Background
Positive psychological interventions (PPIs) have been shown to decrease depressive symptoms and increase overall wellbeing. We conducted a pilot test of a multicomponent school-based PPI for adolescents that included skills for increasing positive emotion and wellbeing even in the midst of stress.
Hypotheses/Research Questions
We hypothesized that students in the intervention classes would show improvements on psychological wellbeing outcomes compared to the control classes who did not receive the skills.
Sample Characteristics and Sample Size
103 adolescents (mean age = 14.36) in four physical education classes provided assent (following parental consent). 59 students (mean age = 14.31) were in the classes that were randomly selected to receive the intervention, and 44 (mean age = 14.41) were in classes that comprised a waitlist control group.
Design
The PPI was delivered by trained facilitators one day per week for five weeks and covered eight skills: noticing positive events, savoring, gratitude, mindfulness, positive reappraisal, personal strengths, attainable goals, and acts of kindness. Participants completed assessments at baseline (T1), post-test (once the 5-week program finished; T2), and one month later (T3). Assessments included measures of depression, positive and negative affect, perceived stress, and use of the PPI skills in the program.
Results
From T1 to T2, the intervention group reported practicing gratitude, savoring, and personal strengths significantly more often and positive reappraisal marginally more often than controls. The intervention classes’ depressive mood and perceived stress remained stable, but the control classes showed improvements, perhaps because the controls’ levels were significantly higher at baseline. All effects were maintained at T3. Positive and negative affect did not differ between groups or change over time.
Scientific Contribution
This multi-component PPI delivered in a school setting was feasible and acceptable and indicates the need for a future adequately powered randomized trial.