Effects of a Community‐Based Multicomponent Positive Psychology Intervention on Mental Health of Rural Adults in Ghana

Abstract

This study investigates the effectiveness of a 10-week multicomponent PPI, the Inspired Life Program (ILP), in promoting the mental health and reducing self-reported symptoms of depression and negative affect in a non-clinical, rural Ghanaian adult sample. Although previous research has examined group-based well-being interventions in developing countries (e.g. Bonthuys, Botha, Nienaber, Freeka, & Kruger, 2011; Rugira et al., 2015; Teodorczuk et al., 2019; Van Zyl & Rothmann, 2012), as far as can be established, there is a lack of research examining the effectiveness of a PPI group-based intervention model in Ghana. The ILP differs from the existing PPI programs in that it offers a multicomponent PPI (mPPI) at a group level for a rural poor, non-English speaking sample. Given that a group-based model is more cost-effective (since the costs of mental health professionals are distributed across several people, rather than a single individual), a successful intervention could have important policy implications, in that it would offer a cheaper alternative to delivering mental health improvements. Nonetheless, there is ample evidence to support both individualized (e.g.

Prevalence of positive mental health and functioning among adults with sickle cell disease in Ghana

“…22 In many instances, however, the level of flourishing (i.e., positive mental health) found in the current sample is far higher when compared with the 8% flourishing reported for a sample of South Korean adults 43 , the 20% found among adult South Africans 34 , the 23% found among Egyptian adolescents 32 , the 26% found among a sample of Polish adults 29 , the 42% in a group of South African secondary school children 44 , and the 44% among Chinese adults. 36 Of note, the participants in the present study are mostly adults, who also present with a medical condition, unlike the participants in the aforementioned studies.…”

“…Largely, the prevalence of mental health has been conceptualised and measured in terms of mental disorders. To our knowledge, only Appiah and colleagues 36 measured the effect of a community-based positive psychology intervention in promoting the (positive) mental health of a rural adult sample using the MHC-SF. The researchers reported a flourishing rate of 25% at pre-test, 57.5% immediately after the 10-week intervention, and 77.5% three months post-intervention for programme participants.…”

Community-based participatory research in rural African contexts: Ethico-cultural considerations and lessons from Ghana

“…The ILP was developed based on constructs and principles of positive psychology and cognitive-behavioural models and sets out to promote positive mental health and reduce symptoms of depression and negative affect. The novel ILP was evaluated in a sample of adults drawn from four rural poor communities in the middle belt of Ghana, within a quasirandomised controlled trial [2]. Participants were of both genders, aged between 18 and 60 years, and were peasant farmers and traders in agricultural products.…”

“…A methodological strategy to drive the therapeutic process of group-based intervention programmes in this context could be to adopt a practical implementation approach that communicates the lessons to participants in an effective fashion. In a recent quasi-randomised controlled trial, researchers utilised several practical exercises to teach participants about goal setting skills, time management skills, problem-solving skills, relationship and communication, personal growth, self-acceptance, and a host of mental health and life improvement skills to a sample of adults recruited from four rural poor communities in middle Ghana [2]. In teaching about time management and goal setting skills using the empty jar demonstration, session facilitators tasked two volunteer participants to pour a quantity of small rocks, pebbles, and sand into a transparent glass jar.…”

“…Three months after the intervention, participants could vividly recall the exercise and discuss its significance and how they were applying them to enhance their vocational productivity [20]. Results from the main programme evaluation also showed that the intervention programme was effective in promoting mental health and reducing symptoms of psychopathology in the participants [2].…”