Christian T. Gloria

Relationships Among Positive Emotions, Coping, Resilience and Mental Health†

The broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions suggests that positive emotions can widen the range of potential coping strategies that come to mind and subsequently enhance ones resilience against stress. Studies have shown that high stress, especially chronic levels of stress, strongly contributes to the development of anxiety and depressive symptoms. However, researchers have also found that individuals who possess high levels of resilience are protected from stress and thus report lower levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms. Using a sample of 200 postdoctoral research fellows, the present study examined if (a) positive emotions were associated with greater resilience, (b) coping strategies mediated the link between positive emotions and resilience and (c) resilience moderated the influence of stress on trait anxiety and depressive symptoms. Results support the broaden-and-build theory in that positive emotions may enhance resilience directly as well as indirectly through the mediating role of coping strategies-particularly via adaptive coping. Resilience also moderated the association of stress with trait anxiety and depressive symptoms. Although stress is unavoidable and its influences on anxiety and depressive symptoms are undeniable, the likelihood of postdocs developing anxiety or depressive symptoms may be reduced by implementing programmes designed to increase positive emotions, adaptive coping strategies and resilience.

Texas nutrition environment assessment of retail food stores (TxNEA-S): development and evaluation.

OBJECTIVE Current nutrition environment instruments are typically designed to measure a small number of healthy foods based on national trends. They lack the depth to accurately measure the unique dietary choices of subpopulations, such as Texas consumers whose food preferences are influenced by Hispanic/Latino culture. Thus the purposes of the present study were to: (i) develop a comprehensive observational tool to measure the availability of healthy foods from retail stores in Texas; and (ii) conduct a pilot test to examine the tools reliability, as well as differences in the availability of healthy foods in stores between high- and low-income neighbourhoods. DESIGN Grocery and convenience stores were assessed for availability of healthy foods. Reliability was calculated using percentage agreement, and differences in availability were examined using 2 (store type) × 2 (neighbourhood income) ANOVA. SETTING One high-income and one low-income neighbourhood in Austin, Texas. SUBJECTS A sample of thirty-eight stores comprising twenty-five convenience stores and thirteen grocery stores. RESULTS The low-income neighbourhood had 324 % more convenience stores and 56 % fewer grocery stores than the high-income neighbourhood. High inter-rater (mean = 0·95) and test-retest reliability (mean = 0·92) and a significant interaction (P = 0·028) between store type and neighbourhood income were found. CONCLUSIONS The TxNEA-S tool includes 106 healthy food items, such as fruits, vegetables, dairy, proteins and grains. The tool is reliable and face validity is affirmed by the Texas Department of Health. Grocery stores have more healthy foods than convenience stores, and high-income grocery stores offer more healthy foods than low-income grocery stores.

Coping profiles characterize individual flourishing, languishing, and depression

Abstract According to the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions, negative emotions narrow ones thought–action repertoire. In contrast, positive emotions have a broadening effect, expanding cognitive capacity, increasing potential coping strategies that come to mind, and enhancing decision-making, reaction, and adaptation to adversity. Fredrickson and Losada determined that a positivity ratio – the ratio of experienced positive to negative emotions – at or above 2.9 promotes human flourishing. A ratio below 2.9 is indicative of languishing individuals, whereas a ratio below 1.0 is a marker of depression. This study examined whether adaptive and maladaptive coping profiles differentiated those who flourish, languish, or are depressed in two convenience samples – military spouses (n =367) and public school teachers (n=267). Results were consistent with the theoretical predictions, as coping profiles of the groups differed significantly, with flourishing individuals favoring adaptive coping strategies more than those who were languishing or depressed. Conversely, depressed individuals reported greater use of maladaptive coping strategies than those who were languishing or flourishing. These results provide further empirical support for the mathematical model of Fredrickson and Losada, as the set of positivity criteria were predictive of coping profiles in two samples where successful coping and adaptation are important.

Depressive Symptoms among US Military Spouses during Deployment The Protective Effect of Positive Emotions

Using the Broaden-and-Build Theory of Positive Emotions, the relationships among stress, positivity, and depressive symptoms were examined in a sample of military spouses during deployment (N = 367). Over one-third of the spouses reported moderately severe levels of depressive symptoms. After controlling for demographic and deployment variables, stress had a positive association with depressive symptoms (β = .59, p < .001), while positivity had a negative association (β = −.39, p < .001). Positivity was also found to play a moderating role on the relationship between stress and depressive symptoms (β = −.29, p < .001). Spouses with lower positivity reported more depressive symptoms at both low and high levels of stress compared to those with higher positivity. The final model, including both direct and moderating variables, accounted for 69 percent of the total variance in depressive symptoms. Practical implications are discussed in terms of the importance of developing positivity in military spouses.

Perceptions of adolescent wellness at a single-sex school

Although indicators of wellness among minority adolescent females decline over time, this trend has not been examined among adolescents attending single-sex, public schools. Recent evidence has shown that students attending single-sex schools have improved outcomes when compared to co-educational schools. The purpose of this study was to (a) examine whether students attending a predominantly minority single-sex school demonstrated a decline in perceived wellness; (b) identify what it means to be healthy and have a well-balanced lifestyle from the perspective of the school community (viz., students, faculty, and parents); and (c) determine how the school is promoting student wellness. Cross-sectional data were collected from students enrolled at a single-sex, public school in the Southwestern USA. Grades sixth through ninth (n = 338) completed the Survey of Adolescent Wellness (SAW) which assessed their perceived emotional, intellectual, physical, psychological, social, and spiritual wellness. In addition, samples of students (n = 411), faculty (n = 48), and parents (n = 290) answered four open-ended qualitative questions that examined their perceptions of wellness. Multivariate analysis of variance found significant decreases from grades sixth through ninth for each domain of the SAW, with the exception of social wellness. Qualitative data reflected the schools commitment to holistic wellness and strong support of the program by faculty and parents. The decline in perceived wellness among minority adolescent females in this study lends support for existing international trends. Interventions are warranted to address this decline; moreover, the unique social environment that single-sex schools provide needs further exploration.

The direct and mediating roles of positive emotions on work engagement among postdoctoral fellows

Universities increasingly value the contribution of postdoctoral fellows (postdocs) toward organizational success, yet this group is often the most overlooked and underserved compared to others in higher education (namely, students, faculty, and staff). Despite the stressful and challenging nature of the profession, it is critical for postdocs to remain highly engaged with their work, considering the strong relationships among work engagement, individual productivity, and organizational success. Studies identified work meaningfulness and supervisor support as strong predictors of engagement; however, less is known about the influence of positive emotions. Thus, the present study (n = 200) examined if emotions contribute to engagement, beyond the effects of work meaningfulness, supervisor support, and demographic controls. Results showed that positive emotions were associated with engagement and fully mediated the link between supervisor support and engagement. To promote postdoc work engagement, supervisors should assign meaningful work, and provide supportive workplace environments that stimulate positive emotions.

Too Much of a Good Thing: Curvilinear Effect of the Positivity Ratio onEmotional Dysfunction and Perceived Resources in Adolescent Females

Background: The benefits of a broadened mind set across moments of positivity accumulate over time and build enduring personal resources. Positivity can transform one’s life for the better, enhancing health and building greater resilience to adversity. Evidence is strong that positivity is a key active ingredient in flourishing mental health, however, less is known about the upper limit of positivity for optimal functioning. Aim: This study examined if exceedingly high positivity ratios – experienced positive to negative emotions – were associated with increased emotional dysfunction (stress, depressive symptoms) and downturned perceived personal (resilience, hope) and environmental (social support, school connectedness) resources. Methods: Participants (N=510) attending an all-girls public school completed a survey assessing positive/negative emotions (the positivity ratio), emotional dysfunction, and perceived personal and environmental resources. Linear and quadratic regression equations for the relationship between the positivity ratio and emotional dysfunction and perceived resources were modeled and compared. Results: The relationships between the positivity ratio and both emotional dysfunction and perceived resources were best fit by quadratic equations, indicative of enhanced functioning up to a point, beyond which functioning decreased at the highest levels of positivity. Conclusion: More frequent experiences of positive emotions and/or less frequent experiences of negative emotions are adaptive, within bounds, in promoting emotional functioning and helping adolescents perceive greater availability of personal and environmental resources.