Surviving and Thriving: Evaluations of Three Interventions Fostering Well Being and Growth in the Face of Adversity

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dc.contributor.advisorMartin E. Seligman
dc.contributor.authorRoepke, Ann Marie
dc.date2023-05-17T16:10:50.000
dc.date.accessioned2023-05-22T16:52:41Z
dc.date.available2019-07-20T00:00:00Z
dc.date.copyright2016-11-29T00:00:00-08:00
dc.date.issued2016-01-01
dc.date.submitted2016-11-29T13:00:08-08:00
dc.description.abstractIt is easy to imagine how positive psychology (the science of human flourishing) applies to people who are already doing well and wish to do better. It is less obvious how to apply positive psychology in negative contexts: Can positive psychology concepts and strategies help people flourish in the face of mental illness, trauma, and loss? The current investigation presents findings from three randomized trials of interventions informed by positive and clinical psychology, which aim to help people survive and thrive in the face of highly challenging circumstances: depression, mixed traumatic and adverse events, and bereavement. Chapter 1 summarizes the findings of a randomized controlled trial evaluating a smartphone-based/web-based application (app) that integrates clinical and positive psychology strategies with game mechanics in order to alleviate depression symptoms. Results indicated that the app reduced symptoms of depression (in comparison to a waiting list control) and that there were no significant differences between two versions of the app. Chapter 2 summarizes the findings of a randomized controlled trial evaluating an online writing-based intervention aimed at fostering posttraumatic growth (PTG) after adverse events. This intervention, called prospective writing, prompts participants to seek new doors opening in their lives in the wake of loss and trauma. Results indicated that prospective writing fostered PTG for people with recent and long-ago trauma/loss, and mediation analyses suggested that attending to new possibilities was indeed the mechanism for this change. Chapter 3 describes the creation and initial testing of a group-format psychosocial intervention aimed at fostering PTG. Acceptability and feasibility analyses of the data (from an ongoing randomized trial) indicated that bereaved adult participants found this intervention helpful, engaging, inoffensive, and not overly upsetting; that they appreciated diverse intervention modules; and that they would recommend the intervention to other bereaved people. Collectively, these findings underscore the usefulness of positive psychology in negative contexts and suggest further research into intervention strategies that can help suffering people to not only survive but also thrive in the wake of adversity.
dc.description.degreeDoctor of Philosophy (PhD)
dc.format.extent138 p.
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.urihttps://repository.upenn.edu/handle/20.500.14332/28850
dc.languageen
dc.legacy.articleid3768
dc.legacy.fulltexturlhttps://repository.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3768&context=edissertations&unstamped=1
dc.provenanceReceived from ProQuest
dc.rightsAnn Marie Roepke
dc.source.issue1982
dc.source.journalPublicly Accessible Penn Dissertations
dc.source.statuspublished
dc.subject.othermobile applications
dc.subject.otherpositive interventions
dc.subject.otherpositive psychology
dc.subject.otherposttraumatic growth
dc.subject.otherwell-being
dc.subject.otherPsychology
dc.titleSurviving and Thriving: Evaluations of Three Interventions Fostering Well Being and Growth in the Face of Adversity
dc.typeDissertation/Thesis
digcom.contributor.authorisAuthorOfPublication|email:annroepke@gmail.com|institution:University of Pennsylvania|Roepke, Ann Marie
digcom.date.embargo2019-07-20T00:00:00-07:00
digcom.identifieredissertations/1982
digcom.identifier.contextkey9424848
digcom.identifier.submissionpathedissertations/1982
digcom.typedissertation
dspace.entity.typePublication
relation.isAuthorOfPublication08457841-8bc7-4aac-9ea3-c36316afd2ca
relation.isAuthorOfPublication.latestForDiscovery08457841-8bc7-4aac-9ea3-c36316afd2ca
upenn.graduate.groupPsychology
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