The impact of “The Art of Happiness” class on community dwelling older adults: a positive psychology intervention

Social support and nutritional status: Positive psychological capital as a mediator

Nutrition is a critical public health concern for older adults and could be influenced by psychosocial factors. We explored the relationships of social support, positive psychological capital, and nutritional status among older adults from the perspective of positive psychology. We used random sampling to recruit 151 community-dwelling older adults aged 60 and over, and they took part in face-to-face or telephone interviews using a standardized questionnaire. Hierarchical linear regression and bootstrapping analyses were applied to examine mediation effects. The results show that there were significant positive correlations between the participants' social support, positive psychological capital, and nutritional status. Furthermore, we found a significant mediating effect of positive psychological capital in the relationship between social support and nutritional status. These findings are of significance for adopting positive psychology interventions to maintain and improve older adults' nutritional status.

OUP accepted manuscript

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Experiencing structural racism over the life course contributes to disproportionate pain-related disability among African American older adults. Positive STEPS, delivered by community health workers, is a culturally congruent chronic pain self-management intervention that incorporates positive psychology principles and gives attention to social determinants of pain and pain management.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We conducted a randomized pilot trial among older adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain in an underserved, primarily African American community (Detroit, Michigan). The 7-week intervention included weekly telephone sessions with a community health worker; web-based videos teaching pain self-management skills; positive activities (e.g., Life Review, Gratitude Jar); and use of wearable activity trackers. Outcomes were measured at baseline and 8-week follow-up. We assessed participant retention, engagement, and satisfaction.

RESULTS

Study completers (n = 46; 90% retention) were 93% African American, 89% female, mean 72 years, and completed 5.7 of 7 sessions. Intervention participants versus controls showed greater improvement in PROMIS Pain Interference (4.3-point T-score decrease vs. 0.4-point increase; p = .01) and the Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (p = .007). Furthermore, compared with controls, significantly more intervention participants reported "better" or "much better" global functioning (86% vs. 25%; p = .000) and pain (67% vs. 21%; p = .003) since baseline. Improvements in physical functioning, social participation, and resilience were noted, but differences were not significant. Participant feedback on the intervention was overwhelmingly positive.

DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS

A community health worker-led chronic pain self-management intervention combining positive activities with self-management skills training demonstrated the potential to enhance pain-related functioning among a vulnerable group of older adults.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER

NCT04321239.

Fostering Positive Communities: A Scoping Review of Community-Level Positive Psychology Interventions

Historically, positive psychology research and practice have focused on studying and promoting well-being among individuals. While positive psychology interventions focusing on the well-being of communities and marginalized groups have recently been developed, studies reporting on their nature and characteristics are lacking. The aim of this paper is to examine the nature of community-level positive psychology interventions. It reviews the target populations, intervention modalities, objectives, and desired effects of 25 community-level positive psychology interventions found in 31 studies. This scoping review shows that community-level programs based on positive psychology vary greatly in all these aspects. However, most interventions are aimed at individual-level changes to achieve target group outcomes. Contextual issues such as social conditions, values, and fairness affecting well-being are rarely considered. Discrepancies between community-level positive psychology interventions and community psychology in terms of values and social change are discussed.

Fostering Well-Being in the Elderly: Translating Theories on Positive Aging to Practical Approaches

This article overviews positive aging concepts and strategies to enhance well-being in the elderly and then presents a translation of theories on positive aging to practical approaches for Positive Aging. Drawing upon positive psychology and positive aging research and tools, this program is designed to help older adults improve their well-being by acquiring skills and strategies to cope with present and future challenges. The Mental Fitness Program for Positive Aging (MFPPA) can enhance seniors' quality of life by increasing their vital involvement and active engagement in life. This model is most appropriate for community dwelling individuals. It can easily be conducted in wide range of adult education programs in community centers, sheltered homes, and primary care clinics. It can also be conducted through online psychoeducational training.

La gérontopsychiatrie à l’Hôpital en santé mentale Albert-Prévost : favoriser la résilience des patients âgés grâce à la psychiatrie positive

La population québécoise est vieillissante, et ce phénomène ne fera que s’accroître au cours des prochaines décennies. Alors qu’en 2017 près d’une personne sur 5 appartenait au groupe des 65 ans et plus, il en sera ainsi pour le quart des Québécois en 2031, et près du tiers d’entre eux en 2061.

Par ailleurs, les trajectoires de vieillissement sont uniques à chacun et dépendront de différents facteurs, tels les vulnérabilités et forces de l’individu et son interaction avec les proches et la société. Malheureusement, la vieillesse s’illustre souvent comme un cumul de pertes dans différents registres. Cela crée des contraintes qui diminuent l’autonomie et augmentent la dépendance. La maladie peut confronter l’individu vieillissant à une diminution des capacités de réparation, et devenir un rappel de la mort inéluctable qui se rapproche et peut devenir parfois une certaine forme de traumatisme. Ce processus invite alors les soignants à réfléchir à un projet thérapeutique favorisant la résilience, concept qui va au-delà de l’ajustement à l’épreuve, et qui suggère un potentiel de développement et de rebond psychologique.

À l’Hôpital en santé mentale Albert-Prévost, la clientèle en gérontopsychiatrie cumule souvent une triple vulnérabilité : troubles cognitifs, incapacités physiques et maladie psychiatrique chronique ou de novo. Les besoins sont donc multiples et complexes.

C’est ainsi que dès 2017, nous avons élaboré une approche de psychiatrie positive dans notre service de gérontopsychiatrie. Notre objectif est de promouvoir le bien-être et la résilience de nos patients selon différents niveaux d’interventions positives. Les stratégies peuvent alors aller de la simple orientation positive pendant l’entretien psychiatrique à la psychothérapie positive, en passant par la psychoéducation, la bibliothérapie et la prescription de certaines interventions de psychologie positive (IPP).

"Something to Live for": Experiences, Resources, and Personal Strengths in Late Adulthood

Due to increased life expectancy, the population segment of older adults has grown the fastest. The global phenomenon of population aging raises important questions regarding successful, positive, active, and meaningful aging. Given that aging is often characterized by declines in physical and mental health and increased risk for social isolation and depression, and given that the concept of well-being in old age is both elusive and complex, the present study explored how aging is experienced through a "bottom-up," open-ended approach. Thirty-one in-depth semi-structured personal interviews were conducted with adults aged 60 and above in order to explore the question: what concerns older adults in their day-to-day living, and what are their perceived resources? The findings illuminated three prominent themes: (1) central concerns described by the participants as characterizing their experience at this life stage; (2) strategies employed by the participants to cope with concerns and to live a meaningful life in old age; and (3) resources and character strengths that facilitate coping strategies and enable thriving. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.