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J Happiness Stud (2015) 16:1736
DOI 10.1007/s10902-013-9492-1
RESEARCH PAPER
Shelley L. Kerr Analise ODonovan Christopher A. Pepping
Published online: 19 January 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014
Abstract Grounded in Fredricksons (Rev Gen Psychol 2(3):300319, 1998) broaden and build model of positive emotions, the current study examines the efcacy of 2-week self-administered gratitude and kindness interventions within a clinical sample on a waiting-list for outpatient psychological treatment. Results demonstrate that we can reliably cultivate the emotional experiences of gratitude but not kindness in this brief period. Further, both the gratitude and kindness interventions built a sense of connectedness, enhanced satisfaction with daily life, optimism, and reduced anxiety compared to a placebo condition. These brief interventions did not impact on more overarching constructs, including general psychological functioning and meaning in life. These ndings demonstrate that gratitude and kindness have a place in clinical practice; not just as end states, but as emotional experiences that can stimulate constructive change. Further, these strategies can serve as useful pre-treatment interventions that may reduce the negative impact of long waiting times before psychological treatment.
Keywords Gratitude Kindness Interventions Treatment
Clinical sample Broaden and build
Positive psychological interventions have much to offer the eld of clinical psychology (Duckworth et al. 2005; Lyubomirsky and Layous 2013; Wood and Tarrier 2010). Recent
S. L. Kerr A. ODonovan (&) C. A. Pepping
School of Applied Psychology, Grifth University, 176 Messines Ridge Road, Mt Gravatt, Brisbane, QLD 4122, Australiae-mail: [email protected]
A. ODonovan C. A. Pepping
Grifth Health Institute, Grifth University, Gold Coast, Australia
A. ODonovan C. A. Pepping
Behavioral Basis of Health, Grifth University, Brisbane, Australia
Can Gratitude and Kindness Interventions Enhance Well-Being in a Clinical Sample?
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research indicates that even very brief self-administered positive psychological interventions can have benecial outcomes for clinical samples (Layous et al. 2012; Mitchell et al. 2010). A signicant problem for clinical psychology is the difculties caused to clients by the need to wait unaided before they can access treatment. The aim of the present study was therefore to evaluate the efcacy of brief self-administered positive psychological interventions in a clinical sample on a waiting list to receive psychotherapy. Participants completed either a gratitude intervention, a kindness intervention, or a mood-monitoring placebo control...