Can psychological interventions increase optimism? A meta-analysis

Author(s)
Malouff, John M
Schutte, Nicola
Publication Date
2017
Abstract
Greater optimism is related to better mental and physical health. A number of studies have investigated interventions intended to increase optimism. The aim of this meta-analysis was to consolidate effect sizes found in randomized controlled intervention studies of optimism training and to identify factors that may influence the effect of interventions. Twenty-nine studies, with a total of 3319 participants, met criteria for inclusion in the analysis. A significant meta-analytic effect size, g = .41, indicated that, across studies, interventions increased optimism. Moderator analyses showed that studies had significantly higher effect sizes if they used the Best Possible Self intervention, provided the intervention in person, used an active control, used separate positive and negative expectancy measures rather than a version of the LOT-R, had a final assessment within one day of the end of the intervention, and used completer analyses rather than intention-to-treat analyses. The results indicate that psychological interventions can increase optimism and that various factors may influence effect size.
Citation
The Journal of Positive Psychology, 12(6), p. 594-604
ISSN
1743-9779
1743-9760
Link
Publisher
Routledge
Title
Can psychological interventions increase optimism? A meta-analysis
Type of document
Journal Article
Entity Type
Publication

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