Significant Increases In Positive Affect Research Articles

Randomized controlled trial of a positive affect intervention for methamphetamine users

BackgroundContingency management (CM) is an evidence-based intervention providing rewards in exchange for biomarkers that confirm abstinence from stimulants such as methamphetamine. We tested the efficacy of a positive affect intervention designed to boost the effectiveness of CM with HIV-positive, methamphetamine-using sexual minority men. MethodsThis attention-matched, randomized controlled trial of a positive affect intervention delivered during CM was registered on www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01926184). In total, 110 HIV-positive sexual minority men with biologically confirmed, recent methamphetamine use were enrolled. Five individual sessions of a positive affect intervention (n = 55) or an attention-control condition (n = 55) were delivered during three months of CM. Secondary outcomes examined over the 3-month intervention period included: 1) psychological processes relevant to affect regulation (i.e., positive affect, negative affect, and mindfulness); 2) methamphetamine craving; 3) self-reported stimulant use (past 3 months); and 4) cumulative number of urine samples that were non-reactive for stimulants (i.e., methamphetamine and cocaine) during CM. ResultsThose randomized to the positive affect intervention reported significant increases in positive affect during individual sessions and increases in mindfulness over the 3-month intervention period. Intervention-related improvements in these psychological processes relevant to affect regulation were paralleled by concurrent decreases in methamphetamine craving and self-reported stimulant use over the 3-month intervention period. ConclusionsDelivering a positive affect intervention may improve affect regulation as well as reduce methamphetamine craving and stimulant use during CM with HIV-positive, methamphetamine-using sexual minority men.

How does meaning in life predict proactive coping? The self-regulatory mechanism on emotion and cognition.

This study examined the effectiveness of a photographic intervention method on meaning in life (MIL) and further investigated the self-regulatory mechanism responsible for the effect of MIL in the promotion of proactive coping. Participants were 145 Chinese adults (Mage =27.82; 71.3% female), who were randomly assigned into one of three conditions: An intervention (taking photos and writing expressively), a taking-photos-only control, or an assessment-only control. MIL, positive affect, future temporal focus, and proactive coping were measured before and after the intervention, with follow-up assessments conducted 1week and 1month later. Additionally, daily assessments were conducted during the intervention week. MIL improved daily in the intervention condition, an effect that was also found post-intervention and at follow-up. Significant increases in positive affect, future temporal focus, and proactive coping were also observed after the intervention. Hierarchical linear modeling demonstrated that daily MIL positively predicted daily future temporal focus and positive affect. Furthermore, longitudinal mediation analysis confirmed that future temporal focus and positive affect mediated the relationship between MIL and proactive coping. MIL's self-regulatory mechanism is reflected in both cognitive (future temporal focus) and emotional (positive affect) dimensions, which promotes proactive coping with future stressors.

Implementation and Evaluation of a Life Narrative Interview Program for Medical Inpatients

ABSTRACTObjectives: Two studies in the early 1990s demonstrated that life narrative interviews conducted by age-peer volunteers strengthened the coping of older patients undergoing invasive medical procedures. The present article reports on the implementation of a similar life narrative interview program for medical inpatients and subsequent evaluation of the mood and coping effects of the intervention.Methods: Three volunteers (mean age = 69 years) were trained to administer 45- to 60-minute life narrative interviews. Fifty-three inpatients (mean age = 70 years) on various units of a Mid-Atlantic non-profit hospital agreed to participate. The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule and Coping Self-Efficacy Inventory (CSEI) were administered before and after the interviews.Results: T-tests indicated a significant increase in positive affect and decrease in negative affect following the interview but no changes in the CSEI. Patient satisfaction questions administered after the interview indicated that patients had a high level of satisfaction with the interview experience.Conclusions: The life narrative interview program appeared to improve the overall mood of participants while providing a satisfying activity to engage in while in the hospital.Clinical Implications: The project demonstrated a cost-effective method for employing volunteers to enhance the experience of patients at healthcare facilities.

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Mindfulness Meditation for Chronic Insomnia: Effects on Daytime Symptoms and Cognitive-Emotional Arousal

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) have been shown to improve sleep quality among people with insomnia. However, much less is known about the effects of MBIs on other aspects of insomnia such as daytime symptoms and cognitive-emotional arousal. The purpose of this study was to examine the treatment effects on these domains for adults with chronic insomnia disorder who were randomized to mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), mindfulness-based therapy for insomnia (MBTI), or a delayed-treatment control consisting of sleep diary self-monitoring (SM) followed by behavior therapy (BT). Analyses were conducted on baseline to post-treatment changes with superiority comparisons for each MBI to SM followed by non-inferiority comparisons for each MBI to BT. The results revealed significant reductions from baseline in the MBTI group with large effect sizes on sleep effort, maladaptive sleep-related cognitions, and hyperarousal which were superior to the SM control (p < 0.05) and non-inferior to BT (p < 0.025). MBSR demonstrated a significant increase in positive affect with a large effect size which was non-inferior to BT (p < 0.025) but not statistically significant compared to SM. These findings indicate that MBTI, a new MBI which combines mindfulness practices with behavioral sleep components, can be effective at reducing cognitive-emotional arousal related to insomnia while MBSR, a general MBI, can increase positive affect at a level similar to a standard behavioral treatment for insomnia.

Effect of yoga on positive–Negative affect and self-esteem on tribal male adolescents- A randomized control study

Aim: Effect of yoga on positive–negative affectivity and self-esteem in tribal adolescents. Material and Methods: This is a pilot randomized control study. Several chits were made in which the name of all the available students was written. The youngest boy from the group selected 30 chits for yoga group and the remaining students were included in the control group. The yoga group included 30 male adolescents between the age of 10 years and 18 years (M = 14.4, SD = 3.51). Control group included 25 male adolescents between the age of 10 years and 18 years (M = 13.3, SD = 1.90). PANAS-C and Rosenberg self-esteem scales were used to measure the positive–negative affectivity and self-esteem, respectively. Data was collected before and after interventions. Results: Study shows significant increase in positive affect (P = 0.008) and negative affect (P = 0.047) in experimental group as compared to control group's positive affect (P = 0.468) and negative affect (P = 0.156). Self-esteem in experimental group slightly reduced (P = 0.927). Similarly, self-esteem in control group reduced (P = 0.019). Conclusion: Study suggests that two weeks of yoga practice has a significant impact on positive-negative affect in tribal adolescents.

Teens engaged in collaborative health: The feasibility and acceptability of an online skill-building intervention for adolescents at risk for depression

BackgroundThere is an ongoing need for effective and accessible preventive interventions for adolescent depression and substance abuse. This paper reports on a field trial of an online indicated preventive intervention, ProjectTECH, which is based on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques. The study aims to gather information about the feasibility and acceptability of this program. Secondary aims of this study were to examine the impact of the program on depression symptoms, perceived stress, positive affect, and substance use and to compare differences between groups that were led by a peer versus those that were led by a licensed clinician. MethodsHigh school students (n=39) were recruited primarily through social media advertisements, and assigned to four groups of 8–12 individuals to collaboratively participate in an 8week peer network-based online preventive intervention which were led by a trained peer guide or a licensed clinician. Participants were provided with didactic lessons, CBT-based mood management tools, and peer networking features, and completed quantitative and qualitative feedback at baseline, midpoint, end of intervention, and 1month follow-up. ResultsThe program attracted and retained users primarily from social media and was used frequently by many of the participants (system login M=25.62, SD=16.58). Participants rated the program as usable, and offered several suggestions for improving the program, including allowing for further personalization by the individual user, and including more prompts to engage with the social network. From baseline to end of intervention, significant decreases were observed in depressive symptoms and perceived stress (p's<0.05). Significant increases in positive affect were observed from baseline to midpoint (p<0.05) and no changes were observed in substance use, although the rate of substance use was low in this sample. While this study had low power to detect group differences, no consistent differences were observed between participants in a peer-led group and those in a clinician-led group. ConclusionsResults of this study indicate that ProjectTECH, an indicated preventive intervention for high school-aged adolescents, demonstrates both feasibility, acceptability, and short-term, longitudinal psychological benefits for participants. Future iterations of the program may benefit from close attention to user interface design and the continued use of trained peer support guides.

A Cook's Tour Abroad: Long‐Term Effects of Intergroup Contact on Positive Outgroup Attitudes

This mixed‐methods, longitudinal study documents the short‐ and long‐term impact of a cook's tour of Vietnam by 14 U.S. chef students. Over 3 weeks, travelers engaged in myriad intergroup interactions to experience Vietnam's cuisine and culture, exemplifying a positive intergroup orientation consistent with allophilia and xenophilia. Measures included a pretrip questionnaire, daily journal, and posttrip questionnaire, as well as participant observation. Short‐term attitude change included significant increases in positive affect toward the Vietnamese, negative stereotypes, and intergroup understanding. Nearly 10 years later, the author interviewed 10 of the original trip participants. Consistent with allophilia theory, participants expressed continued affection, kinship, and enthusiasm toward the Vietnamese people and remained motivated to engage the Vietnamese culture and cuisine. Additional evidence of allophilic specificity, openness to experience, and deprovincialism is also discussed.

Psychological effects of deep-breathing: the impact of expectancy-priming

Outcome expectancy could mediate the psychological effects of exercise-related interventions, which implies that part of the psychological benefits of physical activity could be ascribed to placebo effects. In this framed field-experiment, 89 healthy participants were studied in three groups, (1) breathing-primed (deep-breathing with an exercise-related expectancy), (2) breathing-unprimed (deep-breathing with no exercise-related expectancy), and (3) control (no intervention). Deep-breathing lasted for three minutes. Before and after deep-breathing, or sitting quietly in the control group, participants completed two questionnaires assessing their positive- and negative affect (NA) and subjective well-being (WB). In contrast to the control group, both the breathing-primed and breathing-unprimed groups showed decreased NA and increased subjective WB. The breathing-primed group reported larger changes in WB than the breathing-unprimed group, in addition to also exhibiting significant increases in positive affect. These findings support the hypothesis of the work that expectations mediate the psychological effects of deep-breathing beyond the intervention’s specific effects. Therefore, future research should control for expectations related to an intervention when gauging psychological changes.

The effectiveness of a peer-helping programme that increases subjective well-being

ABSTRACTThe present study aims to investigate the effectiveness of a peer-helping programme in increasing the subjective well-being of a group of university students compared with a control group with the same characteristics who did not receive the intervention. The intervention recipients consisted of 13 male and 17 female participants. The peer helpers were 22 female and 8 male participants. The peer-helping programme consisted of three stages: training in helping skills, implementation and facilitating supervision sessions. The short-term effects of the programme were investigated using the Positive and Negative Affect Scale. The programme's long-term effects were evaluated using the Life Satisfaction Scale and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. The results indicated that the short-term subjective well-being effects of the intervention activities were statistically significant. Additionally, the results revealed statistically significant increases in positive affect and life satisfaction and significant decreases in negative affect in the intervention group compared with that in the control group. Peer-helping programme may be used to increase individuals’ subjective well-being.

Pilot randomized controlled trial of an integrative intervention with methamphetamine-using men who have sex with men.

Contingency management (CM) is an evidence-based intervention that provides tangible rewards as positive reinforcement for biologically confirmed abstinence from substance use. Integrative approaches targeting positive affect regulation could boost the effectiveness of CM by sensitizing individuals to non-drug-related sources of reward and assisting them with effectively managing symptoms of withdrawal. This pilot randomized controlled trial with 21 methamphetamine-using men who have sex with men (MSM) examined the feasibility and acceptability of a 5-session, positive affect intervention delivered during CM-Affect Regulation Treatment to Enhance Methamphetamine Intervention Success (ARTEMIS). After completing 4 weeks of a 12-week CM program, participants were randomized to receive ARTEMIS+CM (n=12) or CM-only (n=9). Those randomized to receive the ARTEMIS positive affect intervention completed 98% of sessions and reported marginally significant increases in positive affect over the five sessions. In exit interviews with ARTEMIS+CM participants, individuals noted that the positive affect regulation skills increased self-awareness and led to greater engagement in the recovery process. ARTEMIS+CM participants reported significant increases in positive affect and CM-only participants reported significant reductions in negative affect over a 2-month follow-up. These affective changes were not maintained, and no concurrent effects on stimulant use or sexual risk taking were observed over the 6-month follow-up. More definitive clinical research is necessary to examine the efficacy of ARTEMIS+CM with methamphetamine-using MSM.

Español

Experiencing positive emotions promotes open and flexible thinking and strengthens us against adversity. In the field of positive psychology different strategies that boost the appearance of positive emotions have been developed. One of these interventions is to imagine the Best Possible Self, a positive future thinking technique that consists in visualizing a future where everything has gone the best possible way. The goal of the present study is to analyze the efficacy of this intervention increasing the appearance of positive emotions and optimism, using Information and Communication Technologies (icts) to maximize their effects. This is a one session preliminary experimental study, with a sample of 12 individuals (M=23.4 years) recruited from the general population. In order to analyze the results, measures of affect (Panas) and future expectancies (sPt) were administered before and after each manipulation. Regarding affect, results show a significant increase in positive affect after the session. On the contrary, in the measures of future expectancies, results show a non-significant decrease in negative future expectancies at the end of the session. keywords: Positive psychology, positive affect, positive interventions, optimism.

Putting the ‘app’ in Happiness: A Randomised Controlled Trial of a Smartphone-Based Mindfulness Intervention to Enhance Wellbeing

Smartphones are revolutionizing approaches to wellbeing investment. Those seeking greater happiness can engage with thousands of downloadable self-help applications instantly, yet their effectiveness remains largely unknown. This investigation explored the viability of delivering a positive psychological intervention in application format to authentic happiness seekers. A smartphone-based randomized-controlled trial was conducted with a diverse self-selecting pool, randomly assigned to engage with an empirically supported mindfulness intervention (n = 57) or a control intervention (n = 64) for 10 days. The study explored smartphone methodology, the importance of empirically based content for wellbeing enhancement and the extent to which user experience related to wellbeing gains. Results of repeated measures ANOVAs showed statistically significant increases in positive affect with a medium effect size and reduced depressive symptoms with a small effect size, although no statistically significant differences in satisfaction with life, flourishing or negative affect were found. No statistically significant gains were observed in the control condition. Ratings of task enjoyment were positively correlated (Pearson’s r) with positive affect increase. Findings support the viability of smartphone-based interventions to significantly enhance elements of wellbeing, underscoring the importance of application content and the role of person-activity fit. This investigation presents implications for happiness seeking strategies in the real world whilst showcasing a dynamic method of intervention delivery that can benefit future research and practice. If the greatest mission of positive psychology is to enhance global flourishing, the potential of smartphone-based interventions may play a vital role.

Affective trajectories before and after a quit attempt among smokers with current depressive disorders.

Smoking cessation for individuals with depressive disorders represents an important clinical issue. It often has been hypothesized that smoking cessation worsens negative affect as part of the withdrawal process in this population. However, studies examining the impact of smoking cessation on changes in affect in smokers with depression are limited and equivocal. This study examines affective processes in smokers with depression undergoing a 12-week smoking cessation intervention (N = 49). We used the Positive and Negative Affect Scale to measure participants' positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA) trajectories over the course of a quit attempt. We examined whether affective treatment response across the trial differed by prolonged smoking abstinence status and whether postquit affect differed by prequit affective treatment response, as well as the interaction of prequit affective response and abstinence status. Prolonged abstainers showed significant increases in PA over the course of a quit attempt compared with nonabstainers. Prequit affective trajectories significantly predicted postquit affect for measures of both PA and NA. Lastly, the interaction of prequit affective trajectory and abstinence significantly predicted postquit levels of NA but not PA. This study adds to a burgeoning body of research demonstrating that significant improvements in psychological functioning can be observed among those who successfully quit smoking even in the most severe psychiatric group.

If it makes you happy: Engaging in kind acts increases positive affect in socially anxious individuals.

Social anxiety is associated with low positive affect (PA), a factor that can significantly affect psychological well-being and adaptive functioning. Despite suggestions that individuals with high levels of social anxiety would benefit from PA enhancement, the feasibility of doing so remains an unanswered question. Accordingly, in the current study, individuals with high levels of social anxiety (N = 142) were randomly assigned to conditions designed to enhance PA (Kind Acts), reduce negative affect (NA; Behavioral Experiments), or a neutral control (Activity Monitoring). All participants engaged in the required activities for 4 weeks and completed prepost questionnaires measuring mood and social goals, as well as weekly email ratings of mood, anxiety, and social activities. Both the prepost and weekly mood ratings revealed that participants who engaged in kind acts displayed significant increases in PA that were sustained over the 4 weeks of the study. No significant changes in PA were observed in the other conditions. The increase in hedonic functioning was not due to differential compliance, frequency of social activities, or an indirect effect of NA reduction. In addition, participants who engaged in kind acts displayed an increase in relationship satisfaction and a decrease in social avoidance goals, whereas no significant changes in these variables were observed in the other conditions. This study is the first to demonstrate that positive affect can be increased in individuals with high levels of social anxiety and that PA enhancement strategies may result in wider social benefits. The role of PA in producing those benefits requires further study.

A Self‐help, Positive Goal‐focused Intervention to Increase Well‐being in People with Depression

Self-help interventions are an accessible, first-step treatment for depression. Well-being interventions focus on increasing people's resources and bringing about positive feelings and behaviours and could enhance self-help interventions for depression by increasing well-being as well as reducing depression. The present study tested the effectiveness of a self-help, well-being intervention (Goal-setting and Planning, GAP) in both increasing well-being and reducing depression within a sample from a depression self-help organization. We used a cross-over design, with half of the participants allocated to GAP (n = 26) and half to a wait-list control group (n = 29). After 5 weeks, the wait-list control group also received GAP. Compared with wait-list controls, those allocated to GAP showed an overall positive change, with individual significant decreases in negative affect and trends towards significant decreases in depression and increases in positive affect and life satisfaction post-intervention. Within a cross-over design, the wait-list controls also received GAP. In the whole sample that received GAP, there were significant increases in positive affect and life satisfaction and significant decreases in negative affect and depression, post-intervention and at 5-week follow-up, relative to baseline. These findings demonstrate that GAP is a useful intervention for people with symptoms of depression, influencing both levels of well-being and depressive symptoms.

Evaluation of an Occupational Mindfulness Program for Staff Employed in the Disability Sector in Australia

Employees in the disability sector are subject to a range of stressors in the work place, and it is important that employers provide stress-management interventions to optimize coping and psychological wellbeing of these staff. The purpose of this preliminary study was to evaluate the impact of a group-based training program, known as ‘Occupational Mindfulness’ (OM), on employee coping and wellbeing within a disability service in Australia. The study involved a longitudinal observational design. Thirty-four participants (22 managers and 12 disability support workers, aged 23 to 60 years) completed a range of mindfulness and psychological wellbeing measures prior to commencement of the OM training program and immediately following completion of the program. The program was positively evaluated by participants and found to be associated with significant increases in positive affect and the mindfulness facet of observing. In contrast, extrinsic job satisfaction decreased significantly from baseline to post-training, while negative affect, perceived stress, anxiety and negative emotional symptoms increased significantly. Depressive state, intrinsic job satisfaction, general job satisfaction, satisfaction with life, burnout, compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue, compassion for others, self compassion and the four mindfulness facets of describing, acting with awareness, non-judging of inner experience and non-reactivity to inner experience did not change significantly from baseline to post-training. Participants reported enhanced awareness of signs and sources of stress, and positive changes in self-care attitudes and behaviours and interactions with clients and colleagues. Reasons for the seemingly paradoxical findings of highly favourable participant evaluation of the OM training program alongside increases in perceived stress, anxiety, negative emotional symptoms and negative affect and decreases in job satisfaction immediately following the program are discussed. Overall, the OM program yielded a range of benefits to participants and holds significant potential to be transferred to other work settings in the future.

A time-lagged momentary assessment study on daily life physical activity and affect.

Novel study designs using within-subject methodology and frequent and prospective measurements are required to unravel direction of causality and dynamic processes of behavior over time. The current study examined the effects of physical activity on affective state. A primary and within-study replication sample was derived from twin pairs. Female twins (n = 504) participated in an experience sampling method study at baseline. Positive and negative affective changes were examined before and following daily life increases in physical activity. Neuroticism was measured at baseline and depressive symptoms were assessed at baseline and at each of four follow-up assessments. Diagnoses, derived by Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Health-IV axis I disorders, (A. P. A., 1994) were obtained at baseline. A significant increase in positive affect (PA) following the moment of increase in physical activity was replicated across both samples up to 180 min after physical activity. There was no effect of physical activity on negative affect (NA). Across the two samples, a history of fulfilling diagnostic criteria for depression at least once moderated the effect of physical activity on PA, in that the effect was lost more rapidly. The study supports a causal effect of physical activity on PA. However, people with past experience of clinical depression may benefit less from the PA-inducing effect of physical activity. These findings have implications for the use of physical exercise in clinical practice.

Active Music Engagement with Emotional-Approach Coping to Improve Well-being in Liver and Kidney Transplant Recipients

Liver and kidney transplant recipients report elevated psychological distress following transplant in comparison to other types of organ transplant recipients. Negative affective states can lead to immune dysregulation and adverse health behaviors, and therefore may contribute to disease. In contrast, positive affective states can broaden individuals' thoughts and actions to promote the accumulation of coping resources. Coping strategies have traditionally been conceived of as being either problem-focused or emotion-focused in nature, while contemporary theory and research supports a different division: approach-oriented strategies versus avoidance-oriented strategies. Emotional expression and processing may function as an approach-oriented coping strategy. Emotional-approach coping relates to the use of emotional expression, awareness and understanding to facilitate coping with significant life stressors. The current study evaluated the impact of music therapy with and without a specific emphasis on emotional-approach coping. This randomized, controlled trial aimed to use Active Music Engagement with Emotional-Approach Coping to improve well-being in post-operative liver and kidney transplant recipients (N = 29). Results indicated that music therapy using Emotional-Approach Coping led to significant increases in positive affect, music therapy using Active Music Engagement led to significant decreases in pain, and both conditions led to significant decreases in negative affect, an indicator of perceived stress/anxiety.

A positive affect intervention for people experiencing health-related stress: development and non-randomized pilot test.

In this article we present background, theoretical rationale, and pilot data on the development of an intervention designed to increase positive affect in people living with serious health-related stress. This proof-of-concept study demonstrated that a multiple-component positive affect intervention is feasible and acceptable for people newly diagnosed with HIV. Retention in the intervention and adherence to home practice were high. Participants reported significant increases in positive affect and significant decreases in negative affect. This positive affect intervention can serve as a template for programs to be developed to help people experiencing health-related and other types of life stress.

Mood and personality effects in healthy participants after chronic administration of sertraline

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are utilised in the treatment of a wide range of disorders but the neuropsychological basis of their therapeutic efficacy remains unclear. In this study we examine the impact of 3 weeks administration of sertraline, an SSRI, on mood and personality in a group of healthy volunteers to understand the effect of these agents in the absence of clinical disorder. Thirty-eight healthy women and men, with no personal or familial history of Axis I disorder were randomised to receive either a placebo or sertraline (50mg/day p.o.) for an average of 23 days, in a double-blind design. Self-report indices of mood and personality, and genotype (5-HTTLPR) and sertraline bioavailability were assessed. Chronic administration of an SSRI was found to alter mood and personality. The SSRI group experienced a significant decrease in negative affect (NA), guilt and attentiveness, and significant increases in positive affect (PA), joviality, self-assurance and serenity. Genotype and bioavailability of sertraline did not moderate these findings, however gender did. Only females demonstrated increased PA and joviality, and decreased NA; whereas, only males demonstrated decreased attentiveness. Greater power and a more specific manipulation of serotonergic functioning would help clarify the neurochemical basis of these findings. Results from the current study demonstrate that longer term administration of SSRIs alters aspects of mood and personality in the absence of disorder. This suggests that these agents have effects on basic psychological processes that may in turn form the basis of their therapeutic efficacy.