A presente tese agrupa quatro estudos que objetivam investigar as relações dos recursos pessoais com os índices de bem-estar dos indivíduos. Foi realizada uma revisão de literatura sobre a iniciativa ao crescimento pessoal, a fim de compreender em profundidade o construto de iniciativa ao crescimento pessoal. Posteriormente, foram desenvolvidos três estudos empíricos. O primeiro artigo empírico refere-se ao estudo de adaptação e avaliação das propriedades psicométricas da versão brasileira da Escala de Iniciativa ao Crescimento Pessoal – II (Personal Growth Initiative Scale – II, PGI-II). Foi observado que a versão brasileira da PGI-II constitui-se como um instrumento confiável para investigar os índices de disponibilidade para mudança, planejamento, comportamento intencional e uso de recursos, apresentando uma estrutura de quatro fatores de primeira ordem. O segundo artigo empírico avaliou se as relações das dimensões da iniciativa ao crescimento pessoal com os níveis de bem-estar subjetivo eram mediadas pela presença de sentido de vida. Foi observado que a presença de sentido de vida media o impacto das dimensões planejamento e comportamento intencional sobre os níveis de satisfação com a vida, afetos positivos e negativos. As dimensões disponibilidade para mudança e uso de recursos não estiveram relacionadas aos índices de presença de sentido de vida. As dimensões disponibilidade para mudança e uso de recursos estiveram negativamente associadas aos níveis de bem-estar subjetivo. O terceiro artigo empírico avaliou se as relações entre otimismo, pessimismo e autoestima com os índices de estresse, satisfação com a vida, afetos positivos e negativos eram mediados pelos níveis de presença de sentido de vida. Os resultados demonstraram que as relações entre o otimismo e autoestima com os índices de estresse, afetos positivos e negativos foram parcialmente mediados pelos níveis de presença de sentido de vida. Entretanto, as relações dos índices de pessimismo com estresse, satisfação com a vida, afetos positivos e negativos não foram mediados pelos níveis de presença de sentido de vida. Estudos futuros devem avaliar se as relações dos recursos pessoais com bem-estar subjetivo e estresse são replicáveis a outras amostras. A principal contribuição desta tese foi disponibilizar uma escala para investigar a iniciativa ao crescimento pessoal no contexto brasileiro. Além disso, os resultados deste estudo avançam o conhecimento sobre as relações entre os recursos pessoais e as dimensões de bem-estar. / This thesis join up four studies that aims to investigate the relationship of levels of personal resources with well-being of individuals. A literature review on the personal growth initiative was carried out in order to understand in depth the construct of personal growth initiative. Later, three empirical studies were developed. The first empirical paper refers to the study of adaptation and evaluation of the psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of the Personal Growth Initiative Scale - II (Personal Growth Initiative Scale - II, PGI-II). It was observed that the Brazilian version of PGI-II was established as a reliable instrument to investigate the levels of readiness for change, planfulness, intentional behavior and using resources, with a four first-order factor structure. The second empirical research evaluated if presence of meaning in life mediated the relationships of the dimensions of personal growth initiative with subjective well-being. It was observed that the presence of meaning in life measured the impact of dimensional planning and intentional behavior on levels of satisfaction with life, positive and negative affect. The dimensions readiness for change and using resources were not related to levels of presence of meaning in life. The dimensions readiness for change and using resources were negatively associated with levels of subjective well-being. The third empirical research has evaluated if presence of meaning in life mediated the relationships of optimism, pessimism and self-esteem with levels of stress, life satisfaction, positive and negative affect. The results showed that the relationship between optimism and self-esteem with levels of stress, positive affect and negative were partially mediated by levels of presence of meaning in life. However, the relations of pessimism with stress, life satisfaction, positive affect and negative were not mediated by levels of presence of meaning in life. Future studies should evaluate if the relations of personal resources with subjective well-being and stress are replicable to other samples. The main contribution of this thesis was to provide a scale to investigate the initiative to personal growth in the Brazilian context. In addition, the results of this study advance the understanding of the relationship between personal resources and well-being.

A presente tese agrupa quatro estudos que objetivam investigar as relações dos recursos pessoais com os índices de bem-estar dos indivíduos. Foi realizada uma revisão de literatura sobre a iniciativa ao crescimento pessoal, a fim de compreender em profundidade o construto de iniciativa ao crescimento pessoal. Posteriormente, foram desenvolvidos três estudos empíricos. O primeiro artigo empírico refere-se ao estudo de adaptação e avaliação das propriedades psicométricas da versão brasileira da Escala de Iniciativa ao Crescimento Pessoal – II (Personal Growth Initiative Scale – II, PGI-II). Foi observado que a versão brasileira da PGI-II constitui-se como um instrumento confiável para investigar os índices de disponibilidade para mudança, planejamento, comportamento intencional e uso de recursos, apresentando uma estrutura de quatro fatores de primeira ordem. O segundo artigo empírico avaliou se as relações das dimensões da iniciativa ao crescimento pessoal com os níveis de bem-estar subjetivo eram mediadas pela presença de sentido de vida. Foi observado que a presença de sentido de vida media o impacto das dimensões planejamento e comportamento intencional sobre os níveis de satisfação com a vida, afetos positivos e negativos. As dimensões disponibilidade para mudança e uso de recursos não estiveram relacionadas aos índices de presença de sentido de vida. As dimensões disponibilidade para mudança e uso de recursos estiveram negativamente associadas aos níveis de bem-estar subjetivo. O terceiro artigo empírico avaliou se as relações entre otimismo, pessimismo e autoestima com os índices de estresse, satisfação com a vida, afetos positivos e negativos eram mediados pelos níveis de presença de sentido de vida. Os resultados demonstraram que as relações entre o otimismo e autoestima com os índices de estresse, afetos positivos e negativos foram parcialmente mediados pelos níveis de presença de sentido de vida. Entretanto, as relações dos índices de pessimismo com estresse, satisfação com a vida, afetos positivos e negativos não foram mediados pelos níveis de presença de sentido de vida. Estudos futuros devem avaliar se as relações dos recursos pessoais com bem-estar subjetivo e estresse são replicáveis a outras amostras. A principal contribuição desta tese foi disponibilizar uma escala para investigar a iniciativa ao crescimento pessoal no contexto brasileiro. Além disso, os resultados deste estudo avançam o conhecimento sobre as relações entre os recursos pessoais e as dimensões de bem-estar. / This thesis join up four studies that aims to investigate the relationship of levels of personal resources with well-being of individuals. A literature review on the personal growth initiative was carried out in order to understand in depth the construct of personal growth initiative. Later, three empirical studies were developed. The first empirical paper refers to the study of adaptation and evaluation of the psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of the Personal Growth Initiative Scale - II (Personal Growth Initiative Scale - II, PGI-II). It was observed that the Brazilian version of PGI-II was established as a reliable instrument to investigate the levels of readiness for change, planfulness, intentional behavior and using resources, with a four first-order factor structure. The second empirical research evaluated if presence of meaning in life mediated the relationships of the dimensions of personal growth initiative with subjective well-being. It was observed that the presence of meaning in life measured the impact of dimensional planning and intentional behavior on levels of satisfaction with life, positive and negative affect. The dimensions readiness for change and using resources were not related to levels of presence of meaning in life. The dimensions readiness for change and using resources were negatively associated with levels of subjective well-being. The third empirical research has evaluated if presence of meaning in life mediated the relationships of optimism, pessimism and self-esteem with levels of stress, life satisfaction, positive and negative affect. The results showed that the relationship between optimism and self-esteem with levels of stress, positive affect and negative were partially mediated by levels of presence of meaning in life. However, the relations of pessimism with stress, life satisfaction, positive affect and negative were not mediated by levels of presence of meaning in life. Future studies should evaluate if the relations of personal resources with subjective well-being and stress are replicable to other samples. The main contribution of this thesis was to provide a scale to investigate the initiative to personal growth in the Brazilian context. In addition, the results of this study advance the understanding of the relationship between personal resources and well-being.

A presente tese agrupa quatro estudos que objetivam investigar as relações dos recursos pessoais com os índices de bem-estar dos indivíduos. Foi realizada uma revisão de literatura sobre a iniciativa ao crescimento pessoal, a fim de compreender em profundidade o construto de iniciativa ao crescimento pessoal. Posteriormente, foram desenvolvidos três estudos empíricos. O primeiro artigo empírico refere-se ao estudo de adaptação e avaliação das propriedades psicométricas da versão brasileira da Escala de Iniciativa ao Crescimento Pessoal – II (Personal Growth Initiative Scale – II, PGI-II). Foi observado que a versão brasileira da PGI-II constitui-se como um instrumento confiável para investigar os índices de disponibilidade para mudança, planejamento, comportamento intencional e uso de recursos, apresentando uma estrutura de quatro fatores de primeira ordem. O segundo artigo empírico avaliou se as relações das dimensões da iniciativa ao crescimento pessoal com os níveis de bem-estar subjetivo eram mediadas pela presença de sentido de vida. Foi observado que a presença de sentido de vida media o impacto das dimensões planejamento e comportamento intencional sobre os níveis de satisfação com a vida, afetos positivos e negativos. As dimensões disponibilidade para mudança e uso de recursos não estiveram relacionadas aos índices de presença de sentido de vida. As dimensões disponibilidade para mudança e uso de recursos estiveram negativamente associadas aos níveis de bem-estar subjetivo. O terceiro artigo empírico avaliou se as relações entre otimismo, pessimismo e autoestima com os índices de estresse, satisfação com a vida, afetos positivos e negativos eram mediados pelos níveis de presença de sentido de vida. Os resultados demonstraram que as relações entre o otimismo e autoestima com os índices de estresse, afetos positivos e negativos foram parcialmente mediados pelos níveis de presença de sentido de vida. Entretanto, as relações dos índices de pessimismo com estresse, satisfação com a vida, afetos positivos e negativos não foram mediados pelos níveis de presença de sentido de vida. Estudos futuros devem avaliar se as relações dos recursos pessoais com bem-estar subjetivo e estresse são replicáveis a outras amostras. A principal contribuição desta tese foi disponibilizar uma escala para investigar a iniciativa ao crescimento pessoal no contexto brasileiro. Além disso, os resultados deste estudo avançam o conhecimento sobre as relações entre os recursos pessoais e as dimensões de bem-estar. / This thesis join up four studies that aims to investigate the relationship of levels of personal resources with well-being of individuals. A literature review on the personal growth initiative was carried out in order to understand in depth the construct of personal growth initiative. Later, three empirical studies were developed. The first empirical paper refers to the study of adaptation and evaluation of the psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of the Personal Growth Initiative Scale - II (Personal Growth Initiative Scale - II, PGI-II). It was observed that the Brazilian version of PGI-II was established as a reliable instrument to investigate the levels of readiness for change, planfulness, intentional behavior and using resources, with a four first-order factor structure. The second empirical research evaluated if presence of meaning in life mediated the relationships of the dimensions of personal growth initiative with subjective well-being. It was observed that the presence of meaning in life measured the impact of dimensional planning and intentional behavior on levels of satisfaction with life, positive and negative affect. The dimensions readiness for change and using resources were not related to levels of presence of meaning in life. The dimensions readiness for change and using resources were negatively associated with levels of subjective well-being. The third empirical research has evaluated if presence of meaning in life mediated the relationships of optimism, pessimism and self-esteem with levels of stress, life satisfaction, positive and negative affect. The results showed that the relationship between optimism and self-esteem with levels of stress, positive affect and negative were partially mediated by levels of presence of meaning in life. However, the relations of pessimism with stress, life satisfaction, positive affect and negative were not mediated by levels of presence of meaning in life. Future studies should evaluate if the relations of personal resources with subjective well-being and stress are replicable to other samples. The main contribution of this thesis was to provide a scale to investigate the initiative to personal growth in the Brazilian context. In addition, the results of this study advance the understanding of the relationship between personal resources and well-being.

本研究主要在探討大學生的生活壓力、社會支持與生命意義各層面的相互關係，最後瞭解生活壓力、社會支持對生命意義的預測情形。本研究採問卷調查法的方式，以台灣北部地區576名大學生為研究對象，邀請大學生填寫「生命意義量表」、「大學生生活壓力量表」及「社會支持量表」三種量表。資料蒐集完畢後，以描述性統計、獨立樣本t考驗、皮爾森積差相關、逐步迴歸分析、階層迴歸分析進行資料分析。研究主要發現如下： 一、大學生普遍具有追尋生命意義的動機，但約有四分之一的學生對個人的生命意義主觀感受是欠缺的或不確定的。 二、不同性別大學生的生命意義感、意義追尋動機無顯著差異。 三、有宗教信仰的大學生其生命意義感較無宗教信仰者高，且信仰越虔誠則生命意義感越高。 四、大學生的生命意義感與意義追尋動機為正相關。 五、日常困擾、重大負向生活事件兩者的發生件數、影響程度，分別和生命意義感呈負相關。 六、社會支持、日常困擾影響程度與意義追尋動機為正向關係。 七、大學生的社會支持、日常困擾程度、重大負向生活事件發生件數、是否有宗教信仰，對生命意義感具顯著預測力。 八、大學生的社會支持、日常困擾程度、日常困擾發生件數，能夠顯著預測意義追尋動機。 九、有宗教信仰的大學生，信仰虔誠度對生命意義感預測力高於生活壓力。 十、大學生的社會支持並沒有產生調節生活壓力對生命意義之效果。 根據研究結果，建議可藉由協助大學生探索其生命意義、發展個人的靈性或宗教信仰、建立個人的社會網絡、學習因應日常困擾之能力、嘗試從苦難中找尋生命意義，以獲得較高的生命意義感。最後提出對未來相關研究的建議。 / The study examined the relative contributions of life stress and social support to the prediction of life meaning among Taiwan college students. This study employed three questionnaires to collect data, including Meaning in life Questionnaire, Life Stress Scale, and Social Support Scale. The participants of the study were 576 college students of northern Taiwan. The descriptive statistic, t-test, Pearson’s correlation analysis, stepwise multiple regression and hierarchical multiple regression analysis were used to analyze data. The main findings of this study were: 1. College students generally had the motivation of searching for meaning, but about 1/4 students had deficient or uncertain subjective experience to the presence of life meaning. 2. Male and female students had no significant differentiation in the presence and search for the meaning in life. 3. College students with religious beliefs had higher presence of meaning in life than those who didn’t have religious beliefs. Moreover the higher the dedication in religion a student had the higher meaning in life. 4. There was a positive correlation between the presence of meaning in life and the search for meaning in college students. 5. Daily hassles, number of major life events, and the degree of influence had negative relationship with the presence of life meaning. 6. Positive relationship between social support, degree of influence of daily hassles and the search for meaning in life were found. 7. College students’ social support, degree of influence of daily hassles, number of major life events, and religious beliefs could significantly predict the presence of meaning in life. 8. College students’ social support, degree of influence of daily hassles, and number of daily hassles could significantly predict the search for meaning in life. 9. The dedication level in religion had higher prediction than life stress on the presence of meaning in life among college students who had religious beliefs. 10. The college students' social support had no buffering effect between stress and the meaning of life. According to the findings, researcher suggested that college students could obtain higher levels of life meaning by exploring their meaning of life, developing spirituality or religious beliefs, learning the ability to cope with daily hassles, and finding meaning in sufferings. Finally, suggestions for further research were proposed.