Podium Presentation - 10 minutes International Positive Psychology Association 8th IPPA World Congress 2023

Harnessing the power of positive psychology in self-care and health care (#224)

Liana Lianov 1
  1. Global Positive Health Institute, Inc., Sacramento, CA, United States

Background

Lifestyle medicine (which treats chronic diseases with healthy lifestyles) and positive psychology (which studies interventions for optimal functioning) are rapidly expanding. Positive health combines these fields for a state of health beyond what can be achieved by addressing traditional risk factors alone. However, individuals and health practitioners are not fully leveraging lifestyle interventions (nutrition, physical activity, stress management, sleep, avoidance of risky substances, and social connection) with positive psychology strategies. Moreover, promoting behavior change is one of the greatest challenges in health care. Positive emotions can drive health maintenance and treatment plan adherence and self-care, leading to improved health outcomes.

Aims

The goal of this positive health program is to leverage the reinforcing, reciprocal link between lifestyle medicine and positive psychology for improved health outcomes with positive health training and tools for both individuals and health providers.

Method

We’re testing an eight-week online positive health program (uniquely designed to incorporate key research-informed positive psychology elements) for feasibility in health care practice, ease of use in self-care, and practitioner and patient satisfaction. Subsequently, we will measure the impact on subjective wellbeing, e.g. satisfaction with life and flourishing scales, and extent of behavior changes achieved. Future project phases will include health measures, such as urgent care visits, cardiovascular events and diabetes status.

Results

Preliminary qualitative assessment of beta version of the positive health program revealed provider satisfaction with the range of options for positive health tool implementation. Also, individuals taking the training program independently rated the program as user-friendly. Quantitative analysis of satisfaction with life scale, flourishing scale, and health behavior action plan completion will be completed in early 2023 and presented.

Conclusion

Research-informed positive psychology training programs and tools have the potential to promote self-care and health care. Early phase evaluation shows that such programs are feasible and user-friendly with high provider and individual satisfaction. Future phases will test health behavior changes, flourishing levels, and health outcomes.

 

  1. Beezhold BL, Johnston CS, Daigle DR. Vegetarian diets are associated with healthy mood states: a cross-sectional study in Seventh Day Adventist adults. Nutr. J. 2010;1:9-26.
  2. Beezhold BL, Johnston CS. Restriction of meat, fish, and poultry in omnivores improves mood: a pilot randomized controlled trial. Nutr. J. 2012;11:9.
  3. Blanchflower D, Oswald A, Stewart-Brown S. Is psychological wellbeing linked to the consumption of fruit and vegetables? Soc Indic Res. 2013;114:785-801.
  4. Carr A, Cullen K, Keeney C, Canning C, Mooney O, Chinseallaigh E. O’Dowd A. Effectiveness of positive psychology interventions: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Journal of Positive Psychology. 2021;6:749-769.
  5. Chakhssi F, Kraiss JT, Sommers-Spijkerman M, et al. The effect of positive psychology interventions on well-being and distress in clinical samples with psychiatric or somatic disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Psychiat. 2018 ;18(1).
  6. Huffman JC, Dubois CM, Millstein RA, et al. Positive psychological interventions for patients with Type 2 diabetes: Rationale, theoretical model, and intervention development. J Diabetes Res. 2015;2015:1-18.
  7. Huffman JC, Mastromauro C, Boehm JK, Seabrooke R, Denninger JW, Fricchione GL, Lyubomirsky S. (2011). Development of positive psychology interventions for patients with acute cardiovascular disease. Heart International. 2011; 6:e13.
  8. Kim ES, Strecher VJ, Ryff CD. Purpose in life and use of preventive health care services. Proc Natl Acad Sci. 2014;111(46):16331-16336.
  9. Kim ES, Sun JK, Park N, et al. Purpose in life and reduced risk of myocardial infarction among older US adults with coronary heart disease: a two-year follow-up. J Behav Med. 2013;36(2):124-133.
  10. Kok BE, Coffey KA, Cohn MA, et al. How positive emotions build physical health: perceived positive social connections account for the upward spiral between positive emotions and vagal tone. Psychol Sci. 2013;24:1123-1132.
  11. Kok BE, Fredrickson BL. Upward spirals of the heart: Autonomic flexibility, as indexed by vagal tone, reciprocally and prospectively predicts positive emotions and social connectedness. Biol Psychol. 2010 ;85:432-436.
  12. Lathia N, Sandstrom GM, Mascolo C, et al. Happier People Live More Active Lives: Using Smartphones to Link Happiness and Physical Activity. PloS One. 2017;12(1):e0160589.
  13. Mammen G, Faulkner G. Physical activity and the prevention of depression: a systematic review of prospective studies. Am J Prev Med. 2013;45(5):649-657.
  14. McKercher C, Sanderson K, Schmidt MD, et al. Physical activity patterns and risk of depression in young adulthood: a 20-year cohort study since childhood. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2014;49(11):1823-34.
  15. Mikkelsen K, Stojanovska L, Polenakovic M, et al. Exercise and mental health. Maturitas. 2017;106:48–56.
  16. Millstein RA, Park ER, Thorndike AN, et al. A Qualitative Study: How Emotions Influence Physical Activity and Diet in Metabolic Syndrome Patients. Obesity Week, Washington, DC, 2017.
  17. Mura G, Carta MG. Physical activity in depressed elderly: A systematic review. Clinic Pract Epidemiol Mental Health. 2013;12(9):125-35.
  18. Neckelmann D, Mykletun A, Dahl AA. Chronic insomnia as a risk factor for developing anxiety and depression. Sleep. 2007;30(7):873-880.
  19. Nikrahan GR, Suarez L , Asgari K, Beach SR, Celano CM, Kalantari M, et al. Positive psychology interventions for patients with heart disease: A preliminary randomized trial. Psychosomatics. 2016;57(4):348-58.
  20. Park N. Peterson C, Szvarca D, BS, Ran Molen RJV, Kim ES Collon K. Positive Psychology and physical health. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2016;10(3): 200–206.
  21. Van Cappellen P, Rice EL, Catalino LI, et al. Positive affective processes underlie positive health behavior change. Psychol Health. 2017;33:77-97.
  22. Velten J, Lavalle KL, Scholten S, et al. Lifestyle choices and mental health: a representative population survey. BMC Psychol. 2014;2:58.
  23. White BA, Horwath CC, Conner TS. Many apples a day keep the blues away—daily experiences of negative and positive affect and food consumption in young adults. Brit J Health Psychl. 2013;8(4):782-798.
  24. Xu J, Roberts, RE. The power of positive emotions: It’s a matter of life or death—subjective well-being and longevity over 28 years in a general population. Health Psychol. 2010;29:9-19.
  • Please select up to 3 keywords from the following list to best describe your submission content: Health and Medicine, Physical Wellbeing, Self-Care
  • If you indicated that you would like to be considered for an Apply Presentation, please select your presentation sub-category below: How-to-trainings