Aims - The present study is part of a longitudinal project aimed at identifying the personal characteristics and the developmental pathways conducive to successful adaptation from childhood to adulthood. The study examined the concurrent and longitudinal impact of self-efficacy beliefs on subjective well-being in adolescence, namely positive thinking and happiness. Positive thinking has been operationalized as the latent dimension underlying life satisfaction, self-esteem and optimism. Happiness has been operationalized as the difference between positive and negative affects, as they are experienced in a variety of daily situations. Methods - In a group of 664 Italian adolescents, a structural model positing adolescents' emotional and interpersonal situ-efficacy beliefs as proximal and distal determinants of positive thinking and happiness has been tested. Results - Findings attest to the impact of affective and interpersonal-social self-efficacy beliefs on positive thinking and happiness both concurrently and longitudinally. Conclusions - Adolescents' self-efficacy beliefs to manage positive and negative emotions and interpersonal relationships contribute to promote positive expectations about the future, to mantain a high self-concept, to perceive a sense of satisfaction for the life and to experience more positive emotions
Caprara, G., Steca, P., Gerbino, M., Paciello, M., Vecchio, G. (2006). Looking for adolescents' well-being: self-efficacy beliefs as determinants of positive thinking and happiness. EPIDEMIOLOGIA E PSICHIATRIA SOCIALE, 15(1), 30-43 [10.1017/S1121189X00002013].
Looking for adolescents' well-being: self-efficacy beliefs as determinants of positive thinking and happiness
STECA, PATRIZIA;
2006
Abstract
Aims - The present study is part of a longitudinal project aimed at identifying the personal characteristics and the developmental pathways conducive to successful adaptation from childhood to adulthood. The study examined the concurrent and longitudinal impact of self-efficacy beliefs on subjective well-being in adolescence, namely positive thinking and happiness. Positive thinking has been operationalized as the latent dimension underlying life satisfaction, self-esteem and optimism. Happiness has been operationalized as the difference between positive and negative affects, as they are experienced in a variety of daily situations. Methods - In a group of 664 Italian adolescents, a structural model positing adolescents' emotional and interpersonal situ-efficacy beliefs as proximal and distal determinants of positive thinking and happiness has been tested. Results - Findings attest to the impact of affective and interpersonal-social self-efficacy beliefs on positive thinking and happiness both concurrently and longitudinally. Conclusions - Adolescents' self-efficacy beliefs to manage positive and negative emotions and interpersonal relationships contribute to promote positive expectations about the future, to mantain a high self-concept, to perceive a sense of satisfaction for the life and to experience more positive emotionsI documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.