Poster Presentation International Positive Psychology Association 8th IPPA World Congress 2023

Evaluation of a positive-psychological intervention to increase vitality, optimism, and satisfaction among nurses. (#891)

Eileen Thoenissen 1 , Sascha Huegel 1 , Frank Gehring 1 , Saskia Pilger 2
  1. Organizational Psychology, FOM University of Applied Sciences, Cologne, NRW, Germany
  2. Organizational Psychology, FOM University of Applied Sciences, Bonn, NRW, Germany

Background
The stress situation of nursing staff is high. Staff shortages, poor wages, lack of time, physical and psychological stress characterize the job profile of a nurse. Due to the demographic development, it can be assumed that the situation will continue to worsen. Empirical research has shown that positive-psychological interventions can help people reduce stress and increase happiness. However, the investigation and evaluation of such interventions for nurses in Germany is missing.

Aims
Therefore, a half-day intervention with follow-up exercises was developed. The intervention aimed at helping the target group build up mental strength, especially optimism, job satisfaction and helping them flourish by training their self-management competencies with techniques of positive psychology. The study’s goal was to evaluate the intervention’s effects.

Method
For this purpose, a study based on a 2x2 quasi-experimental design was conducted. The sample consisted of 23 participants in the treatment group and 35 participants in the comparison group. All participants completed self-report questionnaires before (t1) and four to seven weeks after (t2) the intervention for the treatment group.

Results
The results of the mixed ANOVA showed that the self-management competencies, such as application of techniques of positive psychology (partial η² = .15), health management and vitality (partial η² = .27), significantly increased over time in the treatment group and compared to the comparison group. No significant effects were found for optimism, job satisfaction and flourishing. However, it was noticeable that the mean comparison of job satisfaction showed a significant effect after the intervention (t2) between the two groups (MTG = 3.80, MCG = 3.66). This allows the assumption that the external circumstances led to a deterioration of job satisfaction, which could be prevented by the intervention.

Conclusion
To conclude, the intervention has shown to be effective for nurses. Limitations with regard to the sample, lacking effects due to the short study period, the methodology as well as further research impulses will be discussed.

 

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