The Efficacy and Mechanism of Online Positive Psychological Intervention (PPI) on Improving Well-Being Among Chinese University Students: A Pilot Study of the Best Possible Self (BPS) Intervention

Abstract

Positive psychological intervention (PPI), which aims at enhancing the quality of life and well-being, was developed and mainly been tested in the Western countries. It was rarely validated for Asians, who may value less on individualistic and positive well-being. This study examined the efficacy and mechanism of a 6-day online self-help PPI on improving eudaimonic well-being (flourishing) and reducing depressive symptoms among Chinese university students. In this two-armed randomized controlled trial, 100 university students were recruited online and randomly assigned to a 6-day PPI which involved writing about best possible self, or an active control group which involved writing about a past event. They completed pre- and post-intervention evaluation. Analysis of data using repeated measures ANOVA showed that PPI improved flourishing and reduced depressive symptoms. Results showed that positive affects and autonomy satisfaction fully mediated the effect of PPI on flourishing, while increased autonomy fully mediated the effect of PPI on depressive symptoms. Moreover, the effects on depressive symptoms and flourishing were independent of one another, indicating the general utility of PPI in improving positive well-being irrespective of change in depressive symptoms. These findings add novel support that increased autonomy satisfaction is an active ingredient that promotes intervention change and illustrated that online PPI might serve as a viable well-being intervention for Chinese university students.