Taylor et al., 2017: Cultivating positive emotions improved psychological well-being among individuals who sought clinical treatment for anxiety or depression
Reference:
Taylor, C. T., Lyubomirsky, S., & Stein, M. B. (2017). Upregulating the positive affect system in anxiety and depression: Outcomes of a positive activity intervention. Depression and anxiety, 34(3), 267-280.
Download PDFSummary:
People seeking clinical treatment for anxiety and/or depression with clinically elevated symptoms took part in 10 hour-long sessions focused on cultivating positive emotions (e.g., noticing and amplifying positive events, counting blessings, performing acts of kindness, taking part in pleasureable and meaningful activities, using strengths, imagining best possible futures, making others happier, and reflecting on others’ kindness) as well as values-affirmation. As compared to a wait-list control group, participants in the treatment group showed greater improvements in positive affect and psychological well-being and greater reductions in negative affect and anxiety and depression symptoms through a 6-month follow-up.
Psychological Process:
What Desired Meaning is At Stake?
What is the Person Trying to Understand?
Selves (My Own and Others')Approach to Desired Meaning
What about it?
Changing beliefs about emotions, states, and the valence of the self-conceptHow?
Psychological Question Addressed
Do I think and feel positively about myself?Do I think and feel positively about myself?Psychological Question Addressed
Do I think and feel positively about myself?Psychological Process 2:
What is the Person Trying to Understand?
What Desired Meaning is At Stake?
What Desired Meaning is At Stake?
To See the Self as AdequateWhat About it?
Approach to Desired Meaning
Approach to Desired Meaning
Remedy Threats to Self-Integrity that Undermine FunctioningHow?
Psychological Question Addressed
Can I manage a stressful or threatening academic experience?Can I manage a stressful or threatening academic experience?Psychological Question Addressed
Psychological Question Addressed
Can I manage a stressful or threatening academic experience?Psychological Process 3:
Heading
Need to BelongWhat Desired Meaning is At Stake?
To Feel Connected, Included, Respected, and Valued by OthersApproach to Desired Meaning
Remedy Threats to Belonging that Undermine FunctioningSocial Area:
Well-Being; Health
Intervention Technique:
Prompting by altering situations; Active reflection, on a positive aspect of self; Active reflection, value-affirmation