A developmental perspective on personal strengths: a study of strengths and related variables that promote well-being and university adjustment in international and domestic students

Abstract

Background. The study of personal strengths (or an individual’s assets, skills, and positive traits) has informed the formulation of different strength models (e.g., the ego strengths and psychosocial strengths models). Purpose. The first objective of the present project sought to understand the relationships between these strength models, use of psychosocial strengths in everyday life, well-being, resilience, perceived stress, and adjustment to university in international and domestic university students. A second objective of the project sought to understand international students’ perspectives on the lifetime development and current use of their psychosocial strengths. Method. Study 1 involved quantitative measurement of the variables of interest at two timepoints. A sample of n=358 students participated at Time 1, with n=149 returning to participate at Time 2. Study 2 involved conducting qualitative interviews of this nature with n=13 international students. Results. Relationships between variables were consistent with those previously observed in research of this nature. Psychosocial strengths were positively related to ego strengths, wellbeing, resilience, and university adjustment; and negatively related to stress. The relationship between psychosocial strengths and well-being did not tend to be stronger with higher use of psychosocial strengths. Ego strengths measured at Time 1 also accounted for levels of wellbeing and adjustment to university measured at Time 2, over and above the variance attributed to perceived stress. International students identified various pathways of development that strengths have taken over their lifetime and cited attending university as an international student as both a barrier to engagement with their strengths, as well as an opportunity for their strengths to develop further. Discussion. The implications of the findings for strengths conceptualization within positive psychology research are considered. The application of this conceptualization to the international student experience is then explored and potential supports within academic settings are discussed. This discussion is placed in the context of the current status of international student recruitment in Canada, wherein the rate of international students accepted for study in the country has been greatly reduced in recent years. Possible pathways forward (in terms of allocation of supports for remaining international students) are then explored. Keywords: positive psychology, personal strengths, psychosocial strengths, well-being, university students, international students