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Self-determination and Positive Psychology Interventions: An Extension of the Positive Activity Model in the Context of Unemployment

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Theoretical Approaches to Multi-Cultural Positive Psychological Interventions

Abstract

Positive psychological interventions (PPIs) are approaches, methods, and intentional activities that cultivate positive behaviours, cognitions, and emotions. PPI’s are proven to be effective and valuable, also to complement traditional interventions. Nevertheless, they are largely ignored in the context of unemployment. This chapter first contends that PPIs should be developed for and implemented in the unemployment context. PPIs are warranted in this context because they may facilitate the well-being—and therefore also indirectly alleviate the suffering—of a vulnerable population. Second, we argue that the effectiveness of PPIs can be enhanced by using theoretical frameworks, such as the self-determination theory (SDT). As an influential motivational theory, SDT provides a comprehensive framework for the mechanisms (i.e. basic psychological need satisfaction) through which well-being can be enabled. Satisfaction of the needs for autonomy, competence and relatedness could therefore serve as key foci of PPIs, but they may also provide guidance on how PPIs can be implemented to facilitate client adherence, engagement, and intervention outcomes. This chapter aims to theorise on the use of SDT and basic psychological need satisfaction to inform the content and delivery of PPIs. In doing so, the chapter contributes to the limited literature incorporating SDT principles into PPI interventions, in general, but also more specifically in the unemployment context.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    “A composite moderate and statistically significant effect size (Cohen’s d) was observed for subjective well-being d = 0.34 (95% CI [0.22, 0.45], p < .01). For psychological well-being, Cohen’s d was 0.20 (95% CI [0.09, 0.30], p < .01) and for depression d = 0.23 (95% CI [0.09, 0.38], p < .01), which can be considered as small. For those studies examining effects from three to six months (short-term follow-up), the random-effects model demonstrated small but significant effects in comparison with the control groups for subjective well-being (Cohen’s d 0.22, 95% CI [0.05, 0.38], p < .01) and for psychological well-being (0.16, 95% CI [0.02, 0.30], p = .03). The effect was not significant for depression (0.17, 95% CI [−0.06, 0.39], p = .15)” (Bolier et al., 2013, p. 11).

  2. 2.

    In order to be classified as a psychological need, a need must consistently promote psychological growth, internalisation, and well-being across different cultures—beyond the variance explained by other proposed needs (Deci & Ryan, 2000). Thus far, empirical research provided evidence for the essential role of the three needs for autonomy, competence and relatedness (Sheldon, Elliot, Kim, & Kasser, 2001; Van den Broeck et al. 2016).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Optentia Research Focus Area, North-West University, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa

    Leoni van der Vaart & Anja Van den Broeck

  2. Department of Work and Organization Studies, Faculty of Economics and Business, KU, Leuven, Belgium

    Leoni van der Vaart & Anja Van den Broeck

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  1. Leoni van der Vaart
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  2. Anja Van den Broeck
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Correspondence to Leoni van der Vaart .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Industrial Engineering and Innovation Sciences, Human Performance Management Group, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Noord-Brabant, The Netherlands

    Llewellyn Ellardus Van Zyl

  2. Optentia Research Focus Area, North-West University Vaal Triangle Campus, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa

    Sebastiaan Rothmann Sr.

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van der Vaart, L., Van den Broeck, A. (2019). Self-determination and Positive Psychology Interventions: An Extension of the Positive Activity Model in the Context of Unemployment. In: Van Zyl, L., Rothmann Sr., S. (eds) Theoretical Approaches to Multi-Cultural Positive Psychological Interventions. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-20583-6_3

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