scholarly journals A Review of School-Based Positive Psychology Interventions

2011 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 75-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lea Waters

The aim of this paper is to review school-based interventions that have been designed to foster student wellbeing and academic performance by following a positive psychology approach that seeks to cultivate positive emotions, resilience and positive character strengths. Following the calls of the 21st century education movement for schools to incorporate student wellbeing as a focus of learning, the current paper outlines the positive psychology movement and reviews evidence from 12 school-based positive psychology interventions that have been systematically evaluated. The evidence shows that positive psychology programs are significantly related to student wellbeing, relationships and academic performance. The paper makes suggestions for the further development of positive psychology interventions in schools and explores the factors that could allow positive psychology to be extended, and more systematically embedded, into schools.

Author(s):  
Shannon M. Suldo ◽  
Jenni Menon Mariano ◽  
Hannah Gilfix

Grounded in positive psychology, this chapter focuses on constructs that increase well-being and may result in a flourishing emotional state. Within the PERMA framework, flourishing is reflected in positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment. Specifically, this chapter takes an in-depth look into the constructs of positive emotions, character, and purpose. Information on measurement tools, correlates, and possible interventions for each of the three constructs is provided. An emphasis is also placed on promising positive psychology interventions, many of which utilize strategies involving character strengths as defined in accordance with the Values in Action (VIA) Classification of Character Strengths and Virtues. The chapter concludes with information on how a reader can implement various positive psychology activities, as well as different school based-programs that incorporate purpose and positive psychology interventions.


Author(s):  
Claudia Tejada-Gallardo ◽  
Ana Blasco-Belled ◽  
Carles Alsinet

AbstractTime attitudes, which refer to positive and negative feelings towards the past, present, and future, are a salient phenomenon in the developmental stage of adolescence and have been related to better well-being. Positive feelings towards time can be promoted in the school setting through empirically validated positive psychology interventions. However, the extent to which these interventions impact the time attitudes of adolescents remains unknown. The current study investigated the influence of a multicomponent positive psychology intervention on adolescents’ transitions between time attitude profiles and how these transitions are related to their emotional, social, and psychological well-being. Participants consisted of 220 (M = 14.98; 47.3% female) adolescents from two Spanish high schools who participated in the six-week Get to Know Me+ program. Adolescents’ time attitudes and well-being were measured via the Adolescents and Adult Time Inventory–Time Attitudes and the Mental Health Continuum–Short Form, respectively, at pre- and postintervention. Participants were clustered in different profiles through a latent profile analysis, and the transitions were analyzed using a latent transition analysis. Five profiles were identified (negative, present/future negative, past negative, optimistic, and positive), and results indicated that adolescents who participated in the intervention were more likely to transition to positive profiles (optimistic and positive) and generally reported higher well-being, especially those in the negative, present/future negative, and optimistic profiles. Preliminary evidence showed that school-based multicomponent positive psychology interventions can have a positive impact on adolescents’ feelings towards time and well-being.


2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 118-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
René T Proyer ◽  
Fabian Gander ◽  
Nancy Tandler

Positive psychology has revived psychology’s abandoned interest in the study of morally positively valued traits (the so-called character strengths) and virtues. We review literature generated on strength-based approaches and focus on applications in the so-called positive psychology interventions. There seems to be great potential in this approach for research in the field of giftedness and, of course, also when practically working with gifted children and adolescents. We highlight some ideas for future research directions.


Author(s):  
Christos Pezirkianidis ◽  
Anastassios Stalikas

In the last two decades, there is a rapid growth of the research initiative on Positive Psychology not only internationally but also in Greece. The present special issue aims at bringing together, highlighting, and promoting research and applications of Positive Psychology in Greece. At first, the authors introduce readers to the history and roots of Positive Psychology and focus on how research on Positive Psychology flourished in Greece. Moreover, emphasis is given on the core concepts of Positive Psychology, namely wellbeing, experiencing positive emotions, psychological resilience, and character strengths. Authors focus on the research conducted in Greece, the psychological instruments that measure them, and the applications of Positive Psychology, e.g. positive education, positive organizations, positive psychotherapy, and positive psychology interventions. To close with, the authors introduce readers to the eleven articles, which are included in the present special issue by presenting their main findings.


Author(s):  
Valérie Benoit ◽  
Piera Gabola

Over the last 20 years, the effectiveness of positive psychology interventions for the development of the well-being of children and adolescents and the moderation of high levels of anxiety and depression in this population has been largely demonstrated. Emphasis has been placed on the promotion of well-being and prevention of mental health problems in the school context in order to foster, through positive psychology, the cognitive and socio-emotional development of primary and secondary students, e.g., by strengthening positive relationships, positive emotions, character strengths, optimism, and hope. However, little is known about the impact of these interventions on young children. This systematic review aims at examining the effects of positive psychology interventions on the well-being of early childhood children (<6 years old), both in the preschool education context with educators or teachers and also in the family context with parents. Several electronic databases were searched, and the findings systematically reviewed and reported by the PRISMA guidelines. Very few studies met the inclusion criteria (n = 3), highlighting the need for further research in this area. Indeed, all of the selected studies demonstrated the importance of positive psychology interventions with young children to promote positive aspects of development, such as gratitude, positive emotions, life satisfaction, accomplishment, positive relationship, or self-esteem. Limitations in the field are discussed.


2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jayashree Sanghani ◽  
Saroj Arya

In the present educational system, students face a lot of pressure, stress and expectation from self and others which leads to experiencing negative emotions. These factors hinder children’s all round development and scholastic achievement leading to low subjective well-being and poor life satisfaction. Hence, there is a need to foster positive emotions. A critical overview has been done on the role of Positive Psychology Interventions in enhancing positive emotions of the students in experiencing well-being, and satisfaction. School psychology has been focusing on addressing the problem and providing solutions. Experiencing positive emotions is more important for accomplishment and well-being than the absence of negative emotions. The essence of Positive Psychology Interventions is to remove what is wrong and bring in what is strong, by fostering positive factors important for flourishing and accomplishment. Research has shown that Positive Psychology Interventions are significantly related to student well-being which can augment life satisfaction.


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