Dataset Information

The German Version of the Strengths Use Scale: The Relation of Using Individual Strengths and Well-being.

ABSTRACT: Theoretical perspectives in positive psychology have considered the possession and use of strengths equally but in applied research more studies focused on having them, probably due to the absence of psychometrically adequate scales. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the psychometric characteristics of the German language version of the Strengths Use Scale (SUS) and to explore relationships between strengths use and several indicator measures of well-being: the presence of positive and the absence of negative affect, self-esteem as identity aspect, vitality as self-regulatory resource, and stress for capturing the evaluation of difficulties and obstacles impinging on well-being. The original English version of the SUS was translated following recommended independent forward-backward translation techniques. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted, including a German-speaking convenience sample of university students (N = 374). Additionally, the relations of strengths use and well-being indicators were analyzed. Factorial validity revealed a single-factor structure of the German version of the SUS, explaining 58.4% variance (factor loadings: 0.58 to 0.86), approving the scale's design and showing high internal consistency (Cronbach's ? 0.95). The hypothesized positive relationships of strengths use with positive affect, self-esteem, and vitality were confirmed as well as the negative relationships with negative affect and stress. The German version of the SUS is psychometrically sound and data indicate that individual strengths use and well-being related measures interact. The instrument can be recommended for future research questions such as if and how the promotion of applying individual strengths during education enhances levels of well-being, or how the implementation of strengths use in job-design guidelines or working conditions can result in higher levels of well-being or healthiness.

SUBMITTER: Huber A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5406780 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

The German Version of the Strengths Use Scale: The Relation of Using Individual Strengths and Well-being.

Huber Alexandra A Webb Dave D Höfer Stefan S

Frontiers in psychology 20170427

Theoretical perspectives in positive psychology have considered the possession and use of strengths equally but in applied research more studies focused on having them, probably due to the absence of psychometrically adequate scales. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the psychometric characteristics of the German language version of the Strengths Use Scale (SUS) and to explore relationships between strengths use and several indicator measures of well-being: the presence of positive ...[more]

PMID: 28496424

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundThe aim of this study was to examine the internal consistency, structural validity, and convergent/known-group validity of the Japanese version of the 42-item Psychological Well-Being Scale (PWBS-42).MethodsThe PWBS-42 includes six 7-item subscales designed to measure the following dimensions of eudaimonic psychological well-being: 1) autonomy, 2) environmental mastery, 3) personal growth, 4) positive relations with others, 5) purpose in life, and 6) self-acceptance. A questionnaire was administered to 2102 community residents in Tokyo aged 30 or over as a part of the Midlife in Japan (MIDJA) survey, in 2008. The internal consistency reliability was tested using Cronbach's α. Structural validity was examined using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Convergent validity was evaluated by calculating correlations of the Japanese PWBS-42 subscales with life satisfaction, negative affect, negative adjectives, positive affect, positive adjectives, self-esteem, and perceived stress scales.ResultsData from 1027 respondents (505 males and 522 females) were analyzed (valid response rate = 56.2%). Cronbach's α values ranged from 0.70 to 0.78 for five of the subscales, while that for purpose in life was lower (0.57). EFA yielded a five-factor structure: The first two factors consisted of negative and positive items mostly from the environmental mastery, purpose in life, and self-acceptance subscales. The third, fourth, and fifth factors consisted mostly of items from the positive relations with others, autonomy, and personal growth subscales, respectively. As hypothesized, the scores for life satisfaction, negative and positive affect/adjectives, self-esteem and perceived stress were significantly correlated with all subscales of the Japanese PWBS-42.ConclusionThe subscales of the Japanese version of the PWBS-42 showed accep. levels of reliability and support for convergent validity in the Japanese population. The factor structure was slightly different from the theoretical 6-factor model: items of three subscales (environmental mastery, purpose in life, and self-acceptance) loaded together on two factors. This finding may be interpreted in light of the interdependent self construal found in Japan in which these three components could be closely linked.

Project description:Character strengths profiles in the specific setting of medical professionals are widely unchartered territory. This paper focused on an overview of character strengths profiles of medical professionals (medical students and physicians) based on literature research and available empirical data illustrating their impact on well-being and work engagement. A literature research was conducted and the majority of peer-reviewed considered articles dealt with theoretical or conceptually driven 'virtues' associated with medical specialties or questions of ethics in patient care (e.g., professionalism, or what makes a good physician). The virtues of compassion, courage, altruism, and benevolence were described most often. Only a limited number of papers addressed character strengths of medical students or physicians according to the VIA-classification. Those articles showed that the VIA-character strengths fairness, honesty, kindness, and teamwork were considered most often by respondents to be particularly important for the medical profession. Available cross-sectional (time span: six years) and longitudinal (time span: three years) data regarding VIA-character strengths profiles of medical professionals were analyzed (N = 584 medical students, 274 physicians). These profiles were quite homogenous among both groups. The character strengths fairness, honesty, judgment, kindness, and love had the highest means in both samples. Noteworthy differences appeared when comparing medical specialties, in particular concerning general surgeons and psychiatrists, with the former reporting clearly higher levels of e.g., honesty (d = 1.02) or prudence (d = 1.19). Long-term results revealed significant positive effects of character strengths on well-being and work engagement (e.g., perseverance on physicians' work engagement) but also significant negative effects (e.g., appreciation of beauty and excellence on students' well-being). Further, hope was significantly associated both positively with physicians' well-being and negatively with students' work engagement, possibly indicating specific issues concerning medical education or hospital working conditions. According to the modern-day physician's pledge, medical professionals should pay attention to their own well-being and health. Therefore, promoting self-awareness and character building among medical professionals could be a beneficial strategy.

Project description:BACKGROUND:Diagnosis of fetal anomaly is a significant life event and social stigma can negatively impact on the well-being of women opting for an abortion. This study investigated the psychometric properties of a measure of stigma among women who had had an abortion after diagnosis of fetal anomaly in a German setting. METHODS:The Individual Level Abortion Stigma (ILAS) scale was translated into German. Psychometric properties of the ILAS scale were examined among 130 women with a history of an abortion after diagnosis of fetal anomaly. Individual and situational factors associated with stigma in the context of an abortion after diagnosis of fetal anomaly were explored. RESULTS:Factor analysis suggested a four-dimensional structure of the German version of the Individual Level Abortion Stigma scale (Cronbach's α, .83-.91), corresponding to the subscales of the original scale. Test-retest reliability was acceptable for the worries about judgment subscale, the self-judgment subscale, and the community condemnation subscale, but less convincing for the isolation subscale. Associations between the subscales and measures of depression, self-esteem and secrecy were found in directions consistent with theory. Women who did not perceive their fetus to have a low survival chance and women whose fetus was at higher gestational age reported higher levels of stigma, whereas higher perceived partner support was associated with lower levels of stigma. LIMITATION:Generalizability of study results was limited, as participants were recruited from one clinic in Germany and the study had a response rate of 46.5%. CONCLUSIONS:The ILAS subscales are largely reliable and valid measures to assess stigma among women who have had an abortion after diagnosis of fetal anomaly. Suggestions for improving the assessment of stigma experienced in this population are outlined. The scales can be useful in research aiming at investigating psychological outcomes of abortion after diagnosis of fetal anomaly and improving care structures.

Dataset Information

The German Version of the Strengths Use Scale: The Relation of Using Individual Strengths and Well-being.

Publications

The German Version of the Strengths Use Scale: The Relation of Using Individual Strengths and Well-being.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets