Online Positive Interventions to Promote Well-being and Resilience in the Adolescent Population: A Narrative Review

Numerous studies have shown an alarming prevalence of depression, anxiety, and behavior disorders in youth. Thus, prevention of psychological problems in this population becomes crucial. According to the World Health Organization (1), prevention should also include the promotion and development of the individual’s strengths in order to reduce vulnerability to suffering from mental disorders. In addition, other key elements of prevention are the reach, adoption, implementation, and maintenance of interventions. The information and communication technologies, especially the Internet, have much to offer in terms of the prevention and promotion of positive mental health in adolescents. This paper reviews these fields of research—prevention, positive psychology, Internet, and adolescents—and discusses the potential of positive interventions delivered over the Internet as effective and sustainable health promotion tools. The paper provides a brief description of the systems developed so far and a summary of selected features of the studies detected in the literature review. The overall conclusions are that there is a need for more controlled studies with long-term follow-ups, the interventions should be designed considering the specific features of the target users and the specific contexts where the interventions will be delivered, and they could be enhanced by the use of other technologies, such as smartphones, sensors, or social networks.This study was funded in part by the Excellence in Research Program PROMETEO II (Generalitat Valenciana, Conselleria de Educación, 2013/003) and CIBER of Physiopathology of Obesity Nutrition, an initiative of ISCIII (ISC III CB06 03/0052)

Sistema Mayordomo: la puerta de entrada de nuestros mayores a las nuevas tecnologías

3rd International Conference on the Elderly and New Technologies. III Jornadas Internacionales de Mayores y Nuevas Tecnologías.The population distribution has changed and is set around an increasingly aging population. This population change coincides with the technological revolution taking place in the xxi century, which generates a digital divide that separates old people and empower feelings of isolation, loneliness and sadness. Our team has developed the Mayordomo System. Based on the principles of positive psychology, it’s main objective is to build a bridge between the technological reality of today and an older population that will continue to increase. The mayordomo System, through the use of new technologies, aims to facilitate the construction of protective psychological and social elements of a healthy quality of life. The system has been installed on two Senior Colleges of Valencia (Universitat de València and Universitat Jaume I), a nursing home and a day centre. The aim of this paper is to describe the experience of two users who used our system and analyze the effectiveness of the use of Mayordomo System upon their mood and satisfaction levels. The results show that users increased their mood and levels of satisfaction. Butler is a system that can contribute to improve the welfare of older people by facilitating the construction of protective psychological elements, such as increasing their social network and the development of leisure activities.La distribución demográfica ha cambiado y se configura alrededor de una población cada vez más envejecida. Este cambio poblacional coincide con la revolución tecnológica que se está produciendo en el siglo xxi, la cual genera una brecha digital que separa a las personas mayores y potencia sentimientos de aislamiento, soledad y tristeza. Nuestro equipo ha desarrollado el sistema Mayordomo. Basado en los principios de la psicología positiva, tiene como principal objetivo construir un puente entre la realidad tecnológica de hoy y una población mayor que seguirá en aumento. Mayordomo, a través del uso de las nuevas tecnologías, se dirige a facilitar la construcción de elementos psicológicos y sociales protectores de una calidad de vida saludable. El sistema Mayordomo ha sido instalado en dos universidades de mayores de la Comunidad Valenciana (Universitat de València y Universitat Jaume I), una residencia y un centro de día. El objetivo de este trabajo es describir la experiencia de dos usuarios que utilizaron nuestro sistema y analizar la eficacia de su uso sobre el estado de ánimo y los niveles de satisfacción obtenidos. Los resultados muestran que los usuarios incrementaron su estado de ánimo y niveles de satisfacción. Mayordomo es un sistema que puede contribuir a la mejora del bienestar de las personas mayores, facilitando la construcción de elementos psicológicos protectores, como es el incremento de su red social y el desarrollo de actividades placenteras

Qualitative analysis of the best possible self intervention: underlying mechanisms that influence its efficacy

Background The Best Possible Self is a Positive Psychology Intervention which asks participants to write down about themselves in their best possible future. Previous studies have shown its efficacy to enhance wellbeing, but the mechanisms that underlie its efficacy are still unknown. Objective The aim of this study was to analyze the content of the essays of the BPS intervention and to examine how this content was related to the efficacy of the intervention to increase positive affect. Method Participants (N = 78) were randomized to either the Best Possible Self condition, or one of two variants of the intervention: one''s best self in the present, and one''s best self in the past. Qualitative analyses of the texts were carried out to explore the main themes and features of the essays. Then, a mixed-methods approach with quantitative and qualitative data was followed, in order to analyze the relationship between the content of the texts and the change in positive affect produced by the interventions. Results Significant differences between conditions were found in the content of the compositions. Regression analyses showed that different variables predicted the change in positive affect depending on the condition. Mediation analyses also found differences among conditions. Conclusions These findings suggest that these interventions respond to different underlying mechanisms which influence their efficacy. This study contributed to a better understanding of how Positive Psychology Interventions work, and how to increment their efficacy

EARTH of Well-Being System: A pilot study of an Information and Communication Technology-based positive psychology intervention

The positive technology field combines the objectives of positive psychology with enhancements from information and communication technologies. Following this approach, our team developed the ‘EARTH of Well-Being,’ a system designed to induce positive emotions and reinforce psychological resources through a self-guided positive psychology internet intervention. This paper describes the EARTH system and presents the results of a pilot study that assesses users’ acceptance and perceived usefulness of the system and provides preliminary evidence of its efficacy in providing users with positive experiences. Thirty-eight volunteers used the application in six sessions distributed over two weeks. They reported high levels of acceptability and perceived usefulness. Moreover, participants reported increased positive mood after each session. Overall, results support the future use and investigation of this system as a positive psychology intervention, and suggest that it could be useful for increasing positive mood

Validation of the dutch eating behavior questionnaire for children (DEBQ-C) for use with Spanish children

Introduction: The Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire for children was developed by Van Strien and Oosterveld (2008) to measure three different eating behaviors (emotional eating, restrained eating and external eating); it is an adaptation of the DEBQ for adults. Objective: The purpose of this study is to analyze the psychometric properties of the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire for Children (DEBQ-C) with a Spanish sample. Method: The DEBQ-C was administered to 473 children (240 boys and 233 girls), from 10 to 14 years old. The sample included a Clinical Overweight Group (COG; n = 81) comprising children who were receiving weight loss treatments, a Non Clinical Overweight Group (NCOG, n = 31) comprising children who were overweight but not in treatment, and a Normal Weight Group (NWG, n = 280). Results: Results showed that the DEBQ-C had acceptable internal consistency (a = 0.70). Temporal stability was good for “External Eating” and “Restrained Eating” scales. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the three-factor solution had good fit indices. Furthermore, the clinical overweight participants scored significantly higher on “External Eating” and “Restrained Eating” compared to the normal weight children. Conclusion: The DEBQ-C proved to be an effective instrument for researching children’s eating behaviors.Introducción: El cuestionario holandés de comportamiento alimentario para niños fue desarrollado por Van Strien y Oosterveld (2008) para medir tres conductas diferentes de ingesta (comer emocional, comer restrictivo, y comer externo). Este cuestionario es una adaptación del DEBQpara adultos. Objetivo: El propósito de este estudio es analizar las propiedades psicométricas del Cuestionario Holandés de Comportamiento Alimentario Infantil (DEBQ-C) con una muestra española. Método: El DEBQ-C se administró a un total de 473 niños (240 niños y niñas 233), de 10 a 14 años de edad. La muestra incluye un grupo clínico de niños con sobrepeso (COG, n = 81) que comprende los niños que estaban recibiendo tratamientos de pérdida de peso, un grupo de niños no clínico con sobrepeso (NCOG, n = 31) que comprende los niños que tenían sobrepeso pero que no estaban en tratamiento, y un grupo normopeso (NWG, n = 280). Resultados: Los resultados indican que el DEBQ-C mostró una coherencia interna aceptable (a = 0,70). La estabilidad temporal fue buena para las escalas “comer externo” y “comer restrictivo”. El análisis factorial confirmatorio mostró que la solución de tres factores presenta buenos índices de ajuste. Además, los participantes con sobrepeso clínicos puntuaron significativamente más alto en “comer externo“ y “comer restrictivo” en comparación con los niños de peso normal. Conclusiones: Se demuestra que el DEBQ-C es un instrumento eficaz para la investigación del comportamiento alimentario en niños.CIBERobn is an initiative of ISCIII. This study has been supported in part by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Plan Nacional de Investigación Científica, Desarrollo e Innovación Tecnológica 2008-2011) in the project (PSI2008-04392/PSIC

Understanding Dispositional Hope in General and Clinical Populations

Hope is a positive, future-thinking construct that is highly related to pursuing and achieving our personal goals. Considering its relevance for well-being and psychological adjustment, the purpose of this study is to explore the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Dispositional Hope Scale (DHS) (Snyder et al. in Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 60(4), 570–585, 1991), its relation with important psychological health indicators (depression, hopelessness, optimism, general self-efficacy and quality of life), and examine the possible differences between clinical (CP) and general populations (GP). Sample was composed of 290 volunteers. Measures of hopelessness, depression, optimism, quality of life, self-efficacy, and positive-negative affect were administered. Hope was assessed again 1 month later to collect test-retest data. CFA supports the unidimensional structure. In addition, good internal consistency and test-retest values were found. Further, based on the one-factor model, results revealed that the Spanish DHS has strong factorial invariance across populations (GP and CP). The differences in the hope levels detected between CP and GP appear to be mainly associated with positive affect and depressive symptoms. Results broaden the existing data about the Spanish DHS and support its usefulness not only for research, but also for clinical purposes.This study was funded in part by the Excellence in Research Program PROMETEO II (Generalitat Valenciana. Conselleria de Educación, 2013/003), ‘CIBER of Physiopathology of Obesity Nutrition, an initiative of ISCIII (ISC III CB06 03/0052) and PROMOSAM Excellence in Research Program (PSI2014-56303-REDT). MINECO. Spain

“Lo bueno dura poco”: disminuir las emociones positivas influye en nuestros niveles de optimismo

xxA pesar del creciente interés en la comprensión de las estrategias de regulación emocional (RE) de las emociones positivas y su relación con la salud mental, la relación entre los diferentes estilos de respuesta al afecto positivo y estilos cognitivos como el optimismo aún no se ha probado empíricamente. El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar el efecto de las estrategias para regular emociones positivas (evaluadas por el cuestionario Response to Positive Affect -RPA) sobre el optimismo, y la posible mediación del afecto positivo en esta relación. 250 participantes completaron el cuestionario RPA, medidas de optimismo y afecto positivo, y realizaron un procedimiento de inducción emocional aplicado a través de Internet. Los resultados muestran que el afecto positivo no media la relación entre las estrategias de regulación emocional y los niveles de optimismo. No obstante, disminuir las emociones positivas (“dampening”) fue la única estrategia que predijo los niveles de optimismo después de la inducción. Se señala la necesidad de nuevos estudios con el fin de mejorar la comprensión de los mecanismos implicados en la regulación y el optimismo.

An e-health system for the ederly (Butler Project) : a pilot study on acceptance and satisfaction

The Butler Project is a technological e-health platform that uses the Internet to connect various users; it was designed to deliver health care to the elderly. The Butler platform has three levels of implementation: diagnosis (mood monitoring, alert system, management reports), therapy (training in inducing positive moods, memory work), and entertainment (e-mail, chat, video, photo albums, music, friend forums, accessibility to the Internet). The objective of this work is to describe the psychological aspects of the platform and to present data obtained from four users. Results show that after using the system, the participants increased their positive emotions and decreased their negative ones; in addition, they obtained high levels of satisfaction and experienced little difficulty in using the syste

Psychometric properties of the General Self Efficacy-12 Scale in Spanish: General and clinical population samples

The General Self Efficacy Scale (GSES-12) is a short version of the Sherer’s Self-Efficacy Scale, and evaluates a general dimension and three aspects of self-efficacy: initiative, persistence and effort. The aim of this study is to explore the factorial structure, reliability, and criterion validity of the Spanish adaptation of the GSES-12 in general and clinical populations. The sample was composed of 714 volunteers (332 from the clinical population). Results of the principal components analysis yielded a 3-factor structure that was later confirmed through Confirmatory Factor Analysis. Moreover, this study shows good internal consistency and testretest values, and differences in self-efficacy scores between the clinical and non-clinical groups. The present study demonstrates that the Spanish version of the GSES-12 is a valid and reliable measure, and it adds relevant information to the debate about the dimensional structure of general self-efficacy

Healthy Teens @ School: Evaluating and disseminating transdiagnostic preventive interventions for eating disorders and obesity for adolescents in school settings

Background The worldwide prevalence of overweight and obesity is at alarming levels. Nearly one in three children in Europe is overweight or obese. Disordered eating and body image concerns are equally widespread and increase risk for more chronic and severe weight-related problems. Research has shown that online interventions that address both healthy weight regulation and body image can reduce risk for eating disorders and obesity simultaneously and are feasible to implement in school settings. To date, evaluation and dissemination of such programs in Europe is scant. Methods The Healthy Teens @ School study is a multi-country cluster-randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing the effectiveness of an unguided, online, multi-level intervention for promoting a healthy lifestyle and reducing problematic eating behavior, eating disorder and obesity risk among students aged 14 to 19 years with control condition. As part of the Horizon 2020 funded project ICare (GA No. 634757) the trial is conducted in Austria and Spain. Cluster randomization by school is used. The intervention is an adapted version of an evidence-based program developed in the USA (StayingFit). Participants of the intervention group are assigned to one of two possible program tracks based on the results of the initial online-assessment: Overweight adolescents are assigned to the “Weight Management” track emphasizing balanced eating and exercise for weight maintenance, and all other individuals are assigned to the “Healthy Habits” track which aims at promoting healthy habits related to e.g., nutrition, physical activity, sleep. The participants of both tracks work on ten modules (one 20–30 min module per week) during school hours and/or at home. Assessments are conducted at pre- and post-intervention, and at 6- and 12-months after baseline assessment. The primary outcome is intuitive eating, secondary outcomes are eating disorder symptomatology, body image concerns, body mass index, food intake, physical activity, self-esteem, stress coping, depression, and anxiety. Following the initial assessment, individuals in the control group do not have access to the prevention program but continue as normal and are only prompted to the assessments at all time points. At the end of the 12-month study they will get access to the program. Discussion The results from this study will add to the understanding of how to address eating and weight related problems in adolescents and will shed light on the feasibility of implementing online prevention programs in school routine in Austria and Spain. As part of the larger ICare project this RCT will determine how an adapted version of StayingFit is disseminated within Europe