Abstract. Background: Alopecia areata (AA) is among the most common immunological conditions. Although AA is considered to be a medically benign condition, those living with AA often report comorbid psychiatric conditions, high levels of functional impairment, and diminished quality of life. These consequences are largely due to the unique psychological turmoil associated with the condition. Unfortunately, little research has considered how to improve quality of life outcomes for this group. Aims: The purpose of this study was to evaluate how the PERMA framework of well-being is associated with the individual subjective experience of AA. A greater understanding of how PERMA applies to this group holds promise for assisting clinicians with devising psychosocial coping strategies for this population. Method: 274 individuals were recruited for participation. Hierarchical regression analyses were used to evaluate associations between the PERMA variables and AA-related (a) subjective symptoms (e.g., self-consciousness, sadness) and (b) relationship impact (e.g., perceived attractiveness). Each analysis controlled for demographic and condition-specific variables. Results: Demographic and PERMA variables were found to be significantly associated with positive experiences of each quality of life outcome. Limitations: The male to female ratio of participants was biased toward females. Furthermore, the nature of cross-sectional survey research has inherent limitations. Conclusion: The findings provide support for a relationship between PERMA variables and quality of life outcomes among people with AA. Clinical implications and future research directions are discussed.

Individuals living with a severe mental illness (SMI) have an increased risk of comorbid health conditions, many of which can be attributed to unhealthy lifestyle habits and medication side effects. The purpose of the present study is to examine health behavior theories including the social cognitive theory, self-determination theory, and theory of planned behavior in an effort to predict individuals living with SMI's stage of change (SOC) relating to physical activity (PA). Each theory focuses on important theoretical behavior changing components, such as selfefficacy, autonomy, and intention. The sample of this study includes 60 people with SMI from an assertive community treatment (ACT) program in a large Midwestern city. The results indicated that individual outcome expectations may be the proximal predictor of SOC, although significant relationships were found between SOC, self-efficacy, autonomy, and intentions as well. Future research should focus on the value of positive beliefs about the benefits of PA as that was found to be significant predictor regarding individuals with SMI and their readiness to engage in PA.