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The Impact of Positive Psychological Interventions on Well-Being in Healthy Elderly People

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Abstract

This systematic review aims to evaluate the impact of positive psychological interventions (PPIs) on well-being in healthy older adults. Systematic review of PPIs obtained from three electronic databases (PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science) was undertaken. Inclusion criteria were: that they were positive psychology intervention, included measurement of well-being, participants were aged over 60 years, and the studies were in English. The cochrane collaboration Guidelines dimensions of quality control, randomization, comparability, follow-up rate, dropout, blinding assessors are used to rate the quality of studies by two reviewers independently. The reach, efficacy, adoption, implementation, and maintenance (RE-AIM) for evaluation of PPIs effectiveness was also applied. The final review included eight articles, each describing a positive psychological intervention study. The reminiscence interventions were the most prevalent type of PPIs to promote and maintain well-being in later life. Only two studies were rated as high quality, four were of moderate-quality and two were of low-quality. Overall results indicated that efficacy criteria (89 %), reach criteria (85 %), adoption criteria (73 %), implementation criteria (67 %), and maintenance criteria (4 %) across a variety of RE-AIM dimensions. Directions for future positive psychological research related to RE-AIM, and implications for decision-making, are described.

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Acknowledgments

This study was financially supported by the Thailand Research Fund through the Royal Golden Jubilee Ph.D. Program (Grant No. PHD/0002/2556).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Behavioral Science Research Institute (BSRI), Srinakharinwirot University, 114, Sukhumvit Soi 23 Road, Klongtoey Nua, Wattana District, Bangkok, 10110, Thailand

    Pitchada Sutipan & Ungsinun Intarakamhang

  2. Psychology Research Group, Sheffield Hallam University, Unit 8 Science Park, Sheffield, S1 2 WB, UK

    Ann Macaskill

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  1. Pitchada Sutipan
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  2. Ungsinun Intarakamhang
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  3. Ann Macaskill
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Correspondence to Pitchada Sutipan.

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Table 2 The evaluation of selected studies reporting on RE-AIM framework
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Sutipan, P., Intarakamhang, U. & Macaskill, A. The Impact of Positive Psychological Interventions on Well-Being in Healthy Elderly People. J Happiness Stud 18, 269–291 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-015-9711-z

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