Published in

Springer, Journal of Happiness Studies, 7(23), p. 3655-3689, 2022

DOI: 10.1007/s10902-022-00545-y

Links

Tools

Export citation

Search in Google Scholar

The effects of psychological interventions on well-being measured with the Mental Health Continuum: a meta-analysis

Journal article published in 2022 by Jannis Kraiss ORCID, Kleinjan Redelinghuys, Laura A. Weiss ORCID
This paper was not found in any repository, but could be made available legally by the author.
This paper was not found in any repository, but could be made available legally by the author.

Full text: Unavailable

Green circle
Preprint: archiving allowed
Orange circle
Postprint: archiving restricted
Red circle
Published version: archiving forbidden
Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

AbstractThe last decades experienced a rapid growth in the number of studies examining the effects of psychological interventions on well-being, yet well-being is often conceptualized and measured in different ways in these studies. Previous meta-analyses included studies with a plethora of different well-being instruments, which provides an ambiguous picture of the effectiveness. Furthermore, prior meta-analyses mainly included specific types of psychological interventions. The goal of the current study was to synthesize the effectiveness of psychological interventions in improving well-being as measured with one consistent and comprehensive well-being instrument, the Mental Health Continuum (MHC). The literature was searched for RCTs examining the effect of psychological interventions in both clinical and non-clinical populations that used the MHC as outcome. 46 RCTs (N = 7,618) and 64 comparisons were analyzed using 3-level meta-analysis models. When compared with non-active control groups, small significant effects were found for total well-being at posttest (β = 0.25), and for the subscales emotional (β = 0.27), social (β = 0.25), and psychological well-being (β = 0.30). Effects were smaller but still significant at follow-up. Subgroup analyses yielded significantly stronger effects for guided compared with non-guided interventions and for studies with good quality. Effects were similar for clinical and non-clinical populations and specific types of interventions. Mindfulness and ACT interventions significantly improved well-being. These findings suggest that psychological interventions can improve well-being, and that different interventions have the potential to improve well-being. Effects also seem to be independent of other factors, including delivery mode, format or target group.