Abstract
While developing excellence in knowledge and skills, academic institutions have often overlooked their obligation to instill wellbeing. To address this, we introduced a 14-week positive psychology intervention (PPI) program (Happiness 101) to university students from 39 different nations studying in the United Arab Emirates (N = 159). Students were exposed to 18 different PPIs. Pre, post, and 3-month-post measures were taken assessing hedonic and eudaimonic well-being, and beliefs regarding the fear and fragility of happiness. At the end of the semester, relative to a control group (N = 108), participants exposed to the Happiness 101 program reported higher levels of both hedonic and eudaimonic well-being, and lower levels of fear of happiness and the belief that happiness is fragile. Boosts in life satisfaction and net-positive affect, and reduction of fear of happiness and the belief that happiness is fragile were maintained in the Happiness 101 group 3 months post-intervention.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aaker, J., Rudd, M., & Mogilner, C. (2011). If money does not make you happy, consider time. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 21(2), 126–130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcps.2011.01.004.
Abu-Raiya, H., Pargament, K. I., & Krause, N. (2016). Religion as problem, religion as solution: Religious buffers of the links between religious/spiritual struggles and well-being/mental health. Quality of Life Research: An International Journal of Quality of Life Aspects of Treatment, Care & Rehabilitation, 25(5), 1265–1274. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-015-1163-8.
Agbo, A. A., & Ngwu, C. N. (2017). Aversion to happiness and the experience of happiness: The moderating roles of personality. Personality and Individual Differences, 111, 227–231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2017.02.010.
Aknin, L. B., Barrington-Leigh, C. P., Dunn, E. W., Helliwell, J. F., Biswas-Diener, R., Kemeza, I., et al. (2013). Prosocial spending and well-being: Cross-cultural evidence for a psychological universal. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 104(4), 635–652. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0031578.
Aknin, L. B., & Dunn, E. W. (2013). Spending money on others leads to higher happiness than spending on yourself. In J. F. Froh & A. C. Parks (Eds.), Activities for teaching positive psychology: A guide for instructors (pp. 93–98). Washington, DC: APA. https://doi.org/10.1037/14042-015.
Arnett, J. J. (2008). The neglected 95%: Why American psychology needs to become less American. American Psychologist, 63(7), 602–614. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066x.63.7.602.
Bermant, G., Talwar, C., & Rozin, P. (2011). To celebrate positive psychology and extend its horizons. In K. M. Sheldon, T. B. Kashdan, & M. F. Steger (Eds.), Designing positive psychology: Taking stock and moving forward (pp. 430–438). Oxford: Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195373585.003.0029.
Bernard, M., & Walton, K. (2011). The effect of You Can Do It! Education in six schools on student perceptions of wellbeing, teaching, learning and relationships. Journal of Student Wellbeing, 5, 22–37. https://doi.org/10.21913/jsw.v5i1.679.
Boehm, J. K., & Kubzansky, L. D. (2012). The heart’s content: The association between positive psychological well-being and cardiovascular health. Psychological Bulletin, 138, 655–691. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0027448.
Boehm, J. K., Lyubomirsky, S., & Sheldon, K. M. (2011). A longitudinal experimental study comparing the effectiveness of happiness-enhancing strategies in Anglo Americans and Asian Americans. Cognition and Emotion, 25, 1263–1272. https://doi.org/10.1080/02699931.2010.541227.
Bolier, L., Haverman, M., Westerhof, G. J., Riper, H., Smit, F., & Bohlmeijer, E. (2013). Positive psychology interventions: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies. BMC Public Health, 13, 119. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-13-119.
Brannan, D., Biswas-Diener, R., Mohr, C., Mortazavi, S., & Stein, N. (2013). Friends and family: A cross-cultural investigation of social support and subjective well-being. Journal of Positive Psychology, 8(1), 65–75. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2012.743573.
Broderick, P., & Metz, S. (2009). Learning to BREATHE: A pilot trial of a mindfulness curriculum for adolescents. Advances in School Mental Health Promotion, 2, 35–46. https://doi.org/10.1002/yd.20042/pdf.
Brown, K., Ryan, R., & Creswell, J. (2007). Addressing fundamental questions about mindfulness. Psychological Inquiry, 18, 272–281. https://doi.org/10.1080/10478400701703344.
Brunwasser, S. M., Gillham, J. E., & Kim, E. S. (2009). A meta-analytic review of the Penn Resiliency Program’s effect on depressive symptoms. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 77(6), 1042–1054. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0017671.
Brunzell, T., Stokes, H., & Waters, L. (2016). Trauma informed positive education: Using positive psychology to repair and strengthen vulnerable students. Contemporary School Psychology, 20, 63–83. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40688-015-0070-x.
Bryant, F., & Veroff, J. (2006). Savoring: A new model of positive experience. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
Burton, C., & King, L. (2004). The health benefits of writing about intensely positive experiences. Journal of Research in Personality, 38, 150–163. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0092-6566(03)00058-8.
Burton, C., & King, L. (2009). The health benefits of writing about positive experiences: The role of broadened cognition. Psychology & Health, 24(8), 867–879. https://doi.org/10.1080/08870440801989946.
Carver, C., Scheier, M., & Segerstrom, S. (2010). Optimism. Clinical Psychology Review, 30, 879–889. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2010.01.006.
Christopher, J., & Hickinbottom, S. (2008). Positive psychology, ethnocentrism, and the disguised ideology of individualism. Theory & Psychology, 18(5), 563–589. https://doi.org/10.1177/0959354308093396.
Creed, P. A., Patton, W., & Bartrum, D. (2002). Multidimensional properties of the LOT-R: Effects of optimism and pessimism on career and wellbeing related variables in adolescents. Journal of Career Assessment, 10, 42–61. https://doi.org/10.1177/1069072702010001003.
Creswell, J. D., Welch, W. T., Taylor, S. E., Sherman, D. K., Gruenewald, T. L., & Mann, T. (2005). Affirmation of personal values buffers neuroendocrine and psychological stress responses. Psychological Science, 16, 846–851. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2005.01624.x.
Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1990). Flow: The psychology of optimal experience. New York: Harper & Row.
Diener, E., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The Satisfaction with Life scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49, 71–75. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa4901_13.
Diener, E., Fujita, F., Tay, L., & Biswas-Diener, R. (2012). Purpose, mood, and pleasure in prediction satisfaction judgements. Social Indicators Research, 105, 333–341. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-011-9787-8.
Diener, E., Oishi, S., & Ryan, K. (2013). Universal and cultural differences in the causes and structure of “happiness”—A multilevel review. In C. Keyes (Ed.), Mental well-being: International contributions to the study of positive mental health (pp. 153–176). Dordrecht: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5195-8_8.
Diener, E., Tay, L., & Myers, D. G. (2011). The religion paradox: If religion makes people happy, why are so many dropping out? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 101, 1278–1290. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0024402.
Diener, E., Wirtz, D., Tov, W., Kim-Prieto, C., Choi, D., Oishi, S., et al. (2009). New measures of well-being: Flourishing and positive and negative feelings. Social Indicators Research, 39, 247–266. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-2354-4_12.
Diener, E., Wirtz, D., Tov, W., Kim-Prieto, C., Choi, D., Oishi, S., et al. (2010). New well-being measures: Short scales to assess flourishing and positive and negative feelings. Social Indicators Research, 97, 143–156. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-009-9493-y.
Dillard, A. J., Schiavone, A., & Brown, S. L. (2008). Helping behavior and positive emotions: Implications for health and well-being. In S. J. Lopez (Ed.), Positive psychology: Exploring the best in people, Vol. 2: Capitalizing on emotions experiences. Westport, CT: Praeger/Greenwood.
Duckworth, A., Steen, T., & Seligman, M. (2005). Positive psychology in clinical practice. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 1, 629–651. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.clinpsy.1.102803.144154.
Dunn, E. W., Aknin, L. B., & Norton, M. I. (2008). Spending money on others promotes happiness. Science, 319(5870), 1687–1688. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1150952.
Dunn, E. W., Gilbert, D. T., & Wilson, T. D. (2011). If money doesn’t make you happy then you probably aren’t spending it right. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 21(2), 115–125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcps.2011.02.002.
Durlak, J. A., Weissberg, R. P., Dymnicki, A. B., Taylor, R. D., & Schellinger, K. B. (2011). The impact of enhancing students’ social and emotional learning: A meta-analysis of school-based universal interventions. Child Development, 82(1), 405–432. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2010.01564.x.
Erdogan, B., Bauer, T. N., Truxillo, D. M., & Mansfield, L. R. (2012). Whistle while you work: A review of life satisfaction. Journal of Management, 38, 1038–1083. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206311429379.
Ferguson, Y. L., & Kasser, T. (2013). A teaching tool for disengaging from materialism: The commercial media fast. In J. F. Froh & A. C. Parks (Eds.), Activities for teaching positive psychology: A guide for instructors (pp. 143–148). Washington, DC: APA. https://doi.org/10.1037/14042-023.
Fischer, P., Sauer, A., Vogrincic, C., & Weisweiler, S. (2010). The ancestor effect: Thinking about our genetic origin enhances intellectual performance. European Journal of Social Psychology, 41(1), 11–16. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsp.778.
Fredrickson, B. (2006). The broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions. In M. Csikszentmihalyi & I. Csikszentmihalyi (Eds.), A life worth living: Contributions to positive psychology (pp. 85–103). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Froh, J., Kashdan, T., Ozimkowski, K., & Miller, N. (2009). Who benefits the most from a gratitude intervention in children and adolescents? Examining positive affect as a moderator. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 4, 408–422. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760902992464.
Froh, J., Sefick, W., & Emmons, R. A. (2008). Counting blessings in early adolescents: An experimental study of gratitude and subjective well-being. Journal of School Psychology, 46, 213–233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2007.03.005.
Gable, S. L. (2013). Capitalizing on positive events. In J. F. Froh & A. C. Parks (Eds.), Activities for teaching positive psychology: A guide for instructors (pp. 71–76). Washington, DC: APA. https://doi.org/10.1037/14042-012.
Gable, S., & Reis, H. (2010). Good news! Capitalizing on positive events in an interpersonal context. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 42, 195–257. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0065-2601(10)42004-3.
Gander, F., Proyer, R. T., & Ruch, W. (2016). Positive psychology interventions addressing pleasure, engagement, meaning, positive relationships, and accomplishment increase well-being and ameliorate depressive symptoms: A randomized, placebo-controlled online study. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, Article 686. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00686.
Giacaman, R., Rabaia, Y., Nguyen-Gillham, V., Batniji, R., Punamäki, R. L., & Summerfield, D. (2010). Mental health, social distress and political oppression: The case of the occupied Palestinian territory. Global Public Health, 6(5), 547–559. https://doi.org/10.1080/17441692.2010.528443.
Goudie, R., Mukherjee, S., De Neve, J.-E., Oswald, A. J., & Wu, S. (2012). Happiness as a driver of risk-avoiding behavior. The Centre for Economic Performance, Discussion Paper No. 1126. Retrieved March 17, 2014, from http://cep.lse.ac.uk/pubs/download/dp1126.pdf.
Grant, N., Wardle, J., & Steptoe, A. (2009). The relationship between life satisfaction and health behaviour: A cross-cultural analysis of young adults. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 16, 259–268. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-009-9032-x.
Green, S., Oades, L., & Robinson, P. (2011). Positive education: Creating flourishing students, staff and schools. InPysch, 16–17, April.
Gulamhussein, Q., & Eaton, N. R. (2015). Hijab, religiosity, and psychological wellbeing of Muslim women in the United States. Journal of Muslim Mental Health, 9(2), 25–40. https://doi.org/10.3998/jmmh.10381607.0009.202.
Hardy, J., Hall, C., & Alexander, M. (2001). Exploring self-talk and affective states in sport. Journal of Sports Sciences, 19, 469–475. https://doi.org/10.1080/026404101750238926.
Helgeson, V. S., Reynolds, K. A., & Tomich, P. L. (2006). A meta-analytic review of benefit finding and growth. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 74(5), 797–816. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006x.74.5.797.
Hone, L. C., Jarden, A., & Schofield, G. M. (2015). An evaluation of positive psychology intervention effectiveness trials using the re-aim framework: A practice-friendly review. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 10(4), 303–322. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2014.965267.
Huang, H., & Humphreys, B. R. (2012). Sports participation and happiness: Evidence from US microdata. Journal of Economic Psychology, 33(4), 776–793. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joep.2012.02.007.
Huffman, J. C., DuBois, C. M., Healy, B. C., Boehm, J. K., Kashdan, T. B., Celano, C. M., et al. (2014). Feasibility and utility of positive psychology exercises for suicidal inpatients. General Hospital Psychiatry, 36(1), 88–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2013.10.006.
Huppert, F., & Johnson, D. (2010). A controlled trial of mindfulness training in schools: The importance of practice for an impact on well-being. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 5, 264–274. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439761003794148.
Huta, V., & Waterman, J. (2014). Eudaimonia and its Distinction from hedonia: Developing a classification and terminology for understanding conceptual and operational definitions. Journal of Happiness Studies, 15, 1425–1456. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-013-9485-0.
Johnson, K. J., & Fredrickson, B. L. (2005). “We all look the same to me” Positive emotions eliminate the own-race bias in face recognition. Psychological Science, 16, 875–881. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2005.01631.x.
Joshanloo, M. (2013a). The influence of fear of happiness beliefs on responses to the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Personality and Individual Differences, 54(5), 647–651. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2012.11.011.
Joshanloo, M. (2013b). A comparison of Western and Islamic conceptions of happiness. Journal of Happiness Studies, 14(6), 1857–1874. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-012-9406-7.
Joshanloo, M. (2016). Self-esteem in Iran: Views from antiquity to modern times. Middle East Journal of Positive Psychology, 2(1), 22–41. Retrieved from https://middleeastjournalofpositivepsychology.org/index.php/mejpp/article/view/45.
Joshanloo, M. (2017). Mediators of the relationship between externality of happiness and subjective well-being. Personality and Individual Differences, 119, 147–151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2017.07.017.
Joshanloo, M., Lepshokova, Z. K., Panyusheva, T., Natalia, A., Poon, W. C., Yeung, V. W., et al. (2014). Cross-cultural validation of the fear of happiness scale across 14 national groups. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 45(2), 246–264. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022022113505357.
Joshanloo, M., Park, Y. O., & Park, S. H. (2017). Optimism as the moderator of the relationship between fragility of happiness beliefs and experienced happiness. Personality and Individual Differences, 106, 61–63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2016.10.039.
Joshanloo, M., & Weijers, D. (2013). Aversion to happiness across cultures: A review of where and why people are averse to happiness. Journal of Happiness Studies, 15(3), 717–735. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-013-9489-9.
Joshanloo, M., Weijers, D., Jiang, D.-Y., Han, G., Bae, J., Pang, J., et al. (2015). Fragility of happiness beliefs across 15 national groups. Journal of Happiness Studies, 16, 1185–1210. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-014-9553-0.
Joshanloo, M., Wissing, M. P., Khumalo, I. P., & Lamers, S. M. A. (2013). Measurement invariance of the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF) across three cultural groups. Personality and Individual Differences, 55(7), 755–759. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2013.06.002.
Judge, T. A., Piccolo, R. F., Podsakoff, N. P., Shaw, J. C., & Rich, B. L. (2010). The relationship between pay and job satisfaction: A meta-analysis of the literature. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 77, 157–167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2010.04.002.
Kahler, C. W., Spillane, N. S., Day, A., Clerkin, E. M., Parks, A., Leventhal, A. M., et al. (2014). Positive psychotherapy for smoking cessation: Treatment development, feasibility, and preliminary results. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 9, 19–29. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2013.826716.
Kashdan, T. B., Biswas-Diener, R., & King, L. A. (2008). Reconsidering happiness: The costs of distinguishing between hedonics and eudaimonia. Journal of Positive Psychology, 3, 219–233. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760802303044.
Kashdan, T. B., & Nezlek, J. B. (2012). Whether, when, and how is spirituality related to well-being? Moving beyond single occasion questionnaires to understanding daily process. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 38, 1526–1538. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167212454549.
Kern, M. L., Waters, L. E., Adler, A., & White, M. A. (2015). A multidimensional approach to measuring well-being in students: Application of the PERMA framework. Journal of Positive Psychology, 10(3), 262–271. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2014.93696.
Keyes, C. L. M. (2002). The mental health continuum: From languishing to flourishing in life. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 43, 207–222.
Keyes, C. L. M. (2005). Mental illness and/or mental health? Investigating axioms of the complete state model of health. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 73, 539–548. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006x.73.3.539.
Keyes, C. L. M. (2009). Atlanta: Brief description of the Mental Health Continuum Short Form (MHC-SF). Retrieved from http://www.sociology.emory.edu/ckeyes/.
Keyes, C. L. M., & Annas, J. (2009). Feeling good and functioning well: Distinctive concepts in ancient philosophy and contemporary science. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 4, 197–201. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760902844228.
Khumalo, I. P., Temane, Q. M., & Wissing, M. P. (2012). Socio-demographic variables, general psychological well-being and the Mental Health Continuum in an African context. Social Indicators Research, 105, 419–442. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-010-9777-2.
Kok, B., Catalino, L., & Fredrickson, B. L. (2008). The broadening, building, buffering effects of positive emotions. In S. J. Lopez (Ed.), Positive psychology: Exploring the best of people (Vol. 3, pp. 1–19). Westport, CT: Greenwood.
Kurtz, J. L., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2013). Using mindful photography to increase positive emotion and appreciation. In J. F. Froh & A. C. Parks (Eds.), Activities for teaching positive psychology: A guide for instructors (pp. 133–136). Washington, DC: APA. https://doi.org/10.1037/14042-021.
Lambert, L. (2012). Happiness 101: A how-to guide in positive psychology for people who are depressed, languishing, or flourishing (The facilitator guide). Bloomington, IN: Xlibris Corporation.
Lambert, L. (2016). A new year, a new you: 52 strategies for a happier life! CreateSpace Independent Publishing: Amazon Publishing. Retrieved from https://www.amazon.com/New-Year-You-Strategies-Happier/dp/1543062326.
Lambert D’raven, L., Moliver, N., & Thompson, D. (2015). Happiness intervention decreases pain and depression and boosts happiness among primary care patients. Primary Health Care Research & Development, 16(2), 114–126. https://doi.org/10.1017/s146342361300056x.
Lambert D’raven, L., & Pasha-Zaidi, N. (2014a). Positive psychology interventions: A review for counselling practitioners. Canadian Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy/Revue Canadienne de Counseling et de Psychothérapie, 48(4), 383–408. Retrieved from http://cjc-rcc.ucalgary.ca/cjc/index.php/rcc/article/view/2720.
Lambert D’raven, L., & Pasha-Zaidi, N. (2014b). Happiness strategies among Arab university students in the United Arab Emirates. The Journal of Happiness and Well-Being, 2(1), 1–15. Retrieved from http://www.journalofhappiness.net/volume/volume-2-issue-1.
Lambert, L., Pasha-Zaidi, N., Passmore, H.-A., & York Al-Karam, C. (2015). Developing an indigenous positive psychology in the United Arab Emirates. Middle East Journal of Positive Psychology, 1(1), 1–23. Retrieved from https://middleeastjournalofpositivepsychology.org/index.php/mejpp/article/view/24.
Lambert, L., Passmore, H.-A., & Holder, M. D. (2015b). Foundational frameworks of positive psychology: Mapping well-being orientations. Canadian Psychology/Psychologie canadienne, 56, 311–321.
Lamers, S. M. A., Glas, C. A. W., Westerhof, G. J., & Bohlmeijer, E. T. (2012). Longitudinal evaluation of the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF). European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 28, 290–296. https://doi.org/10.1027/1015-5759/a000109.
Larsen, R. J., & Eid, M. (2008). Ed Diener and the science of subjective well-being. In M. Eid & R. J. Larsen (Eds.), The science of subjective well-being (pp. 1–16). New York: The Guilford Press.
Lount, J. R. B. (2010). The impact of positive mood on trust in interpersonal and intergroup interactions. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 98, 420–433. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0017344.
Lyubomirsky, S. (2011). Hedonic adaptation to positive and negative experiences. In S. Folkman (Ed.), Oxford handbook of stress, health, and coping (pp. 200–224). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Lyubomirsky, S., Dickerhoof, R., Boehm, J. K., & Sheldon, K. M. (2011). Becoming happier takes both a will and a proper way: An experimental longitudinal intervention to boost well-being. Emotion, 11, 391–402. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0022575.
Lyubomirsky, S., King, L. A., & Diener, E. (2005a). The benefits of frequent positive affect: Does happiness lead to success? Psychological Bulletin, 131, 803–855. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.131.6.803.
Lyubomirsky, S., Sheldon, K. M., & Schkade, D. (2005b). Pursuing happiness: The architecture of sustainable change. Review of General Psychology, 9(2), 111–131. https://doi.org/10.1037/1089-2680.9.2.111.
Lyubomirsky, S., & Tkach, C. (2003). The consequences of dysphoric rumination. In C. Papageorgiou & A. Wells (Eds.), Rumination: nature, theory, and treatment of negative thinking in depression (pp. 21–41). Chichester: Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470713853.ch2.
Magyar-Moe, J. L., Owens, R. L., & Conoley, C. W. (2015). Positive psychology interventions in counseling: What every counseling psychologist should know. The Counseling Psychologist, 43, 508–557. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011000015573776.
Mills, M. J., Fleck, C. R., & Kozikowski, A. (2013). Positive psychology at work: A conceptual review, state-of-practice assessment, and a look ahead. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 8(2), 153–164. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2013.776622.
Neault, R. A. (2002). Thriving in the new millennium: Career management in the changing world of work. Canadian Journal of Career Development, 1(1), 11–21. Retrieved from http://cjcdonline.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Thriving-in-the-New-Millennium.pdf.
Nelson, D. W. (2009). Feeling good and open-minded: The impact of positive affect on cross cultural empathic responding. Journal of Positive Psychology, 4, 53–63. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760802357859.
Norrish, J. M., Williams, P., O’Connor, M., & Robinson, J. (2013). An applied framework for positive education. International Journal of Wellbeing, 3(2), 147–161. https://doi.org/10.5502/ijw.v3i2.2.
Oades, L. G., Robinson, P., Green, S., & Spence, G. B. (2011). Towards a positive university. Journal of Positive Psychology, 6(6), 432–439. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2011.634828.
Park, N., & Peterson, C. (2008). Positive psychology and character strengths: Application to strengths-based school counseling. Professional School Counseling, 12, 85–92. https://doi.org/10.5330/psc.n.2010-12.85.
Parveen, S., Sandilya, G., & Shafiq, M. (2014). Religiosity and mental health among Muslim youth. Indian Journal of Health & Wellbeing, 5(3), 316. Retrieved from https://www.myresearchjournals.com/index.php/IJHW/article/view/507.
Passmore, H.-A., Howell, A. J., & Holder, M. J. (2017). Positioning implicit theories of well-being within a positivity framework. Journal of Happiness Studies. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-017-9934-2.
Pavot, W., & Diener, E. (1993). Review of the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Psychological Assessment, 5, 164–172. https://doi.org/10.1037/1040-3590.5.2.164.
Pavot, W., & Diener, E. (2008). The Satisfaction with Life Scale and the emerging construct of life satisfaction. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 3, 137–152. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760701756946.
Plante, T. G., Valleys, C. L., Sherman, A. C., & Wallson, K. A. (2002). The development of a Brief Version of the Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith Questionnaire. Pastoral Psychology, 50(5), 359–368. https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1014413720710.
Priller, E., & Schupp, J. (2011). Social and economic characteristics of financial and blood donors in Germany. DIW Economic Bulletin, 6, 23–30. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10419/57691.
Rao, M. A., Donaldson, S. I., & Doiron, K. M. (2015). Positive psychology research in the Middle East and North Africa. Middle East Journal of Positive Psychology, 1(1), 60–76. Retrieved from https://middleeastjournalofpositivepsychology.org/index.php/mejpp/article/view/33.
Rashid, T. (2015). Positive psychotherapy: A strength-based approach. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 10(1), 25–40. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2014.920411.
Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2001). On happiness and human potentials: A review of research on hedonic and eudaimonic well-being. Annual Review of Psychology, 52, 141–166. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.52.1.141.
Ryan, R. M., Huta, V., & Deci, E. L. (2008). Living well: A self-determination theory perspective on eudaimonia. Journal of Happiness Studies, 9, 139–170.
Sahraian, A., Gholami, A., Javadpour, A., & Omidvar, B. (2013). Association between religiosity and happiness among a group of Muslim undergraduate students. Journal of Religion and Health, 52(2), 450–453. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-011-9484-6.
Seligman, M. E. P. (2011). Flourish: A visionary new understanding of happiness and well-being. New York, NY: Free Press.
Seligman, M. E. P., Ernst, R., Gillham, J., Reivich, K., & Linkins, M. (2009). Positive education: Positive psychology and classroom interventions. Oxford Review of Education, 35(3), 293–311. https://doi.org/10.1080/03054980902934563.
Seligman, M. E. P., Steen, T., Park, N., & Peterson, C. (2005). Positive psychology progress: Empirical validation of interventions. American Psychologist, 60(5), 410–421. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066x.60.5.410.
Shapira, L. B., & Mongrain, M. (2010). The benefits of self-compassion and optimism exercises for individuals vulnerable to depression. Journal of Positive Psychology, 5, 377–389. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2010.516763.
Sheldon, K. M., Abad, N., Ferguson, Y., Gunz, A., Houser-Marko, L., Nichols, C. P., et al. (2010). Persistent pursuit of need-satisfying goals leads to increased happiness: A 6-month experimental longitudinal study. Motivation and Emotion, 34, 39–48. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-009-9153-1.
Sheldon, K. M., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2006). How to increase and sustain positive emotion: the effects of expressing gratitude and visualizing best possible selves. Journal of Positive Psychology, 1, 73–82. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760500510676.
Shoshani, A., & Steinmetz, S. (2014). Positive psychology at school: A school-based intervention to promote adolescents’ mental health and well-being. Journal of Happiness Studies, 15(6), 1289–1311. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-013-9476-1.
Sin, N., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2009). Enhancing well-being and alleviating depressive symptoms with positive psychology interventions: A practice-friendly meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 65, 467–487. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.20593.
Suldo, S., Thalji, A., & Ferron, J. (2011). Longitudinal academic outcomes predicted by early adolescents’ subjective well-being, psychopathology, and mental health status yielded from a dual factor model. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 6(1), 17–30. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2010.536774.
Tajdin, M. (2015). مفهوم السعادة في الفكر الإسلامي الوسيط: من الفلسفة إلى الدين (The concept of happiness in medieval Islamic thought: From philosophy to religion). Middle East Journal of Positive Psychology, 1(1), 36–44. Retrieved from https://middleeastjournalofpositivepsychology.org/index.php/mejpp/article/view/28.
Tay, L., Li, M., Myers, D., & Diener, E. (2014). Religiosity and subjective well-being: An international perspective. In C. Kim-Prieto (Ed.), Religion and spirituality across cultures (pp. 163–175). New York: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8950-9_9.
Thomas, J., Mutawa, M., Furber, S. W., & Grey, I. (2016). Religiosity: Reducing depressive symptoms amongst Muslim females in the United Arab Emirates. Middle East Journal of Positive Psychology, 2(1), 9–21. Retrieved from https://middleeastjournalofpositivepsychology.org/index.php/mejpp/article/view/41.
Waterman, A., Schwartz, S., Zamboanga, B. Y., Robert, R., Williams, M., Bede Agocha, V., et al. (2010). The Questionnaire for Eudaimonic Well-Being: Psychometric properties, demographic comparisons, and evidence of validity. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 5(1), 41–61. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760903435208.
Waters, L. (2011). A review of school-based positive psychology interventions. The Australian Educational and Developmental Psychologist, 28(2), 75–90. https://doi.org/10.1375/aedp.28.2.75.
Watkins, P. C., Sparrow, A., & Webber, A. C. (2013). Taking care of business with gratitude. In J. F. Froh & A. C. Parks (Eds.), Activities for teaching positive psychology: A guide for instructors (pp. 119–128). Washington, DC: APA. https://doi.org/10.1037/14042-019.
Weiss, L. A., Westerhof, G. J., & Bohlmeijer, E. T. (2016). Can we increase psychological well-being? The effects of interventions on psychological well-being: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. PLoS ONE, 11(6), e0158092. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0158092.
White, M. A. (2016). Why won’t it stick? Positive psychology and positive education. Psychology of Well-Being, 6, 2. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13612-016-0039-1.
White, M. A., & Waters, L. E. (2015). A case study of ‘The Good School:’ Examples of the use of Peterson’s strengths-based approach with students. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 10(1), 69–76. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2014.920408.
Wong, P. T. P. (2011). Positive psychology 2.0: Towards a balanced interactive model of the good life. Canadian Psychology, 52(2), 69–81. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0022511.
Wong, P. T. P. (2013). Cross-cultural positive psychology. In K. Keith (Ed.), Encyclopedia of cross-cultural psychology. Oxford: Wiley Blackwell Publishers. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118339893.wbeccp426.
Zemojtel-Piotrowska, M., Piotrowska, J. P., Osin, E. N., Cieciuch, J., Adams, B. G., Ardi, R., et al. (2018). The mental health continuum-short form: The structure and application for cross-cultural studies—A 38 nation study. Journal of Clinical Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.22570.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lambert, L., Passmore, HA. & Joshanloo, M. A Positive Psychology Intervention Program in a Culturally-Diverse University: Boosting Happiness and Reducing Fear. J Happiness Stud 20, 1141–1162 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-018-9993-z
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-018-9993-z