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Covitality Constructs as Predictors of Psychological Well-being and Depression for Secondary School Students

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Abstract

This study was an examination of the strength of relations among covitality, and its underlying constructs of belief in self, emotional competence, belief in others, and engaged living, and two outcome variables: subjective well-being and depression. Participants included 361 Australian secondary school students (75 males and 286 females) who completed a series of online questionnaires related to positive psychological well-being in adolescents. The results from the first standard multiple regression analysis indicated that higher levels of belief in self, belief in others, and engaged living were significant predictors of increased subjective well-being. The results from the second standard multiple regression showed that higher levels of belief in self, belief in others, and engaged living were significant predictors of decreased feelings of depression. In both standard multiple regression models, the combined effect of the traits that comprise covitality was greater than the effect of each individual positive psychological trait.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Victoria Park Road, Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 4059

    Claire Pennell

  2. School of Counselling, Australian College of Applied Psychology, 16-20 Coglin Street, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 5000

    Peter Boman

  3. School of Cultural and Professional Learning, Queensland University of Technology, Victoria Park Road, Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 4059

    Amanda Mergler

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  1. Claire Pennell
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Correspondence to Peter Boman.

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Pennell, C., Boman, P. & Mergler, A. Covitality Constructs as Predictors of Psychological Well-being and Depression for Secondary School Students. Contemp School Psychol 19, 276–285 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40688-015-0067-5

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