first part of the thesis includes definition of terms, philosophical and historical foundations of character education, description and classification of character strengths, and their effects on human flourishing. Based on analysis of available sources, the next part of the thesis presents empirically tested examples of best practices being applied in families, schools, and other organizations. It is followed by a part describing certain problems which character education is currently facing and finally a summary of possible solutions. It becomes apparent that character needs to be approached in its entirety with focus aimed toward harmonious development of a wide range of character strengths. Their cultivation by means of upbringing and education shows positive effect on individual as well as societal flourishing - it builds a strong base for the evolution of cognitive skills by developing...