INTRODUCTION - Latest developments in Positive Psychology: The case of Greece

Abstract

In the last two decades, there is a rapid growth of the research initiative on Positive Psychology not only internationally but also in Greece. The present special issue aims at bringing together, highlighting, and promoting research and applications of Positive Psychology in Greece. At first, the authors introduce readers to the history and roots of Positive Psychology and focus on how research on Positive Psychology flourished in Greece. Moreover, emphasis is given on the core concepts of Positive Psychology, namely wellbeing, experiencing positive emotions, psychological resilience, and character strengths. Authors focus on the research conducted in Greece, the psychological instruments that measure them, and the applications of Positive Psychology, e.g. positive education, positive organizations, positive psychotherapy, and positive psychology interventions. To close with, the authors introduce readers to the eleven articles, which are included in the present special issue by presenting their main findings.

Positive Relationships Questionnaire (PRQ): A Pilot Study

“…In terms of discriminant validity, the PRQ exhibited negative correlations with loneliness and negative emotions as it was expected, since social relationships characterized by support have been found by the existing literature to diminish the experiencing of negative emotions, undo their unpleasant effects and reduce loneliness effects on depression and wellbeing (Fredrickson et al, 2008;Gariepy et al, 2016;Liu et al, 2016;Pierce & Quiroz, 2019). It is important, here, to reiterate that existing literature underscores the fact that social relationships act as a buffer to stress and anxiety and are seen as a powerful mediator that leads to resilience and improved well-being even in periods of hardship and suffering (Pezirkianidis & Stalikas, 2020;Rueger et al, 2016;Mohd et al, 2019).…”

“…Most of the above studies are focused on the importance of supportive rela-tionships in the context of stress and adversity giving emphasis on how relationships act protectively for individuals and foster psychological resilience (Pezirkianidis & Stalikas, 2020). Nevertheless, there is also evidence that relationships may have an impact in well-being even in the absence of specific stressors (Lakey & Orehek, 2011).…”

Editorial: An integrated positive psychology approach into counseling in different settings

“…Positive psychology (PP) is the scientific field that focuses on revealing, understanding, and reinforcing the factors that make individuals and systems flourish. At first, PP research gave emphasis on individual's positive experiences and characteristics (Pezirkianidis and Stalikas, 2020 ). Later on, the second research wave focused on the dialectic relationship between the positive and negative aspects of one's life, proposing that wellbeing can only be achieved through overcoming suffering (Wong, 2019 ).…”

A positive psychology group intervention in Greek university students by the counseling center: Effectiveness of implementation

“…Nevertheless, there is an elevated interest in people’s wellness within the academic environment ( Lambert et al, 2019 ), especially after the covid-19 quarantine implementation and during the post-covid-19 era. In Greece, PPIs that focus on a single component or a combination of them have proven to be effective ( Pezirkianidis and Stalikas, 2020 ). However, there are only a few studies about PPIs that have been applied in educational settings, such as a 4-week study aiming at promoting wellbeing in a multicultural school setting by Dimitropoulou and Leontopoulou (2017) and a 4-week on-line program enhancing self-compassion, positive emotion, and mental resilience, while reducing isolation, over-identification, self-judgment, trait anxiety, and state anxiety ( Karakasidou et al, 2021 ).…”