Background
Increasing positive emotions contributes to resilience and thriving (Tugade & Fredrickson, 2007). Positive psychological interventions are well-suited to support resilience efforts; however, experimental research is limited, especially regarding if savoring practices can increase positive emotions after social-evaluative hassles. Savoring is an emotion regulation process whereby individuals generate, maintain, or enhance positive emotions through different contexts: reflecting upon past positive experiences (reminiscing), mindfully attending to current emotions (moment), and contemplating positive experiences likely to occur in the future (anticipating; Bryant, 2003).
Hypotheses/Research Questions
Our research (a) examined whether different savoring interventions could increase positive emotions after a social-evaluative hassle and (b) determined if one savoring intervention was comparable more effective in this context.
Sample Characteristics and Sample Size
The sample consisted of 145 university students in the United States. The sample included 107 (73.8%) women and 38 men (26.2%). Participants ranged in age from 18 to 25, with an average age of 19.35 years.
Design
Participants completed a hassle induction task and were then randomly assigned into 5 different intervention groups (control, guided imagery control, moment savoring, reminiscing savoring, anticipating savoring). Participants completed self-reports of positive emotions at baseline, post induction, and post intervention.
Results
We analyzed a 3 (time) x 5 (intervention) mixed ANOVA. Results revealed a significant time*intervention interaction. Follow-up ANOVAs indicate some differential effects; participants who completed the moment savoring intervention reported higher positive emotions scores at Time 3 compared to individuals in both control groups and the reminiscing intervention group.
Scientific Contribution
Findings demonstrate the flexibility by which savoring interventions can be employed; savoring is not only a means of capitalizing on positive life events, it appears important in how individuals manage stress. Interventions designed to help individuals mindfully attend to positive experiences occurring in the moment may increase positive emotions after a hassle.