Background:
The Best Possible Self intervention (BPS; King, 2001), a future-oriented positive-psychological writing intervention, has demonstrated efficacy in promoting optimism, health and wellbeing in various populations. However, no study has yet investigated BPS’s efficacy and mechanisms of change in early adolescence as a stand-alone intervention.
Hypotheses/Research Questions:
The goal of our study was to adapt the BPS to an adolescent population and examine its efficacy and mechanisms of change.
Sample Characteristics and Sample Size:
We conducted focus groups with young adolescents in youth centres in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (N = 22, Mage = 12.48 years, SD = 1.7, age range = 9-15 years). We are currently recruiting youth in German-speaking countries to partake in a randomized controlled online intervention study (N = 185, Mage = 13.93 years, SD = 1.28, age range = 11-15 years).
Design:
We adapted the BPS through focus groups with young adolescents. Participants of the online intervention study are randomly assigned to the BPS, a writing control group (writing about daily activities) or a non-writing control group (problem-solving tasks). Outcomes like wellbeing and personal resources are measured at two time points (baseline and 1-month follow-up), affect is measured pre- and post-intervention and at 1-month follow-up.
Results:
Focus groups showed high acceptance of the BPS and underscored the importance of thinking optimistically about one’s future, especially in 14-to-15-year-olds. Duration of the intervention was reduced from the original 20 minutes (King, 2001) to 10 minutes. Main topics were relationships/family (n = 17), work (n = 16), and habitation (n = 15). Preliminary results of the RCT will be presented at the conference.
Scientific Contribution:
Focus groups showed high feasibility of the BPS in early adolescence. The results of the RCT will shed light on whether the BPS is conducive to promoting positive development in early adolescence.