1;A Positive Psychology Perspective on Qualityof Life;3 1.1;Contents;5 1.2;Contributors;7 1.3;Chapter 1: Introduction: Looking at Quality of Life and Well-Being from a Positive Psychology Perspective;9 1.3.1;1 Introduction;9 1.3.2;2 The Book;10 1.3.2.1;2.1 Organization of the Book;13 1.3.3;3 Part I. Subjective Well-Being, Quality of Life, and Positive Psychology;13 1.3.4;4 Part II. Positive Psychology and QoL;17 1.3.5;References;21 1.4;Part I: Quality of Life, Well-Being, and Positive Psychology;23 1.4.1;Chapter 2: Hierarchical Needs, Income Comparisons, and Happiness Levels;24 1.4.1.1;1 Introduction;24 1.4.1.2;2 Income and Happiness;25 1.4.1.3;3 Explanations of the Paradox;29 1.4.1.4;4 The Needs Hierarchy Approach;30 1.4.1.5;5 Income Comparisons;33 1.4.1.6;6 Concluding Comments;35 1.4.1.7;References;36 1.4.2;Chapter 3: Goals and Plans: Their Relationship to Well-Being;40 1.4.2.1;1 Introduction;40 1.4.2.2;2 Well-Being;41 1.4.2.2.1;2.1 Subjective Well-Being;42 1.4.2.3;3 Goals;42 1.4.2.4;4 Goals and Well-Being;44 1.4.2.4.1;4.1 Goal Progress;45 1.4.2.4.2;4.2 Goal Content;46 1.4.2.4.3;4.3 Goal Orientation: Approach Versus Avoidance Goals;48 1.4.2.4.4;4.4 Goal Organisation;49 1.4.2.4.5;4.5 Goal Excessiveness;50 1.4.2.5;5 Plans;50 1.4.2.5.1;5.1 What Are Plans?;50 1.4.2.5.2;5.2 Are Plans Linked to Well-Being?;51 1.4.2.5.3;5.3 How Are Plans Linked to Well-Being?;52 1.4.2.6;6 Conclusion;54 1.4.2.7;References;54 1.4.3;Chapter 4: Living in Accordance with One´s Implicit Motives: Cross-Cultural Evidence for Beneficial Effects of Motive-Goal Congruence and Motive Satisfaction;58 1.4.3.1;1 Introduction;58 1.4.3.2;2 Human Strivings and Well-Being;59 1.4.3.3;3 Types of Motivational Systems;60 1.4.3.4;4 Determinants of Motive Congruence;61 1.4.3.5;5 Consequences of Motive Congruence;62 1.4.3.6;6 Acknowledging Culture´s Impact on Behavior and Well-Being While Also Looking Beyond Culture;63 1.4.3.7;7 Cross-Cultural Findings on Beneficial Effects of Motive-Goal Congruence;65 1.4.3.8;8 Conclusion and Open Questions;69 1.4.3.9;References;71 1.4.4;Chapter 5: Positive Psychology and Subjective Well-Being Homeostasis: A Critical Examination of Congruence;74 1.4.4.1;1 Introduction;74 1.4.4.2;2 Definition;75 1.4.4.2.1;2.1 Positive Reviews of Positive Psychology;75 1.4.4.3;3 Subjective Well-Being Homeostasis;76 1.4.4.3.1;3.1 SWB Is Normally Stable and Positive;77 1.4.4.3.2;3.2 SWB Is Homeostatically Protected;77 1.4.4.3.3;3.3 Homeostasis Is Defending HP Mood;79 1.4.4.3.4;3.4 Normal Ranges;80 1.4.4.3.5;3.5 The Implications of Homeostasis for Positive Psychology;81 1.4.4.4;4 Evidence for the Claims of Positive Psychology;82 1.4.4.4.1;4.1 Meditation and Mindfulness;88 1.4.4.5;5 Other Critiques and Summary;89 1.4.4.6;References;90 1.4.5;Chapter 6: Life Satisfaction in Adults: The Effect of Religiosity, Worry, and Perceived Physical Health State;94 1.4.5.1;1 Introduction;94 1.4.5.2;2 Life Satisfaction and Other Components of Subjective Well-Being;95 1.4.5.3;3 Religiosity and Life Satisfaction;96 1.4.5.3.1;3.1 Religiosity in Greece;97 1.4.5.4;4 Aims and Hypotheses of the Study;98 1.4.5.5;5 Method;98 1.4.5.5.1;5.1 Participants;98 1.4.5.5.2;5.2 Instruments;99 1.4.5.6;6 Results;102 1.4.5.6.1;6.1 Individual Differences Effects;102 1.4.5.6.1.1;6.1.1 Life Satisfaction;102 1.4.5.6.1.2;6.1.2 Religiosity;102 1.4.5.6.1.3;6.1.3 Worry;102 1.4.5.6.1.4;6.1.4 Perceived Physical Health State;103 1.4.5.7;7 Relations Between Life Satisfaction, Religiosity, Worry, and Perceived Health State;103 1.4.5.7.1;7.1 Predictors of Life Satisfaction;104 1.4.5.8;8 Discussion;105 1.4.5.8.1;8.1 Life Satisfaction;105 1.4.5.8.2;8.2 Religiosity;106 1.4.5.8.3;8.3 Worry;106 1.4.5.8.4;8.4 Perceived Physical Health State;106 1.4.5.9;9 Predictors of Life Satisfaction;107 1.4.5.9.1;9.1 Life Satisfaction and Religiosity;107 1.4.5.9.2;9.2 Life Satisfaction in Relation to Worry and Perceived Health State;108 1.4.5.9.3;9.3 Religiosity and Worry;109 1.4.5.10;10 Limitations of the Study and Future Research;109 1.4.5.11;References;110 1.4.6;Chapter 7: Altruism and Health: Theoretical Perspectives;114 1.4.6.1;1 Introduction;114 1.4.6.2;2 A Serendipitous Beginning;115 1.4.6.3;3 Theoretical Model;116 1.4.6.4;4 Altruism and Health in Healthy Samples;118 1.4.6.4.1;4.1 Health Correlates in Healthy Adults;118 1.4.6.4.2;4.2 Health Correlates in Healthy Adolescents;119 1.4.6.5;5 Cause or Effect?;121 1.4.6.6;6 Salutogenic Evidence of Altruism in Patient Samples;122 1.4.6.7;7 Revisiting Theory;124 1.4.6.8;8 Implication for Social Networks and Community;126 1.4.6.9;9 Implication for Cognitive Reserve and Disability;127 1.4.6.10;10 Directions for the Future;128 1.4.6.11;11 Conclusion;129 1.4.6.12;References;129 1.4.7;Chapter 8: Marital Quality and Well-Being: The Role of Gender, Marital Duration, Social Support and Cultural Context;132 1.4.7.1;1 Introduction;132 1.4.7.2;2 Marital Quality and Well-Being;133 1.4.7.3;3 Marital Quality and Well-Being: The Role of Gender;135 1.4.7.4;4 Marital Quality and Well-Being: The Role of Age and Marital Duration;136 1.4.7.5;5 Marital Quality and Well-Being: The Role of Social Support and the Cultural Context;137 1.4.7.6;6 A Cross-Sectional Study with Greek Married Couples;139 1.4.7.7;7 Method;140 1.4.7.7.1;7.1 Participants;140 1.4.7.7.2;7.2 Instruments;140 1.4.7.8;8 Results;141 1.4.7.8.1;8.1 Preliminary Analyses;141 1.4.7.8.2;8.2 The Relationship Between Marital Quality, Social Support and Depressive Symptoms: Bivariate Analyses;141 1.4.7.8.3;8.3 The Relationship Between Marital Quality, Social Support and Depressive Symptoms: The Actor-Partner Interdependence Model;143 1.4.7.9;9 Discussion;145 1.4.7.10;References;148 1.5;Part II: Positive Psychology and Human Strengths;153 1.5.1;Chapter 9: The Role of Dispositional Optimism in Physical and Mental Well-Being;154 1.5.1.1;1 Introduction;154 1.5.1.2;2 Optimism;154 1.5.1.2.1;2.1 Development of Optimism;157 1.5.1.2.2;2.2 Temporal Stability of Optimism;158 1.5.1.2.3;2.3 Optimism as a Predictor of Health Outcomes;158 1.5.1.3;3 Physical Health;158 1.5.1.3.1;3.1 Physical Functioning and Perceived Health;158 1.5.1.3.2;3.2 Morbidity and Mortality;159 1.5.1.4;4 Mental Well-Being;163 1.5.1.5;5 Potential Mechanistic Correlates of Optimism;164 1.5.1.5.1;5.1 Coping Style;164 1.5.1.5.2;5.2 Social Integration;165 1.5.1.5.3;5.3 Health Behaviors;166 1.5.1.5.4;5.4 Systemic Stress, Oxidative Stress, and Inflammation;167 1.5.1.6;6 Interventions to Increase Optimism;168 1.5.1.7;7 Concluding Remarks and Recommendations;170 1.5.1.8;References;171 1.5.2;Chapter 10: The Relation of Optimism to Cardiac Patients´ Subjective Health Through Illness Representations: Does the Level of Optimism Matter?;179 1.5.2.1;1 Introduction;179 1.5.2.1.1;1.1 Optimism;179 1.5.2.1.2;1.2 Optimism and Illness Representations;180 1.5.2.2;2 Method;181 1.5.2.2.1;2.1 Participants and Procedure;181 1.5.2.2.2;2.2 Measures;182 1.5.2.2.3;2.3 Statistical Analysis;183 1.5.2.3;3 Results;183 1.5.2.4;4 Discussion;187 1.5.2.5;References;190 1.5.3;Chapter 11: Wise Thinking, Hopeful Thinking, and Positive Aging: Reciprocal Relations of Wisdom, Hope, Memory, and Affect in Young, Middle-Aged, and Older Adults;193 1.5.3.1;1 Wisdom, Hope, and Positive Aging;193 1.5.3.2;2 Psychological Theories of Wisdom;194 1.5.3.2.1;2.1 Wisdom as a Synthetic Skill: Wise Thinking as Integrated Dialectical Thinking and Awareness of Life Uncertainty;194 1.5.3.2.2;2.2 Wisdom as an Analytic Skill: Wise Thinking as Practical Wisdom;195 1.5.3.3;3 Wise Thinking, Age, and Demographic Characteristics;196 1.5.3.4;4 Wise Thinking, Memory, and State Affect;197 1.5.3.5;5 Wise Thinking and Hopeful Thinking;198 1.5.3.6;6 Hopeful Thinking, Age, and Demographic Characteristics;199 1.5.3.7;7 Hopeful Thinking, Memory, and State Affect;200 1.5.3.8;8 The Present Study;201 1.5.3.8.1;8.1 Hypotheses;201 1.5.3.8.2;8.2 Method;202 1.5.3.8.2.1;8.2.1 Participants and Procedure;202 1.5.3.8.2.2;8.2.2 Instruments;203 1.5.3.8.2.3;8.2.3 Statistical Analyses;205 1.5.3.8.3;8.3 Results;206 1.5.3.8.3.1;8.3.1 Reciprocal Effects Between Hope and Wisdom;206 1.5.3.8.3.2;8.3.2 Reciprocal Effects Between Wisdom and Memory;209 1.5.3.8.3.3;8.3.3 Reciprocal Effects Between Hope, Wisdom, and State Affect;210 1.5.3.8.3.4;8.3.4 The Integrated ``Picture´´ of the Relationships Among Hope, Wisdom, Memory, and State Affect: The All-Embracing Recursiv...;211 1.5.3.8.3.5;8.3.5 The Effects of Age, Education, and Gender on Hope, Wisdom, Memory, and Affect;213 1.5.3.8.4;8.4 Discussion;213 1.5.3.8.4.1;8.4.1 Reciprocal Effects Between Hopeful and Wise Thinking;213 1.5.3.8.4.2;8.4.2 Wisdom and Memory: Reciprocal Effects Between Wise Thinking and Memory Performance;216 1.5.3.8.4.3;8.4.3 Hope, Wisdom, and State Affect;216 1.5.3.8.4.4;8.4.4 The Integrated Model;217 1.5.3.8.4.5;8.4.5 The Effects of Age and Demographic Characteristics on Hopeful and Wise Thinking, State Affect, and Memory;218 1.5.3.8.4.6;8.4.6 Limitations of the Study;219 1.5.3.8.4.7;8.4.7 Conclusions: Implications of the Study;220 1.5.3.9;References;221 1.5.4;Chapter 12: Dispositional Hope and Action-State Orientation: Their Role in Self-Regulated Learning;223 1.5.4.1;1 Introduction;223 1.5.4.2;2 Hope;224 1.5.4.2.1;2.1 Hope Versus Other Positive Psychology Constructs;225 1.5.4.2.2;2.2 Hope, Learning Strategies, and Academic Achievement;226 1.5.4.3;3 Action Control;228 1.5.4.3.1;3.1 Action Control, Learning Strategies, and Performance;229 1.5.4.4;4 Aim: Hypotheses;230 1.5.4.5;5 Method;231 1.5.4.5.1;5.1 Participants;231 1.5.4.5.2;5.2 Instruments;231 1.5.4.5.3;5.3 Procedure;235 1.5.4.5.4;5.4 Statistical Analysis;235 1.5.4.6;6 Results;236 1.5.4.6.1;6.1 Path Analysis;236 1.5.4.7;7 Discussion;239 1.5.4.7.1;7.1 Effects of Hope on SRL Strategy Use and Course Attainment;239 1.5.4.7.2;7.2 Effects of Action Control on SRL Strategy Use and Course Attainment;240 1.5.4.7.3;7.3 Effects of SRL Strategy Use on Course Attainment;241 1.5.4.7.4;7.4 Relations Between Hope and Action Control;241 1.5.4.7.5;7.5 Limitations of the Study;242 1.5.4.8;References;242 1.5.5;Chapter 13: One Ingredient in the Mix: Interest and Psychological Well-Being;246 1.5.5.1;1 Introduction;246 1.5.5.2;2 The Ubiquity of Interest;248 1.5.5.2.1;2.1 Interest and Curiosity;248 1.5.5.2.2;2.2 Interest and Enjoyment;249 1.5.5.2.3;2.3 Interest and Self-regulation;249 1.5.5.2.4;2.4 Developed Interest Schemas;250 1.5.5.3;3 Interest Schemas and Psychological Well-Being;251 1.5.5.3.1;3.1 Interest and Curiosity as Character Strength;251 1.5.5.3.2;3.2 Interaction with Carers and Early Interest Schemas;253 1.5.5.3.3;3.3 Positive Youth Development;254 1.5.5.3.4;3.4 Well-Being, Positive Affect and Adult Life;256 1.5.5.3.5;3.5 Positive Affect and Life Satisfaction;257 1.5.5.4;4 Conclusion;259 1.5.5.5;References;259 1.5.6;Chapter 14: From Burnout to Engagement During Transition from School to Work;262 1.5.6.1;1 Introduction;262 1.5.6.2;2 Burnout and Engagement at School;262 1.5.6.3;3 Educational Track and School Burnout;264 1.5.6.3.1;3.1 Demands-Resources Model in the School Context;266 1.5.6.4;4 Transition From Upper-Secondary School to University;267 1.5.6.5;5 Transition to Tertiary Education and Gap Year;269 1.5.6.6;6 From University to Work;270 1.5.6.7;7 Discussion;272 1.5.6.8;References;274 1.5.7;Chapter 15: A Comparative Study of Resilience in Greece and Cyprus: The Effects of Negative Life Events, Self-Efficacy, and Social Support on Mental Health;276 1.5.7.1;1 Introduction;276 1.5.7.1.1;1.1 Criteria for the Identification of Resilience: Adversity and Adaptation;277 1.5.7.1.2;1.2 The Role of Resources in Resilience;278 1.5.7.1.3;1.3 A Cross-Cultural View of Resilience;279 1.5.7.1.4;1.4 The Scope of the Present Study;280 1.5.7.2;2 Method;281 1.5.7.2.1;2.1 Sample Characteristics;281 1.5.7.2.2;2.2 Measures;281 1.5.7.3;3 Results;283 1.5.7.3.1;3.1 Demographic Effects in the Total Sample;283 1.5.7.3.2;3.2 Demographic Effects Within Each Country;288 1.5.7.3.3;3.3 Cross-Country Comparisons;288 1.5.7.3.4;3.4 The Mediational Role of Self-Efficacy and Social Support;289 1.5.7.4;4 Discussion;290 1.5.7.4.1;4.1 The Influence of Demographic Factors on Resilience;292 1.5.7.4.2;4.2 The Role of Negative Life Events in the Process of Resilience;293 1.5.7.4.3;4.3 The Manifestation of Resilience;294 1.5.7.4.4;4.4 Limitations of the Study, Contribution and Directions for the Future;295 1.5.7.5;References;295 1.6;Index;298