The Efficacy of Multi-component Positive Psychology Interventions: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Abstract

Recently, we see a sharp increase in the number of multi-component positive psychology interventions (MPPIs). The aim of the current study is to examine the efficacy of MPPIs, through a systematic review and meta-analysis. We included 50 randomized controlled trials that were published in 51 articles between 1998 and August 2018. We found standardized mean differences of Hedges' g = 0.34 for subjective well-being, Hedges' g = 0.39 for psychological well-being, indicating small to moderate effects, and Hedges' g = 0.29 for depression, and Hedges' g = 0.35 for anxiety and stress, indicating small effects. Removing outliers led to a considerable decrease in effect sizes for subjective well-being and depression, a slight decrease for psychological well-being, and a strong increase in the effect size for stress. Removing low quality studies led to a considerable decrease in the effect sizes for subjective well-being, psychological well-being, and depression, and a slight decrease for anxiety, but a strong increase for stress. Moderator analyses only showed a significant effect for study quality, showing larger effect sizes for low quality studies compared to studies of moderate and high quality. In addition, a larger effect size for anxiety was found in studies from non-Western countries compared to studies from Western countries. In sum, this systematic review and meta-analysis found evidence for the efficacy of MPPIs in improving mental health. We conclude that MPPIs have a small effect on subjective wellbeing and depression, and a small to moderate effect on psychological well-being. In addition, they may have a small to moderate effect on anxiety and a moderate effect on stress, but definite conclusions of the effects of MPPIs on these outcomes cannot me made due to the limited number of studies. Further well-conducted research among diverse populations is necessary to strengthen claims on the efficacy of MPPIs.

Effects of a Community‐Based Multicomponent Positive Psychology Intervention on Mental Health of Rural Adults in Ghana

“…Although previous well-being interventions have reported similar large effects (e.g. Afonso et al, 2011;Green et al, 2006;Hendriks et al, 2019;Page & Vella-Brodrick, 2013;Rashid, 2014;Schotanus-Dijkstra et al, 2016;Stein et al, 2013), the participants in these studies were largely drawn from high-income, urban, and more individualistic-oriented Western settings.…”

Will Happiness-Trainings Make Us Happier? A Research Synthesis Using an Online Findings-Archive

“…Multicomponent PPIs have a small to moderate effect on subjective well-being (Hedges' g = +0.34), but again, the authors were not very specific on the subjective well-being measures they included. The removal of outliers or low-quality studies lowered the effect on well-being (g = + 0.24 without outliers, g = +0.26 for high-quality studies) (Hendriks et al, 2019). The modest FIGURE 1 | Four Qualities of Life.…”

Resilience and well-being in the Caribbean: Findings from a randomized controlled trial of a culturally adapted multi-component positive psychology intervention

“…Single component intervention studies usually consist of one positive psychology activity or focus on a single domain, for example studies on the effects of gratitude interventions or forgiveness therapy. Multi-component positive psychology interventions (MPPIs) are interventions that contain a variety of evidence-based individual exercises and that target two or more theoretically relevant hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing components, conducted within an integral program (Hendriks et al, 2019). Several models and theories have recently been introduced that attempt to explain how PPIs can contribute to increased well-being.…”