The Moderating Effects of Character Strengths on the Relationship of Stress and Life Satisfaction in People With Acquired Physical Disabilities

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the degree to which the 24 character strengths in Peterson and Seligman’s character strengths model moderate the relationship between disability-related stress and life satisfaction in individuals with acquired physical disabilities. Participants included 165 individuals with self-reported acquired physical disabilities. The Satisfaction with Life Scale, the Disability-Related Stress Scale, and the Global Assessment of Character Strengths were used to measure the variables in the study. Twenty-four linear regressions were conducted to test the moderating effects of the character strengths in the relationship between disability-related stress and life satisfaction. The majority of character strengths significantly moderated the relationship between disability-related stress and life satisfaction. Humor, curiosity, appreciation of beauty, and social intelligence had the strongest moderating effects. Bravery and prudence did not have a significant moderating effect. Gratitude, humility, and leadership originally had significant moderating effects, but after Type 1 error controls were applied, their results were no longer significant. This study supports the role of character strengths in moderating the relationship between disability-related stress and life satisfaction among individuals with acquired physical disabilities. Promoting strengths-based interventions can allow individuals to more effectively cope with stressors and achieve a high level of life satisfaction.

Keywords

character strengths stress life satisfaction disability positive psychology

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