Table 5.
Moderating effects of character strengths at baseline on happiness and depressive symptoms.
| Happiness |
Depressive symptoms |
|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PC comparison |
Separate analyses |
PC comparison |
Separate analyses |
|||||||
| SS | LS | SS | LS | PC | LS | SS | SS | LS | PC | |
| df | 251 | 251 | 116 | 116 | 134 | 251 | 251 | 116 | 116 | 134 |
| Character strengths | ||||||||||
| Creativity | 0.88 | 0.63 | 1.39 | 0.99 | 0.04 | 0.88 | -0.48 | 0.71 | -1.01 | -0.53 |
| Curiosity | -0.65 | -0.03 | 1.07 | 1.68 | 2.04∗ | 1.09 | 0.00 | -0.47 | -1.87 | -2.37∗ |
| Open mind | -0.76 | -0.52 | -0.15 | 0.18 | 0.97 | 0.19 | -0.53 | -0.28 | -1.38 | -0.69 |
| Learning | 1.02 | 0.70 | 2.16∗ | 1.45 | 0.52 | -1.93 | -0.93 | -2.71∗∗ | -1.23 | -0.02 |
| Perspective | -0.95 | 0.63 | -0.16 | 1.53 | 1.02 | 0.34 | -2.15∗ | -0.45 | -3.32∗∗ | -1.01 |
| Bravery | -0.79 | 0.26 | 0.03 | 1.09 | 1.05 | 1.12 | -0.62 | 0.39 | -1.59 | -1.42 |
| Persistence | 1.79 | 1.99∗ | 2.67∗∗ | 2.76∗∗ | -0.16 | -0.32 | -2.04∗ | -1.32 | -3.74∗∗∗ | -1.58 |
| Honesty | -1.26 | 0.41 | -0.88 | 1.20 | 0.75 | 1.35 | -0.82 | 0.58 | -2.24∗ | -1.38 |
| Zest | -0.81 | 0.15 | 0.69 | 1.85 | 1.85 | 1.29 | -0.22 | -0.41 | -2.37∗ | -3.00∗∗ |
| Love | -0.24 | 1.66 | 0.88 | 3.17∗∗ | 0.93 | -0.38 | -2.35∗∗ | -1.07 | -3.64∗∗∗ | -0.61 |
| Kindness | 0.17 | 1.73 | 0.62 | 2.52∗ | 0.24 | -0.40 | -2.42∗∗ | -0.81 | -3.56∗∗ | -0.33 |
| Social I | -1.07 | 1.10 | -0.05 | 2.67∗∗ | 1.46 | 0.95 | -2.22∗ | 0.11 | -4.16∗∗∗ | -1.41 |
| Teamwork | 0.76 | 0.55 | 2.05∗ | 1.41 | 0.70 | -0.05 | -1.23 | -1.13 | -2.72∗∗ | -0.96 |
| Fairness | 0.56 | 1.17 | 1.47 | 2.17∗ | 0.83 | -0.16 | -1.23 | -0.98 | -2.38∗ | -0.85 |
| Leadership | 0.06 | 0.08 | 1.57 | 1.30 | 1.37 | -0.14 | -0.52 | -1.56 | -1.93 | -1.46 |
| Forgiveness | 0.27 | 2.11∗ | 1.09 | 3.20∗∗ | 0.66 | 0.22 | -1.95 | -1.00 | -3.54∗∗ | -1.58 |
| Modesty | 1.44 | 0.94 | 1.26 | 0.67 | -0.65 | -0.57 | -1.59 | 0.16 | -1.23 | 1.01 |
| Prudence | -0.19 | 0.04 | 0.08 | 0.36 | 0.36 | 0.06 | -1.05 | -0.08 | -1.59 | -0.17 |
| Self-R | -0.93 | 1.25 | 0.36 | 3.20∗∗ | 1.59 | 0.26 | -1.07 | -1.69 | -3.39∗∗ | -2.19∗ |
| Beauty | 1.23 | 1.10 | 1.16 | 0.82 | -0.80 | -1.09 | -1.53 | -0.08 | -0.68 | 1.51 |
| Gratitude | -1.05 | 0.68 | -0.07 | 2.09∗ | 1.35 | 0.27 | -0.55 | -0.32 | -1.27 | -0.87 |
| Hope | -1.74 | 0.23 | -1.31 | 1.43 | 1.36 | 2.53∗ | -0.43 | 1.49 | -2.36∗ | -2.81∗∗ |
| Humor | -1.69 | 0.88 | -1.62 | 1.6 9 | 0.55 | 1.53 | -1.74 | 1.21 | -3.13∗∗ | -1.06 |
| Religion | -1.11 | 0.00 | -0.29 | 1.01 | 1.17 | -0.01 | -1.10 | 0.49 | -0.89 | -0.52 |
| 5-Factor solution | ||||||||||
| Emotional | -1.88 | 0.60 | -1.35 | 1.77 | 1.40 | 2.15∗ | -1.35 | 0.88 | -3.35∗∗ | -2.74∗∗ |
| Interpersonal | 0.34 | 1.11 | 1.45 | 2.20∗ | 0.83 | -0.30 | -1.58 | -1.23 | -2.99∗∗ | -0.80 |
| Restraint | 0.16 | 0.46 | 0.37 | 0.75 | 0.20 | -0.12 | -1.18 | -0.38 | -1.72 | -0.20 |
| Intellectual | 1.03 | -0.10 | 1.83 | 0.21 | 0.33 | -1.12 | -0.05 | -1.24 | 0.27 | 0.33 |
| Transcendence | -0.66 | 0.80 | -0.68 | 1.19 | 0.05 | 0.23 | -0.90 | 0.92 | -0.47 | 0.61 |
| 2-Factor solution | ||||||||||
| Heart vs. Mind | 0.52 | -0.68 | 0.08 | -1.39 | -0.51 | 0.37 | 0.71 | 0.52 | 0.77 | 0.07 |
| Self vs. Others | 0.18 | 0.32 | -0.17 | 0.19 | -0.23 | -0.72 | 0.03 | -0.16 | 0.60 | 0.91 |
All values are t-scores. PC comparison = character strength/strength factor × condition (0, placebo control condition; 1, signature/lesser strengths-intervention) and the character strength/strength factor as predictor of the happiness/depression scores after the intervention (all follow-ups averaged), when controlling for pretest scores in happiness/depression and the character strength/strength factor; separate analyses = prediction of happiness/depression scores after the intervention (all follow-ups averaged) by the character strength/strength factor when controlling for pretest scores in happiness/depression, for each condition separately; SS, signature strengths-intervention; LS, lesser strengths-intervention; PC, placebo control condition. Open mind = open mindedness; learning = love of learning; social I, social intelligence; self-R, self-regulation; beauty, appreciation of beauty and excellence; religion, religiousness.
∗p< 0.05; ∗∗p< 0.01; ∗∗∗p < 0.001 (two-tailed).