Well-being incorporates psychological, social and moral development, the capacity to enter into and sustain satisfying relationships and limit distress and maladaptive behaviour. The benefits of physical activity and dangers of a sedentary lifestyle to health outcomes, e.g. cardio-vascular disease, obesity, diabetes and psychological well-being are well documented children. Due to methodological and measurement problems, research addressing the relationship between psychological well-being and physical activity are inconsistent and weak. This series of studies aimed to overcome the problems of previous research and investigated the relationship between children’s psychological well-being and habitual physical activity. Previous research has highlighted an association between children’s physical activity and individual psychological well-being constructs. However, Masse et al. (1998) argued that psychological well-being should contain the measurement of both positive (e.g. self-esteem) and negative (e.g. depression) psychological states. Subsequently, Parfitt and Eston (2005) identified an association between children’s total physical activity and psychological well-being (anxiety, depression, self-esteem). Limitations of previous studies include the type of physical activity measures used and the measurement of only global self-esteem, which itself is multidimensional. The purpose of this research was to extend and expand on the limitations of the Parfitt and Eston’s (2005) study. Psychological measures included both global, domain and sub-domain measurements of self-esteem, with accelerometry providing estimates of total daily physical activity and time spent in sedentary through to vigorous intensity activity. Study One assessed relationships between psychological well-being and physical activity using the same psychological constructs as Parfitt and Eston (2005), but with physical activity intensity included. Results highlighted an association between self-esteem and time spent in very light activity. Study Two assessed the current data’s applicability with the proposed models and theories related to self-esteem. It was concluded that the current data provided an adequate fit with the proposed models and theories of self-esteem. Study Three introduced the domain and sub-domain constructs of self-esteem and a more valid measure of physical activity. Results highlighted associations at the global, domain and sub-domain levels with predominately time spent in very light and vigorous intensity activity. Very light intensity activity was associated with negative effects while vigorous intensity activity was associated with positive effects. It was hypothesised that if these cross-sectional relationships also existed longitudinally, then an intervention study changing the time children spend in very light and vigorous intensity activity may be beneficial to children’s psychological health. With the relationship between children’s psychological well-being and physical activity clearly highlighted, Study Four assessed the direction of this relationship and aimed to inform a potential intervention study. Longitudinal data were collected over a 12-month period and multi-level modelling was used to analyse the direction of the relationship. Results highlighted a potential indirect effect of time accumulated in very light and vigorous intensity activity on psychological well-being, which reinforced the previous cross-sectional studies. Furthermore, a reciprocal effect was identified between physical activity and the physical self-worth domain. It was concluded that interventions decreasing time spent in very light and increasing vigorous intensity activity may be beneficial to children’s psychological well-being. Study Five aimed to have an impact on children’s psychological well-being, by reducing the time children spent in very light intensity activity, through an increase in daily step counts. Although the intervention decreased the time children spent in sedentary behaviour, there was no influence on psychological well-being. However, there were several methodological limitations that affected the intervention, limiting the conclusions that can be drawn from this study, including a small sample size providing available data for analysis. The results of this thesis show a relationship between children’s psychological well-being and habitual physical activity intensity exists. Further research manipulating the time children accumulate in very light (reduction) and vigorous (increase) intensity activity, can potentially impact positively on the psychological well-being of a normal population of children.

<p>Osnovni cilj prikazanog istraživanja je bilo unapredivanje postojecih znanja o<br />psiholo&scaron;kom blagostanju putem ispitivanja multidimenzionalnosti konstrukta i<br />njegovih korelata. Proveravana je struktura multidimenizonog modela Caroll Ryff<br />prema kome psiholo&scaron;ko blagostanje obuhvata &scaron;est dimenzija: Samoprihvatanje, Svrha<br />života, Licni rast, Ovladavanje okruženjem, Autonomija i Pozitivni odnosi sa<br />drugima, te relacije tih dimenzija sa pretpostavljenim prediktorima i konsekventima.<br />U istraživanju je ucestvovalo 657 odraslih osoba (41,9% mu&scaron;kog i 58,1%<br />ženskog pola) sa teritorije Srbije, uzrasta od 18 do 89 godina. Kori&scaron;ceni su sledeci<br />instrumenti: Upitnik o demografskim karakteristikama konstruisan za potrebe<br />istraživanja, Skale psiholo&scaron;kog blagostanja, Skala zadovoljstva životom, Skala<br />pozitivnog i negativnog afektiviteta (PANAS), Upitnik za procenjivanje partnerske<br />afektivne vezanosti, Bekov inventar anksioznosti, Skala samosti&scaron;avanja, Skala<br />optimizma &ndash; pesimizma i Skala depresivne licnosti.<br />Rezultati sprovedenih analiza nisu potvrdili &scaron;estodimenzionalnost modela, ali<br />ukazuju na multidimenzionalnost psiholo&scaron;kog blagostanja, te je predložen<br />trodimenzioni model. Dalja ispitivanja korelata psiholo&scaron;kog blagostanja sprovedena<br />na ekstrahovanom trofaktorskom modelu su pokazala da je psiholo&scaron;ko blagostanje<br />znacajan prediktor subjektivnog blagostanja, anksioznosti i subjektivnih procena<br />fizickog zdravlja i materijalne situacije, dok su optimizam, pesimizam, depresivna<br />licnost i uzrast znacajni prediktori psiholo&scaron;kog blagostanja.</p> / <p>The main goal of the presented study was to extend the existing knowledge on the<br />psychological well-being though testing psychological well-being<br />multidimensionality and relationship with its correlates. The six-dimension Carol Ryff<br />model of the psychological well-being was used, which consists of the following<br />dimensions: Self-acceptance, Personal growth, Environmental mastery, Autonomy,<br />Purpose in life and Positive relations with others. Also included was a relationship<br />between psychological well-being and assumed predictors and consequences.<br />The research included 657 adults, aged between 18 to 89 years, from Serbia.<br />The following instruments were used: a questionnaire on socio-demographic<br />characteristics, Scales of Psychological Well-Being, Satisfaction with life scale, The<br />positive and negative affect schedule &ndash; PANAS, Experience of Close Relationships<br />Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory, the self-silencing scale, Optimism &ndash; pessimism scale<br />and Depressive personality scale.<br />The results did not confirm the six-dimension model theory, but did indicate a<br />multidimensional structure of the psychological well-being. The three factor solution<br />was extracted, so the rest of study was conducted with three dimensional<br />psychological model. Analysis showed that psychological well-being is a significant<br />predictor of subjective well-being, anxiety and subjective assessment of physical<br />health and material state. The optimism, pessimism, depressive personality and age<br />are the significant predictors of psychological well-being.<br />&nbsp;</p>

Myten om att styrketräning är fysiskt skadligt för barn och ungdomar har motbevisats i vetenskapliga studier. Syftet med studien var att undersöka hur unga män (16-20 år) upplever att deras psykiska hälsa påverkas av styrketräning. Studien bygger på 13 djupintervjuer med styrketränande unga män. Materialet analyserades genom meningskoncentrering. Resultatet visar att hos styrketränande unga män (1) uppstår positiva och negativa känslor, (2) är teknik, kost, sömn och struktur viktigt, (3) påverkas självbilden av strävan efter muskler, (4) påverkas självbilden av strävan efter en bättre version av sig själv, (5) varierar självkänslan, (6) finns medvetenhet om kroppen, (7) finns en strävan efter bättre utseende och (8) uppnås specifika resultat. En strävan efter något bättre genomsyrar studien som i sin tur har effekt på den psykiska hälsan. Ytterligare forskning behövs för att undersöka om långvariga konsekvenser på den psykiska hälsan föreligger.

Conduct disorder is characterized by behaviors that take a large toll on the individuals, families, and communities afflicted. Thus, improving treatment effectiveness should be a high priority. Currently, common intervention programs do not address parental depression, even though it has been linked to adolescent conduct disorder behaviors in some studies. The current study assessed whether the relation between maternal depression and adolescent conduct disorder behaviors is mediated by another factor which has been linked to conduct disorder behaviors, maternal monitoring. Results did not support the hypothesized mediated association, but did show significant individual associations for both maternal depression and maternal monitoring with adolescent conduct disorder behaviors. Secondary analyses showed that adolescent age and household income were significantly related to maternal monitoring and maternal depression, respectively. Findings also suggested that child disclosure may drive the association between maternal monitoring and adolescent conduct disorder behaviors. Implications for intervention are discussed.

Depuis que les démarches qualité sont entrées dans le monde de l’hôpital imposant la construction de référentiels et la recherche de rentabilité, la logique sociale a cédé le pas à la logique économique. La rationalisation du travail s’est imposée aux soignants par la mise en place de ces référentiels, ne prenant pas en compte les considérations psychologiques et physiques de l’activité des soignants, d’où les effets sur leur santé et les manifestations de la souffrance au travail. C’est dans ce contexte que nous avons souhaité aborder la santé au travail des soignants non sous l’angle de la souffrance au travail mais sous celui du développement du bien-être psychologique. Nous avons étudié la manière dont se construit le bien-être psychologique au travail au travers des expériences vécues par les soignants à l’hôpital c’est-à-dire comment il se constitue comme objet de représentations professionnelles auquel se rattachent les composantes cognitives, affectives liées aux souvenirs d’expériences vécues et symbolisées. A la lumière de la psychologie sociale et du travail, des apports de la psychologie positive et de la théorie de l’autodétermination, l’analyse des données issues d’entretiens non-directifs avec les soignants nous a permis d’ identifier les caractéristiques du concept. Liées à l’interaction entre l’individu et l’environnement professionnel d’une part et liées à l’individu d’autre part, ces caractéristiques nous ont permis d’envisager des actions de développement du bien-être psychologique au travail tant sur le plan individuel qu’organisationnel. / Since the quality procedures are entered into the world of the hospital imposing building standards and the search for profitability, social logic has given way to economic logic. Rationalization of labor has become caregivers by implementing these standards, not taking into account the considerations of the psychological and physical activity providers, where the effects on their health and the manifestations of suffering at work. It is in the context that addressed occupational health officers not in terms of the reduction of suffering at work but in the development of psychological well-being. We propose to study how to build the psychological well-being at work through the experiences of caregivers in the hospital is to say how it is an object representations which relate to professional cognitive, emotional memories related to experiences and symbolized. In the light of social psychology and labor contributions of positive psychology and the theory of self-analysis of data from non-directive interviews with caregivers has allowed us to identify the characteristics of concept. Related to the interaction between the individual and the work environment on the one hand, and related to the individual on the other hand, these characteristics have allowed us to consider actions for the development of psychological well-being at work both the individual and organizational.

La investigación tiene como objetivo comprender la percepción de bienestar de los beneficiarios de un proyecto de voluntariado. Toma protagonismo de los beneficiarios: vendedores ambulantes y cuidadores de carros. Presenta como base teórica la percepción de bienestar subjetivo y psicológico. La técnica cualitativa de investigación usada fue la dinámica conversacional con ocho participantes voluntarios. Se realizó análisis hermenéutico de contenido deductivo e inductivo que permite conseguir trechos de información mediante análisis de la subjetividad en las conversaciones. Se determinaron seis categorías: cumplir con sus hijos, relaciones positivas con familia extensa, concepción de éxito laboral, relación positiva con los demás, percepción de satisfacción vital y experiencias religiosas. La quinta categoría incluye una dimensión del bienestar subjetivo, la cual difiere de la teoría tomada. En síntesis, la percepción del bienestar de los participantes se encuentra dentro del bienestar psicológico. Sin embargo, presenta particularidades, destaca el valor de las relaciones interpersonales. / [The research aims to understand the perception of well-being of the beneficiaries of a volunteer project. It takes protagonism of the beneficiaries: peddlers and caretakers of cars. Presents as a theoretical basis the perception of subjective and psychological well-being. The qualitative research technique used was the conversational dynamics with eight volunteer participants. A hermeneutic analysis of deductive and inductive content was carried out, which allows to obtain stretches of information through analysis of subjectivity in conversations. Six categories were determined: compliance with their children, positive relationships with extended family, conception of work success, positive relationship with others, perception of life satisfaction and religious experiences. The fifth category includes a subjective well-being (wellness) dimension, which differs from the theory taken. In summary, the perception of the well-being of the participants lies within psychological well-being. However, it presents particularities, highlights the value of interpersonal relationships. / Tesis

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals must regularly navigate stigma, or social situations in which they are devalued because of their sexual orientation. The research has well established minority stress processes which link situations of stigma to reports of poor psychological well-being. However, protective factors leading to healthy psychological well-being are relatively understudied. This dissertation is a review of protective factors that have already emerged in the research and an assessment of these protective factors simultaneously to better understand how they influence psychological well-being. I recruited adult sexual minority participants using a comprehensive social media approach. I then tested mastery, problem-solving coping, cognitive flexibility, structural factors, social support, self-compassion, hope, community connectedness, meaning making, and emotional openness on both measurements of positive and negative psychological well-being. Boosted regression analyses were used to assess the relative influence of the protective factors and while accounting for multicollinearity among the many protective factors. This was followed by OLS regression for cross validation. Results of the boosted regression trees indicate that hope, mastery, self-compassion, and social support are the most influential protective factors. This was supported by the OLS regressions. These results point to individual and social factors that affect psychological well-being of sexual minorities. Ultimately this dissertation provides a focused target for future research on intervention using these top protective factors. Additionally, this dissertation expands protective factors previously only examined in lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals to a broader sexual minority population.

There is a dearth of psychological research with Polynesian populations in the United States Research on this population is needed to meet the demands of this increasingly growing population. This study aims to investigate the psychological well-being of an understudied Latter-day Saint (LDS) Polynesian American emerging adult group in order to better provide them with cultural-specific professional psychological services. The sample included 327 LDS Polynesian American emerging adults ranging from 18 to 26 years of age (191 females, 136 males). Specifically, this study examines the associations among coping strategies, religiosity, ethnic identity, depression, anxiety, and self-esteem. An online questionnaire was used to collect the necessary data. Descriptive statistics, bivariate correlations, and path analyses were conducted to examine relationships among variables. The results yield findings that are unique to this specific population. This study's results found family support, religiosity, and ethnic identity to be influential among LDS Polynesian emerging adults with regards to their psychological well-being. As this study mentions, identifying and recognizing the influential cultural values on well-being for this population can contribute to assisting mental health professionals provide culturally sensitive and appropriate interventions for their LDS Polynesian American emerging adult clients.

Thesis (M.A.(Research Psychology)) --University of Limpopo, 2014 / This study investigated the association between family structure and both academic outcome and psychological well-being among learners (N = 500) from the Nkomazi Municipality, Mpumalanga. The learners were classified into six family structure types, including traditional, two-biological parents, single mother, single father, blended, grandparent-led and sibling-led types. The results regarding the association between family structure and academic outcomes were equivocal; chi-square analysis showed that there was no association between family structure and the overall mid-year examination results (“pass” or “fail”) and the learners qualitative self-rating (ps > 0.05); yet the overall symbol obtained for the mid-year examinations was related to family structure (p < 0.05). Furthermore, an association was found between family structure and both self-esteem and positive affect (ps < 0.05), and the relationship between family structure and psychological distress, life satisfaction and negative affect, all measures of psychological well-being did not achieve statistical significance. Possible reasons for lack of association between family structure and some variables of academic performance and psychological well-being variables used in this study are explored. Keywords: family structure, academic outcome, psychological well-being

In India, ranked 132nd out of 148 countries in the United Nations Gender Inequality Index (2013), females face numerous challenges that pose a threat to their sexual health and psychological well-being. This paper focuses specifically on adolescent unmarried females living in an urban slum, a particularly vulnerable segment of the population that is important to empower in order to effect change. With the ultimate aim to better understand how to design effective and accessible interventions for adolescent females, this paper explores sexual health and its relation to psychological well-being from the perspectives of multiple stakeholders: adolescent girls, mothers of adolescent girls, and service providers who work with adolescent girls. To understand the unique and shared perspectives of the stakeholders regarding the constructs of psychological well-being, gender roles, and sexual health, the author utilized focus group and interview data. Through the use of the deductive-inductive coding process, the author identified overall themes and differences in perspective that elucidated the perspectives of the population. The findings revealed that there is great overlap in the three constructs studied, and each is influenced by and impacts the other. Additionally, the findings showed a trend of girls, mothers, and service providers understanding the importance of girls having access to sexual health information and openness towards mothers potentially sharing this information with daughters. Other implications, future research directions, and limitations are discussed. / acase@tulane.edu