Effectiveness of a positive psychology intervention combined with cognitive behavioral therapy in university students

  1. Rosario-Josefa Marrero 1
  2. Mónica Carballeira 1
  3. Sabrina Martín 1
  4. Miriam Mejías 1
  5. Juan-Andrés Hernández 1
  1. 1 Universidad de La Laguna
    info

    Universidad de La Laguna

    San Cristobal de La Laguna, España

    ROR https://ror.org/01r9z8p25

Journal:
Anales de psicología

ISSN: 0212-9728 1695-2294

Year of publication: 2016

Volume: 32

Issue: 3

Pages: 728-740

Type: Article

DOI: 10.6018/ANALESPS.32.3.261661 DIALNET GOOGLE SCHOLAR

More publications in: Anales de psicología

Abstract

The aim of this study was to design and implement a positive intervention combined with cognitive-behavioral therapy to enhance subjective and psychological well-being and other positive functioning constructs in a convenience sample. Participants analysed were 48 university students (mean age 22.25), 25 assigned nonrandomized to intervention condition and 23 to no-treatment waiting-list control condition. All participants were assessed pre- and post-intervention to test the treatment program effectiveness. Repeated-measures ANCOVAs, controlling baseline differences between the two groups, indicated that the intervention group reported greater social support after the intervention period than the waiting-list control group. Within-group differences were found for happiness, selfacceptance, positive relations with others, optimism, and self-esteem in the intervention group; these differences did not appear in the waiting-list control group. These findings suggest the limited capacity of this intervention program for improving well-being through positive activities combined with cognitive-behavioral therapy. Future research should analyse what kind of activities could be more effective in promoting well-being depending on the characteristics of participants.

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