Abstract
Positivity is an evaluative disposition capturing what self-esteem, life satisfaction and optimism have in common. Self-efficacy refers to specific beliefs aimed at exercising control over the events through self-regulation. This paper examines in two studies whether the effect of positivity on performance is mediated by self-efficacy beliefs. The first examines the role of task and empathic self-efficacy in mediating the relationship of positivity with respect to in-role and extra-role behaviours in a sample of 829 Italian adult employees. The second examines the role of academic self-efficacy in mediating the relationship of positivity with respect to academic grades and academic citizenship behaviour on a sample of 223 Italian university students. Structural Equation Models results revealed that: (1) the relationship between positivity and both in-role and extra-role behaviours was substantially mediated by self-efficacy beliefs; (2) the relationship between positivity and both school grades and citizenship behaviours was completely mediated by self-efficacy beliefs.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 707–727 |
| Number of pages | 21 |
| Journal | Journal of Happiness Studies |
| Volume | 20 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| Early online date | 1 Mar 2018 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 15 Mar 2019 |
Keywords
- Academic success
- Meditation
- Self-efficacy
- Positivity
- In-role behaviour
- Extra-role behaviour