This project examined dispositional optimism and its influence on the three subscales of marital adjustment (consensus, satisfaction, and cohesion) by gender. Data for this study came from Wave 2 and 3 of the National Survey of Families and Households. The Actor Partner Interdependence Model (APIM) was used to examine both actor and partner effects of dispositional optimism on the marital adjustment subscales using the program AMOS. Results indicate that wives’ optimism seem to influence their own later marital satisfaction as well as their husbands’ later marital satisfaction. However, husbands’ optimism appeared to influence neither their own nor their wives’ later satisfaction. These results imply that wives’ optimism matters for marital satisfaction, whereas husbands’ does not.

This thesis examines potential associations between trait approach motivation and related measures, the everyday experience of affect and goal pursuit, and reward-related neural responses. The Behavioural Activation System (BAS) is a core motivational system, subserved by the neural reward circuitry, eliciting approach-type behaviour and positive emotion when activated by appetitive stimuli. Deficits in BAS sensitivity are thought to underlie the lack of motivation and positive affect (PA) that characterise anhedonia, whilst hyperactivation of the BAS has been linked to the increased goal-directed behaviour and positive affectivity associated with hypomania. In order to explore relationships between BAS sensitivity, goal pursuit, and reward processing, young participants, recruited from the student population (N = 65), and older participants, from the community (N = 63), underwent a 7-day period of experience sampling (ESM) to provide a naturalistic measure of momentary affect and goal-focused motivation. Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI; in a subset of n = 28 and n = 31 respectively) was then used to investigate individual differences in sensitivity of brain reward-related systems to various social and non-social rewards. Limited support was found for the relationship between BAS traits and the more motivational aspects of goal pursuit and reward processing, whilst anhedonia seemed to pertain more to reward consumption, with few links to everyday goal pursuit. This would indicate that anhedonia might not be as closely related to BAS sensitivity as was initially anticipated. Finally, in order to examine real-world correlates of neural activation, the data from the naturalistic measure were correlated with reward-related activation. Everyday PA correlated with striatal activation when viewing pleasant images, but no other associations emerged. This would suggest that the basic measures of brain function in relation to the particular reward-related stimuli used might be of limited relevance to everyday affective experience and goal pursuit.

abstract: In rehabilitation settings, activity limitation can be a significant barrier to recovery. This study sought to examine the effects of state and trait level benefit finding, positive affect, and catastrophizing on activity limitation among individuals with a physician-confirmed diagnosis of either Osteoarthritis (OA), Fibromyalgia (FM), or a dual diagnosis of OA/FM. Participants (106 OA, 53 FM, and 101 OA/FM) who had no diagnosed autoimmune disorder, a pain rating above 20 on a 0-100 scale, and no involvement in litigation regarding their condition were recruited in the Phoenix metropolitan area for inclusion in the current study. After initial questionnaires were completed, participants were trained to complete daily diaries on a laptop computer and instructed to do so a half an hour before bed each night for 30 days. In each diary, participants rated their average daily pain, benefit finding, positive affect, catastrophizing, and activity limitation. A single item, "I thought about some of the good things that have come from living with my pain" was used to examine the broader construct of benefit finding. It was hypothesized that state and trait level benefit finding would have a direct relation with activity limitation and a partially mediated relationship, through positive affect. Multilevel modeling with SAS PROC MIXED revealed that benefit finding was not directly related to activity limitation. Increases in benefit finding were associated, however, with decreases in activity limitation through a significant mediated relationship with positive affect. Individuals who benefit find had a higher level of positive affect which was associated with decreased activity limitation. A suppression effect involving pain and benefit finding at the trait level was also found. Pain appeared to increase the predictive validity of the relation of benefit finding to activity limitation. These findings have important implications for rehabilitation psychologists and should embolden clinicians to encourage patients to increase positive affect by employing active approach-oriented coping strategies like benefit finding to reduce activity limitation. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Psychology 2012

Denna undersökning utforskar en designteknik som kan kallas dubbeldesign. Tekniken går ut på att en mekanik i ett spel har flera syften. Målet är att mäta vilken skillnad på spelupplevelsen användning av tekniken har. De delar av spelupplevelsen som undersöks är flow och positive affect. Värden för flow och positive affect tas ut genom att testare spelar en prototyp i två versioner och svarar på frågor. Ena versionen av spelet använder dubbeldesign till stor grad medan den andra inte använder tekniken alls. Resultat visar att både flow och positive affect var högre för versionen som inte använder dubbeldesign. En stark koppling hittades mellan användning av spelets mekaniker och resultatet. De som använde många av en versions mekaniker hade generellt en bättre spelupplevelse i den versionen. Att personer väljer att inte använda ett spels mekaniker som är påverkade av dubbeldesign kan bero på förståelsebrist eller en vilja att spara på resurser.

Attitudinal commitment (AOC) to the organization is consistently viewed as the most desirable form of organizational commitment due to its consistently positive relationship with many desirable workplace outcomes. Though researchers tend to overlap considerably with their definitions of attitudinal commitment, consensus on how to define and operationalize this form of organizational commitment has yet to be reached. Recently, Jaussi (2007) proposed a multidimensional model of AOC that borrows from the various conceptualizations of AOC in an attempt to form an all encompassing scale. The current study examined the utility of using a multidimensional measure of AOC by examining the unique relationships that the dimensions of AOC have with other forms of commitment as well important workplace correlates and outcomes. Bivariate correlations were used to examine the relationships that the dimensions of AOC have with other forms of organizational commitment. In addition, hierarchical regression analyses were used to examine the unique variance that particular dimensions of AOC account for in correlates and outcomes of organizational commitment. Finally, hierarchical regression was used to examine the variance that the set of AOC dimensions accounts for in focal behaviors (e.g., turnover intentions). Results indicate that using a multidimensional model of attitudinal commitment could prove fruitful for both researchers and organizations. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

In this master thesis, we studied the effect of the use of graphical personification in multimedia learning materials on positive and negative affect, and retention and transfer of the acquired knowledge. According to the Cognitive-Affective Theory of Learning with Media, graphical personification, as one of the main forms of emotional design, could increase the learning outcomes by means of elevated positive affect. The theoretical section of the thesis describes the underlying theories of emotions, emphasizing the Cognitive-Affective Theory of Learning with Media. The respective subsections are dedicated to cognitive multimedia learning principles, emotional design and the Cognitive Load Theory. The experimental section describes a replication and an extension of the original study by Mayer and Estrella. In our experiment, we used an incomplete 2 x 3 between-subject design with independent factors being the use of personification in learning materials (three levels) and the presence of eye tracker in the experimental setup (two levels). We have found no significant effect of graphical personification in learning materials on positive affect, retention or transfer of acquired knowledge. The participants that were given learning materials containing personification and were subject to eye tracking...

<p>  </p> <p>Lack of physical activity is considered a public health crisis, with only 21% of women meeting current physical activity guidelines. Inactivity places individuals at higher risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, depression, cancer, and premature death. Affect, or one’s mood and emotions, is often related to both health outcomes and health behaviors. Positive affect is associated with a lower risk of mortality, healthy eating habits, and decreased alcohol consumption, while negative affect is associated with premature mortality, lower medication adherence, and riskier sexual behaviors. Fredrickson’s broaden and build theory of positive emotions (BABT) supports the relationship of how positive emotions can lead to enhanced health. This dissertation aims to examine the relationship between positive affect of married women, positive affect of their husbands and wives’ physical activity, guided by the BABT. </p> <p><br></p> <p>The three hypotheses for this investigation are: A) on days when wives have indicated higher positive affect, they will have higher levels of same day moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), B) on days when wives have higher positive affect, they will have higher levels of next day MVPA, and C) husbands’ positive affect will be associated with wives’ same day MVPA beyond the impact of wives’ own daily positive affect. To examine these relationships, a secondary data analysis of the Health and Relationships Project (HARP) data set using population average models was done. The HARP is a 10 day, online, daily diary study (including a baseline questionnaire) of couples that aimed to examine how individuals in long-term relationships manage situations/contexts that impact their health. </p> <p><br></p> <p>Independent variables assessing daily positive affect of calm and happy were used. The dependent variable of daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was created as a sum of minutes of reported moderate and vigorous activity over the last 24 hours. Covariates in the model included age, baseline moderate activity frequency, baseline vigorous activity frequency, education level, marital quality, and race/ethnicity. This analysis included 115 heterosexual couples. There is partial support for the hypotheses. Results for hypothesis A showed only happiness (β = 0.15; <em>p</em> < 0.01) to be associated with same day MVPA. For hypothesis B neither happiness (β = 0.11; <em>p</em> = 0.06) nor calmness (β = 0.01; <em>p</em> =0.90) were significantly associated with wives’ next day MVPA. Findings for the two-partner model (hypothesis C) showed husbands’ affect did not significantly contribute to wives’ MVPA, while wives’ positive affect remained significantly associated with their own same day MVPA (happy β = 0.15; <em>p</em> < 0.01).</p> <p><br></p> <p>Wives’ positive affect being significantly associated with same day MVPA supports the tenets of Fredrickson’s BABT and previous work surrounding affect and health behaviors.  While husbands’ positive affect was not significant in this analysis, husbands could be contributing to their wives’ MVPA in other ways such as increasing her overall happiness level or increasing her marital satisfaction. Additionally, other indicators of social support (e.g., close friends or other family members) could be impacting wives’ MVPA behaviors and should be considered in future studies. The results from this study support further investigation of the affect-physical activity relationship.</p>

Positive memories play an important role in the etiology and maintenance of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Additionally, there are potential clinical benefits of recalling positive memories on affect, cognitions, and behaviors. However, most research/clinical work has focused on the role of traumatic memories in PTSD's symptomatology and treatment. The current study examined positive memory recall difficulties and positive memory phenomenology among 185 trauma-exposed individuals with varying PTSD severity. Participants completed the Life Events Checklist for DSM-5, PTSD Checklist for DSM-5, Autobiographical Memory Test, Memory Experiences Questionnaire – Short Form, Ruminative Thought Style Questionnaire, Difficulties in Emotional Regulation Scale – Brief 16-Item Version, Difficulties in Emotional Regulation Scale – Positive Emotions, the Positive Affect subscale of the Affective Control Scale, and two items from the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index. Results showed that (1) greater PTSD severity was a marginally significant predictor of fewer recalled positive memories; (2) greater positive emotional dysregulation predicted fewer recalled positive memories controlling for PTSD severity; and (3) increasing PTSD severity predicted more negative valence, less vividness, less coherence, less accessibility, less clear time perspective, fewer sensory details, and greater distancing ratings of the recalled positive memory, controlling for sleep quantity/quality. Such findings add to the PTSD-positive memory literature by informing PTSD theoretical perspectives; enhancing an understanding of if/how positive memories may be incorporated into PTSD treatments; and highlighting potential clinical targets, such as positive emotional regulation skills, when integrating a focus on positive memories into PTSD intervention.

It is well established in the research literature that exposure to nature positively affects physical and mental health. However, research regarding the effects of nature exposure on social health is less developed. Prior research found that watching a video of nature improved state social motivation. Building on this research, the current study compared the effects of three methods of virtual nature exposure on state social motivation in a randomized controlled trial. In this 3X3 between-subjects experiment, participants (N = 426) 18 to 73 (MAge = 27.69, SD = 12.19) were randomly assigned to experience 3-minutes of nature exposure (wilderness nature, urban non-nature control, indoor non-nature control) through one of three methods (video, photo, guided imagery) and then completed survey questions related to state social motivation (State Motivation to Foster Social Connections (SMSC), State Positive Affect (SA), State Anxiety (SA)). Three two-way 3 X 3 ANOVAs revealed a statistically significant interaction between type of exposure and method of exposure on PA, F(4, 417) = 4.125, p = .003, partial η2 = .038, and no significant interactions for SMSC or SA. Compared to virtual non-nature controls, results suggest that one aspect of state social motivation, PA, is greater after exposure to a nature photo, but not after exposure to a nature video or nature guided imagery. Nature exposure may have a favorable impact on the creation and maintenance of social ties, according to these findings, and should be investigated further as a social health intervention aimed at enhancing overall health.

BACKGROUND: Knee osteoarthritis is a chronic disease that frequently results in pain, activity limitations and difficulties performing social and community activities. Despite the growing prevalence of arthritis and associated participation restrictions, few studies have measured the long-term impact of the environment and psychological factors on participation restriction in this population. METHODS: Participants from the Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study (MOST) self-reported participation at baseline, 30, 60, and 84 months using the Instrumental Role subscale of the Late Life Disability Index. For study 1, participants’ environmental features were assessed at baseline from the Home and Community Environment questionnaire administered in the MOST-Knee Pain & Disability study, an ancillary study of MOST. The relative risk of participation restriction at 60 months due to community mobility barriers and transportation facilitators was calculated using binomial regression, adjusting for covariates. For study 2, baseline levels of positive and negative affect were assessed with the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. The relative risk of incident participation restriction over 84 months due to 1) low positive affect (vs. high positive affect), 2) high negative affect (vs. low negative affect), and 3) combinations of low/high positive and negative affect (vs. high positive affect/low negative affect) were calculated in separate analyses using binomial regression, adjusting for covariates. RESULTS: In study 1, 69 (27%) of the 322 participants developed participation restriction by 60 months. Participants reporting high community mobility barriers at baseline had 1.8 times the risk [95% CI: 1.24, 2.73] of participation restriction at 60 months, after adjusting for covariates, whereas the risk due to high transportation facilitators was not significant. In study 2, 470 participants (26%) had incident participation restriction over 7 years. The adjusted relative risks of incident participation restriction over 7 years across the three analyses were: 1) low positive affect (vs. high positive affect): RR: 1.2 [95% CI: 1.0, 1.4], 2) high negative affect (vs. low negative affect): RR: 1.5 [95% CI: 1.3, 1.7], 3) low positive affect and high negative affect (vs. high positive and low negative affect): RR: 1.8 [95% CI: 1.4, 2.1]. CONCLUSIONS: These studies highlight that people with knee osteoarthritis who have certain contextual features, such as environmental barriers or low positive and high negative affect, are at increased risk of participation restriction over time. / 2018-07-07T00:00:00Z