(2017) Science and education, 11, 187-192. Odessa.

Larysa Zasiekina,
Doctor of Psychological Science, Full Professor, head of the
Department of General and Social Psychology and Social Studies,
Victoria Maystruk,
postgraduate student,
Lesya Ukrainka Eastern European National University,
12, Volia Avenue, Lutsk, Ukraine

UNCONDITIONAL SELF-ACCEPTANCE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING

The category of self-acceptance is usually considered as an appropriate instrument for enhancing mental health and well-being. From this perspective unconditional self-acceptance is often considered as an alternative for improving low self-esteem which is always regarded as dysfunctional global evaluating one’s worth. It would be preferable for individual well-being to accept oneself unconditionally. A novel approach to self-acceptance study is based on the primary issues of rational-emotive behavior therapy (Ellis, 1969), rational frames theory (Hayes et al., 2001, Zasiekina, 2015), acceptance and commitment therapy (Zettle et al., 2003). The goal of the study is adaptation and revealing psychometric properties for Ukrainian version of a novel measure of unconditional self-acceptance (Chamberlain J.M., Haaga, 2001). The procedure of adaptation and standardization of the Unconditional Self-Acceptance Questionnaire contains two stages. The first one is represented by feedback translation of the items and testing two versions of the Questionnaire in the students of Foreign Language Philology Departments. The indices of strong correlation were observed which proves the adequacy of translation version. The second stage contains data of reliability and validity of the Questionnaire. In a nonclinical adult sample, statistically controlling for unconditional self-acceptance, the latter was connected with the psychological well-being, a sense of autonomy in thoughts and actions, establishing closing ties to others, the ability to manage complex environments to suit personal needs and values. The results of the study allow using a Ukrainian version of Unconditional Self-Acceptance Questionnaire as a reliable measure for diagnostics.

unconditional self-acceptance, self-acceptance, mental health, well-being, self-esteem.

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