The Effectiveness of Savouring Interventions in Adult Clinical Populations: A Systematic Review

Abstract

A narrative systematic review evaluating the evidence base of savouring interventions was conducted. Savouring interventions were defined as interventions in which participants were instructed to engage in processes to regulate, intensify or strengthen positive emotions and experiences, whether they be past, present or future focused. Relevant studies were identified via PsycINFO, Pubmed, CINAHL, Scopus, Google Scholar and through a manual search of the literature. Only studies which adopted a randomised controlled design and evaluated the efficacy of savouring interventions in adult clinical populations were included in the review. Of the 1,054 articles identified through searches, nine studies were included in the final systematic review. Data were extracted from these nine studies involving over 900 participants from mental and physical health clinical populations from seven countries. Four different type of savouring interventions are described: life review, reminiscence, Three-Good-Things and one multicomponent savouring intervention. These specific interventions promoted some positive changes amongst participants, such as increasing levels of well-being and reducing levels of depression and anxiety. Both individuals with mental and physical health difficulties appeared to benefit. However, when comparing the results of these interventions against outcomes gained by participants in no intervention or active control groups, the efficacy of these interventions appears relatively weak. The low quality of included studies and the disparity of the format, delivery mode and methodological characteristics of studies may limit the generalisability of these findings. However, results from this systematic review do highlight the therapeutic potential of savouring interventions amongst clinical samples.