A Longitudinal Analysis
397368
JLO
A Longitudinal Analysis of Positive
Psychological Constructs and Emotions on Stress, Anxiety, and Well-Being
Journal of Leadership &
Organizational Studies
18(2) 216–228
© Baker College 2011
Reprints and permission: http://www. sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/1548051810397368 http://jlos.sagepub.com James B. Avey1, Tara S. Wernsing2, and Ketan H. Mhatre3
Abstract
Two studies were conducted including one involving a longitudinal research design to understand better the influential role of the positive psychological capacities of hope, efficacy, optimism, resilience, as well as positive emotions on individual stress, anxiety, and well-being. Study 1 (N = 1,316) was conducted to validate a hypothesized relationship …show more content…
From this clinical perspective, Masten and Reed (2002) assert resilience is “a class of phenomena characterized by patterns of positive adaptation in the context of significant adversity or risk” (p. 74). Luthans (2002) defines resilience as a “positive psychological capacity to rebound, to ‘bounce back’ from adversity, uncertainty, conflict, failure, or even positive change, progress and increased responsibility”
(p. 702). Resilience is discriminant from the other three capacities as it is uniquely reactive in nature instead of proactive.
Resilience enables an individual to frame an event in such a way that he or she reacts positively, bouncing back to even higher levels of well-being than original homeostasis. To do so, for example, individuals find a way to interpret challenges and setbacks as contributions to their development and success. The Psychological Capital Construct
The four dimensions of hope, efficacy, resilience, and optimism just described form the basis of the explanatory mechanisms used to understand the relation between …show more content…
Kennerley (1995) highlighted how prolonged anxiety can result in hypersensitivity and chronic worrying and have an adverse impact on individuals in the workplace. For example, individuals experiencing prolonged anxiety are susceptible to problems like difficulty in being able to concentrate, and anxiety can have undesirable effects on their memory, perception, and sleep (Kennerley, 1995). Lazarus and Folkman (1984) presented a model of anxiety in which they suggested that anxiety is affected by an interaction between the appraisal of external and internal processes. According to their model, internal processes such as learnt beliefs are responsible for determining whether external stressors in the environment are perceived as threats or benign experiences. In this way, cognitive appraisals produce perceptions of uncontrollability and corresponding feelings of anxiety.
Conversely, positive emotions have a wide range of documented beneficial effects on individuals (see reviews by
Lyubomirsky, King, & Diener, 2005; Pressman & Cohen,
2005). When people experience positive emotions, they are inclined to think, feel, and act in ways that promote resource building and action toward goals (Elliot & Thrash,
JLO
A Longitudinal Analysis of Positive
Psychological Constructs and Emotions on Stress, Anxiety, and Well-Being
Journal of Leadership &
Organizational Studies
18(2) 216–228
© Baker College 2011
Reprints and permission: http://www. sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/1548051810397368 http://jlos.sagepub.com James B. Avey1, Tara S. Wernsing2, and Ketan H. Mhatre3
Abstract
Two studies were conducted including one involving a longitudinal research design to understand better the influential role of the positive psychological capacities of hope, efficacy, optimism, resilience, as well as positive emotions on individual stress, anxiety, and well-being. Study 1 (N = 1,316) was conducted to validate a hypothesized relationship …show more content…
From this clinical perspective, Masten and Reed (2002) assert resilience is “a class of phenomena characterized by patterns of positive adaptation in the context of significant adversity or risk” (p. 74). Luthans (2002) defines resilience as a “positive psychological capacity to rebound, to ‘bounce back’ from adversity, uncertainty, conflict, failure, or even positive change, progress and increased responsibility”
(p. 702). Resilience is discriminant from the other three capacities as it is uniquely reactive in nature instead of proactive.
Resilience enables an individual to frame an event in such a way that he or she reacts positively, bouncing back to even higher levels of well-being than original homeostasis. To do so, for example, individuals find a way to interpret challenges and setbacks as contributions to their development and success. The Psychological Capital Construct
The four dimensions of hope, efficacy, resilience, and optimism just described form the basis of the explanatory mechanisms used to understand the relation between …show more content…
Kennerley (1995) highlighted how prolonged anxiety can result in hypersensitivity and chronic worrying and have an adverse impact on individuals in the workplace. For example, individuals experiencing prolonged anxiety are susceptible to problems like difficulty in being able to concentrate, and anxiety can have undesirable effects on their memory, perception, and sleep (Kennerley, 1995). Lazarus and Folkman (1984) presented a model of anxiety in which they suggested that anxiety is affected by an interaction between the appraisal of external and internal processes. According to their model, internal processes such as learnt beliefs are responsible for determining whether external stressors in the environment are perceived as threats or benign experiences. In this way, cognitive appraisals produce perceptions of uncontrollability and corresponding feelings of anxiety.
Conversely, positive emotions have a wide range of documented beneficial effects on individuals (see reviews by
Lyubomirsky, King, & Diener, 2005; Pressman & Cohen,
2005). When people experience positive emotions, they are inclined to think, feel, and act in ways that promote resource building and action toward goals (Elliot & Thrash,