Moderating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's and adolescents' substance use, digital media use, and mental health: A randomized positive psychology addiction prevention program.

OBJECTIVE: Previous research suggests that well-being interventions are effective in moderating substance and digital media use and improving mental health. This study evaluated the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a school-based Positive Psychology Addiction Prevention (PPAP) intervention aimed at reducing substance and digital media use and increasing the mental health of school children during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: The sample was composed of 1,670 children and adolescents (Mean age = 12.96, SD = 2.01) from six elementary and secondary schools in Israel who were randomly assigned to the PPAP intervention (n = 833) or the waiting-list control conditions (n = 837). A three-year longitudinal repeated-measures randomized control design was used to examine modifications in substance use, digital media use, and psychological symptoms in the intervention and control groups assessed on the pre-test (before the outbreak of COVID-19, September 2019), the post-test (May 2021), and the 12-month follow-up (May 2022). RESULTS: The 12-month prevalence of tobacco use, alcohol use, and cannabis use decreased significantly from the pre- to the follow-up period in the intervention group, and increased significantly in the control group. Daily digital media use increased during the pandemic period in both groups, with a significantly higher increase in the control group. The intervention group reported significantly lower psychological symptoms and negative emotions, and greater positive emotions and life satisfaction after the intervention and at follow-up compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly disrupted the lives of children and adolescents. Well-being and addiction prevention interventions may be effective in improving the mental health of school children during pandemics and crisis periods.

The Cinderella of positive psychology: spiritual well-being as an emerging dimension of flourishing in pastoral work.

PURPOSE: The invaluable, yet challenging role of pastors in the community signifies the need to understand and care for their well-being. Well-being, conceptualized in the multidimensional construct of flourishing, does not explicitly include spiritual well-being, yet, it is the foundation of pastors' well-being. In this article we aim to describe pastors' spiritual well-being and in so doing, highlight its fundamental importance in pastors' flourishing in the ministry. METHODS: Positioned in the interpretive pragmatic paradigm, data were gathered and analysed from three focus groups with 18 pastors in the Dutch Reformed Church and the Uniting Reformed Church of South Africa. Interactive qualitative analysis was applied, and results were conceptually refined through narrative synthesis. RESULTS: Four themes were constructed to describe pastors' spiritual well-being namely: i) an altruistic calling; ii) discipleship iii) seasons of the ministry; and iv) ethics. CONCLUSION: The findings highlight the importance and essence of the spiritual aspects predominant to pastors' well-being. Attending to spiritual well-being will enhance their resilience and constructive coping and is integral to their way of flourishing at work. This proposes an extension of the flourishing framework to include spiritual well-being as an explicitly conceptualized sub-dimension for application to the study's Christian pastoral context.

Effect of positive event recording based on positive psychology on healthy behaviors and readmission rate of patients after PCI: a study protocol for a prospective, randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Unhealthy behaviors of coronary heart disease (CHD) patients are closely related to the occurrence of major heart events, which increases the readmission rate and brings a heavy economic burden to families and society. Therefore, it is necessary for health care workers to take active preventive and therapeutic measures to keep or establish healthy behaviors of patients. Positive psychological intervention has been proved to be effective, but it has not been reported in the field of CHD in China. The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of positive event recording based on positive psychology on the healthy behaviors, readmission rate, and anxiety of patients with CHD, in order to provide new ideas for the development of secondary prevention strategies for CHD. METHODS: This is a prospective, single-center, randomized controlled trial (RCT). The subjects will be enrolled from the Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University. There are 80 cases in total; according to the random number table, the subjects are randomly divided into the intervention group (n = 40) and the control group (n = 40). The patients in the intervention group will receive the intervention of recording positive events once a week for 3 months, while the patients in the control group receive conventional nursing. The primary outcomes will include healthy behaviors, readmission rate, and anxiety, and the secondary outcomes will include psychological capital, subjective well-being, and corresponding clinical laboratory indicators. The protocol was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Soochow University (approval no. SUDA20200604H01) and is performed in strict accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki formulated by the World Medical Association. All participants provide written informed consent. DISCUSSION: This study will verify whether positive event recording based on positive psychology can make patients maintain healthy behaviors, reduce readmission rate, and improve anxiety after PCI. Then, this study will provide new ideas and references for the development of secondary prevention strategies for patients with CHD. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trials Registry 2000034538. Registered on 10 July 2020.

A cross sectional survey on UK older adult's attitudes to ageing, dementia and positive psychology attributes.

BACKGROUND: With an increasingly ageing population worldwide, the predominant attitude towards ageing is still negative. Negative stereotypes have detrimental effects on individuals' physical and mental health. Evidence is required about factors that may predict and change these views. This study aimed to investigate if an older person's attitude towards dementia, their belief in a just world and sense of coherence is associated with their attitudes to ageing. METHODS: A 25-min online survey was completed by 2,675 participants aged 50 or over who were current residents of the United Kingdom (UK). Questions included demographics, overall health, dementia carer, dementia relative status and retirement status. Standardised scales used were the Attitudes to Ageing Questionnaire (AAQ), Dementia Attitudes Scale (DAS), Just World Scale (JWS) and Sense of Coherence Scale-13 (SOC). Data was analysed with descriptive, two-tailed bivariate Pearson's correlations, simple, and hierarchical regression analyses. RESULTS: Attitudes to dementia, just world beliefs, and sense of coherence were all significantly positively correlated with AAQ-Total, with SOC sub-scale "Meaningfulness" showing the strongest correlation. In a hierarchical regression model, higher scores on SOC-Meaningfulness, DAS-Total and belief in a just world for oneself all predicted more positive attitudes to ageing. CONCLUSIONS: The more positive an individual's attitude to dementia and the stronger they hold the belief that the world is just and coherent, the more likely they are to display positive attitudes to ageing. This initial evidence helps create a greater understanding of the factors that drive attitudes and stigma and may have implications for public health messaging.

Seeds that bloom on stony ground - Concept paper of the future perspectives of the unexploited capacities of positive clinical psychology in Hungary.

Positive psychology has fully examined the flourishing among healthy people but neglected to understand how "optimal human functioning" can apply to the life experiences of a vulnerable person. Considering methodological issues, this article gives a brief overview on how the conceptualization of mental health and mental disorders affects the consideration of strengths along with the presence of dysfunction with the emergence of positive psychology. First, we summarize the shortcomings of the applicability of clinical positive psychology, focusing especially on Hungarian clinical practice. Second, we discuss the problems with the conceptualization of mental health in positive psychological framework. Third, we propose a model, the Maintainable Positive Mental Health Theory based on capacities and competences. Finally, we conclude with methodological questions and present a research protocol. The key finding of our review is that the opportunity exists for psychiatrists and psychologists to embrace disability as part of human experiences and to show how people with vulnerabilities can be supported to recover. (Neuropsychopharmacol Hung 2022; 24(3): 113-119).

Escala de bienestar académico vía aplicación web para estudiantes universitarios en Brasil / Academic wellbeing scale via web application for university students in Brazil / Escalade bem-estar acadêmico via aplicação web para universitários no Brasil

Este es un estudio de desarrollo tecnológico en la elaboración de un instrumento computarizado para evaluar la autopercepción del bienestar académico, basado en la teoría del bienestar subjetivo de la Psicología Positiva. Tuvo como objetivo construir un instrumento y buscar evidencias de validez vía aplicación web como tecnología para evaluar el constructo bienestar académico en estudiantes universitarios. Investigación de campo, descriptiva y exploratoria, cuantitativa, con 702 académicos voluntarios de Universidades de diferentes regiones geopolíticas de Brasil Se identificó que la mayoría de los encuestados son del sexo femenino con un 76,9% (540), y se obtuvo un promedio de 23,79 para su edad, con una desviación estándar de 6,7. En la construcción del instrumento se obtuvieron factores relacionados con el contenido de bienestar académico, se definió un valor propio igual o superior a 0,44. Así, fueron evidenciados 03 Factores: Factor 01 -Autoconfianza y rendimiento académico profesional, con 27 ítems; Factor 02 -Apoyo social con 2 ítems; y Factor 3 -Limitaciones de desempeño autopercibidas, con 11 ítems. La escala total tuvo un Alfa de 0,90, con una versión final de 40 ítems. Las condiciones de validez están garantizadas, así como la fiabilidad de las tres subescalas y la escala completa. Tales aspectos de la evaluación del bienestar académico pueden ser utilizados en verificaciones posteriores al regreso de las actividades universitarias, identificando posibilidades de cambios en el escenario académico y estrategias de intervención y readaptaciones conductuales(AU)

It is a study of technological development in the elaboration of a computerized instrument to evaluate the self-perception of academic well-being, based on the theory of subjective well-being of Positive Psychology. It aimed to build an instrument and seek evidence of validity via web application as a technology to assess the academic well-being construct in university students. Field research, descriptive and exploratory, quantitative, with 702 volunteer academics from Universities from different geopolitical regions in Brazil. It was identified that the majority of respondents are female with 76.9% (540), and the average age of these was 23.79, being standard deviationde 6,7.In the construction of the instrument, factors related to the content of academic well-being were obtained, with an Eigenvalue equal to or greater than 0.44 was defined. Thus, 03 Factors were evidenced: Factor 01 -Self-confidence and professional academic achievement, with 27 items; Factor 02 -Social support with 2 items; and Factor 3 -Self-perceived limitations in performance, with 11 items. The total scale had an Alpha of 0.90 with 40 items in its final version. The validity conditions are guaranteed,together with the reliability of the three subscales and the full scale. Such aspects of the assessment of academic well-being can be used in subsequent verifications after the return of university activities, identifying possibilities for changes in the academic scenario and intervention strategies and behavioral readaptations(AU)

Trata-se de um estudo de desenvolvimento tecnológico na elaboração de um instrumento informatizado para avaliação da autopercepção do bem-estar acadêmico, com base na teoriado bem-estar subjetivo da Psicologia Positiva. Teve como objetivo construir um instrumento e buscar evidências de validade via aplicação web como tecnologia para avaliação do construto de bem-estar acadêmico em estudantes universitários. Investigação de campo, descritiva e exploratória, quantitativa, com 702 acadêmicos voluntários de Universidades de diferentes regiões geopolíticas no Brasil. Identificou-se que os respondentes em sua maioria são dosexo feminino com 76,9% (540), e obteve-se sobre a idade destes a média de 23,79, sendo desvio padrãode 6,7. Na construção do instrumento, obteve-se fatores relacionadas ao conteúdo do bem-estar acadêmico, com Eigenvalue igual ou superior a 0,44 foi definido. Assim, foram evidenciado 03 Fatores: Fator 01 -Autoconfiança e realização acadêmica profissional, com 27 itens; Fator 02 -Apoio social com 2 itens; e o Fator 3 -Limitações autopercebidas no rendimento, com 11 itens. A escala total apresentou um Alfa de 0,90, com versão final de 40 itens. Estando as condições de validade garantidas, juntamente com a confiabilidade, das três subescalas e da escala total asseguradas. Tais aspectos da avaliação do bem-estar acadêmico, podem ser empregados em verificações subsequentes ao retorno das atividades universitárias, identificando possibilidades de alterações no cenário acadêmico e estratégias de intervenções e readaptações comportamentais(AU)

Positive Psychology Approaches to Interventions for Cancer Dyads: A Scoping Review.

OBJECTIVE: Positive psychology approaches (PPAs) to interventions focus on developing positive cognitions, emotions, and behavior. Benefits of these interventions may be compounded when delivered to interdependent dyads. However, dyadic interventions involving PPAs are relatively new in the cancer context. This scoping review aimed to provide an overview of the available research evidence for use of dyadic PPA-based interventions in cancer and identify gaps in this literature. METHODS: Following PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a scoping review of intervention studies that included PPAs delivered to both members of an adult dyad including a cancer patient and support person (e.g., family caregiver, intimate partner). RESULTS: Forty-eight studies, including 39 primary analyses and 28 unique interventions, were included. Most often (53.8%), the support person in the dyad was broadly defined as a "caregiver"; the most frequent specifically-defined role was spouse (41.0%). PPAs (e.g., meaning making) were often paired with other intervention components (e.g., education). Outcomes were mostly individual well-being or dyadic coping/adjustment. CONCLUSIONS: Wide variability exists in PPA type/function and their targeted outcomes. More work is needed to refine the definition/terminology and understand specific mechanisms of positive psychology approaches.

Understanding the Pathways from Mindfulness to COVID-19 Vaccination Intention via Positive Psychology Attributes among Health Care Workers in China.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to examine the association between mindfulness and COVID-19 vaccination intention, and the mediating role of presence of meaning in life and moral elevation in such association. METHOD: In a cross-sectional study design, a total of 1733 health care workers (81.1% females, Mage = 34.16 ± 9.03) from four cities in China were recruited and completed an online survey that measured mindfulness, moral elevation, presence of meaning in life and COVID-19 vaccination intention. RESULTS: It has been found that 73.1% of the participants reported an intention to receive COVID-19 vaccination. Mindfulness was positively associated with COVID-19 vaccination intention; Mediation analyses using structural equation modeling showed a significant indirect effect of mindfulness on COVID-19 vaccination intention, accounting for 42.4% of the total effect. Mindfulness was positively associated with COVID-19 vaccination intention directly via presence of meaning in life, and indirectly via moral elevation and presence of meaning in life. CONCLUSIONS: The findings add knowledge of how mindfulness may increase COVID-19 vaccination intention, and underscore the potential need for mindfulness training, positive emotion promotion, presence of meaning in life interventions to improve acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination among health care workers.

Integration of Wearable Devices and English Teaching under Positive Psychology.

Positive psychology, as a core subject to the study of people's positive power and positive quality, is intended to cultivate positive personality traits and positive emotions, and to promote the development of inspiring creativity, cooperation, and interest. The study of positive psychology provides a new perspective for our research in the field of education. The "New Curriculum Standards for Junior Middle School English" clearly states: "Students can only maintain the inner driving force of English learning and achieve results only if they have positive emotions in English learning. Negative emotions will not only affect the effect of English learning, but also affect students' long-term development. In English teaching, teachers should pay attention to students' emotions from beginning to end, and strive to create a relaxed, democratic, and harmonious teaching atmosphere. Therefore, how to infiltrate the theory of positive psychology into the frontline English teaching of junior high school becomes especially important. With the advancement of science and technology and the advent of the Internet era, various high-tech information technologies have gradually flourished, and the rapid development of information technology has promoted the reform and innovation of the teaching industry. Wearable technology is the current trend and direction of the information technology revolution. It realizes the interconnection and deep integration of people, machines and objects through the functions of collecting, sorting and analyzing mobile Internet and cloud data. The realization of wearable technology-based wearable technology not only can highly integrate educational resources, improve learning interest, but also enhance the pertinence of teaching, cultivate students' creativity, and realize personalized teaching in "full time, all-round, all fields." This article explores the integration of wearable devices and junior high school English teaching in the context of positive psychology. First of all, this paper introduces the theoretical basis of the integration of wearable devices with English teaching. Secondly, it introduces the research methods of this paper. Finally, through questionnaires and experimental comparison analysis, it tests the interest of students in learning through the auxiliary teaching of wearable devices, and whether the academic performance has a positive effect.

Existential Positive Psychology (EPP): A Positive Tool for Healing Existential Anxieties in South Africa during, and after, the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Globally, humanity is in the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic; thus, we question our individual, and collective, behaviours. Long periods of lockdown and ever-escalating death rates have found people asking questions such as "What is the point of carrying on?" This is exacerbated by the world's burgeoning ecological crisis. Humanity is beginning to wonder if it belongs on the planet when its footprint has caused such rampant destruction to forests, oceans, the animal kingdom, and other ecological entities. Existential positive psychology (EPP) seeks to uncover truths about humankind's existence, survival, and, thus, meaning in life. We, as people, need to make sense of our reason for being as we struggle with our anxieties and seek to become authentic. This discussion paper contends that EPP can help humanity find the courage to challenge, and heal, its existential anxieties, namely, death, isolation, freedom, and meaningless, in order to find individual and group identities, as well as overall mental wellness (or happiness), specifically in a South African context, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The writings of Wong, who works within the framework of EPP, and those of Frankl, a holocaust survivor, whose work falls within the scope of humanistic and existential psychology and Asante's Afrocentrism, which is a philosophical framework grounded on the African continent, are used to support this argument.

Intervention Effect of Group Counseling Based on Positive Psychology on Psychological Crisis of College Student.

Objective: To analyze the intervention effect of group counseling based on positive psychology on psychological crisis of college student. Method: SCL-90 mental health screening was performed on second-year students in a college by cluster stratification. Among the detected students, 210 were included into the group after brief interview and randomly assigned to the experimental group and the control group. The control group was given conventional intervention measures, and the experimental group was given group counseling according to the interview results. One week before the start, on the day of the end of the intervention and 3 months after the end of the intervention, the mental health level of all subjects was evaluated by symptom self-rating scale, general well-being scale, and adolescent mental resilience scale. Results: The scores of two groups were different at different time points during the intervention. With the extension of time, the score of the self-rating symptom scale in the experimental group decreased significantly, while the total score of the self-rating symptom scale in the control group increased, with statistical significance (P < 0.05). Before the intervention, there was no significant difference in general well-being between the two groups (P > 0.05). At 3 months after the end of intervention, the total score of the general well-being scale in the experimental group increased, while that in the control group decreased, with statistical significance (P < 0.05). Three months after the end of the intervention, the total score of adolescent mental resilience scale in the experimental group increased. Conclusion: Group counseling from the perspective of positive psychology can effectively improve the mental health status of medical students with psychological crisis and improve their mental resilience.

Effect of Self-Transcendence Theory Combined with Comprehensive Nursing Intervention under Tumor Nutrition Education on Symptom Improvement, Nutritional Status, and Positive Psychology of Elderly Patients with Gastric Cancer.

Objective: To explore the value of self-transcendence theory combined with comprehensive nursing intervention under oncological nutritional education on improvement in symptoms, nutritional status, and positive psychology of elderly patients with gastric cancer (GC). Methods: A total of 98 elderly patients with GC in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from January 2021 to December 2021 were enrolled. All these patients were arbitrarily assigned into the observation group (n = 49) and control group (n = 49). The controlled patients accepted the regular oncological nutritional education. The cases of the observation group were given comprehensive nursing care based on the self-transcendence theory and oncological nutrition education. The symptom remission rate, subjective global assessment (PG-SGA) score, self-transcendence scale score, incidence of malnutrition, Hamilton Anxiety (HAMA) scale score, Hamilton Depression (HAMD) scale score, and Newcastle satisfaction with nursing scale (NSNS) score were observed. Results: The remission rate of symptoms in the observation group was higher than that of the control group after the nursing care. Following nursing, the PG-SGA score of the observation group was lower than that of the control group (p < 0.05). The score of the self-transcendence scale in the observation group was higher than that of the control group after nursing (p < 0.05). The incidence of malnutrition in the observation group was significantly lower than that of the control group. After nursing, the scores of the HAMA scale and HAMD scale in the observation group were lower than that of the control group (p < 0.05). The NSNS score of the observation group was statistically higher than that of the control group following nursing. Conclusion: The application value of self-transcendence theory combined with comprehensive nursing care under oncological nutritional education is more significant in elderly patients with GC, which is more helpful to enhance symptoms and nutritional status and control the incidence of malnutrition. Thus, it is able to reduce anxiety and depression and the rate of adverse reactions related to surgery-assisted chemotherapy as well.

Use of a positive psychology intervention (PPI) to promote the psychological well-being of children living in poverty: study protocol for a feasibility randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Poverty has a detrimental influence on psychological well-being of children. Existing evidence shows that positive psychology interventions are possible to mitigate such impact. Despite criticisms that positive psychology resembles a scientific Pollyannaism that promotes overly positivity, positive psychology is not the scientific Pollyannaism that denies the difficulties and emotions that people may experience. Whereas, positive psychology acknowledges the difficulties and emotions, alongside with building up human resilience, strength and growth to face adversity. This study examined the feasibility of implementing a positive psychology intervention among Hong Kong Chinese children living in poverty. METHODS: A feasibility randomised controlled trial will be conducted. A convenience sample of 120 children aged 13-17 years will be recruited from a community centre in Kwai Tsing district. Participants who are randomised into the experimental group will join a 1.5-hour workshop covering four positive psychology techniques: (1) gratitude visits/letters, (2) three good things, (3) you at your best and (4) using signature strengths. A booster intervention will be provided at 1 week. Control group participants will not receive any intervention. Assessments will be conducted at baseline and at 1-week, 1-month, 3-month and 6-month follow-ups. ANALYSIS: Descriptive statistics will be used to calculate the feasibility measures. Effect sizes on psychological outcomes (ie, self-esteem, depressive symptoms and quality of life) will be estimated by mixed between-within subjects analysis of variance using partial eta squared with poverty (yes, no) entering into the model as a factor. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval has been obtained from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University Institutional Review Broad. We will obtain parental consent as our subjects are below 18 years old. Findings from this study will be disseminated via international publications and conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04875507.

A Narrative Review of Peer-Led Positive Psychology Interventions: Current Evidence, Potential, and Future Directions.

Positive psychology interventions are an effective means for cultivating flourishing, addressing low levels of wellbeing, and preventing languishing. Peer-led interventions can be a particularly advantageous delivery method of positive psychology interventions, as participants tend to respond more favourably to people that they can identify with personally. Such interventions have been applied in a variety of settings and populations, but the literature on peer-led positive psychology interventions has not yet been summarised. This paper provides a narrative overview of peer-led positive psychology interventions. We reviewed relevant peer-led interventions, assessed the available evidence on their effectiveness, and highlighted promising opportunities for peer-led positive psychology interventions. We found that the majority of the studies were observational in design but showed a high level of acceptability for participants across the reviewed domains. In particular, schools, workplaces, the aged care sector, and community settings are noted as promising target domains for these interventions. However, more studies-particularly high-quality research-will be needed to comprehensively test the effectiveness of peer-led positive psychology interventions. We discuss opportunities for future research in this field.

Acceptance and commitment therapy versus mindfulness-based stress reduction for newly diagnosed head and neck cancer patients: A randomized controlled trial assessing efficacy for positive psychology, depression, anxiety, and quality of life.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Head and neck cancer patients are vulnerable to various psychological complications due to the effects of both cancer itself and cancer treatment on patients' appearance and physical well-being. Nevertheless, few data have been obtained on effective psychosocial interventions that could protect this group of cancer patients' psychological well-being. Therefore, this three-armed, parallel-group, double-blind, randomized control trial (RCT) aims to evaluate and compare the effects of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on positive psychology (such as posttraumatic growth [PTG], hope, and optimism), quality of life (QoL), and psychological complications (depression, anxiety, and experiential avoidance) among newly diagnosed head and neck cancer patients. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This RCT will target newly diagnosed head and neck cancer patients who have been treated only with surgery or who have not yet received any treatment. In total, 120 patients who meet all of the study's inclusion criteria and none of its exclusion criteria will be randomly assigned into three groups-an ACT group, an MBSR group, and a treatment-as-usual control group-at a 1:1:1 allocation ratio. Participants in the two intervention groups (the ACT and MBSR groups) will undergo an eight-week group intervention program. During this program, each intervention will comprise eight modules based on ACT and MBSR, respectively. Outcome assessments will be performed across a three-point timeline, including before the intervention (t0), immediately after the psychosocial intervention at eight weeks (t1), and six months after the intervention (t2). The primary outcome that will be assessed during this RCT is PTG. Meanwhile, the secondary outcomes that will be evaluated in this study are such as QoL, hope, optimism, depression, anxiety, and experiential avoidance. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04800419 (ClinicalTrials.gov). Registered on March 16, 2021.

A Community Health Worker-Led Positive Psychology Intervention for African American Older Adults With Chronic Pain.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Experiencing structural racism over the life course contributes to disproportionate pain-related disability among African American older adults. Positive STEPS, delivered by community health workers, is a culturally congruent chronic pain self-management intervention that incorporates positive psychology principles and gives attention to social determinants of pain and pain management. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We conducted a randomized pilot trial among older adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain in an underserved, primarily African American community (Detroit, Michigan). The 7-week intervention included weekly telephone sessions with a community health worker; web-based videos teaching pain self-management skills; positive activities (e.g., Life Review, Gratitude Jar); and use of wearable activity trackers. Outcomes were measured at baseline and 8-week follow-up. We assessed participant retention, engagement, and satisfaction. RESULTS: Study completers (n = 46; 90% retention) were 93% African American, 89% female, mean 72 years, and completed 5.7 of 7 sessions. Intervention participants versus controls showed greater improvement in PROMIS Pain Interference (4.3-point T-score decrease vs. 0.4-point increase; p = .01) and the Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (p = .007). Furthermore, compared with controls, significantly more intervention participants reported "better" or "much better" global functioning (86% vs. 25%; p = .000) and pain (67% vs. 21%; p = .003) since baseline. Improvements in physical functioning, social participation, and resilience were noted, but differences were not significant. Participant feedback on the intervention was overwhelmingly positive. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: A community health worker-led chronic pain self-management intervention combining positive activities with self-management skills training demonstrated the potential to enhance pain-related functioning among a vulnerable group of older adults. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: NCT04321239.

Positive psychology mediates the relationship between symptom frequency and quality of life among colorectal cancer survivors during acute cancer survivorship.

PURPOSE: Colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors are living longer; therefore, factors that improve outcomes, like symptom management and quality of life (QoL), have increasingly become important. This study examined CRC survivors' symptom(s) characteristics, positive psychology (benefit finding and post-traumatic growth), and QoL, and determined whether positive psychology mediates symptom(s) and QoL relationship during acute cancer survivorship. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 117 CRC survivors was conducted at a National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Center. Data were collected by demographic questionnaire, Therapy-Related Symptom Checklist, QoL Inventory, and positive psychology assessed by Carver Benefit-Finding Scale and Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory. Descriptive statistics, between-group differences, multiple linear regression, and mediation analyses were performed. RESULTS: Top common symptoms were peripheral neuropathy, fatigue/feeling sluggish, skin changes, sleep disturbances, and weakness. Psychological distress symptoms were reported in 38.46% of CRC survivors, and moderate-to-high positive psychology (3.21 ± 1.09) and QoL (5.15 ±0 .52) levels were reported during acute cancer survivorship. Significant (p < 0.05) relationships were observed between QoL and (a) number of symptoms, (b) psychological distress symptoms, (c) benefit finding, (d) post-traumatic growth, and (e) positive psychology. Positive psychology partially mediated the relationship between symptom frequency and QoL (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study's findings suggest that CRC survivors positively cope with their cancer and treatment, and positive psychology partially mediates the relationship between symptoms frequency (almost daily and daily vs. random) and QoL across acute cancer survivorship. Identifying how CRC survivors adjust to their cancer may help healthcare teams provide tailored self-management skills to promote QoL and reduce symptom burden throughout cancer survivorship.

Changes in the network structure of mental health after a multicomponent positive psychology intervention in adolescents: A moderated network analysis.

The effectiveness of multicomponent positive psychology interventions (MPPIs) on adolescents' mental health has been studied with the use of standard procedures throughout the scientific literature. However, little is known about the potential mechanisms underlying the network structure of mental health following the dual-factor model after an MPPI. We relied on network analysis to explore the reorganization of the connections between mental health indicators after a school-based MPPI. Adolescents from two high schools in Spain were randomly allocated to the 6-week intervention group (n = 85) or to the control group (n = 135). Network analysis showed that the relations between the two differentiated network dimensions of mental health (i.e. well-being and psychological distress) changed after the intervention. Unlike control participants, emotional well-being was negatively associated with depression and stress, while psychological well-being was positively related to stress after the intervention. The present study supports the viability of the network approach in analyzing the connections between mental health indicators as defined by the dual-factor model and the contribution of MPPIs to change the complex pattern of relations between the dimensions of well-being and psychological distress.