Adolescents' Reflections on Their Happiness Malleability Beliefs Following a Positive Psychology Intervention

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Abstract

This paper focuses on middle school students’ happiness malleability beliefs and perceived outcomes after completing a school-based multicomponent positive psychology intervention, the Well-Being Promotion Program (WBPP, Suldo, 2016). The WBPP is a 10-week Tier 2 program designed to evoke positive emotions about the past, present, and future. Individual qualitative exit interviews were conducted with 60 participants across two years/cohorts enrolled in a larger ongoing randomized controlled trial evaluating the WBPP's effectiveness as a Tier 2 support. Preliminary findings using reflexive thematic analysis of 30 interviews indicated that most students reported beliefs that happiness is something that can be changed and perceived positive program outcomes. Implications for how happiness malleability beliefs can be fostered in a positive psychology intervention will be discussed.

Authors

• Aileen Kangavary, University of South Florida

• Sarah Kiefer, University of South Florida

• Sarah A. Fefer, University of Massachusetts - Amherst

• Shannon M. Suldo, University of South Florida

• John M. Ferron, University of South Florida