Review of Positive Psychology Applications in Clinical Medical Populations

MACASKILL, Ann (2016). Review of Positive Psychology Applications in Clinical Medical Populations. HealthCare, 4 (3), p. 66.

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Official URL: http://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/4/3/66
Link to published version:: https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare4030066

Abstract

This review examines the application of positive psychology concepts in physical health care contexts. Positive psychology aims to promote well-being in the general population. Studies identifying character strengths associated with well-being in healthy populations are numerous. Such strengths have been classified and Positive Psychology Interventions (PPIs) created to develop these strengths further in individuals. Positive psychology research is increasingly being undertaken in health care contexts. The review identified that most of this research involves measuring character strengths and their association with health outcomes in patients with a range of different conditions, similar to the position in positive psychology research on non-clinical populations. More recently, PPIs are beginning to be applied to clinical populations with physical health problems and this research although relatively scare is reviewed here for cancer, coronary heart disease, and diabetes. In common with PPIs being evaluated in the general population, high quality studies are scarce. Applying PPIs to patients with serious health conditions presents significant challenges to health psychologists. They must ensure that patients are dealt with appropriately and ethically, given that exaggerated claims for PPIs are made on the internet quite frequently. This is discussed along with the need for more high quality research. Keywords; positive psychology interventions; cardiovascular disease; cancer; diabetes; character strengths; health assets; review

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: Published in the Special Issue "Health Psychology in Healthcare Settings"
Research Institute, Centre or Group - Does NOT include content added after October 2018: Psychology Research Group
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare4030066
Page Range: p. 66
Depositing User: Hilary Ridgway
Date Deposited: 08 Sep 2016 11:00
Last Modified: 18 Mar 2021 07:00
URI: https://shura.shu.ac.uk/id/eprint/13382

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