Integrating positive psychology into health-related quality of life

research

Author: Crystal L. ParkProfessor: Soe-Tsyr YuanPresenter: Sally Wang

Proper NounO Positive psychology (PP)O Health-related quality of life (HRQOL)O Quality of life (QOL)

O IntroductionO Current integration of PP and HRQOLO Advancing the integration of PP in

HRQOL researchO Clinical applications

IntroductionO review the ways in which PP and

HRQOL currently interface and to suggest fruitful future directions.

O Review the basic elements of PP and provides an overview of conceptual and empirical links between PP and HRQOL.

Physical PsychologyO using psychological theory, research,

and intervention techniques to understand the positive, adaptive, creative, and emotionally fulfilling aspects of human behavior.

O the scientific study of the qualities and conditions that permit humans to live a life worthwhile

Seligman’s model of flourishing

Happiness Well-being

Flourishing

O involve feeling good, happy, and satisfied; specific positive emotions include pleasure, rapture, ecstasy, warmth, and comfort.

Positive Emotions

EngagementO involves being completely absorbed

in activities, experiencing the sense of flow [6].

RelationshipsO refer to being authentically

connected to other people.

MeaningO involves a sense that one’s existence

is purposeful; although meaning is often framed within religion or spirituality, it does not have to be [7].

AchievementO Achievement in the PERMA model

refers to a sense of accomplishment and success in one’s pursuits.

PP influence

PsychologyBehavioral medicineSociologyPublic health(?)HRQOL

relatively unintegrated

O The authorO describe how PP and HRQOL research

currently interfaceO highlight the role of one central

aspect of PP (meaning) within HRQOLO address some of the unresolved

conceptual issues in integrating PP into QOL research.

Research But in

Positive emotions

Copious

Engagement Little

Relationship Copious Satisfaction & social support

Meaning For humanistic and existential, psychologist

Achievement Little Work produtivity

HRQOL

Meaning is centralO So central to PP and underlies the

other pillarsO Relationship and achievement are

based on significant to the individualO Positive emotions and engagement

are lead to flourishing only in the context of meaningful pursuit

O Achievement linked with purpose and pursuit of important goals, which are elements of meaning in life

Meaning DefinitionO people feel that their lives matter

are understandable and have a transcendent purpose or mission

O Three componentsO CognitiveO MotivationalO Evaluative/Emotional

Cognitive ComponentO A sense of coherence or

comprehension of the world and one’s place in it

Motivational Component

O a sense of purpose or goal directedness.

Evaluative/Emotional Component

O in terms of perceiving that one’s life matters and is somehow significant in the broader scheme of the universe

Meaning in life and HRQOL

O Myriad studies have reported that a higher sense of meaning in life is associated with. higher levels of physical and mental health and HRQOL

O ( a lot of example in p.3)O As important as a sense of meaning in life

appears to be for everyday well-being, it may be particularly important to people when they are facing sickness or disability and thus may be especially critical for HRQOL.

Meaning influences HRQOL through multiple pathways

Health BehaviorsO people with a deeper sense of

meaning in life tend to adopt more beneficial health behaviors.

O People with more reasons for living and more satisfying life purposes may more strongly desire to keep on living

Meaning influences HRQOL through multiple pathways

Physiological ProcessesO meaning in life may also affect

physical health directly through several different physiological processes.

O For example, higher levels of meaning in life were related toO Better autonomic nervous system

functioningO Lower mean heart rateO More successful immune functioning

Meaning influences HRQOL through multiple pathways

CopingO meaning in life may influence health

and HRQOL involves its coping and stress-buffering functions.

O Coping has been shown to be very helpful in improving the mental and physical well-being of people dealing with many types of health problems, including cancer [45] and HIV

Advancing the integration of PP in HRQOL research

O Lack of conceptual clarity currently limits research progress.

O flourishing is a conceptually useful concept but remains too operationally fuzzy to be useful in advancing research

O Another thorny conceptual issue is O someone will experience a desired

state such as flourishing or happinessO Or the PERMA pillars themselves

Clinical ApplicationO One promising approach taken by positive

psychologists is to assess and then build on individuals’ strengths, and will lead to the experiencing of 5 PERMA even flourishing.

O the most widely used set of interventions derived from positive psychology are those focused on gratitude.O contemplating their blessingsO making gratitude lists or diaries…..

O Still little clinical research from a PP perspective

O Understanding more about how to help people to successfully pursue PERMA elements may indeed lead to increases in flourishing and, presumably, in the context of health or medical conditions, HRQOL as well.

BTWO PERMA model is a very popular

model and its author professor Seligman also is one of the leaders in PP.