Interventions to Modify Psychological Well-Being: Progress, Promises, and an Agenda for Future Research

Abstract

Psychological well-being, characterized by feelings, cognitions, and strategies that are associated with positive functioning (including hedonic and eudaimonic well-being), has been linked with better physical health and greater longevity. Importantly, psychological well-being can be strengthened with interventions, providing a strategy for improving population health. But are the effects of well-being interventions meaningful, durable, and scalable enough to improve health at a population-level? To assess this possibility, a cross-disciplinary group of scholars convened to review current knowledge and develop a research agenda. Here we summarize and build on the key insights from this convening, which were: (1) existing interventions should continue to be adapted to achieve a large-enough effect to result in downstream improvements in psychological functioning and health, (2) research should determine the durability of interventions needed to drive population-level and lasting changes, (3) a shift from individual-level care and treatment to a public-health model of population-level prevention is needed and will require new infrastructure that can deliver interventions at scale, (4) interventions should be accessible and effective in racially, ethnically, and geographically diverse samples. A discussion examining the key future research questions follows.

Purpose in life as a resilience factor for brain health: diffusion MRI findings from the Midlife in the U.S. study

“…The 4-H program and development of frameworks such as the pedagogy of care using processes such as exploration, engagement, reflection, articulation, and actualization may support development of purpose among youth ( 82 , 83 ). Interventions to clarify values and develop purpose in life are now freely available ( 77 ) and, more broadly, interventions for psychological well-being are available at scale with refinements being considered to provide meaningful effects ( 84 ). The recent call to consider prosociality, or positive other-regarding behaviors and beliefs, as a public health priority ( 85 ) would benefit from interventions that facilitate clarification of values and foster development of purpose at the individual and societal level ( 86 ).…”

The role of psychosocial well-being and emotion-driven impulsiveness in food choices of European adolescents

“…Hence, an intervention on psychosocial well-being could be more favorable, particularly when considering its indirect effect via emotion-driven impulsiveness and its more feasible interventions at the population level [ 47 , 48 ]. Yet, actual interventions also yielded rather small effects on average due to heterogeneous settings such as different target populations or intervention intensities [ 49 ]. For instance, one intervention study on psychosocial well-being, also using the KINDL, found a small to moderate effect after a competence skill enhancement approach focusing on developing children’s positive emotions and strengths and a positive school climate [ 50 ].…”

Psychological wellbeing in Chinese university students: insights into the influences of academic self-concept, teacher support, and student engagement

“…This proposition aligns with a substantial body of literature emphasizing the influential role of academic self-concept in shaping individuals’ perceptions of their abilities and competencies ( Shavelson et al, 1976 ; Marsh and Martin, 2011 ). According to this theoretical framework, academic self-concept not only influences cognitive judgments but also plays a pivotal role in shaping emotional experiences within educational contexts ( Salami, 2011 ; Kubzansky et al, 2023 ). Positive academic self-concept is associated with increased satisfaction, reduced negative emotions, and an overall sense of personal fulfillment ( Wu et al, 2021 ; Hatun and Kurtça, 2022 ).…”