Preventive interventions have historically focused on reducing risk factors for psychological difficulties. Recent research has found that prevention programs are more effective when they enhance strengths, rather than merely reduce risk factors. An increased focus on strengths is consistent with a positive psychology perspective. In fact, hope has been found to be a central human strength in the positive psychology literature. Hope is associated with better adjustment, lower anxiety, lower depression, greater academic performance, and greater athletic achievement. In addition, individuals with high hope are able to respond more adaptively after traumatic events and physical illnesses. Intervention studies have shown that hope can be increased in individuals, and hope has been shown to predict more positive outcomes in psychotherapy. Future directions for research are outlined, including investigating hope as a preventive intervention for members of stigmatized groups, including ethnic minorities and lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals.
We designed a resilience intervention in the form of a self-help workbook. It was made to address the challenges of being an undocumented student. The workbook includes modules on increasing social support, hope for the future, and emotional openness. In an initial feasibility study, participants reported that the workbook contains valuable information. A second feasibility study that incorporated eight weekly group meetings led to significantly higher ratings regarding the utility of the intervention.
Background
Advances in technology have fueled new opportunities to improve external compensatory devices. The Digital Memory Notebook (DMN) is an iOS tablet application (app) developed in collaboration with older individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to support functional independence. To understand users for whom DMN training was beneficial, we examined data from a pilot clinical trial for factors that influenced sustained use of this compensatory tool.
Method
Twenty‐five participants (M age = 72; M education = 16; 48% female) with MCI learned to use the DMN app in 5‐6 (two‐hour) training sessions delivered within one‐month. Participant use of the DMN app was then monitored through real‐time collection of data usage metrics for an additional three months. Based on app use during the third‐month post‐training, participants were divided into DMN user (N = 13; M daily distinct uses = 4.5) and non‐user (N = 12) groups. Demographics, clinician ratings, baseline clinical measures and DMN usage metrics were all examined.
Result
No group differences emerged in demographics, pre‐morbid ability estimate (High Average), or clinician ratings of motivation, comprehension, insight and competency during training sessions. DMN non‐users exhibited lower scores on standardized measures of global cognitive status (Low Average vs. Average) and memory (Borderline vs. Low Average), and self‐reported poorer everyday memory. DMN usage metrics captured during training revealed no group differences in week one (sessions 1‐2). By week two (session 3), DMN non‐users showed fewer daily distinct uses of the DMN (4 vs. 8). During weeks 3 and 4, DMN non‐users continued to show fewer daily distinct uses as well as fewer interactions with all sections of the app (i.e., calendar, daily event scheduling, notes and journal). Non‐users also demonstrated poorer use of advanced app functions during training (e.g., high priority scheduling, reminder alarms, picture use, prospective memory use).
Conclusion
Individuals with MCI who were actively using the DMN three‐months post‐intervention were less cognitively impaired, demonstrated greater DMN use as early as week two of training, and made use of advanced functions. Next steps include increasing DMN use through early adaptive learning and continued automated booster training.
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