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Browsing by Author "Steger, Michael, committee member"

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    Are subjectivists and objectivists about well-being theorizing about the same concept?
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2023) Harris, Blake, author; McShane, Katie, advisor; Tropman, Elizabeth, committee member; Steger, Michael, committee member
    There are two main camps that theories of well-being fall under: "subjectivism" and "objectivism". Subjectivists hold that something can only positively affect one's well-being if one has a positive attitude toward it. Objectivists deny this and hold that some things can positively affect one's well-being irrespective of whether one has a positive attitude towards them and can even do so if one has a negative attitude towards them. Both views seem appealing and many theorists in the well-being debate attempt to capture the appeal of both views in the theories they posit. Despite this, only one can be correct; they contradict each other. Yet, neither seems satisfactory on its own since, as I argue, they fail to account for the motivations of the other. Hence, we are left with an impasse between the two that is difficult to resolve. In this thesis, I summarize the main theories of well-being and their objections in chapter one and introduce the distinction between subjectivism and objectivism and the motivations behind each. In chapter two, I summarize several theories that try to account for the motivations of both subjectivism and objectivism, with particular emphasis on "hybrid" theories, and show that they fail at their task. I finish in chapter three by motivating the impasse between subjectivism and objectivism and outlining four possible ways of resolving the impasse. I argue that three of these fail, but that the remaining way is promising. This way holds that subjectivists and objectivists are actually theorizing about two different, but similar concepts.
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    Goal matching in couple therapy: individual and couple level trajectories
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2018) Smith, Amy D., author; Quirk, Kelley, advisor; Haddock, Shelley, committee member; Steger, Michael, committee member
    In couple therapy, the degree to which partners are aligned in their therapy goals is important and is understudied in the psychotherapy literature. Individual and couple level factors likely influence whether a couple has matched or mismatched goals at the first session. These factors include open expression and flexibility of each individual partner, as well as the relational factors of commitment and sexual satisfaction. The therapeutic alliance was also examined to investigate the association with belonging to a relationship with matched versus mismatch goals. Data were gathered from couples who were in naturalistic couple therapy, from sessions one through ten. Growth models were performed to examine base line differences and trajectory differences between goal matched versus goal mismatched groups. Results revealed that couples reported significantly lower commitment and sexual satisfaction in the goal mismatched group, as compared to the goal matched group, at the initial therapy session, and no significant trajectory differences were found between these two groups for these variables across sessions. In addition, those in the goal matching group reported higher ratings of the individual alliance and between partners alliance (within-alliance) at the initial session. As sessions progressed, couples in the goal mismatch group displayed significantly higher within-alliance ratings, as compared to those couples in the matched group. These data suggest that couples with matched versus mismatched therapy goals start therapy in different places in regard to commitment and sexual satisfaction, and therapist may play an important role in helping couples become more aligned as therapy progresses. Implications for therapists who are working with couples that present with goal match or mismatch are offered.
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    Happiness in Gielinor: modelling social play and well-being in online third places
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2023) Nixon, William Cody, author; Snodgrass, Jeffrey G., advisor; Kwiatkowski, Lynn, committee member; Steger, Michael, committee member
    As the world slowed during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, many remained in their homes and avoided social contact outside of performing essential activities. In lieu of everyday social connections with friends and family, people turned to online worlds to satisfy basic needs like that for social belonging. Internet-based social interactions allowed for the expansion of many online social spaces, particularly those facilitating leisure activities (such as online video games) and social connection (social media outlets, messaging applications, etc.). To examine the effects of a pandemic-related "online social migration," ethnographic fieldwork and psychological anthropological interviews (including free list and pile sort elicitations) were conducted within the world of Gielinor, home to the players of the MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game) Old School Runescape, with a focus on how players interacted with others and the impact of the game environment's normative "culture" (in the sense of socially learned understandings about the proper and best way to enjoy this game). By inhabiting this competitive, supportive, and encouraging virtual world environment, players placed significant value on their in-game social connections, and these relationships were found to be crucial not only within the game world but also in players' real-world lives. Further, this game environment allowed for gamers to foster a sense of well-being and happiness in the absence of real-world third places (such as bars and coffeehouses) and in-person social interactions, suggesting the emerging importance during this health crisis of online third places.
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    Health discrepancies and marital satisfaction in older couples
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2023) Richkin, Talia, author; Luong, Gloria, advisor; Steger, Michael, committee member; Quirk, Kelley, committee member
    Many studies have explored marital satisfaction and the factors that contribute to it such as communication, shared values, sexual satisfaction, and marital conflict. Furthermore, marital satisfaction has been robustly linked to health, and well-being. However, health discrepancy between romantic partners and how such differences in health may be linked to marital satisfaction has received far less attention. The current study extends previous research by examining the degree to which health discrepancy between partners is associated with marital satisfaction, using multidimensional assessments of both health (self-rated health, and chronic health conditions) and marital satisfaction (daily and global). Participants from the Relocation and Transitional Experiences (RELATE) study (N=82, comprising 41 heterosexual couples) completed questionnaire packets regarding demographics, health status, and global marital satisfaction. Additionally, participants completed experience sampling surveys, called ecological momentary assessment surveys (EMA), each day for 7 consecutive days via mobile smart phones. The results demonstrated that people with better self-rated health compared to their partner tended to report lower average daily marital satisfaction. Health discrepancy was not predictive of global marital satisfaction. These findings point to the importance of refining the distinctions between daily and global marital satisfaction, as well as further differentiating health conditions based on severity, to elucidate how different dimensions of health uniquely contribute to different dimensions of marital satisfaction.
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    Is meaningful work a luxury? An interpretative phenomenological analysis on lower socioeconomic status workers' experience of meaningful work
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2016) Shim, Yerin, author; Dik, Bryan, advisor; Steger, Michael, committee member; Stallones, Lorann, committee member; Doe, Sue, committee member
    The growing empirical literature on meaningful work suggests that experiencing meaningful work is associated with many psychological benefits to the individual. However, very little is known about how lower socioeconomic status (LSES) workers experience meaningful work due to the lack of research with this population and assumption that pursuing meaningful work is a luxury. The present study sought to explore the experience of meaningful work among LSES workers through an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight LSES workers. Seven domains were constructed as a result of the data analysis: definitions of meaningful work, perception and psychological experience of meaningful work, internal conditions of meaningful work, external conditions of meaningful work, personal impact of meaningful work, strategies to enhance meaningfulness in work, and perspective on the relationship between meaningful work and SES. Participants defined meaningful work as similar to previous conceptualizations, perceived and experienced their current work as meaningful in diverse ways, and appeared to be generally positively impacted through meaningful work. Participants also identified direct and indirect conditions that support or hinder meaningfulness in their work and suggested strategies to enhance meaningfulness in their work. Finally, participants viewed meaningful work as an attainable psychological resource for LSES workers despite barriers.
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    Making training stick: a close examination of how trainee readiness, supervisor support, and practice foster transfer in a mobile technology-based training program
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2013) Putter, Stefanie E., author; Kraiger, Kurt, advisor; Johnson, Stefanie, advisor; Steger, Michael, committee member; Mumford, Troy, committee member
    Although today's organizations are investing copious amounts of time, money, and resources on employee learning and development, trainees often fail to apply their learning and skills on the job, bringing into question the true value of organizational training. In an attempt to improve understanding of the key individual and organizational elements that impact training success, this research explored how trainee readiness, supervisor support, and practice foster transfer in a mobile technology-based training program. Data were collected at three different time points (beginning, middle, and end of training) from 201 frontline workers who participated in an innovative, long-term safety training program. Findings revealed significant relationships between three trainee readiness characteristics and post-training outcomes, with post-hoc analyses suggesting that training self-efficacy and motivation to learn were the best predictors of training effectiveness. Unfortunately, results failed to support the expected interaction between supervisor support (operationalized as safety transformational leadership behaviors) and trainee readiness characteristics in boosting training success. However, follow-up tests revealed strong main effects between safety transformational leadership behaviors and post-training outcomes, with the strongest support for two key supervisory behaviors: individualized consideration and contingent reward. Finally, measurement issues prevented the exploration of the role of practice in a real-world, organizational training program. Study implications, limitations, and opportunities for future research on boosting 'training stickiness' are discussed.
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    Moderation and mediation of the spirituality and subjective well-being relation
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2015) Sargent, Adam M., author; Dik, Bryan, advisor; Steger, Michael, committee member; Swaim, Randall, committee member; Snodgrass, Jeffrey, committee member
    The present study aims to replicate the finding that spirituality correlates positively with subjective well-being and examines important moderating and mediating variables within this relationship (Koenig and Larson, 2001; Hill and Pargament, 2003). First, spiritual affiliation (religious denomination) is tested as a moderating variable and is found to significantly moderate the positive relationship between spirituality and subjective well-being furthering the case that spiritual affiliation should be considered in this line of research. Next, social support, spiritual support, spiritual strivings, and meaning in life are tested as mediators of the relationship between spirituality and subjective well-being. Social support, spiritual support, and spiritual goals/strivings are not found to mediate the relation between spirituality and subjective well-being, but meaning in life fully mediates this relationship suggesting that meaning in life may play a key role in understanding the spirituality and subjective well-being relation. Finally, a combined mediated moderation analysis is tested with spiritual affiliation as the moderating variable and meaning in life as the mediating variable. Evidence for mediated moderation was not found. Implications for future research and clinical practice are discussed.
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    Parental depressive symptoms and child behavior problems: exploring the role of interactive repair during mother-child interactions
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2012) Kemp, Christine, author; Lunkenheimer, Erika, advisor; MacPhee, David, committee member; Steger, Michael, committee member
    This study examined the role of interactive repair during a challenging task in the relationship between parental depressive symptoms and child behavior problems in a sample of 3.5-year-old children and their mothers (N=100). This study used data collected from parents as well as data collected during live observations in the laboratory setting. Dynamic Systems-based methods were used to measure interactive repair (i.e., returning to a positive interaction after a negative behavior) during mother-child interactions. Findings suggest that interactive repair partially mediates the relationship between maternal depressive symptoms and child internalizing behaviors. These results highlight the potential protective role of interactive repair related to child behavior problems in the context of maternal depressive symptoms. Implications of these findings for parental depressive symptoms and child behavior problems are discussed.
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    Stuck in the middle: Generation Xers lived experiences in the workforce while navigating between Baby Boomers and Millennials, and perceived impact on their job satisfaction
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2015) Dickson, Suzanne Armatas, author; Lynham, Susan A., advisor; Peila-Shuster, Jackie, committee member; Steger, Michael, committee member; Wallner, Barbara, committee member
    Generation Xers are defined as those individuals born between the years of 1965-1980, and represent between 46-49 Million in the U.S. population, and are considered a much smaller cohort than Boomers (80 Million) and Millennials (78 Million). Gen Xers argue that they are overshadowed by the notable influence of the Boomers and a perceived anticipation of the Millennials to become "the next great generation" in the workforce and as such, describe themselves as "stuck in the middle" while waiting for Boomers to retire so they may advance in their careers. However, pronounced demographic trends may have exacerbated Gen Xers' perceptions of neglect and being stuck in the middle. These demographic trends include Boomers continuing to work and Millennials entering the workforce and bringing with them vastly different work preferences, values and expectations than the proceeding generational cohorts. These two dimensions --Boomers continuing to work, and Millennials entering and beginning to influence the workforce--suggest a potentially enigmatic challenge for the smaller but still relevant cohort of Gen Xers with the potential impact on Gen Xers being relatively unknown. This exploratory study was to examine the unique workforce experiences of Gen Xers as it related to being stuck between the Baby Boomers and Millennials and thereby, gain understanding of the perceived impact to their job satisfaction. To describe, understand and find meaning in the participants co-constructed findings, a hermeneutic phenomenology methodology was utilized that was grounded in a constructivist paradigm. The findings from this study represent the individual, shared and co-constructions of six participants which resulted in twelve global themes. The twelve themes include: 1: "Stuck in the middle" is experienced and expressed differently by Gen Xers; 2: Gen Xers have anxiety about their professional future; 3: There are challenges unique to Gen Xers; 4: Gen Xers have perceptions about themselves and their work role; 5: There are generational similarities and differences; 6: Unique work culture impacts generational issues; 7: There may be economic influences on their career; 8: Historical context shapes who Gen Xers are as adults; 9: Baby Boomer influences contribute to job dissatisfaction; 10: Extrinsic motivators; 11: Intrinsic motivators; 12: Job satisfaction or dissatisfaction can carry over to life. The global themes are further comprised of organizing and basic themes to provide additional breadth and depth of understanding of this phenomenon. The study concludes by acknowledging that the voices of the Generation X participants have been heard through the compilation of their personal stories. It is noted that their stories and experiences were largely influenced by three primary factors which include recognition of the individuality of Gen Xers, lack of mutual exclusivity between generational cohorts, and the significance of context in understanding one's lived experience. Finally, drawing from the findings, recommendations are provide to inform research, theory and practice.
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    The development of a measure of work-related underload
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2015) Naude, Megan N., author; Fisher, Gwenith, advisor; Byrne, Zinta, committee member; Steger, Michael, committee member; Henle, Chris, committee member
    This study outlines the development of the construct of work-related underload as well as a scale to measure underload. Underload has been given limited attention in the stress literature but could be a significant source of stress and other negative outcomes in the workplace. After reviewing the literature and the theoretical background related to underload, a clear definition of underload was established based on employees' perceptions, expectations, and desires related to workload. This definition informed the development of a three-factor scale to measure underload. Data from two development samples was collected in order to evaluate the reliability and validity of the scale. The results provide evidence of the internal consistency and construct validity of the three-dimensional scale. The work-related underload scale may be used in the future to explore the antecedents and consequences associated with the experience of underload at work.
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    The meaning in occupation: a meta-synthesis of eleven qualitative research articles from the Journal of Occupational Science
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2014) Rumble, Morgan, author; Eakman, Aaron, advisor; Atler, Karen, committee member; Steger, Michael, committee member
    The presence of meaning in one's life is recognized to be important for fostering health and well-being. Humans create meaning through occupation, but whether there are similarities across the components of meaning for individuals remains unanswered. Meaning is revealed through language and narrative, which necessitates a qualitative, interpretive approach to its study (Polkinghorne, 1988). Qualitative research has supplied rich data about the meaning of occupation for various cultures, populations, and activities, but to-date, there has not been a systematic review to identify if general patterns of meaning and experience exist in occupation. Following a framework synthesis approach to qualitative meta-synthesis, the current exploratory study examined positive subjective experiences associated with occupation to uncover elements of the meaning of occupation. Two higher-order themes were discovered, social meaning and selfhood, that contained multiple themes as well as four additional themes including satisfaction, pleasure/enjoyment, stimulating, and health and well-being. Complex interconnections between themes also arose and are discussed.
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    The role of meaning and purpose in the career development of adolescents: a qualitative study
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2011) McLaren, Molly, author; Dik, Bryan, advisor; Steger, Michael, committee member; Banning, James, committee member; Aloise-Young, Patricia, committee member
    The purpose of this qualitative investigation was to explore the role of meaning and purpose in adolescent career development by examining 7th-grade students' responses to a semi-structured interview. Interviews were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) methods as described by Willig (2001). The findings supported the vast majority of the literature on the topic, contrasted with a few areas, and expanded others. In general, most participants had heard of the concepts of meaning and purpose in work, as well as the concept of a calling; however, many of them had not thought extensively about these topics. The students offered a variety of descriptions and definitions for each of these concepts. Continued research on the roles of meaning and purpose, and the infusion of meaning and purpose, in childhood career development can contribute to the theoretical knowledge base and practical applications of career curricula and counseling practice.