Positive Psychology Interventions Research Articles

Spiralling Engagement Experiences of Creativity (SEEC): A process of research-led arts creation for facilitating experiences of flourishing in participants’ lives

Research in the area of Positive Psychology typically investigates positive psychological interventions and their impact on the lives of participants, positive psychology as an approach to enhance the lives of participants, or investigations of particular populations in search of evidence of flourishing. This paper presents a research process of embodied, creative engagement to facilitate the exploration of research phenomena within community contexts. Entitled Spiralling Engagement Experiences of Creativity (SEEC), the process adapts concepts from Poetic Inquiry as the basis for exploring a phenomenon and extending participants’ engagement with that phenomenon through the facilitation of creative activities. This pilot study focused on the phenomenon of flourishing, using preliminary participant conversations to generate poetry/lyrics that tell individual, personal stories. Participants repeatedly engaged with their own positive personal stories to create an artwork that they could use to remind themselves of ways to interpret their lives. The benefit of this research process is that it prioritises participants making sense of their own lives in creative ways while exploring a phenomenon of interest. The SEEC process has the potential for use in varied contexts where the intersection of a deliberate research and arts-making framework would be helpful for exploring a phenomenon of inquiry.

The effectiveness of a positive psychological intervention for promoting preschool teachers' well-being and professional competence: EASP intervention program.

The present study investigated the effectiveness of the Early Advancement in Social-Emotional Health and Positivity (EASP) program, a positive psychological intervention promoting preschool teachers' well-being and the motivational aspect of professional competence. Participants were 273 in-service preschool teachers (Mage = 34.56 years, SD = 9.52, range = 22-58; female = 98.90%) who participated in a 2-month randomized controlled trial. Participants were randomly assigned to the intervention group (n = 143) receiving 1) four online workshops, 2) a smartphone app, and 3) an online activity, or to the wait-list control group (n = 130), which received the intervention materials after all the data collection. Participants reported their well-being dimensions, teaching self-efficacy, and autonomous motivation for teaching before and after the intervention. Results from a path analytic model exhibited excellent fit with the data, χ2 = 37.62, df = 33, CFI = .99, TLI = .98, RMSEA = .02 [90% CI = 0.00, 0.05], SRMR = .02. The intervention had direct effects on changes in well-being dimensions, including positivity, outcome, strength, engagement, and resilience (β = .14 to .26, ps = .00 to .04), and indirect intervention effects on changes in teaching self-efficacy and autonomous motivation for teaching (β = .14 to .15, ps = .00 to .01). These findings highlighted the potential value of implementing positive psychological interventions in educational settings to promote the well-being and professional competence among preschool teachers.

Exploring the Benefits and Acceptance of Blended Positive Psychotherapy as an Adjunctive Treatment for Clients with Residual Depressive Symptoms: A Mixed-Method Study

A proof-of-concept study was conducted to explore the acceptability and potential benefits of a blended positive psychotherapy intervention for clients with residual depressive symptoms. A single-arm pilot study was conducted in 2022 and 2023 with 24 Dutch adults experiencing residual depressive symptoms after treatment. Clients who had recently received an evidence-based treatment for depressive disorder were approached to participate in this study through opportunity sampling. The intervention consisted of nine sessions with a therapist and a six-week self-guided digital positive psychology intervention. Acceptability was examined using semi-structured interviews (n = 15). Participants filled out questionnaires pre- (n = 21), mid- (n = 14) and post-intervention (n = 8). Potential benefits were assessed in terms of changes in mental well-being (MHC-SF), depression (PHQ-9) and personal recovery (QPR). Quantitative data and qualitative data were analysed using linear mixed-effects models and framework analysis, respectively. The analyses were primarily based on Sekhon’s theoretical framework of acceptability. Linear mixed-effects analyses showed changes over time in most mental health indicators, including mental well-being (Hedge’s g = 1.58), depression (g = 1.43) and personal recovery (g = 1.96). Most of the interviewed participants considered blended positive psychotherapy a valuable adjunctive treatment; it connected well with their wish to become more positive in their daily life without ignoring difficult experiences. For some participants, shifting towards a positive treatment approach was difficult, resulting in early dropout. This study’s findings suggest that blended positive psychotherapy is acceptable to most people with residual depressive symptoms after treatment. Its impact is yet to be established in larger samples of studies involving more robust designs.

Positive Psychology Interventions for Hospitality Management: A Future Research Agenda

ABSTRACT This paper proposes a research agenda in hospitality management, utilizing positive psychology interventions to improve the wellbeing of customers and employees. A systematic literature review was conducted to identify, evaluate, and synthesize existing research. A conceptual model is proposed for integrating these interventions into hospitality management, aiming to foster both hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing. The model informs future research and practical application, extending beyond traditional social psychology theories. Industry recommendations include the application of generosity strategies, the incorporation of wellbeing models in marketing, and a collective wellbeing management philosophy.

From virtual assistant to writing mentor: Exploring the impact of a ChatGPT-based writing instruction protocol on EFL teachers’ self-efficacy and learners’ writing skill

Language teaching is a highly emotional profession that can affect the teachers’ well-being and learners’ achievement. However, studies have yet to explore the potential of positive psychology interventions and artificial intelligence (AI) tools to promote the psycho-emotional aspects of second language (L2) teachers and learners. Further, studies regarding the effectiveness of AI in promoting the learners’ language skills could have been expansive. Responding to these gaps, researchers chose ChatGPT, an AI-powered chatbot capable of generating natural and coherent texts, as a potential tool to foster positive emotions and interactions between Iranian English language teachers ( n = 12) and learners ( n = 48) in the L2 writing context. We operationalized ChatGPT in a three-phased writing instruction protocol (CGWIP): (1) a planning phase, where teachers used ChatGPT to brainstorm ideas and generate outlines for each session; (2) an instruction phase, where teachers used ChatGPT to engage the learners in writing process, analyse and reflect on their drafts, and (3) an assessment phase, where teachers used ChatGPT to simulate IELTS writing exam and provided detailed and constructive feedback to the learners. We further tested the effectiveness of CGWIP on teachers’ self-efficacy and learners’ writing skills before and after a 10-week instruction program. The Independent Samples t-test results showed that CGWIP significantly enhanced teachers’ self-efficacy compared to the control group. Also, the results of One Way ANCOVA revealed that CGWIP significantly improved learners’ writing skills and that these effects persisted over time. The study implied that the protocol can nurture teachers’ efficiency by helping them in various aspects of L2 writing instruction, including brainstorming, revising, providing feedback, and assessment, which in turn, improves learners’ writing skills.

The Effectiveness of Positive Psychological Interventions on Social Isolation of Girl Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: Past studies have revealed that positive psychological intervention has a positive impact on social isolation. Objectives: The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effect of positive psychological interventions on students' social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The research design of the study was quasi-experimental, comprising post-test and pre-test types with experimental and control groups. The population of this study included all female students of the 10th grade at Isfahan Conservatory during the academic year 2022 - 2023. The sample size consisted of 30 female students who were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to two groups: The control group (15 students) and the experimental group (15 students). Eight sessions of positive psychological intervention were conducted with the experimental group, while the control group did not receive any intervention. Results: The results of Fisher’s Exact test and chi-square test did not reveal any significant difference between the two groups of fathers in terms of education level (P = 0.169), and there was also no significant difference between the two groups of mothers in terms of education level (P = 0.715). The mean scores of social isolation (control: 50.00 ± 7.44, intervention: 30.00 ± 7.60) significantly decreased in the intervention group (P = 0.0001), but there was no significant decrease in the control group (P = 0.45). Accordingly, the pre-test mean scores of social isolation (P = 0.143) did not show significant between-group differences, and the post-test mean scores of social isolation (P = 0.001) in the intervention group were significantly lower than in the control group. Conclusions: The positive psychological intervention had a significant effect on the students' social isolation in the experimental group during the COVID-19 pandemic, indicating that this intervention can be used to reduce the social isolation of students.

Activating values intervention: an integrative pathway to well-being.

The present study expands the existing knowledge base regarding positive psychology interventions (PPIs), by employing an integrative approach to explore the potential benefits of translating values into action. Participants (n = 476) were randomly assigned to the Activating Values intervention, the affirmation-only, or the control (no treatment) group. The intervention involved participants choosing a life area they valued, affirming its importance, identifying a specific action related to that valued area, and then planning and carrying out that chosen action within the following week. Data was collected at baseline and three follow-up points: one, two, and three weeks after the intervention. Results suggest that the intervention contributes to the participants' well-being, including increased self-insight, sense of coherence, and prioritizing meaning, and decreased symptoms of psychopathology. Exploratory content analyses provide a deeper understanding of the content and frequency of activities chosen and the enabling conditions. The discussion explores the findings within this intersection as well as ramifications for brief, scalable interventions to support and promote well-being.

Psychological Perspectives in Dietetics: Enhancing Healthy Eating Habits – A Clinical Review

Abstract Diet influences man’s lives in aspects of physic, mental, and emotional wellness. Healthy nutrition will go a long way in eliminating chronic diseases such as heart ailments and diabetes, whereas unhealthy food intake defined by improper diets will trigger diseases such as malnutrition and obesity. Thus, nutrition is indispensable and, together with activity, rest, stress management, and abstinence from risky behaviors, is one of the key elements for health. As a science, dietetics focuses on the relationship of diet and health through making good food choices, using psychological principles aimed at improving the eating behaviors and patterns. Stress and mood are two of the most notable psychological aspects that are likely to affect the dietary behavior of the person; therefore, psychological theories are crucial in shaping dietetics. The psychological techniques that can be used to encourage people to adopt healthy eating habits include positive psychology interventions, mindfulness techniques, and cognitive behavioral therapy. The theory that will be discussed in detail is Alber Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory which focuses on a reciprocal process of influences of behavior. The social learning behavior theory postulates that people acquire proper eating habits by watching and imitating the behaviors of other people. Prochaska and DiClemente’s Transtheoretical Model of Behaviour Change explains how diets might influence behavior change. According to Deci and Ryan, Self-Determination Theory is essential in changing behavior with high emphasis on motivation and autonomy and hence essential in encouraging dietary compliance. Meditation therapy is used in dietetics to enhance the eating habits and general health. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is used for eliminating or changing negative perceptions and patterns of behavior with regard to eating, especially in cases of eating disorders. Positive psychology strategies aim to enhance people’s well-being and promote dietary compliance. In conclusion, it can be stated that various aspects of psychology are embodied in the dietetics that contribute to the change of people’s eating habits and healthy living. Interventions increasing dietary compliance which are based on the theories are the Social Cognitive Theory, The Theory of Planned Behavior, Self-Determination Theory, and positive psychology. Knowledge and application of these psychological theories in dietetics gives health benefits to those who embraces the dietetics intervention.

Positive Psychology Interventions Reduce Anti-Rich Mentality: An Exploration of the Contribution of Appreciative Joy

Positive Psychology Interventions Reduce Anti-Rich Mentality: An Exploration of the Contribution of Appreciative Joy

“It’s a Right Pain in the Pelvis!”: Post-Traumatic Stress and Post-Traumatic Growth in a Sample of Females Experiencing Chronic Pelvic Pain

Chronic pelvic pain affects 38 per 1,000 women yearly (Daniels & Khan, 2010; Zondervan et al., 1999), accompanied by various psychological sequelae. Positive psychology may offer new approaches to pelvic pain that complement existing interventions; these include post-traumatic growth (PTG), optimism, resilience, and models of recovery. In a sample of 132 females (aged 16 to 45+), cross-sectional research revealed that participants with pelvic pain of unknown cause had the highest levels of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. A regression analysis revealed that intrusive rumination, avoidant coping, and resilience were significant predictors of PTSD symptoms, and resilience and social support were predictors of PTG. Understanding the elements of positive psychology could help create positive psychology interventions focusing on chronic pelvic pain’s impact on mental health.

A Survey and Analysis of Assessment Literacy among College Foreign Language Teachers in China: A Positive Psychology Perspective

In the current realm of college foreign language education, the diversification of students’ learning needs underscores the necessity of effectively implementing 'assessment for learning' via assessment practices, thereby presenting fresh demands for the enhancement of assessment literacy among college foreign language instructors. Based on positive psychology, this study took some college foreign language teachers from Henan Province of China as the research subjects, explored the current status and existing problems of their assessment literacy through questionnaires and interviews, and analyzed the constraints hindering the enhancement of their assessment literacy. Additionally, to further investigate the effectiveness of positive psychology interventions in enhancing their assessment literacy, the researcher conducted two rounds of classroom observations involving a comparative analysis of pre- and post-intervention assessments to investigate the impact of post-intervention assessments on various aspects such as teaching quality, students’ learning outcomes, as well as their personality traits. The results revealed that positive assessment and feedback from college foreign language teachers can contribute to shaping students’ positive personality traits, igniting their motivation and potential for learning, and ultimately enhancing teaching effectiveness. Through assessment practices, genuine efforts can be made to implement assessment for learning, ultimately promoting students’ comprehensive development.

The Hummingbird Project year 2: decreasing distress and fostering flourishing in a pragmatic pre-post study.

Multi-component Positive Psychology Interventions (mPPIs) in secondary schools have been shown to improve mental health outcomes for young people. The Hummingbird Project mPPI is a six-week program of workshops designed to introduce a variety of positive psychology (PP) concepts to secondary school-aged children in schools to improve well-being, resilience, and hope. The effects on mental distress, however, were not explored. The current study, therefore, was designed to replicate the effects of the Hummingbird Project mPPI on positive mental health and to also explore the effects on symptoms of mental distress. Secondary school-aged children (N = 614; mean age = 11.46 years) from a sample of secondary schools located across the North West of England (N = 7) participated in the study; the majority of children were in Year 7 (94%). The PP concepts explored included happiness, hope, resilience, mindfulness, character strengths, growth mindset, and gratitude. The results showed significant improvements associated with the mPPI in well-being (as measured by the World Health Organization Well-Being Index; WHO-5), hope (as measured by the Children's Hope Scale; CHS), and symptoms of mental distress (as measured by the Young Person's Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation; YP-CORE) from pre- to post-intervention. While acknowledging the limits due to pragmatic concerns regarding the implementation of a control group, the effectiveness of the Hummingbird Project mPPI on well-being was replicated alongside reducing the symptoms of mental distress. Future evaluation, however, will need to implement more robust designs and consider follow-up duration to assess the longer-term effects of the Hummingbird Project mPPI.

Long-term analysis of a psychoeducational course on university students’ mental well-being

AbstractAlthough many higher educational institute (HEI) psychoeducational courses teaching positive psychology interventions report benefits to mental well-being upon completion, they have not typically addressed whether such beneficial effects are sustained long-term beyond the period of the courses. Here, we report a pre-registered follow-up of 228 undergraduate students, from a variety of disciplines, who took a positive psychology course 1 or 2 years previously. Overall, group analysis revealed that students who had taken the course did not continue to show the originally reported benefits at follow-up. Students who had taken the course scored higher on mental well-being than other students tested using a university-wide survey, but they were also higher at baseline 1–2 years earlier indicating a sampling bias. An exploratory analysis, however, revealed that 115 students (51% of the group) who had continued to practice the recommended activities taught during the course maintained their increased mental well-being over the period of follow-up. We therefore suggest that continued engagement is a key factor in sustaining the long-term benefits of positive psychology courses. Implementation of such courses should therefore include provision and mechanisms for maintaining future student engagement.

Distinct associations between gratitude, self-esteem, and optimism with subjective and psychological well-being among Japanese individuals

BackgroundMounting evidence suggests that the effectiveness of positive psychology interventions is influenced by a variety of factors, including cultural context. Identifying intervention targets that can effectively contribute to improving individual well-being under these boundary conditions is a crucial step when developing viable interventions. To this end, we examined how gratitude disposition, self-esteem, and optimism relate to the subjective well-being (SWB) and psychological well-being (PWB) of Japanese individuals.MethodsMultivariate regression analysis was employed to quantify the unique relationships between the three potential intervention targets and both SWB and PWB, while accounting for the influence of other variables. Participants (N = 71) also engaged in a 4-week experience sampling study to explore how gratitude, self-esteem and optimism shape the link between momentary affective states in everyday life and evaluations of day satisfaction.ResultsMultivariate regression analysis revealed that self-esteem was predominantly more strongly associated with SWB compared to gratitude disposition, whereas gratitude disposition was more strongly associated with the PWB dimensions, particularly personal growth, positive relations with others and purpose in life. Experience sampling data indicated that while both gratitude disposition and self-esteem moderated the association between momentary positive affect and day satisfaction evaluations, they did so in opposite ways; greater gratitude disposition strengthened the association, while greater self-esteem weakened it.ConclusionsOverall, the current results suggest that while gratitude, self-esteem, and optimism influence individual well-being as a whole, they likely play distinct roles in facilitating SWB and PWB in the studied cohort.

Swimming against the Tide: A Mixed-Methods Study of how the MARKERS Educator Wellbeing Program Changed Educators’ Relational Space

Effective educator wellbeing interventions should consider the individual, relational, and contextual influences on educator wellbeing. Given the gap between the effectiveness of positive psychology interventions (PPIs) and their real-world success, it is essential to understand and adapt to the school context when integrating psychological interventions into educational settings. The MARKERS (Multiple Action Responsive Kit for Educator, Relational, and School wellbeing) educator wellbeing program is multi-level, designed to consider the individual, relational, and contextual influences on wellbeing. Its multi-foci design also allowed for adaptations to specific contexts. This study examines the impact of the MARKERS program in one school in Aotearoa New Zealand. We use a mixed methods case study approach that draws on measures of educator wellbeing, social network measures of energising interactions, and focus group data. The use of stochastic actor-oriented models (SAOMs) allowed us to examine changes to the social network over time. Findings show that MARKERS program participants experienced a significant positive change in their relational space and experienced more energising interactions, but they were ‘swimming against the tide’ as other staff in the school had fewer energising interactions with their colleagues. Our study illustrates the importance of considering the relational and contextual influences on wellbeing when evaluating educator wellbeing interventions.

Effect of positive psychology intervention on stress among tribal adolescents in Jawadhu Hills, India

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of a positive psychology intervention on the stress levels of tribal adolescents living in the Jawadhu Hills area of India. Tribal communities often have distinct socio-economic and cultural barriers that lead to increased stress levels among adolescents. To address this issue, a positive psychology intervention was implemented that included the use of approaches designed to enhance emotional well-being and resilience. The research used an experimental pre-post control group design and a purposive sampling strategy to assess changes in stress levels using standardized stress measurement instruments. Results showed that the positive psychology intervention dramatically reduced stress levels among tribal youth in the experimental group compared to the control group, from 22.53 to 14.27. Several implications have been raised in light of these findings. First, it is important to emphasize the urgent need for increased awareness of mental health issues among tribal youth. In addition, the use of skilled professional counselors for adolescents significantly alleviates their emotional concerns. It is also essential to tailor interventions to the cultural milieu of the tribal community, taking into account their own needs, values, and traditions. In addition, it is important that local governments, NGOs, and educational institutions work together to implement and sustain positive psychology interventions in tribal schools. Therefore, this research contributes significantly to the understanding of how positive psychology interventions can successfully reduce stress among marginalized tribal youth.

Assessing interpersonal impact of veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder and moral injury: A case study of how significant others perceive veterans undergoing a positive psychology intervention.

Assessing interpersonal impact of veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder and moral injury: A case study of how significant others perceive veterans undergoing a positive psychology intervention.

Effects of a Mindfulness-Based Strengths Intervention on Adolescent Mental Health are Mediated by Changes in Negative Emotions

Previous studies in adult samples have shown that emotions, especially positive emotions, are one of the key mechanisms of change in positive psychology interventions. The current research aimed to investigate whether these emotions also mediate the effect of a positive psychology intervention, based on mindfulness and strengths use for adolescents, on mental health outcomes (i.e., well-being, peer-related and attentional problems). A quasi-experimental study was performed, including assessments one week before and one week after the intervention. The results of the multilevel mediation analyses showed that adolescents who completed the intervention (N=70) experienced a significant decrease in negative emotions but no significant increase in positive emotions compared to adolescents who did not participate in the intervention (N=236). Changes in negative emotions mediated changes in mental health outcomes (i.e., well-being and peer-related problems) associated with the intervention. Further, adolescents who started, but not necessarily completed the intervention (N=116) experienced no significant decrease in negative emotions. Findings suggest that positive psychology interventions may have an effect on health outcomes by decreasing negative emotions in addition to fostering positive emotions.

The role of life purpose in the therapeutic relationship

Objective: Positive psychological interventions have proven to help clients make life plans that give them a sense of fulfillment and importance. Such interventions help clients with goals, essential life factors, their sense of purpose or belonging, and their belief that life is worth living. Specifically, this research explored how mental health professionals addressing the topic of life purpose with those seeking treatment may affect a therapeutic relationship. Methods: Six individual interviews were conducted with mental health clinicians to investigate patterns involving a clients’ life purpose and therapy. Clinicians discussed in the interviews how a client's life purpose, transcendence of a higher power, external factors and interpretation of their sense of happiness affect the therapeutic relationship and mental health outcomes. Results: The study found that when the therapist consistently examined those topics with the client, it affected the therapeutic relationship by focusing the treatment plan, creating a smoother therapy process, providing motivation for therapy, and more effective treatment. Conclusion: The focused approach on the importance of a client's life purpose in the scope of the therapeutic relationship, provided psychological fulfillment to the client and gave the therapist a better understanding of the client.

Can a multicomponent positive psychological intervention promote well-being in parents of young children? A randomized controlled trial study in Hong Kong.

The present research examined the effects of an Early Advancement in Social-Emotional Health and Positivity (EASP) multicomponent positive psychological intervention on parents' well-being in Hong Kong. Participants were parents of young children (N = 120; Mage = 37.19 years, SD = 4.71, range = 24-53; female = 95.00%) who participated in the one-month randomized control trial. Participants were randomly assigned into the intervention (n = 50) and waitlist control groups (n = 70). Parents in the intervention group received two online workshops and an evidence-based smartphone application that targeted four positive psychological skills: (1) mindful parenting, (2) hope, (3) positive reappraisal, and (4) growth mindset. The results of the multivariate regression analysis revealed that the intervention significantly improved various dimensions of participants' positive psychological skills, subjective well-being, and psychological well-being immediately at the conclusion of the program. The findings of this study underscore the importance of the well-being payoffs linked to cultivating positive psychological skills among parents of young children.