Macrosocial conditions and mental health issues in Mexico affect the population and cause an increase in the frequency and severity of depression and anxiety. These conditions promote a change toward complex conceptions over mental health, treatments, and psychotherapy. In particular, there is a great need for psychological interventions to promote increases in quality of life and psychological wellbeing rather than only decreasing symptoms. New interventions must acknowledge resources and strengths to cope with conflicts and eventually prevent relapses.
The main goal of this study was to evaluate the influence of a psychoeducational workshop based on Seligman’s PERMA model of wellbeing and Positive Psychotherapy on depression, quality of life, and psychological wellbeing.
This program consisted of training based on PERMA elements and positive psychology interventions for eight weeks. The group was 10 participants aged 29-62. They applied Depression (BDI-II), quality of life (GENCAT QoL Scale), and psychological wellbeing (Ryff’s Scale). The results revealed that participants showed a significant increase in quality of life (z = -1.960, p < 0.05), particularly in emotional wellbeing dimension (z = -2.257, p < 0.05) and decrease in depression (z = -2.703, p < 0.05). Besides, 5 of 10 participants showed objective clinical changes in terms of psychological wellbeing. The program offers promising results about the feasibility of programs based on Positive Psychology and Positive Psychotherapy in the Mexican population, although it is necessary to evaluate the adaptation and efficacy of the interventions.
Study partially supported by the PAPIIT IN309421 project, DGAPA-UNAM