Rose, Lauren (2008) Positive Affect and Life Satisfaction in Australian Adolescents. Coursework Masters thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
Adolescents are disproportionately affected by mental health conditions (Vimpani, Patton, & Hayes, 2002), and one of the key missions of this century is to create a science of human strengths (Seligman & Peterson, 2001) by better understanding those factors that contribute to positive life outcomes for young people. The Broaden-and-Build Theory of positive emotions (Fredrickson, 1998) provided a framework for examining the relationship between positive emotions and psychological well-being in Australian adolescents. This theory asserts that positive emotions exist to solve problems concerned with personal growth and development, and that positive emotions produce upward spirals of well-being. Study 1 investigated the hypothesis that the variables Broadened Mindset, Self-Efficacy, and Life Meaning mediated the relationship between Positive Affect and Life Satisfaction. Data indicated that Broadened Mindset and Self-Efficacy variables partially mediated this relationship. These findings support Fredrickson’s Broaden-and-Build theory, as well as previous research linking feelings of self-efficacy to psychological well-being (Bandura, 1992). Study 2 examined the effect of a youth program, the National Leadership Camp (NLC, Rising Generations, 2006), on participants’ levels of Life Satisfaction, Positive Affect, Broadened Mindset, and SelfEfficacy over a 3 month period. It was found that participants attending the NLC had significantly higher levels of Life Satisfaction, Positive Affect, and Broadened Mindset following attendance at the NLC; however these significant gains were not maintained over a three month time period. This data suggests that the youth program succeeded in influencing adolescent well-being briefly, however further research is required to investigate how to maintain these improvements in the long-term.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Coursework Masters) |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Sciences - Department of Psychology (Up to 30 Jun 2013) |
| Supervisors: | Lorelle Burton |
| Qualification: | Doctor of Psychology (Health) |
| Date Deposited: | 12 Nov 2025 01:58 |
| Last Modified: | 12 Nov 2025 01:58 |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52712 |
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