Positive Psychology Goes to School: Conceptualizing Students’ Happiness in 21st Century Schools While ‘Minding the Mind!’ Are We There Yet? Evidence-Backed, School-Based Positive Psychology Interventions

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to examine school-based interventions that have been designed and developed to promote students’ happiness, well-being, and academic achievement using a positive psychology approach that focuses on cultivating positive emotions, resilience, and positive character strengths. The current paper outlines the positive psychology movement and reviews evidence from 12 school-based positive psychology interventions that have been systematically evaluated, in response to calls from the 21st century education movement for schools to incorporate students’ happiness and well-being as a focus of learning. The findings of this research shows that positive psychology programs are linked to students’ health, relationships, happiness, and academic success. The article offers recommendations for additional development of positive psychology interventions in schools, and explores those factors and variables that may influence positive psychology interventions to be extended and more systematically integrated into schools for happiness and well-being of students.