This dissertation examined the effects of implicit theories of emotion (beliefs about the malleability of emotion) on emotion regulation and experience. Incremental theories involve beliefs that emotions are controllable; entity theories involve beliefs that emotions are uncontrollable. I hypothesized that an incremental theory would be associated with better well-being, more adaptive emotion regulation, and mastery-oriented patterns of response to emotion regulation difficulty, compared to an entity theory. Study 1 developed a valid and reliable questionnaire to assess trait implicit theories of emotion and examined correlations with self-reports of personality, emotional experience, emotion regulation, and well-being. A trait incremental theory was associated with greater positive emotion and less negative emotion, an effect that was mediated by the tendency of incremental theorists to use more active coping and adaptive emotion regulation strategies, compared to entity theorists. Incremental theories were also associated with greater overall well-being, lower depression, and less stress. Studies 2-5 manipulated implicit theories of emotion and examined their causal effects on emotion and emotion regulation. Although entity and incremental participants did not report differences in emotional experience when experiencing emotions naturally (Study 2), participants in the incremental group were more likely to regulate their emotions when explicitly asked to do so (Study 3). Specifically, only incremental participants responded to instructions to remain objective while rating emotionally evocative images. Studies 4 and 5 examined differences in reactions to emotion regulation difficulty. After completing an emotional interference task, all (Study 4) or a random half (Study 5) of participants were told that they had done poorly and rated attributions for their performance, affect, and motivation to remain engaged versus withdrawing. Although hypothesized patterns did not emerge as a whole, participants in the incremental condition were more likely to attribute their performance (failure or success) to strategy use. This research has implications for the study of emotion regulation, in particular, patterns of helplessness and mastery within the domain of emotions.

When teachers find their work engaging and meaningful, experience joy at school, feel successful, and are able to maintain positive relationships, they are more effective in the classroom and are more likely to stay in the profession. These teachers can be described as flourishing. Situated in the field of positive organizational psychology, a new surge of research investigates individual attributes that impact employee flourishing. However, little research has been conducted to understand school-level factors that create the conditions for teacher flourishing. By employing a sequential, mixed-methods design, this project addresses this gap in the research. In the first phase, extant data from the 2016 Oregon TELL survey was used to quantitatively identify workplace factors that impact perceptions of teacher flourishing. In the second phase, focus groups with teachers from one district were conducted to understand factors that impact flourishing in that setting. In the third phase, data from these focus groups were linked with the TELL data to deepen understanding about how school-level factors impact individual perceptions of teacher flourishing in a specific setting. The results of this study will be used to inform district and state officials about the importance of implementing and supporting school structures that create the conditions for a flourishing school community.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar a relação entre o bem-estar pessoal e o uso de estratégias de coping religioso entre crianças. A investigação teve como base dois estudos realizados a partir de uma única coleta de dados. O primeiro estudo refere-se à tradução, adaptação e validação da escala Children´s Religious Coping (CRC) e foi dividido em duas fases: (1) tradução, adaptação e teste piloto (N = 74) e (2) Aplicação e Validação da Escala CRC. Participaram da pesquisa 1612 crianças entre 08 e 13 anos (M = 10,2; DP = 1,47), sendo 54,7% meninas, matriculadas em escolas públicas (54,6%) e particulares (45,4%) do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Foram realizadas Análises Fatoriais Exploratórias e Confirmatórias para verificar a estrutura fatorial da escala, além de análise da consistência interna. Os resultados indicaram uma composição da CRC com duas dimensões: Coping Religioso Positivo (CRP), formada por 19 itens em três fatores, e Coping Religioso Negativo (CRN), formada por 12 itens em três fatores. Os índices de consistência interna apresentaram bons níveis tanto para a escala geral ( = 0,90), como para as duas dimensões ( = 0,92 para CRP; e = 0,81 para CRN). Pode-se afirmar que a escala apresentou bons indicadores de funcionamento para essa amostra, mostrando-se um instrumento promissor para futuras pesquisas. O segundo estudo teve como objetivo principal avaliar a relação entre o bem-estar pessoal e o uso de estratégias de coping religioso pelas crianças. Foram utilizados como instrumentos a escala CRC adaptada e o Índice de Bem-estar Pessoal para Crianças (PWISC). Através de análises descritivas foram avaliados o índice de bem-estar pessoal e a satisfação com diferentes domínios da vida. Também foram descritas a frequência do uso de estratégias de coping religioso, e as situações de estresse relatadas pelas crianças. ANOVAs indicaram que o índice de bem-estar é maior entre meninos, bem como entre as crianças menores. Em relação ao uso de estratégias de coping, foram encontradas diferenças significativas por idade no uso das estratégias de CRP, indicando que à medida que a idade aumenta, diminui o uso dessas estratégias. As análises de regressão múltipla identificaram a dimensão CRP, especificamente as estratégias relacionadas à crença no apoio e proteção de Deus, como preditor de maior bem-estar, e a dimensão CRN, especificamente as estratégias relacionadas à reavaliação do estressor como uma punição, como preditor de menor bemestar. Conclui-se que as crianças fazem uso de diferentes estratégias de coping religioso ao lidarem com situações de estresse e que esse engajamento parece estar relacionado ao seu bem-estar pessoal. / The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the personal well-being and the use of religious coping strategies of children. The investigation was based upon two studies made from a single data collection. The first study concerns the translation, adaptation and validation of the Children’s Religious Coping Scale (CRC) and it was divided in two phases: (1) Translation, Adaptation and Pilot Test (N = 74) and (2) Application and Validation of the CRC Scale. A number of 1612 children between 08 and 13 years old (M = 10.2, SD = 1.47), of which 54.7% girls, enrolled in public (54.6%) and private (45.4%) schools of the State of Rio Grande do Sul participated in the research. Exploratory and Confirmatory Factorial Analyses were performed to verify the scale’s factor structure, besides the analysis of the internal consistency. Results indicated the CRC was composed by two dimensions: Positive Religious Coping (PRC), with 19 items in three factors, and Negative Religious Coping (NRC), consisting of 12 items in three factors. The internal consistency indices showed good levels both for the overall scale ( = .90), as well as for the two dimensions ( = .92 for PRC; and = .81 for NRC). It can be stated that the scale showed good indicators of functioning for this sample, demonstrating that it can be a promising instrument for future research. The second study aimed mainly at evaluating the relationship between personal well-being and the use of religious coping strategies by children. The instruments used were the adapted CRC scale and the Personal Wellbeing Index - School Children (PWI-SC). Personal well-being and satisfaction with different life domains were evaluated through descriptive analyzes. The frequency of the use of religious coping strategies and stressful situations reported by children were also described. ANOVAs indicated that the well-being index is higher among boys and between younger children. Regarding the use of coping strategies, significant age differences were found in the use of the PRC strategies, indicating that as age increases, the use of these strategies decreases. The multiple regression analysis identified the PRC dimension, more specifically the strategies related to the belief in the support and protection of God, as a predictor of greater well-being, and the NRC dimension, more specifically the strategies related to the revaluation of the stressor as a punishment, as a predictor of lower well-being. Our conclusion is that children make use of different religious coping strategies to deal with stressful situations and that this engagement seems to be related to their personal well-being.

Bem-Estar Psicológico é um construto multidimensional baseado no funcionamento psicológico positivo. Para mensurar sua teoria, Ryff propôs uma escala de seis dimensões, com versões de 120, 84, 54 e 18 itens. Este trabalho tem como um de seus objetivos revisar sistematicamente estudos de validação das versões da Escala de Bem-Estar Psicológico de Ryff, sumarizando as propriedades psicométricas das mesmas. Foram incluídos estudos quantitativos que utilizaram a escala de Bem-Estar Psicológico, considerando as versões originais de 120, 84, 54 e 18 itens. Foram considerados elegíveis apenas os estudos sobre a validação da escala de Ryff em quaisquer versões e estudos com diferente número de itens oriundos das versões originais citadas anteriormente. Como estratégia de busca incluiu-se às bases de dados indexados Scopus e National Library of Medicine (Pubmed). A primeira estratégia de busca consistiu de palavras e descritores de Bem-Estar Psicológico. A segunda estratégia de busca adicionou palavras para especificar publicações na área de psicometria. Foram encontrados 38 artigos, totalizando 54 estudos, pois alguns artigos possuem mais de um estudo. A versão de 18 itens foi a mais validada, com 16 estudos, o espanhol foi a língua mais utilizada, a maioria dos artigos realizou análise fatorial e grande parte das amostras era composta por adultos com alto nível de escolaridade. O outro objetivo é realizar a análise fatorial exploratória com diferentes versões da Escala de Bem-estar Psicológico de Ryff de 18 itens e realizar a análise fatorial confirmatória com o modelo que apresentou melhor ajuste. Trata-se de um estudo transversal aninhado a uma coorte, cuja amostra foi de 389 idosos. Os dados desse estudo foram obtidos a partir da coorte de Carlos Barbosa que tinha como objetivo avaliar a saúde geral, bucal e psicológica e estado nutricional de idosos vivendo de maneira independente neste município. Foi realizada análise fatorial exploratória para avaliar a estrutura dimensional da escala de 18 itens e análise fatorial confirmatória para o modelo de melhor ajuste. Conclui-se que a escala de Bem-Estar Psicológico não é culturalmente dependente e que há necessidade de modificação de alguns itens para que o construto seja corretamente aplicado e compreendido na amostra estudada. / Psychological Well-Being is a multidimensional construct based on positive psychological functioning. To measure his theory, Ryff proposed a six-dimensional scale, with versions of 120, 84, 54, and 18 items. This work has as one of its objectives to systematically review validation studies of Ryff's Psychological Well-Being Scale versions, summarizing their psychometric properties. We included quantitative studies that used the Psychological Well-Being scale, considering the original versions of 120, 84, 54 and 18 items. Only studies on the validation of the Ryff scale in any versions and studies with different numbers of items from the original versions mentioned above were considered eligible. As a search strategy, the indexed databases Scopus and National Library of Medicine (Pubmed) were included. The first search strategy consisted of words and descriptors of Psychological Well-Being. The second search strategy added words to specify publications in the area of psychometrics. We found 38 articles, totaling 54 studies, once some articles have more than one study. The 18-item version was the most validated, with 16 studies, Spanish was the most used language, most of the articles performed factorial analysis and most of the samples were composed of adults with a high level of education. The other objective is to perform the exploratory factorial analysis with different versions of the Ryff’s Psychological Well-Being Scale of 18 items and perform the confirmatory factorial analysis with the model that presented the best fit. It is a cross-sectional study nested with a cohort, whose sample was 389 elderly. The data from this study were obtained from the Carlos Barbosa cohort whose objective was to evaluate the general, oral and psychological health and nutritional status of elderly people living independently in this municipality. An exploratory factorial analysis was performed to evaluate the dimensional structure of the 18-item scale and confirmatory factorial analysis for the best fit model. It is concluded that the Psychological Well-Being scale is not culturally dependent and that there is a need to modify some items so that the construct is correctly applied and understood in the sample studied.

The role of natural environments, especially ‘green space’, in promoting human health and well-being is well-researched. However, less is known about the benefits of ‘blue space’ (e.g. the coast) or ‘managed’ nature (e.g. zoos). In this thesis, six studies investigated the restorative potential of sub-aquatic settings, specifically public aquariums and the biological diversity within them. Studies 1 and 2 investigated preferences for, affective responses to, and the restorative potential of, five built and natural settings (i.e. built, green space, blue space, natural underwater and public aquariums). Using the same measures, Study 3 focused solely on people’s responses to aquarium exhibits, sub-categorised by geographic region, level of species richness and abundance, and taxonomic group. Study 4 examined behavioural, physiological and psychological responses to one aquarium exhibit during three stages of restocking. Finally, to establish how perceptions of species richness and abundance influenced well-being outcomes, people viewed and evaluated either one (Study 5) or two (Study 6) large aquarium exhibits. These studies found that natural sub-aquatic and aquarium settings were as preferred, and perceived as potentially restorative, as green space environments, and different exhibits elicited different responses: ratings were higher for tropical exhibits (vs. temperate), high abundance (vs. low) and vertebrates (vs. invertebrates), although findings for species richness were mixed. Within one exhibit, higher stocking levels resulted in increased attention and interest, greater improvements in mood, and some physiological evidence of relaxation (e.g. decreased heart rate). Broad levels of marine life could be distinguished but estimates of actual numbers were poor. Viewing one or two exhibits tended to improve mood, decrease arousal and be perceived as restorative; any differences between the two exhibits were more evident when both had been viewed. Overall, findings suggest that engaging with different types of managed nature may provide valuable perceived human health and well-being benefits.

A dissertação é uma pesquisa dos fundamentos filosóficos para o Direito Ambiental. Propondo-se, no primeiro capítulo, a nomear o bem comum ambiental como o fundamento e seus pressupostos antropológicos, políticos e jurídicos, a saber, o antropocentrismo harmônico, o cosmopolitismo e a teoria da justiça realista como instâncias complementares. Por contraste, dialogaremos com os pressupostos rivais: o antropocentrismo individualista, a soberania e o normativismo. O segundo capítulo tratará da aplicabilidade dos conceitos trabalhados anteriormente segundo três casos globais: o Protocolo de Quioto, a distribuição de água e os créditos de carbono. A metodologia aplicada é a análise conceitual dialética. / The dissertation is a research of the philosophical foundations for the Environmental Law. Intending, in this first chapter, to nominate the environmental well being as a fundament and its anthropological presuppositions, political and juridical to know, the harmonic anthropocentrism, the cosmopolitism and the theory of the realistic justice as complemented instances. In contrast, we will dialogue with the presupposed rival: the individualistic anthropocentrism, the sovereignty and the normativism. The second chapter will treat of the applicability of the concepts worked previously according with the three global cases: the Protocol of Kyoto, the distribution of water and Coal credits. The applied methodology is the conceptual dialectics analysis.

Este estudo investigou a relação entre o tempo de prática de meditação e o bem-estar psicológico, controlando para traços de personalidade, assim como a experiência subjetiva dos meditadores acerca dos efeitos de sua prática no seu cotidiano. Os instrumentos utilizados foram o Questionário de Saúde Geral de Goldberg, a Bateria Fatorial de Personalidade e um Questionário Sociodemográfico contendo uma pergunta aberta sobre a percepção dos efeitos da meditação e itens para definição operacional de meditação. A amostra, selecionada por conveniência, constituiu-se de praticantes da meditação passiva - sentada e silenciosa - cuja experiência variou entre um e 420 meses. Os resultados obtidos através das análises de conteúdo quantitativa, de regressão linear múltipla e regressão de Poisson foram convergentes, indicando que a prática meditativa pode produzir efeitos psicológicos positivos. Foi observado que quanto maior o tempo em meses e a freqüência semanal da prática, maior o bem-estar psicológico. Também foi verificada uma interação entre meses e freqüência semanal, sugerindo que para as pessoas que meditam 6/7 vezes por semana, os escores de bem-estar psicológico não diferiram estatisticamente entre os praticantes considerados iniciantes, intermediários e avançados. Extroversão, neuroticismo e realização são os traços de personalidade que possivelmente mediaram o efeito da meditação sobre o bem-estar, sendo que o primeiro teve uma associação positiva com o desfecho e os dois últimos uma associação negativa. Além disso, a experiência subjetiva da prática de meditação, segundo os participantes desta pesquisa, se reflete predominantemente na percepção de benefícios cognitivos e emocionais. Estes achados corroboram outros estudos e apóiam a idéia de que a meditação pode ser uma ferramenta para o cultivo do bem-estar. Por fim, sugere-se que mais estudos sejam realizados no Brasil e que a prática meditativa pode ser considerada uma ferramenta útil para o contexto clínico em saúde mental. / This study investigated the relationship between the length of experience in meditation practice and psychological well-being, controlling for personality traits, as well as the subjective experience of meditators concerning the effects of their practice on their daily lives. The instruments used were the General Health Questionnaire, the Factorial Battery of Personality and a Sociodemographic Questionnaire containing an open question about the perception of the meditation effects and the items for the operational definition of meditation. The sample was selected by convenience and comprised of passive meditation practitioners - sitting and silent - whose experience varied from one to 420 months. The results obtained through quantitative content analyses, multiple linear regression and Poisson regression were convergent, indicating that the meditation practice can promote positive psychological effects. It has been observed that the greater the number of months and the weekly frequency, the greater the psychological well-being. An interaction between number of months and weekly frequency has also been observed, suggesting that for those people who meditate 6/7 times a week, the psychological well-being score did not differ among practitioners considered beginners, intermediate and advanced. Extraversion, neuroticism and conscientiousness were the personality traits that possibly mediated the effect of meditation on well-being. The first one was positively associated with the outcome, and the other two were negatively associated. In addition, the subjective experience of the meditation practice, according to the participants of the present research, reflects predominantly cognitive and emotional benefits. These findings corroborate other studies and give support to the idea that meditation can be a tool for cultivating wellbeing. Finally, we suggest that more studies should be carried out in Brazil and that the practice can be considered a useful tool for clinical and mental health contexts.

abstract: There is limited research on bullying among college students and even less research on hazing behaviors among students who are in a campus organization. Previously used scales were created for use with children and were not behavior specific, leaving out adult experiences college students may encounter and asking about bullying in general which leaves the definition up to the responder. This study aimed to create an instrument that examines behavior specific experiences with college students and their peers, in the general college setting and specific to a campus organization they belong to. Five hundred and two undergraduate students completed surveys of college experiences, affect, and well-being. Results indicate one factor for college bullying and one factor for hazing in college organizations. Bullying and hazing were found to be similar but different, with students having more experiences with bullying and the two experiences having different relations to affect and well-being. This study lends to the growing literature on bullying experiences of adults and begins the necessary evaluation of hazing in college organizations. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Counseling Psychology 2016

abstract: ABSTRACT This qualitative descriptive study described caregiver recognition of personal and social contextual resources guiding purposeful participation in self-care and well-being. This research builds on health empowerment theory, which conceptualizes health empowerment as an inherent, relational and ongoing process, expressive of health patterning of well-being (Shearer, 2009). By 2060, Americans 65 years and older will number nearly 98 million, more than double that in 2013. The number of older adults aged 85 and older will double from 6 million in 2003, to 14.6 million by 2040 (Health & Human Services, 2014). Sixty-five million adults serve as informal caregivers, many themselves suffering from chronic conditions (National Alliance for Caregiving & AARP, 2009). Current research has examined the burden of caregiving, but little is known about caregiver strengths and resources that foster personal self-care and well-being. Twenty-one older adult informal caregivers participated in focus groups or individual interviews. Length of time as caregivers ranged from one year to more than ten years; 24% of the participants were men. Seventy-six percent of the participants reported having one or more chronic condition. Themes generated from qualitative content analysis provided a basis for validating and extending the health empowerment theory among older adult informal caregivers. Across participants, empowerment reflected recognition of strengths and resources, as well as growth consistent with valued goals facilitating new health patterns and well-being. The health empowerment theory perspective provided a relevant basis for theory-based intervention focused on promoting strengths, abilities and potential among older adults, limiting vulnerability to diminished health and well-being. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Nursing and Healthcare Innovation 2018

abstract: Humans are social beings, which means interpersonal relationships are important contributors to our psychological health. Our health and behavior is manifested through a dynamic cycle of interacting factors: environmental, personal, and behavioral. Contributing to this interaction, interpersonal relationships provide benefits such as increased social support and decreased loneliness. The care and attention of relationship partners are communicated in multiple ways, one of which is interpersonal touch. Although touch can communicate positive feelings and support, it can also be used negatively in certain contexts. Unwanted or forced touch occurs when an individual experiences sexual or physical trauma. Experiencing this type of trauma often results in negative psychological consequences. Exactly how sexual or physical trauma—both of which involve unwanted touch—might influence an individual’s attitudes towards touch is important to explore. If an individual feels negatively about interpersonal touch due to previous experience of trauma, this might negatively influence the amount of current touch with a partner, and also the survivor’s psychological well-being. In the current study, I proposed that previous occurrence of sexual or physical trauma would predict both decreased frequency of touch in a current intimate relationship and poorer individual well-being, and that these relations would be explained by negative touch attitudes. Results supported these hypotheses, suggesting that lingering negative touch attitudes following trauma could be an underlying mechanism affecting social and individual functioning. As seen in our model, these attitudes fully mediated the effects between previous sexual or physical trauma and individual well-being, as well as frequency of touch. This understanding can help provide further insight into the repercussions of trauma and the underlying mechanisms attributing to continued negative effects. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Psychology 2018