Is the emotion-health connection a "first-world problem"?

Emotions have been shown to play a critical role in health outcomes, but research on this topic has been limited to studies in industrialized countries, which prevents broad generalizations. This study assessed whether emotion-health connections persist across various regions, including less-developed countries, where the degree to which people's fundamental needs are met might be a better predictor of physical well-being. Individuals from 142 countries (N = 150,048) were surveyed about their emotions, health, hunger, shelter, and threats to safety.

Optimism is universal: exploring the presence and benefits of optimism in a representative sample of the world.

Current theories of optimism suggest that the tendency to maintain positive expectations for the future is an adaptive psychological resource associated with improved well-being and physical health, but the majority of previous optimism research has been conducted in industrialized nations. The present study examined (a) whether optimism is universal, (b) what demographic factors predict optimism, and (c) whether optimism is consistently associated with improved subjective well-being and perceived health worldwide. The present study used representative samples of 142 countries that together represent 95% of the world's population.

Use of the "Mental Health Inventory - 5" with Portuguese 10-15 years old.

The present study describes the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the Mental Health Inventory-5 for use with young adolescents. A sample of 367 Portuguese students (aged 10-15 years) completed the Portuguese-language versions of Mental Health Inventory-5 (MHI-5; Berwick et al., 1991), Children's Hope Scale (CHS; Snyder et al.

Positive pathways to adulthood: the role of hope in adolescents' constructions of their futures.

Hope has been studied within various disciplines since at least the 1950s, as researchers have attempted to describe, explain, and predict the association between human functioning and this seemingly vital-yet often abstract-construct. Recent work by Snyder and colleagues identified future goal orientation as a necessary component of hope. For developmental scientists, understanding the associations between hope and intentional self regulation strategies that may help young people achieve their goals could provide insight into the positive development of youth.

The hierarchical structure of well-being.

Theories of hedonic, eudaimonic, and social well-being provide 3 extensively studied models for explaining flourishing mental health. Few studies have examined whether these models can be integrated into a comprehensive structure of well-being. The present study builds upon previous theoretical and empirical work to determine the complex relationships among these 3 models of well-being.

An open source approach to creating positive psychological practice: A comment on Wong's Strengths-centered Therapy.

Positive psychology research has attracted the attention of both scholars and clinicians and is being translated into change strategies that could bring about greater well-being and life meaning. These new therapeutic models could be developed and refined in isolation (within one lab or clinic) and then shared with fellow professionals or developed and subjected to examination and modification by mental health colleagues across the world as we create strengths-based therapies that work. The authors examine Wong's (see record 2006-07640-001) Strengths-centered Therapy and advocate for an open source approach to developing positive psychological practice techniques.

Factor structure of MicroCog in a clinical sample.

Two factor solutions adequately describe the MicroCog performance data of a clinical sample of substance abusers. Information Processing Speed and Information Processing Accuracy factors seem to explain the Short Form and Standard Form scores of a clinical sample as they do for the normative sample. Clinicians need to be aware that the factor scores do not allow for unambiguous interpretation, but may be more meaningful than independent domain scores.

Internship placement data: is nonplacement the only concern?

Current discussion regarding securing internships often focuses on their availability. Thus, quantity is especially emphasized. However, quality is also an issue of importance.