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The Effects of Positive Interventions on Happiness and Depressive Symptoms, with an Examination of Personality as a Moderator

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  • Konrad Senf
  • Albert Liau

Abstract

The advent of positive psychology has triggered research into positive interventions, which focus on strengths instead of deficits. The present study aims to investigate the effects of gratitude and strengths-based interventions on happiness and depressive symptoms against a control group, as well as to explore personality traits as moderator variables of the potential effectiveness of these interventions. A total of 122 participants completed at least two stages of the research. Data were collected at three stages—baseline pre-test, post-intervention assessment, and 1-month follow-up assessment. The findings partially support the effectiveness of the gratitude and strengths-based interventions in increasing happiness and decreasing depressive symptoms compared to a control group. Two personality domains showed significance as moderator variables. More research is needed to enable a higher degree of control when administering these promising interventions. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2013

Suggested Citation

  • Konrad Senf & Albert Liau, 2013. "The Effects of Positive Interventions on Happiness and Depressive Symptoms, with an Examination of Personality as a Moderator," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 14(2), pages 591-612, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:14:y:2013:i:2:p:591-612
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-012-9344-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sonja Lyubomirsky & Heidi Lepper, 1999. "A Measure of Subjective Happiness: Preliminary Reliability and Construct Validation," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 46(2), pages 137-155, February.
    2. Keyes, C.L.M. & Dhingra, S.S. & Simoes, E.J., 2010. "Change in level of positive mental health as a predictor of future risk of mental Illness," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 100(12), pages 2366-2371.
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    Cited by:

    1. Honghao Zhang & Huiyuan Jia & Xin Zhang, 2022. "Dance to Prosper: Benefits of Chinese Square Dance in QOL and the Moderating Roles of Aging Stereotypes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-17, December.
    2. Selda Koydemir & Aslı Bugay Sökmez & Astrid Schütz, 2021. "A Meta-Analysis of the Effectiveness of Randomized Controlled Positive Psychological Interventions on Subjective and Psychological Well-Being," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 16(3), pages 1145-1185, June.
    3. Peng, Jiamin & Yang, Xiaoyun & Poon, Patrick & Xie, Lishan, 2022. "Enhancing users' well-being in virtual medical tourism communities: A configurational analysis of users’ interaction characteristics and social support," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    4. Jolanta Enko & Maciej Behnke & Martyna Dziekan & Michał Kosakowski & Lukasz D. Kaczmarek, 2021. "Gratitude Texting Touches the Heart: Challenge/Threat Cardiovascular Responses to Gratitude Expression Predict Self-initiation of Gratitude Interventions in Daily Life," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(1), pages 49-69, January.
    5. Leonie Manthey & Viktor Vehreschild & Karl-Heinz Renner, 2016. "Effectiveness of Two Cognitive Interventions Promoting Happiness with Video-Based Online Instructions," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 319-339, February.
    6. Weiting Ng, 2017. "Extending Traditional Psychological Disciplines to Positive Psychology: A View from Subjective Well-being," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 18(5), pages 1553-1571, October.
    7. Paulo Moreira & Susana Pedras & Márcia Silva & Maria Moreira & Joana Oliveira, 2021. "Personality, Attachment, and Well-Being in Adolescents: The Independent Effect of Attachment After Controlling for Personality," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(4), pages 1855-1888, April.
    8. Chen-Wei Yu & Yen-Ping Chang & Cheng-Hsien Li & Hsiang-Yi Wu, 2023. "From Emotion Beliefs to Regulatory Behavior: Gratitude Journaling Initiation and Outcomes," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 24(1), pages 57-78, January.
    9. Nicola S. Schutte & John M. Malouff, 2019. "The Impact of Signature Character Strengths Interventions: A Meta-analysis," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 20(4), pages 1179-1196, April.

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