Table 1: Evidence on PPT in healthy people and people with somatic and mental illnesses Reference Design Population Recruitment N Control PPT Intervention Assessment Results from Group(s) Times Healthy individuals and community samples College Lü 201365 RCT students College 34 No treatment adapted from Baseline, PPT group showed a significant increase in with high and low psychology session PPT, for 16 positive trait affect trait positive affect class weeks Significantly improved depression in Parks-Sheiner RCT University Mass 110 No treatment 6-session PPT, for Baseline, post intervention group post-treatment, 2009 66 students with university 6 weeks intervention, 3, maintained until 6-months follow-up. mild-moderate email 6 and 12 month Significant increase in life satisfaction in Study 1: depression follow-ups both groups post-treatment Study 2: RCT Community Internet 361 No treatment 6-session PPT, for Baseline, post No significant results for depression, sample 6 weeks intervention, 1, life satisfaction or positive emotion 3, 6, 12 month follow-ups Community Study 3: RCT Internet 267 No treatment 6-session PPT, for Baseline, post Significant decrease in depressive sample 6 weeks intervention, 1 symptoms in PPT group post-intervention, and 3 month not maintained at follow-up. follow-ups Significant increase in life satisfaction in PPT group post-intervention, maintained at 1 month follow up. No significant result for positive emotions Rashid 2004 67 RCT Not stated Not stated 65 Not stated Readings, watching Not stated Significant increase in character strength in assigned films on intervention compared to control group abstract only character strengths, writing reaction papers weekly, class room discussions and out-of-class exercises Rashid 2008 68 RCT Middle school Not stated 22 None Not stated Not stated change in – – – Limited description. “Substantial” students abstract only abstract only abstract only happiness reported for the intervention group compared to control group.
Table 1: Evidence on PPT in healthy people and people with somatic and mental illnesses Reference Design Population Recruitment from N Control Group(s) PPT Intervention Assessment Times Results Healthy individuals and community samples Lü 201365 RCT College students with high and low trait positive affect College psychology class 34 No treatment adapted from PPT, for 16 weeks Baseline, PPT group showed a significant increase in positive trait affect Parks-Sheiner 2009 66 Study 1: RCT University students with mild-moderate depression Mass university email 110 No treatment 6-session PPT, for 6 weeks Baseline, post intervention, 3, 6 and 12 month follow-ups Significantly improved depression in intervention group post-treatment, maintained until 6-months follow-up. Significant increase in life satisfaction in both groups post-treatment Study 2: RCT Community sample Internet 361 No treatment 6-session PPT, for 6 weeks Baseline, post intervention, 1, 3, 6, 12 month follow-ups No significant results for depression, life satisfaction or positive emotion Study 3: RCT Community sample Internet 267 No treatment 6-session PPT, for 6 weeks Baseline, post intervention, 1 and 3 month follow-ups Significant decrease in depressive symptoms in PPT group post-intervention, not maintained at follow-up. Significant increase in life satisfaction in PPT group post-intervention, maintained at 1 month follow up. No significant result for positive emotions Rashid 2004 67 abstract only RCT Not stated Not stated 65 Not stated Readings, watching assigned films on character strengths, writing reaction papers weekly, class room discussions and out-of-class exercises Not stated Significant increase in character strength in intervention compared to control group Rashid 2008 68 RCT Middle school students Not stated – abstract only 22 None Not stated – abstract only Not stated – abstract only Limited description. “Substantial” change in happiness reported for the intervention group compared to control group. session
Positive_Psychology_manuscript_EAAP_2014.docx