Increases In Positive Affect Research Articles

Can a Universal Mindfulness Programme Improve Well-Being in Adolescents?

Abstract Background Approx. 14% of adolescents experience mental health disorders. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) could be one way to support adolescents’ well-being. We investigated the effectiveness of a 9-week school-based mindfulness intervention on adolescents’ well-being, moderated by gender, grade, and independent practice. Methods In total 3519 Finnish adolescents (aged 12 - 15) from 56 schools were randomized into intervention, active (relaxation), and inactive (normal school curriculum) control groups. Well-being was assessed with two life satisfaction measures (Life Satisfaction [OECD] and The Satisfaction with Life Scale-Child [SWLS-C]) and positive and negative affects (Positive and negative affects [PANAS]) at baseline, at 9 weeks and 26 weeks and analyzed using multilevel linear modeling. Results Significant improvement in life satisfaction (SWLS-C) was found at 9 weeks in the MBI group (β = 0.38, 95 % CI 0.08-0.68, p = 0.009) compared to the active control. Furthermore, MBI demonstrated an increase in life satisfaction (OECD) among boys (β = 0.25, 95 % CI 0.04-0.46, p = 0.016) and 6th graders (β = 0.26, 95 % CI 0.04-0.49, p = 0.015) at 9 weeks compared to the active control. Additionally, MBI participants engaging in independent practice at least once a week had a higher increase in positive affect at week 26 compared to both the active (β = 3.01, 95 % CI 0.55-5.47, p = 0.009) and inactive control groups (β = 2.81, 95 % CI 0.23-5.40, p = 0.026). Those practicing MBI almost daily also demonstrated a higher increase in positive affect at week 26 compared to the active control group (β = 2.95, 95 % CI 0.28-5.62, p = 0.023). Conclusions MBI in the school context seems to have the potential to increase the well-being of adolescents, especially those who commit to regular independent mindfulness practice. Gender and grade may moderate the effects of MBI. Therefore, we need to better understand how gender and age influence the effectiveness of MBI. Key messages • The findings indicate the need to further examine potential mediators and moderators that may influence the effectiveness of MBI on adolescents. • According to this study, regular mindfulness practice in schools appears to be a promising way to improve well-being of adolescents.

The affective response to positive performance feedback is associated with motor learning.

Motor skill learning and performance are improved when successful actions are paired with extrinsic rewards, such as money. Positive feedback indicating successful task performance is thought to induce intrinsic reward associated with goal attainment, evidenced by increases in positive affect that correlate with neural reward signaling. However, it is not clear whether the subjective, internal reward processes elicited by positive feedback promote motor learning and performance.Here, we tested the hypothesis that intrinsic reward elicited by positive feedback promotes motor learning and performance. Participants practiced a visuomotor interception task using a joystick, and received feedback during practice indicating success or failure depending on their accuracy. During practice, the accuracy demands were adapted to control and vary the frequency of positive feedback across randomly ordered blocks of practice at either 50%, 70%, or 90%. Performance was measured for each condition as the average accuracy during practice. Learning was estimated by measuring the accuracy pre and post practice in the absence of feedback. We queried participants periodically on their enjoyment of the task to index affective responses to performance feedback.The intrinsic reward elicited by positive feedback, operationalized by the increase in enjoyment immediately following positive versus negative feedback, was positively correlated with learning from pre to post practice. However, increasing the overall amount of positive feedback by lower accuracy demands did not improve performance. These results suggest that experiencing intrinsic reward due to positive feedback benefits motor learning only when it is contingent on good performance.

Improving resilience and mental well-being among refugees residing at asylum centers in the Netherlands: A pre-post feasibility study

BackgroundFew studies have explored the effects of mental health and psychosocial support programs among refugees residing at asylum centers. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of a positive psychology intervention called BAMBOO among refugees temporarily residing at asylum centers in the Netherlands. MethodData was collected at 35 asylum centers from 243 participants who completed five weekly two-hour sessions. Pre- and post-changes in resilience, happiness, and positive and negative affect were assessed using a one-group pretest–posttest design. Also, program fidelity, participant satisfaction, and program activity suitability were evaluated. ResultsCompleter and intention-to-treat analyses revealed a significant medium increase in resilience, a large increase in happiness, a small increase in positive affect, and a medium decrease in negative affect. Reliable change indices showed a positive change in 24 % of the participants on resilience and 13 % on positive and negative affect, respectively. Participant retention was 80 %. Moreover, participant satisfaction was high. Also, a substantial proportion of participants evaluated reading and writing-based activities as less suitable in comparison to activities based on verbal and creative expression, physical movement, and meditation/prayer. ConclusionsFindings showed significant increases in scores from pre- to post-assessment on resilience, happiness, and positive affect and a decrease in negative affect. Since the study design limits the ability to attribute causation, future controlled studies should be conducted to stablish stronger evidence regarding the program's effects. Additionally, the program could benefit from further adaptation to enhance its cultural sensitivity. Trial registration number: ISRCTN18019972

Transactional models of depression via caregiver-child interactions: Evaluating conflict resolution as a source of resilience in adversity-exposed families

BackgroundYouth who experienced early life caregiving adversity (ECA) are at increased risk for developing depression, which may in part reflect a heightened vulnerability to the deleterious effects of later-life stressors, including poor caregiver mental health and interpersonal conflict. Transactional models posit bidirectional influences between caregivers and children that operate over development and more proximally across interactions. ObjectiveTo address gaps in knowledge of bidirectional influences between caregivers and children, and differences therein based on ECA exposure, we evaluated the effects of caregiver and child depressive symptoms on their own and each other’s emotion-related behavior during conflict resolution, and the effects of their behavior on their own and each other’s changes in affect expression from conflict resolution to a recovery task. Participants and setting161 caregiver-child dyads (child age 6–16 years; 49 % female youth; 45 % caregivers of ECA-exposed youth) participated in videorecorded conflict resolution and subsequent recovery tasks. MethodsCaregivers reported on their own and their child’s depressive symptoms. Trained coders rated caregiver and child positive and negative affect and supportive and unsupportive emotion-related behavior. ResultsContrary to expectations derived from models of stress-sensitization, results of actor-partner interdependence models demonstrated positive associations between caregiver depressive symptoms and supportive child behavior, among ECA-exposed families. Among these families, only, child supportive behavior was also associated with greater increases in subsequent caregiver positive affect during the recovery task. ConclusionsIn contrast to models of stress-sensitization, youth supportive reactions to caregiver distress may initiate positive spirals that transcend interactions. Implications for intervention efforts are discussed.

Assessing the Impact of the Way of Saint James on Psychological Distress and Subjective Well-being: The Ultreya Study

This study aimed to examine the impact of a pilgrimage on the Way of St. James on psychological distress and subjective well-being, and to compare these outcomes with a control group on non-pilgrimage vacations. Additionally, the study explored psychological process variables that may mediate the pilgrimage's beneficial effects. A nonrandomized pretest-posttest design was used, involving 444 pilgrims and 124 controls. Participants completed baseline and post-experience self-reported measures of psychological distress, subjective well-being, and psychological processes (i.e., mindfulness, nonattachment, engaged living). A 3-month follow-up was conducted only in the pilgrim group. Mediation analyses examined psychological processes as potential mediators of pre-post change in the pilgrim group (vs. control). Within-group analyses revealed that the pilgrim group experienced improvements in psychological distress, subjective well-being, and psychological processes immediately post-experience, with most measures sustaining improvement at the 3-month follow-up. Compared to the control group, pilgrims showed significantly greater increases in positive affect, life satisfaction, and valued living, alongside greater reductions in anxiety, depression, and perceived stress. Valued living partially mediated the relationship between pilgrimage and positive affect, and fully mediated the effects on perceived stress, negative affect, life satisfaction, and subjective happiness. Pilgrimage on the Way of St. James effectively reduced psychological distress and enhanced subjective well-being, with greater benefits observed compared to a non-pilgrimage vacation control group. Consistent with the concept of pilgrimage as a transformative experience, significant improvements in valued living were noted, which mediated some of the positive outcomes post-pilgrimage. The Way of St. James may serve as a valuable complementary approach for alleviating distress and promoting well-being. Further studies exploring the effects of this pilgrimage on specific populations and using more robust study designs are warranted.Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT04141813.

Examining demand effects on direct and indirect affect measures in affect induction procedures.

Affect induction procedures are effectively implemented in psychological research. However, because participants are typically asked to self-report their affect immediately after viewing emotional stimuli, the goal of eliciting affect is relatively easy for participants to infer, making their responses susceptible to demand effects. To examine this demand effect, research has used an unrelated-studies paradigm, in which participants are led to believe that they are participating in two different, unrelated studies. While this paradigm has been used in some studies using affect induction procedures, none have examined the extent of demand effects in affect induction procedures. To do so, we conducted six online experiments (N = 170, N = 254, N = 664, N = 260, N = 239, N = 249) by contrasting an unrelated- with a related-studies design. The participants in the related-studies condition were to believe that the affect measurement after the induction belonged to the same pretest as the affect induction, whereas the participants in the unrelated-studies condition were to believe that this measurement was part of a second, unrelated pretest. We found that a related- versus unrelated-studies design produced a significant demand effect for both positive and negative affect, as indicated by greater increases in positive and negative affect in the related-studies compared with the unrelated-studies condition. Demand effects were also found on some indirect measures of affect, as reflected by a significantly smaller self-reported momentary thought-action repertoire, but not by worse memory performance or more distrust in the related-studies condition. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Brief Research Report: The Relationship Between College Instructor Affect and Autonomy-Supportive Teaching

Autonomy supportive teaching practices are associated with a variety of positive student outcomes. Past research has identified various intrapersonal, interpersonal, and environmental factors that contribute to instructors’ use of autonomy support. However, the extent to which instructor affect predicts changes in their use of autonomy support, as well as the reverse, has yet to be examined. In the current study, we surveyed 405 college instructors across two timepoints during the Spring 2022 semester to examine the reciprocal relationships between instructors’ positive and negative affect during class and their use of autonomy support. Cross-lagged panel models suggested that instructors’ use of autonomy support predicted an increase in overall positive affect during class over time, while instructors’ overall positive affect in class did not predict an increase in autonomy support in class over time. Reciprocal relationships emerged for the specific affective states of feeling content and determined in class. No relationships between instructor negative affect and their use of autonomy support emerged in either direction. Results highlight the importance of examining the ways in which instructors’ positive affect shape instructional behaviors and the benefits that instructors may experience when implementing autonomy support in the classroom.

The Moderating Role of Dietary Quality and Dietary Fibre Intake on the Mood Effects of Positive Expressive Writing: A Pilot Study.

Positive expressive writing is associated with enhanced psychological wellbeing. Several individual differences are known to moderate the enhancement effects of positive expressive writing, but no studies to date have investigated the optimal dietary conditions under which expressive writing effects occur. In this pilot study, we sought to investigate whether diet quality and dietary fibre intake moderate the effects of positive writing on mood. The participants (12 males, 25 females, Mage = 33.0, SDage = 13.1) completed self-reported measures of dietary quality, dietary fibre intake, and positive and negative affect. They were then randomly allocated to complete either a positive expressive writing or neutral writing activity for 10 min. Positive and negative affect were measured again immediately after each activity. Those participants who reported better diet quality and greater dietary fibre intake exhibited a significantly greater increase in positive affect following positive expressive writing relative to neutral writing. No significant effects were observed for negative affect. For the first time, we report that the effects of positive expressive writing on positive mood are enhanced under optimal dietary conditions. Further replication studies are needed to determine whether dietary factors can influence the conditions under which positive expressive writing benefits occur. We speculate that dietary influences on the gut-brain axis are a potential mechanism.

Virtual reality-based Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE-VR) as an adjunct to medications for opioid use disorder: a Phase 1 trial

Introduction Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) are the most effective interventions for this condition, yet many patients discontinue treatment. Though adjunct psychosocial treatments are recommended to increase retention and reduce relapse, the scarcity of trained providers hinders access to and utilization of evidence-based interventions. We conducted a Phase 1 study to assess the feasibility of a virtual reality-delivered Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE-VR) intervention for patients receiving MOUD. Patients and Methods Patients receiving buprenorphine or methadone for OUD (N = 34) were scheduled for 8 weekly sessions of MORE-VR. Enrollment and retention rates were analyzed. Participants reported on the usability and acceptability of MORE-VR, opioid use, and craving and affect before and after each VR session. Heart rate was monitored during one session of MORE-VR. Results Twenty-three participants completed four or more MORE-VR sessions (minimum recommended intervention dose). Participants reported high usability and acceptability of MORE-VR, which had an excellent safety profile. Illicit opioid use decreased significantly from pre- to post-treatment (F = 4.44, p=.04). We observed a significant within-session decrease in opioid craving (F = 39.3, p<.001) and negative affect (F = 36.3, p<.001), and a significant within-session increase in positive affect (F = 23.6, p<.001). Heart rate shifted during cue-exposure and mindfulness practices (F = 6.79, p<.001). Conclusions High retention, usability and acceptability rates and low adverse events demonstrated that MORE-VR is a feasible, engaging, and safe intervention. Our findings show that MORE-VR can be delivered as an adjunctive intervention to MOUD and suggest that MORE-VR may improve OUD treatment outcomes and modulate autonomic responses. MORE-VR’s efficacy will be tested in a subsequent Phase 2 trial. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05034276; https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05034276

Under pressure: Effects of distraction and reappraisal on adolescents' psychophysiological stress responses

Although cognitive reappraisal and distraction are generally both beneficial to down-regulate negative affect, it remains unknown whether one may be more effective in helping adolescents handle stressful situations. Therefore, this study compared the effects of both strategies on adolescent's psychophysiological stress responses. Belgian adolescents (N = 82, Mage = 13.99 years, SDage = 0.62; 38% males) received a 100-min training on cognitive reappraisal or distraction to ensure adolescents could use the strategies when instructed; subsequently they were exposed to a standardized interpersonal stressor after which they were instructed to use the learned technique. As compared to participants in the cognitive reappraisal condition, participants in the distraction condition reported larger increases in positive affect during the initial minutes of stress recovery. However, no clear differences emerged when examining negative affect and respiratory sinus arrythmia recovery. These findings provide new insights into the effectiveness of cognitive reappraisal and distraction in adolescents.

Effects of mindfulness and movement on affect and vitality.

Increasing levels of distress and barriers to healthcare have coincided with increasing use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). While mindfulness and movement interventions may improve wellbeing, little research has compared the effectiveness of these two approaches. This single intervention study aimed to (1) explore the effects of two brief, online, self-administered mindfulness and movement interventions on affect and vitality, and (2) establish whether changes in affect and vitality could be predicted by age, gender, general distress, previous CAM experience and enjoyment of the intervention. Participants (n = 62) were randomly allocated to follow a brief online mindfulness or movement intervention. Levels of affect (using PANAS) and subjective vitality (using the Subjective Vitality Scale) were measured pre and post intervention. Demographics, experience with CAM and general distress (using the DASS-21) were collected pre intervention, while level of enjoyment (using the ENJOY scale) was measured post intervention. Open-text responses gathered qualitative data on participant experience. Participants completing the mindfulness intervention reported increased vitality and decreased positive and negative affect. Those completing the movement intervention reported increased vitality and positive affect and decreased negative affect. Higher DASS-21 levels were predictive of greater reductions in negative affect. Higher levels of enjoyment were predictive of greater increases in positive affect and vitality. Differences between mindfulness and movement interventions may indicate that they could have targeted applications. While further research is necessary, these brief, online interventions may provide a sustainable, accessible self-management and wellbeing intervention.

Musical mood induction: The relative influences of music type and the importance of music preference

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effects of music type on mood and the influence of music preference for predicting mood induction. Ninety undergraduate participants ( Mage = 22.19 years, SD = 6) completed a music preference inventory prior to listening to heavy metal and classical music stimuli, presented in counterbalanced order. Participants completed the Positive Affect and Negative Affect Scale inventory to measure baseline mood and then re-completed the inventory after each music stimulus presentation. Multivariate analysis of variance on repeated measures evaluated the effects of music type on mood, whereas multiple regression analysis tested the influence of preference on mood following music exposure. Heavy metal music induced a state of high arousal/negative mood via increases in hostility, whereas classical music induced a state of low arousal/positive mood via increases in serenity. Preferences for heavy metal music predicted significant reductions in negative affect and hostility following heavy metal music, coupled with increases in serenity, joviality, and positive affect. Likewise, classical music preference predicted significant increases in joviality and PA following classical music listening. The results of the current study demonstrate how differential music exposures influence mood and reveal the importance of listener preferences for predicting mood change.

Associations between Stress Mindset and Changes in Positive Affect during a Speech Task: A Preliminary Study

A stress mindset is an individual’s belief that stress has either enhancing (stress-is-enhancing mindset: SEM) or debilitating (stress-is-debilitating mindset: SDM) consequences. This study examined the associations between SEM and changes in positive affect during a speech task using a sample of 32 Japanese college students as participants. It was hypothesized that participants with SEM would show a greater increase in positive affect over time than those with SDM. The participants rested for three minutes, prepared for three minutes, delivered a speech about themselves in front of an evaluator and video camera (task period), and again rested for three minutes. Positive affect was measured immediately after the two resting periods and during the speech. The participants were divided into groups of 17 and 15 in the SEM and SDM groups, respectively, based on their stress mindset scores. Both groups were fairly matched concerning age and male/female ratio. Change patterns of positive affect did not differ between the two groups, which did not support the hypothesis. However, positive affect was significantly higher in the SEM group compared with the SDM group. The present results differed from previous findings reported in North America. Inconsistent results are discussed related to differences in the speech task and cross-cultural variations of happiness and coping with stressors between North America and Japan.

Clarifying the Links between Perceived Stress and Depressiveness: a Longitudinal Study of COVID-19’s Effects on Adolescents in Germany

Young people are navigating an increasingly uncertain and unstable social and economic environment, further complicated by COVID-19. Individual resources and vulnerabilities, such as mental health and sensitivity to stress, play a significant role in how well youth adapt to the career paths and living conditions altered by the pandemic, a dynamic that is not yet well understood. This study examined the role of COVID-19 on the intertwined relation between perceived stress and depressiveness (negative and positive affect) in adolescents, focusing on gender differences. Longitudinal data from 673 German adolescents (Mage = 16.8 years, SDage = 0.91; female = 59%) were collected in three waves, before (T1) and during the pandemic (T2, T3). Using Latent Change Score models, the bidirectional relation between perceived stress and depressiveness was analyzed, considering gender as a moderator. The results showed that adolescents who found their situation stressful were at risk of developing depressiveness at the outbreak of the pandemic and throughout its progression. As the pandemic progressed, an increase in positive affect was linked to heightened perceived stress. Gender-specific differences were particularly evident in the levels of perceived stress and depressiveness, with women being more vulnerable. This study highlights how vulnerabilities in stress perception affect adolescents’ mental health, with gender-specific differences underscoring the need for tailored mental health measures.

Evaluation of a High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) Program for Military Personnel Receiving Inpatient Treatment for a Substance Use Disorder

This study aimed to evaluate a high intensity interval training (HIIT) program delivered in an inpatient treatment setting serving military personnel. This recreational therapy (RT) program assessed the impact of a single session (60-minute) HIIT program on participant affect and state-anxiety. Using a single-group pretest-posttest design, 58 data sets were collected from participants (N = 20). Results indicated an increase in positive affect (z = -.6.52, p &lt; .001), a decrease in negative affect (z = -2.64, p &lt; .01), and a significant reduction in anxiety, t (57) = 1.99, p = .05 following the intervention. The program also resulted in a significant elevation in heart rate, t (57) = -25.89, p &lt; .001 with most participants reaching moderate to high intensity physical activity levels. On a scale of 1–10, participants rated their likelihood of participating in HIIT post-discharge at 6.28 (SD = 2.43). Additional qualitative data provides valuable insight on the perceived benefits to participants and offers suggestions for future program development and research in this area.

HEALTHY LIFESTYLES PROGRAM IN AN OUTPATIENT SETTING (HELPOUT)

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS Substance use disorder is a major public health concern and is associated with elevated rates of physical illnesses. It is known that exercise is safe in a substance use population, with engagement in exercise being reported to increase periods of abstinence, metabolic health, and physical capacity. There is little evidence exploring the willingness and capacity of a substance use patient to perform exercise. This study explores the physical activity habits and preferences of substance use patients, their capacity to perform exercise and the impact of acute exercise on psychological outcomes. METHODS Participants accessing opioid maintenance therapy were recruited from drug and alcohol clinics in metropolitan Sydney. 98 participants completed questionnaires assessing recent exercise and diet, quality of life, and anthropometry. Of these, 22 participants also completed fitness testing with changes in mood assessed acutely. RESULTS 46% of participants reported planned physical activity however only 32% met ACSM guidelines. Higher levels of perceived physical health and quality of life had a notable positive association with volume of planned exercise completed. 95% of the cohort were interested in participating in an exercise program, with a lack of motivation and having an injury being the primary barriers to participation. 19.6% reported levels of extreme pain compared to 6.4% of the Australian population. Exercise capacity varied, with average performance in upper body endurance and hand grip strength assessments, but poor capacity in lower limb strength, balance and functional capacity. An acute bout of exercise lead to an increase in positive affect (p&amp;lt;0.001) and a decrease in negative affect (p=0.011). CONCLUSIONS Exercise therapy has the potential to offer numerous benefits to patients seeking treatment for opioid use disorder, with planned physical activity correlation with improved physical and mental health outcomes. Clinical support from exercise physiologists is needed to assist in overcoming barriers to exercise and managing comorbid medical conditions.

Assessing the Acceptability and Potential Emotional Well-Being Outcomes of a Digital, Intergenerational Music Program for Older Adults Living with Dementia

ABSTRACT Cases of Alzheimer’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease-related dementia are expected to triple in the next thirty years. Consequences of the disease include a decline in emotional well-being, which was exacerbated by the isolation imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examined the acceptability and potential effects of a digital, intergenerational music intervention delivered by adolescent musicians on the affect and emotions of older adults living with dementia. The study was exploratory, followed a pre- post- test design, and had 14 participants. Affect was examined using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule and emotion was observed using the Observed Emotion Rating Scale. Additionally, this study assessed acceptability by asking participants about their willingness to continue and gathering qualitative feedback in focus groups. Results showed an increase in positive affect and positive trends in duration of sustained pleasure and alertness, as well as a high percentage of willingness to continue and positive feedback. Digital, intergenerational music is a promising intervention to continue examining in future studies.

The longitudinal relationship between levels of leisure-time physical activity and positive and negative affect among older foreign-born adults with mild cognitive impairment.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the longitudinal impact of different levels of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) participation on positive and negative affect among older foreign-born adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). This study used 2012 to 2020 data from the Health and Retirement Study data (n = 1206) that was analyzed using repeated measured multivariate analysis of covariance. The high-level participation LTPA group reported higher positive affect and lower negative affect than the mid and low-level participation groups. The mid-level LTPA group also reported higher positive and lower negative affect than the low-level LTPA group. This study provides evidence that high levels of LTPA participation contribute to an increase in positive affect and a reduction of negative affect among older foreign-born adults with MCI. The findings of this study will help fill the gap in research on the longitudinal relationship between levels of LTPA participation and positive and negative affect among older foreign-born adults.

Testing a brief, self-guided values affirmation for behavioral activation intervention during COVID-19

ABSTRACT This pilot study tested a single-session digital values affirmation for behavioral activation (VABA) intervention. Hypotheses predicted the VABA intervention would be more effective than an active control condition in improving mood, decreasing COVID-19 fear/worry and depressive symptoms, and promoting positively reinforcing behaviors during early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were a diverse sample of undergraduate students (N = 296) under a state-wide lockdown. Students were randomized to either VABA, a 10-min values clarification and affirmation task, or Control, a time- and attention-matched task. Positive and negative affects were assessed pre- and post-intervention. At next-day follow-up, positive and negative affects were reassessed, as well as past 24-h behavioral activation and depressive symptoms. Within-group increases in positive affect were observed in both conditions (VABA d = 0.39; Control d = 0.19). However, VABA produced a significantly larger increase than Control (F[2] = 3.856, p = .022, d = 0.22). At 24-h follow-up, behavioral activation, which was significantly higher in VABA versus Control (t[294] = −5.584, p < .001, d = 0.65), predicted fewer depressive symptoms (R 2 change = .019, β = -.134, p = .003). VABA is an ultra-brief intervention that appears to have acute effects on mood-enhancement and behavioral activation.

An Exploration of Resilience and Positive Affect among Undergraduate Nursing Students: A Longitudinal Observational Study.

The purpose of this study is to analyze the variation in resilience and emotional state scores in nursing students throughout the four years of training for the nursing degree. This is a longitudinal observational study of a paired and prospective cohort of 176 nursing students who enrolled in the first year of a bachelor's degree in 2019. The study followed up with the students in 2022 and examined several sociodemographic factors, including sex, marital status, date of birth, living arrangements and occupation. Additionally, the study investigated changes in negative affect, positive affect, and resilience. A total of 176 students participated in the study. The study found that resilience increased from 68.24 ± 10.59 to 70.87 ± 9.06 (p < 0.001), positive affect increased from 28.16 ± 4.59 to 33.08 ± 8.00 (p < 0.001), and the negative affect score decreased from 25.27 ± 5.12 to 21.81 ± 7.85 (p < 0.001). The study also found that married individuals experienced an increase in negative affect (p = 0.03) compared to singles or those in open relationships. Furthermore, the change in resilience was greater in men than in women (p = 0.01). Throughout their four-year training, nursing students experience an increase in resilience and positive affect, as well as a decrease in negative affect.