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Modification of Affective Trajectory in a Positive Psychology Intervention
Author(s) -
Congard Anne,
Andreotti Eva,
Dauvier Bruno,
Le Vigouroux Sarah,
Antoine Pascal
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
applied psychology: health and well‐being
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.276
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 1758-0854
pISSN - 1758-0846
DOI - 10.1111/aphw.12206
Subject(s) - experience sampling method , valence (chemistry) , psychological intervention , psychology , positive psychology , intervention (counseling) , affect (linguistics) , clinical psychology , developmental psychology , psychotherapist , social psychology , psychiatry , communication , chemistry , organic chemistry
Enhancing positive affect (PA) and reducing negative affect (NA) are targets of positive psychology interventions, and well‐being and positive functioning are core elements of mental health. However, the underlying temporal dynamics of these elements are unknown. This study aimed at identifying how a 42‐day daily positive psychology intervention (PPI) impacts affective longitudinal dynamics compared to a control condition. This study employed an experience sampling method (self‐observation diary including the Measurement of Affectivity: Valence/Activation scale, MAVA) with two non‐randomised groups—a control group ( n = 43) and an intervention group ( n = 43)—taken from a community sample. Compared to the control participants, the PPI participants’ trajectories for activated and deactivated NA showed an important decrease over the course of the PPI. The deactivated PA trajectory increased non‐linearly across the PPI, whereas the activated PA trajectory showed a linear increase. This study suggests that PPIs change daily affective life.