Character strengths, academic self-efficacy, and well-being outcomes in the Philippines: A longitudinal study

Abstract

This research explored the association of character strengths with positive emotions, negative emotions, interdependent happiness, and academic self-efficacy in selected Filipino high school students using a longitudinal design. A survey comprising measures on character strengths, academic self-efficacy, and well-being outcomes was administered to 320 Filipino junior and senior high school students at two different time points. Results demonstrated that Time 1 fairness, Time 1 gratitude, and Time 1 hope positively predicted Time 2 academic self-efficacy after controlling for auto-regressor effects and demographic covariates such as age and gender. Time 1 love of learning positively predicted Time 2 interdependent happiness. Time 1 gratitude positively predicted Time 2 positive emotions. However, Time 1 kindness negatively predicted Time 2 affect balance. Findings underscore the importance of cultivating selected character strengths such as gratitude, fairness, hope, and love of learning in non-Western societies.