Using Social Network Sites to Boost Savoring: Positive Effects on Positive Emotions.

Sen-Chi Yu,Wen-Ping Lan,Kennon M Sheldon,Jia-Huei Chen

doi:10.3390/ijerph17176407

Abstract

Research has demonstrated that positive interventions (PIs) can be effective in enhancing well-being. Our study used Facebook to conduct a PI based on savoring. Sixty-one university students in Taiwan were randomly assigned to undergo a three-week savoring PI, and 61 participants were assigned to a no-treatment control group. The results showed significantly enhanced positive affect in the treatment group compared to the control group, in both a post-test and a final follow-up, but no significant differences between the two groups in negative affect. The treatment group also displayed significantly lower depression in the post-test, which was not maintained at the follow-up. These results indicate that, for university students, a savoring intervention via Facebook can be an effective way of enhancing positive emotions.

Highlights

Research on psychology mostly focused on negative mental states and dwelled less on the causes and consequences of positive mental states [1]
The analytical results of our meta-analysis revealed that positive interventions (PIs) can be effective at enhancing well-being and reducing depressive symptoms in both Western and non-Western countries [12]
Results from the negative affect (NA) scale showed that the mean scores of the experimental group in the pre-test, post-test, and follow-up tests were 16.61, 15.45, and 15.94, respectively, while the mean scores of the control group were 15.98, 16.63, and 17.29, respectively

Summary

Introduction

Research on psychology mostly focused on negative mental states (such as depression and anxiety) and dwelled less on the causes and consequences of positive mental states [1]. Seligman’s introduction [1] of the concept of positive psychology (PP) has led psychological researchers to attach greater importance to understanding and enhancing well-being and positive emotion [2]. Positive psychology aims to understand the positive side of human functioning, expanding research on positive behaviors, cognitions, emotions, and character traits [3]. Savoring is the capacity to attend to, appreciate, and enhance the positive experiences in your life [4]. Savoring refers to the ability to take pleasure in anticipation of future positive events, to enjoy positive experiences in the present moment, and to remember past experiences with pleasure [5]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion