According to the social problem-solving model, a positive problem orientation wards off negative affect and promotes positive affect to enhance problem solving. It was hypothesized that the Problem-Solving Confidence and Personal Control factors on the Problem-Solving Inventory (Heppner, 1988) constitute facets of the problem orientation component; therefore, these variables should be significantly associated with negative affect, positive affect, and psychological distress over time. In a series of studies, a positive problem orientation was prospectively associated with greater positive and lower negative affect under a variety of conditions. However, the relation of the problem orientation variables to distress appeared to be mediated by trait affectivity. Results are interpreted in light of the social problem-solving model, and implications for counseling are discussed.Self-appraised problem-solving ability theoretically serves a vital function in the way in which a person processes information about the self, the environment, and problematic situations encountered in everyday life (Heppner & Krauskopf, 1987). This variable was derived from the problem-solving model of D'Zurilla and Goldfried (1971), which delineated the problem-solving process into five general stages: (a) problem orientation stage, (b) problem definition and formulation, (c) generation of alternatives, (d) decision making, and (e) verification. Intervention research grounded in this framework has demonstrated effectiveness for a variety of therapeutic issues, including study skills (Richards & Perri, 1978), depression (Nezu, 1986), and suicidal ideation (Lerner & Clum, 1990). It is unfortunate that an early attempt to develop a measure of personal problem solving revealed a three-factor solution from the original pool of items rather than the five postulated in the D'Zurilla model (Heppner & Peterson, 1982). Thus, the Problem-Solving Inventory (PSI; Heppner, 1988) measures self-appraised abilities in regulating emotional experiences in problem-solving situations (the Personal Control factor; PC), the degree of confidence in problemsolving abilities (the Problem-Solving Confidence factor; PSC), and use of specific problem-solving skills (the Approach-Avoidance factor; AA).