What Factors are Associated with Flourishing? Results from a Large Representative National Sample

Flourishing is the ultimate end-state in psychology and a key-concept in the field of positive psychology research. Flourishers are those individuals with both high levels of hedonic well-being and eudaimonic well-being. Although many researchers have focused on one or another of these domains, only a few have investigated the comprehensive state of flourishing. The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of flourishing and its association with socio-demographics, personality traits and situational factors. This study used data from the second wave of the Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study-2 (NEMESIS-2), a national representative sample of adults in The Netherlands (n = 5303; 2010–2012). Findings were compared to having either high hedonic well-being or high eudaimonic well-being. Results showed that 37 % of the respondents were flourishers, mainly characterized by high levels of conscientiousness and extraversion and low levels of neuroticism. The situational factors of social support and positive life-events were significantly associated with flourishing when the analysis was controlled for socio-demographics and personality traits. Flourishing was most distinct from high hedonic well-being and showed parallelism with high eudaimonic well-being. More research is needed to establish a preferred flourishing instrument with validated cut-off points for flourishing and to understand the processes of situational factors that may underlie the promotion of flourishing. We recommend longitudinal designs and experience sampling studies to investigate the unique and modifiable predictors of flourishing. In addition, future research should include intervention studies that examine through which hedonic and eudaimonic pathways flourishing can be achieve

Positive psychology of Malaysian students: impacts of engagement, motivation, self-compassion and wellbeing on mental health

Malaysia plays a key role in education of the Asia Pacific, expanding its scholarly output rapidly. However, mental health of Malaysian students is challenging, and their help-seeking is low because of stigma. This study explored the relationships between mental health and positive psychological constructs (academic engagement, motivation, self-compassion, and wellbeing), and evaluated the relative contribution of each positive psychological construct to mental health in Malaysian students. An opportunity sample of 153 students completed the measures regarding these constructs. Correlation, regression, and mediation analyses were conducted. Engagement, amotivation, self-compassion, and wellbeing were associated with, and predicted large variance in mental health. Self-compassion was the strongest independent predictor of mental health among all the positive psychological constructs. Findings can imply the strong links between mental health and positive psychology, especially selfcompassion. Moreover, intervention studies to examine the effects of self-compassion training on mental health of Malaysian students appear to be warranted.N/

Datasets for What emotions to encourage? International Journal of Applied Positive Psychology, 2023

Growing evidence shows that positive psychology interventions (PPIs) are able to enhance positive emotions. However, less is known about the specific role of high and low arousal positive emotions within such interventions. The goal of the current study is to examine the effect of different types of PPIs on high and low arousal emotions and to explore whether high and low arousal positive emotions serve as mediators for the intervention effects on mental well-being. Post-hoc tests of three formerly published randomized controlled trials were conducted in comparison with waitlist control: (1) a multicomponent PPI (N = 275), (2) a comprehensive gratitude intervention (N = 144), and (3) an acts of kindness intervention (N = 216). Findings showed that the multicomponent PPI improved low arousal emotions, while the gratitude intervention marginally improved high arousal positive emotions. The acts of kindness intervention was not more effective in improving positive emotions compared to waitlist control. Similar conclusions could be drawn from the mediation analyses, yielding most pronounced results for low arousal positive emotions mediating the effect of the multicomponent PPI on mental well-being. The current study provides first evidence that the upward spiral of positive emotions might depend on the type of PPI and its impact on high and in particular low arousal positive emotions

Tien jaar monitor GGZ-preventie: Inzichten en vraagstukken: Ontwikkelingen in organisatie, capaciteit, financiering en bereik

The organizational characteristics and capacity of preventive mental health care, the financing structure for prevention activities as well as the participation rates, have been investigated by the Dutch ’Monitor Aard en Omvang GGZpreventie’. This article outlines developments between 2000 and 2010 in preventive mental health care. The results of ten years of monitoring were verified in interviews with two professionals. The three main developments were the rise of extensive mental health institutes after mergers, the transference of ’AWBZ’ to financing by health insurance companies and local authorities, and an increase in interventions and participation rates. The participation rates of preventive interventions increased from 13.008 participants in 2006 to 26.968 participants in 2010 (participants of online interventions not included). Most progress was made for the themes depression, anxiety, volunteer aid and ’Children of parents with psychiatric disorders’. Nevertheless, prevention is under pressure at the moment. Interventions that used to be carried out by specialist mental health institutes are now expected to be conducted in primary health care. A strong position in the latter, as well as self management and resilience, and E-health are opportunities for the future. A follow-up of the monitor is needed with attention for (cost) effectiveness of mental health prevention

What Do the Bereaved by Suicide Communicate in Online Support Groups? A Content Analysis.

Background: Every year, more than six million people lose a loved one through suicide. These bereaved by suicide are at relatively high risk for mental illnesses including suicide. The social stigma attached to suicide often makes it difficult to talk about grief. Participating in online forums may be beneficial for the bereaved by suicide, but it is unknown what they communicate in these forums. Aims: What do the bereaved by suicide communicate in online forums? We examined which self-help mechanisms, grief reactions, and experiences with health-care services they shared online. Method: We conducted a content analysis of 1,250 messages from 165 members of two Dutch language forums for the bereaved by suicide. Results: We found that sharing personal experiences featured most prominently in the messages, often with emotional expressions of grief. Other frequently used self-help mechanisms were expressions of support or empathy, providing advice, and universality (recognition), while experiences with health-care services featured only occasionally. Compared with previous studies about online forums for somatic illnesses, the bereaved by suicide communicated more personal experiences and engaged much less in chitchat. Conclusion: Online forums appear to have relevant additional value as a platform for talking about grief and finding support. © 2013 Hogrefe Publishing