The Contribution of Self–Regulatory Efficacy Beliefs in Managing Affect and Family Relationships to Positive Thinking and Hedonic Balance

Abstract

In line with prior work, the present study aimed at examining a conceptual model that assigns a crucial role to affective and family interpersonal self-regulatory efficacy beliefs in influencing the cognitive and affective components of subjective well-being, namely, positive thinking and hedonic balance. Positive thinking is posited as the latent dimension underlying life satisfaction, self-esteem, and optimism. In contrast, hedonic balance is posited as the difference between positive affect and negative affect, as they are experienced in a variety of daily life situations. The present study was conducted on 347 Italian married males and females, and its findings corroborated the paths of posited relations linking the variables of interest. In particular, both one's perceived capacities to manage negative and positive affect and to manage relationships with the spouse and children accounted for a considerable portion of the variance in both subjective well-being components.

Positive orientation: explorations on what is common to life satisfaction, self-esteem, and optimism

“…In accordance with previous studies (Alessandri et al, submitted for publication;Caprara & Steca, 2005, 2006aCaprara et al, 2006;Steca et al, 2009), the current contribution presents news findings attesting to a latent dimension common to life satisfaction, self-esteem, and optimism. Results from the first study demonstrated that individuals' positive life-and self-evaluations and future expectations share a latent component that likely reflects a common mode of positively viewing life, oneself and expected experiences.…”

Optimal Functioning: Contribution of Self-Efficacy Beliefs to Positive Orientation

“…These findings corroborate previous results [15,16] pointing to the contribution that emotional and social self-efficacy beliefs may exert on strengthening major expressions of positive orientation. Yet the more people draw, from experience, their beliefs to be able to properly handle their emotions and their relations with others, the more they can preserve and enhance a positive evaluation of self, life and the future.…”

“…Moreover, earlier studies have demonstrated the contribution of emotional and social self-efficacy to positive orientation [15,16] . However, the contribution of positive orientation to self-efficacy beliefs was not directly assessed.…”

“…cessfully in diverse life contingencies [15][16][17] . Moreover, earlier studies have demonstrated the contribution of emotional and social self-efficacy to positive orientation [15,16] .…”

The relationship between self-efficacy and positive aspects of caregiving in Alzheimer's disease caregivers

“…In the future, it will be important to investigate the degree to which other factors such as optimism, self-esteem, life satisfaction, and the inclusion of enrichment activities in daily life help to explain the relationship between positive aspects of caregiving and self-efficacy (Caprara & Steca, 2006;Carbonneau et al, 2010;Gottlieb & Rooney, 2004).…”