Qualitative analysis of the Best Possible Self intervention: Underlying mechanisms that influence its efficacy.
BackgroundThe Best Possible Self is a Positive Psychology Intervention which asks participants to write down about themselves in their best possible future. Previous studies have shown its efficacy to enhance wellbeing, but the mechanisms that underlie its efficacy are still unknown.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to analyze the content of the essays of the BPS intervention and to examine how this content was related to the efficacy of the intervention to increase positive affect.MethodParticipants (N = 78) were randomized to either the Best Possible Self condition, or one of two variants of the intervention: one's best self in the present, and one's best self in the past. Qualitative an…
Effect of a web-based positive psychology intervention on prenatal well-being: A case series study
Abstract Background Detrimental effects of women’s negative feelings during pregnancy have been extensively examined and documented, but research on the influence of positive feelings and protective factors on their prenatal mental health is scarce. Evidence from the positive psychology field has shown that practicing some brief positive exercises, called positive psychology interventions, can maximize well-being by increasing positive emotions, engagement, and meaning. Aim The aim of this study is to examine the effect of a positive psychology web-based intervention on indices of women’s prenatal well-being. Methods Specifically, a case series design was adopted, and data from six women ar…
Effects of the Best Possible Self intervention: A systematic review and meta-analysis
The Best Possible Self (BPS) exercise promotes a positive view of oneself in the best possible future, after working hard towards it. Since the first work that attempted to examine the benefits of this intervention in 2001, studies on the BPS have grown exponentially and, currently, this is one of the most widely used Positive Psychology Interventions. However, little is yet known about its overall effectiveness in increasing wellbeing outcomes. Thus, the aim of this meta-analysis is to shed light on this question. A systematic literature search was conducted, and 29 studies (in 26 articles) met the inclusion criteria of empirically testing the intervention and comparing it to a control con…
Positive Technologies for Understanding and Promoting Positive Emotions
AbstractInformation and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have become increasingly present in our lives, and their use has spread considerably. This paper presents a review of the way ICTs can help practitioners and researchers to study, promote, and train positive emotions. It is framed within the field of Positive Technologies: the applied scientific approach to the study of the use of technology to improve the quality of personal experience, with the goal of increasing wellbeing. First, the article presents an introduction to the topic of technologies and positive emotions. Then, it describes how ICTs can aid in monitoring, assessing, promoting, modifying, and training positive emotions.…
Good things never last: dampening positive emotions influences our optimism levels
A pesar del creciente interés en la comprensión de las estrate-gias de regulación emocional (RE) de las emociones positivas y su relación con la salud mental, la relación entre los diferentes estilos de respuesta al afecto positivo y estilos cognitivos como el optimismo aún no se ha proba-do empíricamente. El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar el efecto de las estrategias para regular emociones positivas (evaluadas por el cuestiona-rio Response to Positive Affect -RPA) sobre el optimismo, y la posible media-ción del afecto positivo en esta relación. 250 participantes completaron el cuestionario RPA, medidas de optimismo y afecto positivo, y realizaron un procedimiento de inducción em…
Applying Positive Psychology to Prenatal Care Among Women from Different Cultures: A Web-Based Positive Psychology Intervention
Pregnancy is a time of important changes and challenges for women. The nature, pervasiveness, and detrimental consequences of negative feelings during pregnancy have been extensively examined and documented within multicultural contexts. In the wake of Positive Psychology perspective, a growing number of studies have examined the potential benefits of positive aspects and protective factors that can influence the course of pregnancy and childbirth, as well as women’s perinatal and infant well-being. Although the importance of promoting well-being during the perinatal period has been demonstrated, research on Positive Psychology Interventions addressed to pregnant women is still in its infan…