ItemArticle

EXPLORING THE REGULATION OF CHARACTER STRENGTHS: A SCOPING REVIEW ON BALANCING UNDERUSE, OVERUSE, AND OPTIMAL USE FOR WELL-BEING AND PERFORMANCE

Title
EXPLORING THE REGULATION OF CHARACTER STRENGTHS: A SCOPING REVIEW ON BALANCING UNDERUSE, OVERUSE, AND OPTIMAL USE FOR WELL-BEING AND PERFORMANCE
Creator
Giri, Madhu; Pathak, Swati
Description
Character strengths play a fundamental role in psychological well-being, resilience, and personal development. Traditionally, research in positive psychology has focused on the benefits of character strengths, emphasizing their role in enhancing life satisfaction, fostering positive relationships, and promoting professional success. However, recent studies highlight the critical importance of balance in strength utilization. Specifically, underuse, overuse, and optimal use of strengths can lead to varying consequences across different life domains. This scoping review systematically examined the imbalance of character strengths and its impact on mental health, leadership, and social interactions. A systematic search was conducted across Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, following PRISMA-SCR guidelines. The findings revealed that underuse of strengths is associated with low engagement, passivity, and decreased motivation, while overuse can lead to rigidity, interpersonal conflicts, and burnout. The review further identified contextual moderators (e.g., personality traits, cultural factors, and situational demands) that influence how strengths are applied in everyday life. Based on the findings, this review proposes the Balanced Strength Utilization Model (BSUM), integrating theoretical perspectives and empirical evidence to offer a comprehensive framework for character strength regulation. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies and intervention-based approaches to help individuals optimize strength balance and apply their strengths effectively across different domains. The Author(s). All articles are licensed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC-BY 4.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Source
Hellenic Journal of Psychology;Volume;22;Issue;2;pp.141-159
Date
01-01-2025
Publisher
Psychological Society of Northern Greece
Subject
Balanced Strength Utilization Model (BSUM); Character strengths; Positive psychology; Strengths imbalance; Well-being
Coverage
Giri M., CHRIST University, India; Pathak S., CHRIST University, India
Rights
Restricted Access; Hardcopy may be available in the library
Relation
ISSN: 17901391;
Format
online
Language
English
Type
Article

Citation

Giri, Madhu; Pathak, Swati, “EXPLORING THE REGULATION OF CHARACTER STRENGTHS: A SCOPING REVIEW ON BALANCING UNDERUSE, OVERUSE, AND OPTIMAL USE FOR WELL-BEING AND PERFORMANCE,” CHRIST (Deemed To Be University) Institutional Repository, accessed June 19, 2026, https://archives.christuniversity.in/items/show/23438.

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