Does an Online Positive Psychological Intervention Improve Positive Affect in Young Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic?

IF 2.1 Q2 PSYCHOLOGY
Caitlin M. DuPont, Sarah D. Pressman, Rebecca G. Reed, Stephen B. Manuck, Anna L. Marsland, Peter J. Gianaros
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引用次数: 3

Abstract

Meta-analyses indicate that positive psychological interventions are effective at increasing positive affect, as well as reducing anxiety and depression; however, it is unclear how well these effects generalize during periods of high stress. Therefore, the current study tested whether a 2-week online positive psychological intervention delivered during the COVID-19 pandemic, a naturalistic stressor, (1) increased positive affect; (2) improved psychological well-being, optimism, life satisfaction, perceived social support, and loneliness; (3) and reduced negative affect in college students, a group known to have high pandemic distress. Participants (N = 250; 76.9% female) ages 18–45 were recruited from the University of Pittsburgh undergraduate subject pool between September and November of 2020. Participants were randomized to the online positive psychological intervention or active control condition and stratified by trait positive affect, sex, and year in college. Participants in both conditions completed one writing activity every other day for two consecutive weeks. Control participants documented their activities for that day (e.g., meals, going to gym). Intervention participants chose from six positive psychology activities. All outcome variables were assessed pre- and post-intervention by validated questionnaires. Across both conditions, positive and negative affect decreased from pre- to post-intervention. No other psychological factor differed by condition, time, or their interaction. The current null findings are in line with a more recent meta-analysis indicating that positive psychological interventions may have smaller effects on psychological well-being and depressive symptoms than was reported pre-pandemic. Study findings may suggest reduced efficacy of virtual positive psychological interventions under highly stressful circumstances.

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在新冠肺炎大流行期间,在线积极心理干预是否能改善年轻人的积极情绪?
荟萃分析表明,积极的心理干预在增加积极情绪、减少焦虑和抑郁方面是有效的;然而,目前尚不清楚这些效应在高应力时期的推广效果如何。因此,目前的研究测试了在新冠肺炎大流行期间进行的为期2周的在线积极心理干预是否是一种自然压力源,(1)增加了积极影响;(2) 改善了心理健康、乐观、生活满意度、感知到的社会支持和孤独感;(3) 并减少了大学生的负面影响,众所周知,这一群体对疫情有很大的困扰。参与者(N=250;76.9%的女性)年龄在18-45岁之间,于2020年9月至11月从匹兹堡大学本科生学科库中招募。参与者被随机分配到在线积极心理干预或主动控制条件下,并按特质积极情感、性别和大学年份进行分层。两种情况下的参与者连续两周每隔一天完成一次写作活动。对照组参与者记录了他们当天的活动(如吃饭、去健身房)。干预参与者从六项积极的心理活动中进行选择。所有结果变量均通过有效问卷在干预前后进行评估。在这两种情况下,从干预前到干预后,积极和消极的影响都有所减少。没有其他心理因素因条件、时间或相互作用而不同。目前的无效发现与最近的一项荟萃分析一致,该分析表明,积极的心理干预措施对心理健康和抑郁症状的影响可能比疫情前报道的要小。研究结果可能表明,在高度紧张的情况下,虚拟积极心理干预的效果会降低。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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