Using Positive Psychological Interventions to Improve Well-Being: Are They Effective Across Cultures, for Clinical and Non-Clinical Samples?

Author(s):  
Weiting Ng ◽  
Kuei Rong Ong
2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 149
Author(s):  
Kristy Barrantes-Brais ◽  
Isabel Balaguer-Solá

<p><strong>Español</strong></p><p>El propósito de este estudio fue analizar el efecto de intervenciones de Psicología positiva y de ejercicio físico sobre indicadores de bienestar y malestar psicológico en estudiantes universitarios costarricenses. Se realizó una investigación cuasiexperimental, de diseño factorial (4 x 2) con mediciones pre y post, en el que 233 estudiantes universitarios (18.97 ± 2.18 años, 135 mujeres, 98 hombres) se vieron expuestos a una de cuatro diferentes condiciones: intervenciones de psicología positiva (PP), intervenciones de ejercicio físico (E), intervenciones combinadas de PP y E y control (C). Se midieron indicadores de bienestar y malestar psicológico. Las intervenciones de Psicología positiva mejoraron el indicador de malestar psicológico “emociones negativas” (p = .022), pero no impactaron significativamente los indicadores de bienestar psicológico (p &gt; .05). La combinación las intervenciones de PP y E generó los mismos efectos que cuando únicamente se utilizan las estrategias derivadas de la psicología positiva, esto es, se presentó una reducción significativa en el indicador “emociones negativas” (p = .028). Dicho efecto puede contribuir a la mejora de la vivencia de la vida universitaria y proteger a los estudiantes de los riesgos asociados con experiencias de malestar psicológico en diversas esferas de su vida. Las intervenciones de ejercicio por sí mismas no modificaron de manera significativa los indicadores de bienestar ni malestar psicológico (p &gt; .05).</p><p><strong>English</strong></p><p>The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of positive psychology and exercise interventions on psychological well-being and ill-being indicators in Costa Rican college students. This study had a quasi-experimental factorial (4 x 2) design, 233 college students (18.97 ± 2.18 years, 135 females, 98 males) were assigned to one of four different conditions: positive psychological interventions (PP), exercise interventions (E), combined (PP + E) interventions, and control group (C). Psychological well-being and ill-being indicators were measured pre and post interventions. Positive psychological interventions improved the “negative emotions” indicator (p = .022); but did not have a significant impact on well-being indicators (p &gt; .05). The combination of PP and E interventions produced the same effects as PP alone; a decrease in “negative emotions” was observed (p = .028). This effect might contribute to improve the experience of university life for higher education students and protect them from the risks associated with psychological ill-being. Exercise interventions alone did not change either the psychological well-being or ill-being indicators (p &gt; .05).</p>


2020 ◽  
pp. 175407392095081 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith T. Moskowitz ◽  
Elaine O. Cheung ◽  
Melanie Freedman ◽  
Christa Fernando ◽  
Madelynn W. Zhang ◽  
...  

Accumulating evidence for the unique social, behavioral, and physical health benefits of positive emotion and related well-being constructs has led to the development and testing of positive psychological interventions (PPIs) to increase emotional well-being and enhance health promotion and disease prevention. PPIs are specifically aimed at improving emotional well-being and consist of practices such as gratitude, savoring, and acts of kindness. The purpose of this narrative review was to examine the literature on PPIs with a particular focus on positive emotion outcomes. We evaluated the evidence on the effects of PPIs on positive emotion specifically, and discussed the range of evidence regarding the relative responsiveness of emotion measures to PPIs in order to gain a better understanding of the specific emotional pathways through which PPIs influence psychological and physical well-being. We conclude with recommendations for best evaluating effects of PPIs on positive emotion outcomes.


Author(s):  
Johanna Hietamäki ◽  
Marjukka Huttunen ◽  
Marita Husso

Background—Intimate partner violence (IPV) has both direct and longer-term effects on children’s well-being. Much of the research thus far has relied on caregiver reports of IPV and clinical samples of children. By contrast, minimal research has examined violence between parents from the perspective of children using nationwide samples. Objective—This study explored the frequency of IPV witnessed by children and gender variations regarding the victims, perpetrators, and witnesses. Methods—The data were derived from a sample of 11,364 children from the Finnish Child Victim Survey 2013. The children were between 11 and 17 years old and were enrolled in the Finnish school system. The main methods of analysis included crosstabulation and the chi-square test. Results—The results indicate that children witnessed more IPV against their mother (4.9%) than their father (3.5%). Girls reported having witnessed more violence against both their mother (7.0%) and father (5.1%) than boys did (mothers 2.7%, fathers 1.8%). Girls’ reports of IPV against both parents were twice or more than twice as common as boys’ reports. Conclusions—The above differences might result from gendered expectations and boys’ and girls’ different relationships to violence, as well as differences in the recognition and interpretation of violent incidents. Therefore, practitioners should adopt a gender-sensitive approach as a precondition and practice for working with children in social and health care.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Jan Macfarlane

This is the ninth article in a series that explores the meaning of positive psychology and the importance it has on the wellbeing of the mental health workforce. It will focus on positive psychology interventions that help to develop resilience and to consider how the uplifting effect of resilience through contemporary use in the field of mental health nursing can be experienced. This article will explain what the term resilience means and how it is embedded in the practice of positive psychological interventions. Finally, it will emphasise how the application of positive psychological interventions can benefit the individual and the organisation. The practical tasks provided in the boxes throughout the article will help the reader identify what resilience means for them and understand how to further develop its transferability through evidence-based, user-friendly exercises.


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