A Novel Heart-Centered, Gratitude-Meditation Intervention to Increase Well-Being among Adolescents

Population studies paint a dismal picture of the mental health status of adolescents, in the US and worldwide. Positive psychology, which takes a preventative approach to keeping individuals in higher states of well-being, is being implemented increasingly among youth, with the goal of avoiding future mental health and psychological problems. In this study, a novel intervention, which fused the practice of meditation with gratitude visualizations, was tested among adolescents. The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to determine the extent to which the intervention affected life satisfaction, school satisfaction, and measured gratitude, among a culturally diverse cohort of adolescents. Instrumentation consisted of three positive psychology measures—theStudent Life Satisfaction Scale, theSchool Satisfaction Subscale, and theGratitude Questionnaire-Six-Item Form.Participants were randomly assigned either to the delayed-intervention, no-treatment control group or to the experimental group. The four-week intervention was manualized primarily from the heart-centered gratitude visualizations outlined in a happiness and positive emotions handbook,The Jewels of Happiness: Inspiration and Wisdom to Guide Your Life-Journey. The intervention significantly affected life satisfaction, school satisfaction, and gratitude of the experimental group, when compared to the control group. Medium to large effect sizes were detected using the ANCOVA statistical test.

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Assessing the impact of the European resilience curriculum in preschool, early and late primary school children

School Psychology International ◽

10.1177/01430343211025075 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 014303432110250

Author(s):

Celeste Simões ◽

Anabela C. Santos ◽

Paula Lebre ◽

João R. Daniel ◽

Cátia Branquinho ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Well Being ◽

Primary School Children ◽

Control Group ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Quasi Experimental ◽

Mental Health Difficulties ◽

Prosocial Behaviours ◽

The Impact

Resilience is an individual’s ability to adapt successfully to and persevere during and after significant challenges. Resilience programmes based on a socioemotional learning approach have been associated with an increase in protextive factors (e.g., prosocial competencies), improvements in physical and mental health, and a decrease in internalised and externalised symptoms. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of the RESCUR curriculum implemented in Portuguese schools on students’ academic, behavioural, and socioemotional outcomes, based on child and teacher reports. Participants included 1,084 children (53.2% male) aged 3-15 ( M = 7.24, SD = 2.31). A quasi-experimental study compared outcomes for an experimental intervention group (AIG) with a waiting list control group (WG). The results showed the RESCUR programme decreased mental health difficulties while increasing both prosocial behaviours and well-being. In addition, academic performance increased for those in preschool after implementation. Both teachers and children consistently reported positive behavioural changes in resilience-related competencies after implementing RESCUR. Our findings contribute to the recent research on the potential of RESCUR to address key socioemotional competencies and improve relevant protextive factors. Study limitations and future recommendations are addressed.

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The Efficacy and Mechanism of Positive Psychological Intervention on Well-Being for Colostomy Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

10.21203/rs.3.rs-1137918/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Yanfei Jin ◽

Yuqing Wang ◽

Hongwen Ma ◽

Xu Tian ◽

Wang Honghong

Keyword(s):

Life Satisfaction ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Standard Care ◽

Psychological Capital ◽

Psychological Intervention ◽

Well Being ◽

Control Group ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Experimental Group ◽

Positive Psychological Intervention

Abstract Aims To evaluate the efficacy and mechanism of positive psychological intervention (PPI) on the psychological capital, psychological distress, and life satisfaction among colostomy patients. Methods Patients (n=120) with permanent stomas were recruited and randomly assigned into two groups. Patients in the experimental group (n=60) received standard care and PPI, whereas patients in the control group (n=60) only received standard care. The psychological capital, psychological distress, and life satisfaction were measured and compared between two groups before the intervention, the immediate post-intervention, and follow-up. Results All 120 patients completed the study. The hope, optimism, resilience, psychological distress, and life satisfaction score of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group at T1 and T2 (P<0.05). Self-efficacy score of the experimental group had no significant difference at the two-time points after the intervention than the control group (P>0.05). Changes in hope and resilience which belong to psychological capital mediated the intervention’s efficacy on changes in PPI on life satisfaction (β = 0.265, P=0.005; β = 0.686, P=0.002). Conclusions PPI could effectively improve psychological capital, psychological distress, and life satisfaction among patients with stomas. Besides, our findings add novel support that increased hope and resilience are the active ingredients that promote intervention change.

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The effect of patience training on university students’ patience and life satisfaction levels

African Educational Research Journal ◽

10.30918/aerj.93.21.103 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 712-719

Author(s):

Ayşe Eliüşük Bülbül ◽

Keyword(s):

Life Satisfaction ◽

University Students ◽

Wilcoxon Test ◽

Control Group ◽

Control Group Design ◽

Satisfaction Scale ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Post Test ◽

And Control ◽

Experimental Group

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of the "patience training program" on the patience and life satisfaction levels of university students. The study was organized as a pre-test, post-test experiment and control group design. For a total of 30 students from which were 17 in the control group and 17 in the experimental group, patience training was given for 5 weeks. The "Patient Scale" developed by Schnitker (2010) and adapted to Turkish by Eliüşük and Arslan (2016) and the "Life Satisfaction Scale" developed by Diener, Emmons, Larsen and Griffin (1985) and adapted to Turkish by Dağlı and Baysal (2016) were used as a data collection tool in the study. The "Wilcoxon" test was used for the comparison of in-group differences in the analysis of obtained data and the "Mann-Whitney U" test was used in examining the differences between the two groups. As a result of the study, it was observed that the patience and life satisfaction average scores of students in the experimental group receiving "patience training" increased significantly, while there was no significant difference in the patience and life satisfaction averages scores of the control group students.

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Subjective Well-being, Mental Health and Concerns During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence From the Global South

Review of European Studies ◽

10.5539/res.v13n2p72 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 72

Author(s):

Lina Martínez ◽

Valeria Trofimoff ◽

Isabella Valencia

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Life Satisfaction ◽

Positive Emotions ◽

Online Survey ◽

Well Being ◽

Global South ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

Current Crisis ◽

Study Results

COVID-19 pandemic is harming many social and economic spheres beyond physical health. The subjective well-being of the population (positive emotions and life satisfaction) and the prevalence of stressors affecting good mental health like worry, depression, and anxiety are increasing worldwide. This analysis presents evidence of subjective well-being and mental health in Colombia, South America, during the current crisis. The data for this analysis comes from an online survey released after one month of quarantine. In total, 941 adults participated in the study. Results show that women are more affected by their well-being and experience more often worry, depression, and anxiety than males. In particular, younger women and from the lower socioeconomic strata. Respondents identify three primary concerns because of the pandemic: i) financial consequences, ii) health (personal and loved one's health), and iii) productivity. Respondents are, on average, more concerned for the health of loved ones than their health. 49% of study participants report having an income reduction as a consequence of the pandemic, but women in all subgroups analyzed are more affected than males. In terms of productivity –working remotely-, educated people, and from 50+ age range, feels more productive working from home. Evidence from this analysis contributes to the broader research of the consequences of COVID-19 on the well-being of the population. Evidence comes from a country in the global South with high population ratings of subjective well-being, happiness, and life satisfaction before the pandemic. 

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Gratitude Letter: An Effort to Increase Subjective Well-Being in College

ANIMA Indonesian Psychological Journal ◽

10.24123/aipj.v32i3.630 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 32 (3) ◽

pp. 158-168

Author(s):

Stefanus Arista Christanto ◽

Dea Brenda ◽

Clara Assisiansi ◽

Maria Jessica Pangestu ◽

Ignatia Sarita ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Well Being ◽

Control Group ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

College Life ◽

Multiple Group ◽

Psychology Faculty ◽

Post Test ◽

Quasi Experimental ◽

Two Stages ◽

Experimental Group

A preliminary study of students of a psychology faculty, revealed the fact that there are some students with low life satisfaction and negative affect during their college life. Low subjective well-being (SWB) was associated with decreased productivity and cognitive flexibility, which are important elements for studying. Previous researchers found a significant correlation between gratitude and SWB. The aim of this study is to enhance student SWB through an intervention of gratitude letter. We use two stages in this study: first a descriptive method (N = 282) to have an accurate description of the level of their SWB. Then, we select 60 students with the lowest SWB to participate in the next stage, a quasi-experimental method with multiple group design, consisting of two experimental group and one control group. Measurements were conducted with modified SLS, SPANE, and GQ6. Data a-nalysis revealed significant differences in gratitude and positive affect level that are differrent in each group. Significant improvement in gratitude and subjective well-being based on the pre-test, post-test 1, post-test 2 were only found in the group that writes and expresses the gratitude letter.

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The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training on Quality of Perceptual Marital Relationship and Psychological Well-being of Women with Addicted Wife

Revista Romaneasca pentru Educatie Multidimensionala ◽

10.18662/rrem/35 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (1.SP) ◽

pp. 34

Author(s):

Masoumeh GHARIBBOLUK ◽

Soghra HOSSEINZADEH

Keyword(s):

Marital Relationship ◽

Well Being ◽

Mindfulness Training ◽

Analysis Of Covariance ◽

Control Group ◽

Positive Thinking ◽

Psychological Well Being ◽

Quasi Experimental ◽

Experimental Group

Objective: The aim of the research was to investigate the effect of Mindfulness Training on Quality of Perceptual Marital Relationship and Psychological Well-being of Women with Addicted Wife.Methods: The research method was quasi-experimental with pretest- posttest and 3 months follow up, with a control group. Among the population of Women with Addicted Wife, twenty Women with Addicted Wife (10 persons in experimental group, 10 persons in control group) were selected by purposeful sampling method and were assigned in experimental and control groups. The experimental group received 8 session (2 hours for each) of positive thinking training. For data collection, Fletcher Perceived Quality of Marital Relationship Scale and Ryff Psychological Well-Being Questionnaire were used.Results: Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was used for analyzing the data. The results showed the Mindfulness Training was effective on the quality of marital relationship and psychological well-being among Women with Addicted Wife. Also, the training was effective in a 3 months follow up.Conclusion: Therefore, Mindfulness Training skills can be used in prevention actions.

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High levels of anxiety and psychological well-being in college students: A dual factor model of mental health approach

Journal of Positive School Psychology ◽

10.47602/jpsp.v5i1.242 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 32-41

Author(s):

Katherine Carver ◽

Hajar Ismail ◽

Christopher Reed ◽

Justin Hayes ◽

Haifa Alsaif ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

College Students ◽

Life Satisfaction ◽

Positive Emotions ◽

Factor Model ◽

Well Being ◽

Psychological Well Being ◽

Treatment And Prevention ◽

Positive Rumination ◽

High Life Satisfaction

Anxiety disorders are prevalent among college students and contribute to problems in social and academic functioning. The primary focus in the anxiety literature has been on symptoms and deficits in functioning rather than psychological well-being. The present study investigated the extent to which high levels of anxiety co-occurred with self-reported psychological well-being using a dual-factor model of mental health approach. Participants (n = 100) were categorized into two groups (high anxiety crossed with low and high life satisfaction), and groups were compared on several psychological well-being indicators. Supporting a dual-factor approach, students reporting high levels of anxiety and life satisfaction reported higher levels of hope, grit, gratitude, self-focused positive rumination, and savoring of positive emotions than students reporting high levels of anxiety and low levels of life satisfaction. Groups did not differ in emotion-focused positive rumination or in dampening of positive emotion. These results highlight well-being heterogeneity within individuals reporting high levels of anxiety, with implications for treatment and prevention efforts.

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Subjective Well-Being and Psychosocial Adjustment: Examining the Effects of an Intervention Based on the Sport Education Model on Children

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12114570 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (11) ◽

pp. 4570

Author(s):

Pablo Luna ◽

Alba Rodríguez-Donaire ◽

Débora Rodrigo-Ruiz ◽

Javier Cejudo

Keyword(s):

Psychosocial Adjustment ◽

Well Being ◽

Assessment System ◽

Control Group ◽

Sport Education ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

Affective Component ◽

Quasi Experimental ◽

Education Model ◽

Experimental Group

The current study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention based on the Sport Education model, compared to an intervention based on the traditional model of Direct Instruction in children. The intervention was carried out during school hours for 18 sessions of 50-min each. The sample was made up of 146 children aged 10–12 years (M = 10.78 years; SD = 1.07 years). Participants were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n = 87) and a control group (n = 59). A quasi-experimental design with repeated pretest and posttest evaluations with the control group was implemented. The Positive and Negative Affect Scale for children and adolescents (PANASN) was used to assess the affective component of subjective well-being. The Child and Adolescent Behavior Assessment System (BASC) was used to assess psychosocial adjustment. The results showed significant improvements in the affective component of subjective well-being and a reduction in anxiety in favor of the experimental group. Our current results show the methodological and practical efficacy of a Sport Education intervention.

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The Effect of Happiness Training on Psychological Well-Being in Patients with Thalassemia Major

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal [SQUMJ] ◽

10.18295/squmj.8.2021.109 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Mohammad S. Sargolzaei ◽

Milad G. Shirsavar ◽

Jasem Allahyari ◽

Ali Bazi ◽

Abolghasem P. Nasirabady

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Well Being ◽

Thalassemia Major ◽

Routine Care ◽

Control Group ◽

Post Intervention ◽

Psychological Well Being ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Quasi Experimental ◽

And Control

Objectives: Thalassemia major (TM) is a chronic hematological disease that can have deep effects on patients’ mental health and psychological well-being. So, the present study was conducted to determine the effects of happiness training on the psychological well-being of TM patients. Methods: This quasi-experimental study with a pre/post-test design was performed on 52 patients with TM in Zabol city (Iran) from August to December 2020. The patients were randomly categorized into experimental and control groups. In the experimental group, happiness training was performed in eight sessions, each for 60 minutes. The control group received routine care. The data collection tool was the Ryff's Scale of Psychological Well-being (RSPWB). Data were analyzed by SPSS 16 statistical software using descriptive (mean and standard deviation) and inferential (paired and independent t-test) statistics. Results: Regarding the psychological well-being score at the pre-test stage, there was no statistically significant difference between the intervention (74.92 ± 6.36) and control (74.57 ± 5.83) groups (p = 0.83). After the intervention; however, a statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of psychological well-being (p <0.001). Also, a statistically significant difference was seen comparing the psychological well-being score between the pre- and post-intervention phases in the experimental (p = 0.01) but not control (p = 0.12) group. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that happiness training improved TM patients’ psychological well-being. Therefore, this type of training can be used as an appropriate educational strategy to improve psychological well-being in these patients.Keywords: Happiness; Education; Mental Health; Thalassemia.

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INTERVENSI RASA BERSYUKUR UNTUK MENINGKATKAN HARGA DIRI REMAJA DI SMP X

Jurnal Muara Ilmu Sosial, Humaniora, dan Seni ◽

10.24912/jmishumsen.v4i1.7638.2020 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 186

Author(s):

Novia Sri Parindu Purba ◽

Riana Sahrani ◽

Heni Mularsih

Keyword(s):

Cultural Values ◽

Positive Emotions ◽

Strong Predictor ◽

Self Esteem ◽

Control Group ◽

New Findings ◽

Before And After ◽

Gratitude Intervention ◽

Quasi Experimental ◽

Experimental Group

Low self-esteem is also associated with poverty, it is necessary to have an effort to accept the conditions of life first. One of the simple characteristics of the acceptance effort is gratitude. Gratitude is a strong predictor to increase hope and happiness in adolescents who experience poverty. This research was designed as experimental group in X secondary school. The group was consisted of 6 respondents without a control group. The design of this study was a quasi-experimental (one group pretest-posttest) using the Rosenberg Self-esteem scale (RSSE) with a reliability coefficient of 0.88. The implementation of the gratitude intervention was designed using an intervention module from the aspect of the Indonesian grateful scale (SBI) and it was neither just a list of words of gratitude nor gratefulness. This gratitude intervention is done by inviting participants to focus on positive aspects of life, exploring positive emotions by recalculating the blessings of life that have been received from God and others. To sum up, these findings provide new findings in the use of gratitude intervention that focuses on the divine aspect. The results of this study indicate that there are significant differences in respondent's self-esteem before and after administration of the gratitude intervention, with self-esteem (RSSE) (Asymp. Sig. (2-tailed) = 0.042, p <0.05). This discussion focuses on the implications generated for Gratitude literature which are adapted to Indonesian cultural values. Harga diri yang rendah juga terkait dengan kemiskinan, maka diperlukan adanya usaha penerimaan kondisi kehidupannya terlebih dahulu. Salah satu karakteristik sederhana sebagai upaya penerimaan tersebut yakni dengan rasa bersyukur. Rasa bersyukur merupakan prediktor yang kuat untuk meningkatkan harapan dan kebahagiaan pada remaja yang mengalami kondisi miskin sekalipun. Penelitian ini diberikan kepada satu kelompok eksperimen yang terdiri dari 6 responden tanpa adanya kelompok kontrol di salah satu sekolah menengah pertama (SMP) terbuka X di Jakarta Utara. Desain penelitian ini merupakan quasi eksperimen (one group pretest-posttest) dengan menggunakan Rosenberg Self-esteem scale (RSSE) dengan hasil koefisien reliabilitas sebesar 0.88. Pelaksanaan pelatihan rasa bersyukur ini dirancang dengan menggunakan modul intervensi dari aspek skala bersyukur Indonesia (SBI) dan bukan hanya sekedar daftar ucapan rasa bersyukur atau terimakasih. Pelatihan kebersyukuran ini dilakukan dengan mengajak partisipan untuk fokus terhadap aspek positif dalam hidup, mengeksplorasi emosi positif dengan menghitung kembali berkah kehidupan yang telah diterima dari Tuhan dan orang lain. Singkatnya, temuan ini memberikan temuan baru dalam penggunaan intervensi rasa bersyukur yang berfokus pada aspek keTuhanan. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa terdapat perbedaan yang signifikan pada harga diri responden sebelum dan sesudah pemberian pelatihan kebersyukuran, dengan nilai self-esteem (RSSE) (Asymp. Sig. (2-tailed) = 0.042, p< 0.05 Diskusi ini berfokus pada implikasi yang dihasilkan untuk literature bersyukur yang disesuaikan dengan nilai-nilai budaya Indonesia.

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