Major Research Initiatives
The Thrive Center's research seeks to investigate and further understand the psychological components of thriving, as well as the further the promotion of the process of thriving. Specifically, the Thrive Center works at the integration of science and spirituality.
Shades of Gratitude Project
Our team seeks to test and develop a theoretical framework to help guide future research on gratitude.
The Joyride Project
Pamela King explores the nature of joy and how to nurture joy in youth in order to promote thriving.
Study of Spirituality in America
Our team uses cutting-edge structural model analysis to understand diverse spirituality in the U.S.
CI Study of Positive Youth Development
Pamela King and partners study the impact of Compassion International's programs on youth.
Measuring Spirituality Among Adolescents
Pamela King tests the psychological viability of the MDAS scale among diverse youth.
The Telos Project
Pamela King uses teleology to further understand the ends and means of human development and thriving.
Multidimensional Identities of the 1.5 Undocu Generation
Lisseth Rojas-Flores and Norma Ramirez lead a self-care, mental health series to support undocumented youth.
Research Projects Archive
A continuation study, Pamela King follows up on the spiritual journeys of elected youth exemplars.
Thrive scholars lead a table discussion on patience in different contexts with 3 other thought leaders.
Ben Houltberg and scholars examine the role of self-narrative profiles in elite athletes' wellbeing.
Sarah Schnitker and Ben Houltberg examine the contexts in which teen athletes develop character strengths.
Thrive faculty and students engage scholars on evolutionary psychology, spirituality, and thriving.
Sarah Schnitker and student researchers study the impact of goal sanctification on gratitude, generosity, and thrift.
Pamela King evaluates a high school mentorship program to see how mentors help youth thrive.
Sarah Schnitker examines the connection between intercessory prayer and generosity with student researchers.
Selected Publications
The CI research team look at instances of commonality and specificity in Salvadoran youth enrolled in CI programs.
The CI research team test the MDAS scale across 2 samples, and share implications for future research.
Drs. King, Schnitker, and Houltberg provide an overview of how religion is linked to moral and virtue development in youth.
Dr. King and Thrive Fellow, Defoy propose a definition and framework for understanding joy through thriving.
The CI research team test whether religiousness is related to hopeful future expectations.
Dr. King propose a teleological framework to conceptualize joy as a virtue that can lead to thriving.
The CI research team report on the data collected from Rwandan participants to assess the traits of effective PYD programs.
The CI research team apply the MDAS to indicate the extent to which spirituality was integrated into the lives of youth.
Thrive scholars propose that religion/spirituality is related to thriving through telos, virtues, and transcendence.
Drs. King and Hardy capture the latest research on religion and spirituality for youth thriving in this special issue.
The CI research team explore the use of the specificity principle in future assessments of Sustainable Development Goal indicators.
The CI research team review and discuss the use PYD models in global settings, particularly among impoverished youth.
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