Forças de caráter e sua relação com variáveis individuais e sociais

Abstract

This thesis aims to verify the linear relationship pattern of character strengths with personality traits, human values and post-traumatic growth in mourning situations in Brazilian northeast. To achieve this goal, this thesis is composed of four articles. The first aims to verify the prevalence of character strengths in the Northeast people, specifically, gather new psychometric evidence from the Character Strengths Scale (EFC). A sample of 383 people (average age = 27.81; SD = 10.83), mostly from Paraíba (24.3%), female (65.4%) and single (73.1%), who answered the EFC and demographic questions. An Exploratory Factor Analysis indicated the unidimensionality of the scale, the 24 strengths saturating the factor with eigenvalue of 9.69, explaining 43% of the variance and factor loadings from .41 (forgiveness) to .72 (vitality). Cronbach's alpha = .94 and McDonald's omega = .95 indicate satisfactory accuracy. In addition, descriptive statistics were performed identifying the most prevalent strengths in the Northeast, respectively: gratitude, kindness, curiosity, impartiality, love of learning and hope. The second article, aims to verify the extent to which personality traits explain the character of strength, controlling the effect of age and sex. Participants were 251 residents of northeastern Brazil (average age = 18.51, SD = 9.03), 66.9% women, answering a booklet containing the EFC, the Five Major Factors Inventory (ICGF) and demographic questions. From correlations followed by hierarchical multiple regression, it was found that age and gender were important in explaining some forces. Controlling the effect of these demographic variables, it was observed that the personality traits kindness, conscientiousness, extraversion and openness to experience explained the strengths directly, unlike the neuroticism trait, which made the other way. The third article aims to test an explanatory model of CPT in mourning situation, with the contribution of personality traits, human values and character strengths, specifically to identify the pattern of linear relationship between the evaluative subfunctions and the strength of character, as well as the mediating role of human values in the relationship between personality and strengths. Two samples were used, one with 243 people (average age = 27.88, SD = 9.74), 63.4% women answered to EFC, ICGF, QVB and demographic questions, the 02 also answered the PTGI, the which totaled 207 people who went through mourning (average age = 27.56, SD = 12.24), 74.8% women. Correlations, followed by regressions and mediation models demonstrated the contribution of extroversion traits, kindness, normative subfunction and strengths in explaining posttraumatic growth. Thus, we discuss the importance of having social nature of variables in promoting positive experiences and overcoming adversity and generally with a picture of strengths to provide mechanisms for a fulfilling life.