The main purpose of this thesis is to study the relationship between Seligman’s (2011) well-being theory and character strengths and then to investigate the effect of the signature strengths use based intervention to improve well-being. For this, th...
The main purpose of this thesis is to study the relationship between Seligman’s (2011) well-being theory and character strengths and then to investigate the effect of the signature strengths use based intervention to improve well-being. For this, the research has performed in two parts, study 1 and study 2. In study 1, the relationship between character strengths and the Seligman’s PERMA model, which are Positive emotion (P), Engagement (E), Relationships (R), Meaning (M) and Accomplishment (A), has been explored in various aspects. Especially, the author investigated the most influential character strengths for life satisfaction and well-being. Also examined how well signature strengths, in the sense of ownership and authenticity in Peterson (2006), and the strength balance could predict the life satisfaction and well-being of each individual. Finally, strength deployment mediates the effect of signature strengths on well-being were analyzed. For this study, 252 undergraduate university students have participated in the survey and completed the VIA-IS, Strengths Use Scale, Life Satisfaction, and PERMA profiler measurements. The result has shown that most character strengths were significantly and positively associated with life satisfaction, well-being, and PERMA, respectively. Transcendence, courage, and humanity turned out to be the virtue predictors of life satisfaction and well-being, and signature strengths and strength balance were shown to predict life satisfaction and well-being. Signature strengths contributed more to life satisfaction and well-being relatively than character strength balance. It was shown that strength deployment partially mediated the relationship between signature strength and well-being.
In study 2, the intervention program, which based on the result of study 1 and was focused the utilization of signature strengths, was developed and tested its effect on well-being. This intervention is group-based and composed of 4-session. Each session has 90-minutes program per week. Participants were divided into two groups, the intervention group and the control group. Each group has completed several assessments, such as Strengths Use Scale, Life Satisfaction, and PERMA profiler in three times; pretest, posttest, and at 4 weeks posttest follow-up. To estimate the effect of the program, the repeated measure ANOVA has been applied. The results showed that the strength deployment of participants in the intervention group has increased significantly after the intervention than the control group and the effect has sustained for 4 weeks. Life satisfaction and overall well-being in intervention group had increased after the post program, whereas the control group did not. Especially, the accomplishment of PERMA has increased notably in the intervention group. Positive relationship has improved significantly, while positive emotion, engagement, and meaning did not changed significantly after the program. The results of study 2 proved that the signature strengths use based program has been effective to enhance well-being.
In conclusion, the relationship between character strengths and PERMA model of well-being was investigated and the author derived what the character strengths are closely related with well-being. Throughout this work, it was found that signature strengths and strength balance may predict well-being and the strength deployment partially mediates the association with signature strengths and well-being. These findings are very meaningful in theory and practice of positive psychotherapy for well-being and it provides the theoretical foundation and the relevant evidence of effectiveness of positive psychotherapy to improve people’s well-being. The other contribution of this research is that it proved the effectiveness and usefulness of signature strength use based intervention to improve well-being. It could provide the motivation and research direction to develop the effective program for enhancing well-being through the cultivation of signature strengths deployment.
Key words: character strengths, signature strength, strength balance, signature strengths use, well-being, positive psychotherapy