LAUSR

Positive psychology studies mostly focus on positive aspects of character strengths (CSs) and their role in optimal human functioning, thereby leaving the strengths’ imbalance model and its impact on negative outcomes behind. The study aims to explore the under/over and optimal use of character strengths in relation to positive and negative coping strategies and to define how the different degrees of strengths contribute to psychological resilience and negative emotional states. A total of 306 respondents (60% male) from Georgia participated in the study. The following measures were used to assess different aspects of character, coping mechanisms, and positive and negative outcomes: Underuse/Optimal Use Inventory of Strengths; Ways of Coping Questionnaire; Brief Resilience Scale; Depression Anxiety Stress Scale. The results revealed that underuse and overuse of character strength are positively related to negative coping strategies and negative emotional states, whereas optimal use of character strength is associated with positive coping strategies and resilience. Positive and negative coping strategies play a mediator role in these relationships. The results call for support for a theoretical model of the dark sides of character strengths by providing insights into how each degree of character strength corresponds to positive or negative aspects of human well-being and coping strategies. A novel mechanism for explaining character strength and positive and negative outcomes relationship is explored.