A single-session positive cognitive intervention on first-year students' mental health: Short-term effectiveness and the mediating role of strengths knowledge. Issue 6 (18th August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bu, He; Duan, Wenjie
• Is Part Of: Journal of American college health. Volume 67:Issue 6(2019)
• Page Start: 515
• Page End: 522
• Publication Date: 2019-08-18
• Subjects: Positive psychology intervention -- character strengths -- short-term effectiveness -- strengths knowledge -- mediator; College students -- Health and hygiene -- United States -- Periodicals; College students -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; College students -- Mental health -- Periodicals; Universities and colleges -- Health promotion services -- Periodicals; 362.10883781980973
• DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2018.1497639
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0744-8481

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: To better understand the effectiveness of a single-session positive cognitive intervention and uncover the possible mechanisms.Participants: Participants were 79 first-year students (aged 17–21) who volunteered for the intervention during the 2016 fall semester.Methods: Participants were randomly assigned into the intervention group and the control group. All participants completed pretest, post-test, 1 week, and 3-month follow-up tests. Thriving, negative emotional states, strengths knowledge were assessed.Results: Results showed significant increases of thriving in the intervention group at post-test and after 1 week, and significant decreases of negative emotions at the post-test and after 1 week and 3 months. Strengths knowledge fully mediated the intervention effect on thriving at post-test.Conclusions: The single-session positive cognitive intervention could be a responsive and effective approach to promote first-year students mental health. More attention should be paid to mechanisms of the single-session positive cognitive intervention so as to optimize the effects of the single-session positive cognitive intervention.