Positive Psychological Interventions to Prevent Well-Being Issues, Aggression and Bullying in School Students

Abstract

Data obtained by Russian psychologists and sociologists is used to substantiate the need for school-based interventions to improve school climate and reduce overall peer aggression. Positive psychological interventions (PPIs) for wellbeing have a number of advantages over programs designed to reduce or eliminate negative behavioral manifestations, such as anti-bullying, anti-smoking, depression prevention, or violence prevention programs. In particular, PPIs are universal, flexible, and wide-reaching; they have a strong influence on such important life outcomes as positive emotions, involvement in something that one loves, harmonious social relations, adequate self-esteem, and the feeling of significance. Effectiveness of PPIs is evaluated using international literature as compared with descriptive studies of Russian researchers.