abstract: Crowding and satisfaction remain widely studied concepts among those seeking to understand quality visitor experiences. One area of interest in this study is how the order of crowding and satisfaction items on a survey affects their measurement levels. An additional area of interest is the influence of personality traits on experience-use-history, crowding, and satisfaction. This study used two versions of a survey: A) crowding measured prior to satisfaction and B) satisfaction measured prior to crowding, to explore the influence of item order on crowding and satisfaction levels. Additionally, the study explored the influence of personality traits (extraversion and neuroticism) and experience use history (EUH) on crowding and satisfaction. EUH was included as a variable of interest given previous empirical evidence of its influence on crowding and satisfaction. Data were obtained from an onsite self-administered questionnaire distributed to day use visitors at a 16,000 acre desert landscape municipal park in Arizona. A total of 619 completed questionnaires (equally distributed between the two survey versions) were obtained. The resulting response rate was 80%. One-way ANOVA's indicated significant differences in crowding and satisfaction levels with both crowding and satisfaction levels being higher for survey version B. Path analysis was used to test the influence of personality traits and EUH on crowding and satisfaction. Two models, one for each version of the survey were developed using AMOS 5. The first model was tested using data in which crowding was measured prior to satisfaction. The second model relied on data in which satisfaction was measured prior to crowding. Results indicated that personality traits influenced crowding and satisfaction. Specifically, in the first model, significant relationships were observed between neuroticism and crowding, neuroticism and EUH, EUH and crowding, and between crowding and satisfaction. In the second model, significant relationships were observed between extraversion and crowding, extraversion and satisfaction, and between EUH and satisfaction. Findings suggest crowding and satisfaction item order have a potential to influence their measurement. Additionally, results indicate that personality traits potentially influence visitor experience evaluation. Implications of these findings are discussed. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Recreation and Tourism Studies 2011

A presente Tese de Doutorado foi composta por um capítulo introdutório e três estudos, todos eles empíricos apresentados em formato de artigos. Os artigos objetivaram investigar as variáveis satisfação de vida, rede de relações, coping e neuroticismo nos grupos estudados. A amostra do primeiro artigo foi composta por um grupo não-clínico de estudantes (n = 502) e a do segundo, por um grupo clínico de portadores do HIV (n = 45), todos procedentes da Grande Porto Alegre e com idades entre 14 e 23 anos. No terceiro estudo participaram os jovens do grupo clínico e 494 jovens do grupo não-clínico. Em todos os três, os instrumentos utilizados foram: questionário de dados sócio-demográficos, Escala Multidimensional de Satisfação de Vida para Adolescentes – EMSV-A, Inventário de Rede de Relações – IRR, Inventário de Estratégias de Coping e Escala Fatorial de Neuroticismo – EFN. Para a análise dos dados dos dois primeiros estudos foram realizadas MANCOVAS e MANOVAS e análises de regressão múltipla e para o terceiro estudo, análises discriminantes entre os grupos para cada um dos instrumentos. Tanto os resultados do primeiro quanto do segundo estudo indicaram que os jovens participantes utilizaram um número variado de estratégias de coping e apresentaram um bom nível de satisfação de vida, porém para o grupo clínico houve declínio na satisfação com as amizades. As relações com amigos e com a figura materna mostraram-se como aspectos importantes. Verificou-se, ainda, que o melhor preditor do nível de Satisfação de Vida Total de ambas amostras foi o fator Depressão do EFN. No terceiro estudo foram encontradas diferenças entre os grupos em todos os instrumentos. Evidenciou-se também uma perda do sentido vital no grupo clínico, principalmente pelos achados da EFN. Os resultados contribuíram para o conhecimento acerca da adolescência, assim demonstraram a necessidade de se criar intervenções para a promoção do bem-estar de portadores e não portadores do HIV. / The present doctoral consists of an introductory chapter and three studies, all of them empirical and presented in article format. The papers aimed to investigate the variables life satisfaction, network of relationships, coping and neuroticism. The first study’s sample was non-clinic and consisted of students (n = 502) and the second study’s sample was clinic, formed by HIV patients (n = 45), all of them from metropolitan Porto Alegre. The clinic sample and 494 students from the non-clinic sample took part of the third study. The instruments used were: questionnaire of sociodemographic data, Multidimensional Life Satisfaction Scale for Adolescents (MLSS- A), Network of Relationships Inventory (NRI), Coping Strategies Inventory and Neuroticism Factorial Scale. In order to analyze the data from the two first studies it was used MANCOVAS and MANOVAS and multiple linear regression analyses. Discriminant analyses between the clinic and non-clinic samples for each of the instruments were developed to analyze the data from the third study. The results of the first and the second study showed that the participants revealed a varied number of coping strategies and presented a good level of life satisfaction, although there is a fair decrease in the satisfaction with friendships. The relationships with friends and the maternal figure proved to have a important influence on the youths. Moreover, it was verified that the best predictor of Total Life Satisfaction of the sample was the factor Depression of the Neuroticism Factorial Scale. In the third study the findings revealed differences between the groups in all of the measures. It was also evidenced a loss of the vital sense in the clinic group, especially through the findings of the Neuroticism Factorial Scale. The results contributed to increase the knowledge about adolescence and showed the importance of developing intervention programs to promote wellbeing in HIV carriers and non-carriers.

Prediction of psychological wellbeing was investigated utilising a specific set of cognitive measures. This study considered a mixed method approach, progressing in three main phases. First study (the pilot study) involved (n=147) participants where data analysis was conducted using ANOVA, multiple regression and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The Pilot study considered six measures of thinking Style or Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS-24), Attributional Style Questionnaire (ASQ-6 negative), Meta-cognitive Awareness Questionnaire (MAQ), Mastery/control, Cybernetic Coping Scale (CCS-15) and Beck Depression Inventory BDI-II. The correlation analysis showed positive association between variables with predictive approximation of 30% for depressive symptoms. The pilot study’s confirmatory factor and path analysis results produced supporting evidence of predictive quality with a good fit with model. The second phase comprised of a two-wave panel survey which included most of the measures from study one but added a 12-item version of Eysenck’s Personality Inventory, while the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) measures replaced the BDI-II. Regression analysis indicated that approximately 50% of the variance in PHQ scores could be predicted with DAS-24, mastery, ASQ and Neuroticism being the strongest predictors. A second regression analysis predicted 65% of the variance in GAD7 scores with DAS success and perfectionism sub factor being the strongest predictor. A series of confirmatory factor analysis was conducted as well as regression and covariance analysis of the identified variables. Longitudinal path analyses were performed indicating that approximately 74% of the variance in PHQ9 scores and 71% of the variance in GAD7 scores at time two could be predicted, with the time one well-being measures the strongest predictors. The most striking findings related to the role of Neuroticism in prediction of psychological wellbeing. Third phase of this mixed method study considered qualitative approach, using framework analysis. Participants were twelve clinicians who currently working with clients with depressive or anxiety based difficulties. The main findings indicated that all previously identified independent variables of thinking style, perception, control and though awareness contributing towards psychological wellbeing. Other notable observation included participant’s clinical training modality that influenced the choice of responses. Overall tested hypotheses in both modalities of studies provided additional knowledge and understanding by offering a unique theoretical perspective, where the correlation between psychological wellbeing and cognitive processes could be predicted when utilising specific sets of measures.

Effects of neuroticism, agreeableness, extraversion, conscientiousness in online are affecting consumer impulse buying behavior are important to explore because it directly impacts the consumers individually. The objective of this study is to find out the role of demographics and personality traits of a consumer in shaping their online impulse buying behavior. This study will also will evaluate the moderating effect of hedonic shopping in impulse buying behavior of consumers. Quantitative research approach has been used by using survey method and data was collected through adapted questionnaires. The sample of the study was consisted of 200 respondents from different cities of Sweden and response rate was 80%. IBM SPSS data editor was used to conduct data analysis. Multiple linear regression and analysis of variance (ANOVA) with LSD technique was performed to test the proposed hypothesis. Based on the empirical analysis, it is been concluded that personality traits i.e. Neuroticism and Agreeableness have negative and significant relationship online impulse buying behavior. More a person possesses the characteristics of Neuroticism and Agreeableness less will be the online impulsive buying. Furthermore, Openness to Change, Conscientiousness, and Extraversion have positive and significant relationship with online impulsive buying behavior. Results also depict that hedonic motivation moderates the relationship of personality traits and online impulsive buying which implies that the pleasure of online shopping boosts online impulsive buying.

O objetivo desta dissertação é apresentar relações entre ruminação e reflexão com sexo, Neuroticismo/ajustamento emocional (vulnerabilidade, desajustamento psicossocial, depressão e ansiedade) e bem-estar subjetivo (BES) (satisfação de vida, afeto positivo e afeto negativo) e testá-las empiricamente. Participaram deste estudo 361 universitários que responderam coletivamente em sala de aula questionários de auto relato. Verificou-se que ruminação está relacionada com afeto negativo, depressão, ansiedade e vulnerabilidade. As implicações teóricas e clínicas destes resultados são discutidos a luz da literatura da área. / The aim of this thesis is to present relationships among rumination and reflection with sex, neuroticism (vulnerability, psychological maladjustment, depression and anxiety) and subjective well-being (SWB) (life satisfaction, positive affect and negative affect) and test them empirically. For this, 361 undergraduate students answered self-report questionnaires in groups. The results showed that rumination is related with negative affect, anxiety, depression and vulnerability. Theoretical and clinical implications of these results are discussed.

This work is the result of a correlational study and a comparison between participants in order to set dates in which were considered two main sets of variables: criterion (aggressiveness behavior) and background (clinical and non-clinical situation - anxiety diagnostic and neuroticism degree), and it aimed to investigate the influence of personality traits, especially neuroticism, in levels of anxiety and aggressiveness displayed in contrasted groups (clinical and non-clinical). This research relied on a sample of 113 subjects, 49 (43.4%) males and 64 (56.6%) females, aged from 18 to 57 years old (M = 25,32, DP = 8,80) and it was used three psychometric scales of measurement: IGFP-5, STAXI-2 and BAI. The data’s collection occurred in two Federal Public Universities from different Capitals, in Maceió city and Belo Horizonte city (non-clinical group), and also in School Clinics and Private Clinics in Maceió city (clinical group). On the personality traits theory, specifically the one of The Big Five Personality Factors (BFF) or Big Five, it’s focused, in special, the "neuroticism" trait, following with the correlation of this one and the constructs "anxiety", as an emotional modulation factor, and "aggressiveness." It is a study in the Cognitive Psychology area, through the integration of individual differences in relation to statistical and psychobiological factors, assuming that personality traits, having them genetic factors in connection with environmental aspects, overlap themselves and are responsible for the maturation and constant flexibility on the personality development, taking three important functions: summarize the way how individuals differ, to predict future behavior and to explain a person’s conduct, as an anxious or aggressive behavior, for example. The neuroticist trace predicts in the individual, in this context, at a high level, abrupt, frequent and dramatic mood changes, especially in negative character, possibly by being among other things related to insufficient function in some specific brain areas that are involved with negative emotion and emotional deregulation, anxiety, stress and depression, besides it provides the increase of sensitivity to the error possibility, threat and punishment. The conclusions point to the fact that neuroticism (IGFP-5) is positively correlated with anxiety (BAI) and some questions of the aggressiveness (STAXI-2) and especially (inversely) with the aggressive response control (outwards and inwards), which can be related to impulsivity, in other words, inability in the inhibitory control. It appears that despite advances on the studied area, new models of research with interdisciplinary protocols may bring new answers to this issue, seeking a larger field for the psychology professional about the differences, advantages and similarities between the personality theories presented and their role models, and a more powerful qualification with interconnection of knowledge focusing on this theme, such in neuropsychological, genetic, psychological and by functional imaging (neuroimaging), as in a bigger connection between executive functions, personality traits and behavioral changes, for example. / Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Alagoas / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / O presente trabalho é resultante de um estudo correlacional e de comparação entre participantes, em que foram considerados dois conjuntos principais de variáveis: critério (comportamento de agressividade) e antecedentes (situação clínica e não clínica – diagnóstico de ansiedade e grau de neuroticismo), e que teve por objetivo verificar a influência dos traços de personalidade, especialmente o neuroticismo, nos níveis de ansiedade e agressividade apresentados em grupos contrastados (clínico e não clínico). Contou-se com uma amostra de 113 indivíduos, 49 (43,4%) do sexo masculino e 64 (56,6%) do sexo feminino, com idade variando de 18 até 57 anos (M=25,32, DP= 8,80) e foram utilizados três escalas de medida psicométricas: IGFP-5, STAXI-2 e BAI. A coleta de dados ocorreu em duas Universidades Públicas Federais, nas Capitais Maceió e Belo Horizonte (grupo não clínico), e em Clínicas Escola e Particular, na Capital Maceió (grupo clínico). Na teoria dos traços de Personalidade, especificamente a dos Cinco grandes fatores de personalidade (CGF) ou Big Five, é enfocado, em especial o traço “neuroticismo”, seguindo-se com a correlação deste e os construtos “ansiedade”, enquanto fator de modulação emocional, e “agressividade”. Trata-se de um estudo na área de Psicologia Cognitiva, através da integração das diferenças individuais em relação a fatores estatísticos e psicobiológicos, partindo do pressuposto de que os traços de personalidade, por possuírem fatores genéticos em conexão com aspectos ambientais, se sobrepõem e são responsáveis pela maturação e flexibilidade constante no desenvolvimento da personalidade, assumindo três funções importantes: resumir o modo como os indivíduos diferem, prever o comportamento futuro e explicar a conduta de uma pessoa, como a conduta ansiosa ou agressiva, por exemplo. O traço neuroticista, neste contexto, em um nível alto, prediz no indivíduo mudanças bruscas, frequentes e dramáticas de humor, especialmente de cunho negativo, por estar possivelmente, entre outros aspectos, relacionado ao funcionamento insuficiente em algumas áreas cerebrais específicas, que são envolvidas com emoção negativa e desregulação emocional, ansiedade, estresse e depressão, além de propiciar o aumento da sensibilidade à possibilidade de erro, ameaça e punição. As conclusões apontam para o fato de que o neuroticismo (IGFP-5) se correlaciona positivamente com a ansiedade (BAI) e alguns quesitos da agressividade (Staxi-2) e principalmente (inversamente) com o controle de resposta agressiva (para fora e para dentro), o que pode estar relacionado com a impulsividade, ou seja, incapacidade no controle inibitório. Constata-se que apesar dos avanços na área estudada, novos modelos de pesquisa com protocolos interdisciplinares possam trazer novas respostas a esta temática, visando um maior domínio do profissional de Psicologia a respeito das diferenças, vantagens e semelhanças entre as teorias de personalidade apresentadas e seus modelos de atuação, e um maior fortalecimento na qualificação e interconexão de saberes com foco nesta temática, tanto nos estudos neuropsicológicos, genéticos, psicológicos e de imagens funcionais (neuroimagem), quanto em uma maior conexão entre funções executivas, traços de personalidade e alterações no comportamento, por exemplo.

A presente Tese de Doutorado foi composta por um capítulo introdutório e três estudos, todos eles empíricos apresentados em formato de artigos. Os artigos objetivaram investigar as variáveis satisfação de vida, rede de relações, coping e neuroticismo nos grupos estudados. A amostra do primeiro artigo foi composta por um grupo não-clínico de estudantes (n = 502) e a do segundo, por um grupo clínico de portadores do HIV (n = 45), todos procedentes da Grande Porto Alegre e com idades entre 14 e 23 anos. No terceiro estudo participaram os jovens do grupo clínico e 494 jovens do grupo não-clínico. Em todos os três, os instrumentos utilizados foram: questionário de dados sócio-demográficos, Escala Multidimensional de Satisfação de Vida para Adolescentes – EMSV-A, Inventário de Rede de Relações – IRR, Inventário de Estratégias de Coping e Escala Fatorial de Neuroticismo – EFN. Para a análise dos dados dos dois primeiros estudos foram realizadas MANCOVAS e MANOVAS e análises de regressão múltipla e para o terceiro estudo, análises discriminantes entre os grupos para cada um dos instrumentos. Tanto os resultados do primeiro quanto do segundo estudo indicaram que os jovens participantes utilizaram um número variado de estratégias de coping e apresentaram um bom nível de satisfação de vida, porém para o grupo clínico houve declínio na satisfação com as amizades. As relações com amigos e com a figura materna mostraram-se como aspectos importantes. Verificou-se, ainda, que o melhor preditor do nível de Satisfação de Vida Total de ambas amostras foi o fator Depressão do EFN. No terceiro estudo foram encontradas diferenças entre os grupos em todos os instrumentos. Evidenciou-se também uma perda do sentido vital no grupo clínico, principalmente pelos achados da EFN. Os resultados contribuíram para o conhecimento acerca da adolescência, assim demonstraram a necessidade de se criar intervenções para a promoção do bem-estar de portadores e não portadores do HIV. / The present doctoral consists of an introductory chapter and three studies, all of them empirical and presented in article format. The papers aimed to investigate the variables life satisfaction, network of relationships, coping and neuroticism. The first study’s sample was non-clinic and consisted of students (n = 502) and the second study’s sample was clinic, formed by HIV patients (n = 45), all of them from metropolitan Porto Alegre. The clinic sample and 494 students from the non-clinic sample took part of the third study. The instruments used were: questionnaire of sociodemographic data, Multidimensional Life Satisfaction Scale for Adolescents (MLSS- A), Network of Relationships Inventory (NRI), Coping Strategies Inventory and Neuroticism Factorial Scale. In order to analyze the data from the two first studies it was used MANCOVAS and MANOVAS and multiple linear regression analyses. Discriminant analyses between the clinic and non-clinic samples for each of the instruments were developed to analyze the data from the third study. The results of the first and the second study showed that the participants revealed a varied number of coping strategies and presented a good level of life satisfaction, although there is a fair decrease in the satisfaction with friendships. The relationships with friends and the maternal figure proved to have a important influence on the youths. Moreover, it was verified that the best predictor of Total Life Satisfaction of the sample was the factor Depression of the Neuroticism Factorial Scale. In the third study the findings revealed differences between the groups in all of the measures. It was also evidenced a loss of the vital sense in the clinic group, especially through the findings of the Neuroticism Factorial Scale. The results contributed to increase the knowledge about adolescence and showed the importance of developing intervention programs to promote wellbeing in HIV carriers and non-carriers.

O objetivo desta dissertação é apresentar relações entre ruminação e reflexão com sexo, Neuroticismo/ajustamento emocional (vulnerabilidade, desajustamento psicossocial, depressão e ansiedade) e bem-estar subjetivo (BES) (satisfação de vida, afeto positivo e afeto negativo) e testá-las empiricamente. Participaram deste estudo 361 universitários que responderam coletivamente em sala de aula questionários de auto relato. Verificou-se que ruminação está relacionada com afeto negativo, depressão, ansiedade e vulnerabilidade. As implicações teóricas e clínicas destes resultados são discutidos a luz da literatura da área. / The aim of this thesis is to present relationships among rumination and reflection with sex, neuroticism (vulnerability, psychological maladjustment, depression and anxiety) and subjective well-being (SWB) (life satisfaction, positive affect and negative affect) and test them empirically. For this, 361 undergraduate students answered self-report questionnaires in groups. The results showed that rumination is related with negative affect, anxiety, depression and vulnerability. Theoretical and clinical implications of these results are discussed.

O objetivo desta dissertação é apresentar relações entre ruminação e reflexão com sexo, Neuroticismo/ajustamento emocional (vulnerabilidade, desajustamento psicossocial, depressão e ansiedade) e bem-estar subjetivo (BES) (satisfação de vida, afeto positivo e afeto negativo) e testá-las empiricamente. Participaram deste estudo 361 universitários que responderam coletivamente em sala de aula questionários de auto relato. Verificou-se que ruminação está relacionada com afeto negativo, depressão, ansiedade e vulnerabilidade. As implicações teóricas e clínicas destes resultados são discutidos a luz da literatura da área. / The aim of this thesis is to present relationships among rumination and reflection with sex, neuroticism (vulnerability, psychological maladjustment, depression and anxiety) and subjective well-being (SWB) (life satisfaction, positive affect and negative affect) and test them empirically. For this, 361 undergraduate students answered self-report questionnaires in groups. The results showed that rumination is related with negative affect, anxiety, depression and vulnerability. Theoretical and clinical implications of these results are discussed.

Previous researchers have shown that the collaborative, self-directing, and deferring styles of religious coping result in different outcomes of depression under different levels of perceived stress. Neuroticism has also been shown to affect coping effectiveness overall or choice of coping method. However, little work has been done to investigate the association between neuroticism and the choice or effectiveness of religious coping styles in particular, or on the association of neuroticism and perceived stress. The present study addressed research questions by examining relations among neuroticism, perceived stress, objective life events, religious and non-religious coping styles, effectiveness of coping styles, and depression. Hierarchical multiple regression and correlational techniques found that religious coping styles predict depression, religious and non-religious coping correspond, and neuroticism predicts perceived stress beyond situational stressors. Neuroticism did not predict use of religious coping styles, but remaining personality factors were successful in predicting coping. Implications, limitations, and future directions are discussed.