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What Is the Optimal Way to Deliver a Positive Activity Intervention? The Case of Writing About One’s Best Possible Selves

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  • Kristin Layous
  • S. Katherine Nelson
  • Sonja Lyubomirsky

Abstract

A 4-week-long experiment examined the effects of a positive activity intervention in which students wrote about their “best possible selves” (BPS) once a week. We manipulated two factors that might affect the success of the happiness-increasing activity—whether the positive activity was administered online versus in-person and whether the participant read a persuasive peer testimonial before completing the activity. Our results indicated that the BPS activity significantly boosted positive affect and flow and marginally increased feelings of relatedness. No differences were found between participants who completed the positive activity online versus in-person. However, students who read a testimonial extolling the virtues of the BPS activity showed larger gains in well-being than those who read neutral information or completed a control task. The results lend legitimacy to online self-administered happiness-increasing activities and highlight the importance of participants’ beliefs in the efficacy of such activities for optimum results. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2013

Suggested Citation

  • Kristin Layous & S. Katherine Nelson & Sonja Lyubomirsky, 2013. "What Is the Optimal Way to Deliver a Positive Activity Intervention? The Case of Writing About One’s Best Possible Selves," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 14(2), pages 635-654, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:14:y:2013:i:2:p:635-654
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-012-9346-2
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    1. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi & Jeremy Hunter, 2003. "Happiness in Everyday Life: The Uses of Experience Sampling," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 4(2), pages 185-199, June.
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    1. Milena M. Grishutina & Vasily Yu. Kostenko, 2021. "Variety Of Possible Selves: The Role Of Agency And Empirical Evidence Review," HSE Working papers WP BRP 126/PSY/2021, National Research University Higher School of Economics.
    2. John Coffey & Laura Wray-Lake & Debra Mashek & Brittany Branand, 2016. "A Multi-Study Examination of Well-Being Theory in College and Community Samples," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 187-211, February.
    3. Lukasz Kaczmarek & Jolanta Enko & Małgorzata Awdziejczyk & Natalia Hoffmann & Natalia Białobrzeska & Przemysław Mielniczuk & Stephan Dombrowski, 2016. "Would You Be Happier If You Looked Better? A Focusing Illusion," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 357-365, February.
    4. Johannes Bodo Heekerens & Kathrin Heinitz, 2019. "Looking Forward: The Effect of the Best-Possible-Self Intervention on Thriving Through Relative Intrinsic Goal Pursuits," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 20(5), pages 1379-1395, June.
    5. Valesca Y. Tobias & Marianne Woerkom & Maria Christina Meyers & Piety Runhaar & Arnold B. Bakker, 2023. "Thriving on Strengths: Effects of a Strengths Intervention for Younger and Older Teachers," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 1121-1144, March.
    6. Riches, Brian R. & Benavides, Celina M. & Dubon, Valeska X., 2020. "Development of a fostering purpose intervention," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    7. Schippers, M.C., 2017. "IKIGAI: Reflection on Life Goals Optimizes Performance and Happiness," ERIM Inaugural Address Series Research in Management EIA-2017-070-LIS, Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM), ERIM is the joint research institute of the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University and the Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) at Erasmus University Rotterdam..
    8. Erin M. Fekete & Nathan T. Deichert, 2022. "A Brief Gratitude Writing Intervention Decreased Stress and Negative Affect During the COVID-19 Pandemic," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(6), pages 2427-2448, August.
    9. Meera Padhy & Kavya Chelli & Ruth Angiel Padiri, 2015. "Optimism and Psychological Well-Being of Police Officers With Different Work Experiences," SAGE Open, , vol. 5(2), pages 21582440155, April.
    10. Maike Neuhaus & Tarli Young & Laura J. Ferris & Charlotte L. M. Grimmel & Natasha Reid, 2022. "A Narrative Review of Peer-Led Positive Psychology Interventions: Current Evidence, Potential, and Future Directions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-15, June.
    11. Bond, Sue & van Breda, Adrian, 2018. "Interaction between possible selves and the resilience of care-leavers in South Africa," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 88-95.
    12. Weiwei Wang & Yan Sun & Yong Chen & Ya Bu & Gen Li, 2022. "Health Effects of Happiness in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-15, May.
    13. Alba Carrillo & Ernestina Etchemendy & Rosa M. Baños, 2021. "My Best Self in the Past, Present or Future: Results of Two Randomized Controlled Trials," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 955-980, February.
    14. Penfornis, Kristell M. & Gebhardt, Winifred A. & Rippe, Ralph C.A. & Van Laar, Colette & van den Putte, Bas & Meijer, Eline, 2023. "My future-self has (not) quit smoking: An experimental study into the effect of a future-self intervention on smoking-related self-identity constructs," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 320(C).
    15. Kate Sweeny & Kyla Rankin & Xiaorong Cheng & Lulu Hou & Fangfang Long & Yao Meng & Lilian Azer & Renlai Zhou & Weiwei Zhang, 2020. "Flow in the time of COVID-19: Findings from China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(11), pages 1-12, November.
    16. Alba Carrillo & María Rubio-Aparicio & Guadalupe Molinari & Ángel Enrique & Julio Sánchez-Meca & Rosa M Baños, 2019. "Effects of the Best Possible Self intervention: A systematic review and meta-analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(9), pages 1-23, September.
    17. Robert Hurling & Peter Murray & Cyrena Tomlin & Alannah Warner & Joy Wilkinson & Godfrey York & P. Alex Linley & Helen Dovey & Rebecca A. Hogan & John Maltby & Timothy T. C. So, 2016. "Short Tips Delivered “in the Moment†Can Boost Positive Emotion," International Journal of Psychological Studies, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 9(1), pages 1-88, March.
    18. Paula M Loveday & Geoff P Lovell & Christian M Jones, 2018. "The Best Possible Selves Intervention: A Review of the Literature to Evaluate Efficacy and Guide Future Research," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 19(2), pages 607-628, February.
    19. Steinert, Janina Isabel & Cluver, Lucie Dale & Meinck, Franziska & Doubt, Jenny & Vollmer, Sebastian, 2018. "Household economic strengthening through financial and psychosocial programming: Evidence from a field experiment in South Africa," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 443-466.

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