PREDICTORS OF CHARACTER STRENGTHS AMONG YOUNG ADULTS AND ADULTS IN BANDUNG

Five-Factor Personality


INTRODUCTION
Character Strengths are one of the basic concepts in the perspective of Positive Psychology. It tries to explain the positive characteristics in every human being, which affect human's behavior according to the contexts in their lives like education. Character Strengths are defined as "habitual actions that are stable yet malleable, capable of being acquired, can be contextualized, and are measurable" [1]. Park and Peterson also stated that Character Strengths are "habits, evident in thoughts, feelings, and actions" [2]. Peterson and Seligman defined Character Strengths are someone's qualities obtained and seen through individual behavior (individual thoughts) and feelings [3]. The research published by Noronha and Campos [5] found that some Character Strengths are connected to the concept of personality traits. The traits included in the Big-Five Personality or Theory of Five-Factor Models (Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness).
One main characteristic of Character Strengths is identifying how individuals solve difficult times throughout life [4]. Kirkcaldy et al and Wolfgang explained that in the work context, Character Strengths are related to coping behaviors and protect individuals from stressful effects [3]. Next, Peterson stated that individual strengths overcome various weaknesses and incompetence [4]. Peterson explained that Character Strengths are individuals' original determinants that influence satisfaction, happiness, and success in life (the good life) [3]. Brdar & Kashdan also found that several Character Strengths are related to wellbeing qualities, such as life satisfaction, subjective vitality, relatedness, meaning, and engagement [1]. Based on expert statements regarding Character Strengths and some research findings, the final assumptions are 1) Character Strengths are individual qualities that are formed by the environment/context in which the individual is living; 2) Character Strengths and Traits are possibly related ; 3) Character Strengths can be manifested in behavior, thoughts, and feelings; 4) Character Strengths are determinant qualities that lead individuals to some characteristics of well-being in life. Based on some of these assumptions, this research aims to identify the roles of Traits as a biological (nature) and internal human quality, and Productive Parenting Pattern as an external simulation of the environment (nurture) in building Character Strengths.

Character Strengths
According

Trait
The research published by Noronha and Campos [5] found that some Character Strengths are connected to the concept of personality traits. The traits included in the Big -Five Personality or Theory of Five-Factor Models (Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness). The research conducted by Noronha and Campos is connected to the theoretical assumptions of Park and Peterson. They said that Character Strengths are individual characteristics that exist and are stable in specific situations. They also explained a possible link between the two concepts, where traits are determinants (predictors) of Character Strengths. [5] This is because it refers to the statement of McRae and Costa that the traits have a very strong biological basis so that the tendency of basic dispositions is not directly influenced by the environment [6]. Therefore, the traits are predictors of Character Strengths originally categorized as individual qualities built by their environment (contextual).

RESEARCH METHODS
This is a quantitative research with two variables as predictors (trait and productive parenting pattern) and one variable as the criteria (character strengths). There are 247 respondents that classified as the young adults and adults. Traits and productive parenting pattern are measured by questionnaires that being prepared by the research team and for character strengths, this study was using VIA 72 (Indonesian Ver). This version of questionnaire are used with permission from the research applications coordinator of VIA Institute on Character [12] In this study, all datas are collected using online questionnaires (gform) and processed using multivariate analysis (Regression Analysis).
The traits questionnaire consists of 30 items based on the Five-Factor Theory concept of McRae and Costa (2003). The Productive Parenting Pattern questionnaire consists of 45 items based on the productive parenting pattern concept by Baumrind (in Alvy, 2008). Meanwhile, the character strengths questionnaire consists of 72 items based on the concept of Character Strengths by Peterson and Seligman (2004). All questionnaires validity and reliability were examined using construct validity and internal consistency.
The coefficients validity of the traits questionnaire starts from 0.369 to 0.744 and the reliability coefficients starts from 0.463 to 0.753. As for productive parenting pattern questionnaire, the coefficients validity starts rom 0.320 to 0.792 and the reliability coefficient is 0.945. Lastly, the validity and reliability of the character strengths questionnaire were assessed using CFA in PLS (Partial Least Squares). The construct validity for all items were identified by convergent validty, refers to loading factor value result of > 0.5, the value of average variance extracted (AVE) of > 0.5. The results show that of all 72 items, there were 2 items which value < 0.5 (measuring the strengths of curiosity and humility). The reliability of character strengths questionnaire, were identified by internal consistency reliability, refers to composite reliability and cronbach's alpha result of > 0, 6 [13]. The result show that all items have met the criteria of the internal consistency reliability.

Result
Besides the regression data between Trait and Productive Parenting Patterns on Character Strengths, the descriptions of demographic data regarding respondents, including Gender, Last Education, and Occupation Demographic data will also be presented in the following graphics

Occupation Students Workers Others
Based on graphs 1 to 3, most respondents are women with the last educational background of an undergraduate degree or equivalent and are currently working in formal fields. Research on the students in the Philippines also shows that character strengths, fairness, gratitude, and hope are predictors of academic self-efficacy; love of learning is a predictor of happiness; and gratitude is a predictor of positive emotions [10]. Villacis, de la Fuente, & Naval also studied undergraduate students and found that character strengths can influence academic performance and engagement in the academic field [11]. Through those findings, the student's character strengths can be the factors that support them to live a better academic life. It is not only related to the results/achievement of values but also undergoing an unavoidable process.
The research findings show that character strengths are formed through nature and nurture factors. Nature is an innate factor having a biological load, so it is relatively difficult to change (trait), while nurture is an environmental factor that changes through specific and gradual intervention (productive parenting pattern). In other words, to build better students' character strengths at school, their dynamics of the traits should be recognized by the teachers and the application of parenting patterns that emphasizes acceptance and warmth. There must be clear and consistent rules upheld by the parents. The development of character strengths to face the educational world can make the students not only focus on academic achievement but can also experience the academic process effectively. A concrete effort is providing information to the teachers and parents regarding the concept of traits, productive parenting patterns, and character strengths through psycho-educational activities

CONCLUSION
The results are in line with the research objectives, namely to determine the role of the traits and productive parenting patterns on character strengths. A practical benefit from the research findings is information to the teachers and parents regarding the concept of traits, parenting patterns, and character strengths. However, there are still some limitations as less information about the traits most closely related to the formation of character strengths. There must also be further data analysis to find and explore more relevant information. Therefore, the teachers and the parents can better understand the concept