Exploring the Effects of Positive Psychological Strengths on Psychological Adjustment in Adolescents

The present study reported an exploration of the association between covitality constructs and psychological adjustment-subjective wellbeing, academic achievement, and internalizing and externalizing behavior problems-in adolescents. Participants of the study comprised of 547 adolescents, with 51.1% female and 48.9% male, ranging in age from 13 to 19 years (M = 15.57, SD = 1.13). Findings from the study indicated that higher levels of belief-in-others and engaged living were significant predictors of increased subjective wellbeing. Higher levels of belief-in-self, belief-in-others, and engaged living were also found the significant predictors of increased academic achievement. Thereafter, results from the predictive effect of covitality constructs on mental health problems revealed that higher levels of belief-in-self, belief-in-others, and engaged living were significant predictors of decreased internalizing behavior problems, whereas externalizing behavior problems were significantly predicted by belief-in-self and emotional competence in adolescents. What is more, the combined effect of each of the covitality constructs on adolescents' psychological adjustment indicators was greater than the effect of this each positive psychological domain individually. Taken together, these outcomes should contribute to the design of prevention and intervention services in order to promote mental health and wellbeing.