Christa K. Schmidt

Putting the positive in health psychology: A content analysis of three journals

This content analysis investigated the inclusion of positive psychological constructs in research published in three leading health psychology journals. A list of positive constructs relevant to health psychology was compiled and their inclusion in these journals was examined. It was found that although there has been a sharp increase in recent years, only 3 percent of all articles published (114 of 3789) included the study of overtly positive constructs. The constructs that have been most and least studied in health psychology were identified and are discussed. This analysis provides insight into the foundations of positive health psychology and identifies future directions.

Relational Health, Ethnic Identity, and Well-Being of College Students of Color A Strengths-Based Perspective

Within the framework of relational-cultural theory, the current study examined how relational health and ethnic identity contribute to overall well-being in a sample of college students of color. A total of 229 students completed measures of relational health, ethnic identity, indicators of subjective well-being (SWB), and perceptions of physical health. Canonical correlation analyses revealed two patterns of relationships between the variable sets: (a) students who reported lower scores in ethnic identity and in peer, mentor, and community relationships, also demonstrated lower SWB and fewer days in good health, and (b) students who reported high relational health in peer and mentor domains, but lower scores for ethnic identity, had higher reports of both positive and negative affect, as well as both good and poor health. These preliminary findings reflect the complexity of how ethnic identity and relational health differentially predict the well-being of college students of color. The implications of these findings for counseling psychologists are discussed.

Authenticity and Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy in Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual College Students

Theories in career development have discussed the importance of career decision-making self-efficacy (CDMSE); however, there has been little development in this area for the lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) community. Research has shown that LGB individuals may experience disruptions in career development if psychological energy is diverted to developing sexual identity. The present study sought to determine if authenticity, a strength-based characteristic, predicted CDMSE among LGB individuals. Survey results from 95 LGB-identified individuals indicated that components of authenticity, specifically unbiased processing and awareness, accounted for a significant amount of variance in CDMSE. Implications for social service professionals are discussed.

A Mixed Methods Investigation of Posttraumatic Growth in Young Adults Following Parental Divorce

The present study used a mixed methods design to examine factors contributing to posttraumatic growth (PTG) in 232 young adults who experienced parental divorce. Participants completed an online survey including measures of social support, religious coping, posttraumatic stress, and posttraumatic growth. Participants also responded to five open-ended questions related to their parents’ divorce. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that perceived social support, intrinsic religiousness, and positive and negative religious coping contributed statistically significant variance to PTG. Qualitative data revealed themes of both pain and positive growth following parental divorce. Implications to assist children in the promotion of positive growth after parental divorce are discussed.

The History and Future Directions of Positive Health Psychology

While research into positive health psychology has increased within the last decade, some content areas have received greater focus than others. In this chapter, we will review the history of positive health psychology, with particular attention to constructs that have received greater attention from researchers, as well as emerging variables that hold promise for the future of this field. Next, we address the implications of positive health for diverse communities and how strengths-based resources of marginalized populations have meaning for physical health. Finally, the methodological and measurement challenges that are currently present in this line of research will be examined.