PSYC20036 Applied positive psychology Essay Sample
Task Description
In Assessment 1, you will choose an applied real-world setting (e.g., the workplace, older persons’ residential care, a school) or group (e.g., example, new mothers, people experiencing illness) and detail in an essay the implementation of a positive psychology intervention – for example, gratitude practice, increasing self-compassion, mindfulness – in that setting or for that group.
You will examine in your essay contextual factors involved in implementing the intervention and ways to measure and document change in participants and the setting in which the intervention is applied.
Choosing a Positive Psychology Intervention
The chosen intervention should be one that is considered to be a positive psychology intervention. Several authors offer guidance on deciding whether an exercise of intervention is a positive psychology intervention (e.g., Boiler et al., 2013; Chakhssi et al., 2018; Chowdhury, 2019; Hendriks et al., 2020; Sin & Lyubomirsky, 2009).
Positive psychology interventions tend to be those:
• That are based on positive psychology theories or concepts.
• That focus on increasing positive thoughts, feelings, or behaviours, rather than focusing on addressing deficits, problems, symptoms, or disorders.
• Where the intended outcome is to improve wellbeing and/or related concepts such as happiness, life satisfaction, and flourishing.
Remember that wellbeing or flourishing are multidimensional. If we use PERMA as an example, higher wellbeing or flourishing includes factors such as experiencing positive emotions, engagement, satisfying relationships, deriving meaning in life, and accomplishing goals. Some interventions may predominantly focus on one aspect of wellbeing (e.g., increasing positive emotions), whilst others will address multiple (e.g., increasing positive emotions and addressing relationships). You can choose an intervention that is more specific or one that attempts to address multiple aspects of wellbeing.
Some of the positive psychology interventions/exercises/activities that you will be familiar with or may have used include:
• mindfulness
• gratitude
• self-compassion, compassion, or empathy
• optimism and hope based interventions
• character strengths building
• meaning based interventions/exercises
• savouring
You may focus your essay on a set of interventions, such as considering self- compassion or gratitude interventions as a whole, or you can focus on a particular intervention – for example, a particular self-compassion exercise (e.g., writing a letter to oneself) or a particular gratitude exercise (e.g., gratitude letter). If you choose a specific intervention/exercise, ensure that there have been studies evaluating that intervention/exercise.
As a starting point to find a positive psychology intervention for your essay, we recommend you look through:
• Positive psychology textbooks (e.g., recommended books in the unit or books through the CQU Library Catalogue)
• The weekly materials and readings
• Positive psychology websites (e.g., PositivePsychology.com)
• The homepages of positive psychology researchers or their lists of publications (e.g., by searching for the researcher in Google Scholar).
Your Essay
In your essay, you will consider:
• Why is this intervention a good fit for your target audience and setting?
• What is the evidence (literature) to support the efficacy of the chosen intervention?
• What type of research design might you use to assess the efficacy of the intervention and to evaluate change
• How would you administer the intervention? Use literature to consider factors such as length of intervention, types of exercises implemented, and types of participants included.
• Are there any practical issues you need to consider when implementing the intervention in your chosen setting?
• What might be some considerations when implementing the intervention with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples?
Remember that your essay should also have:
• an Introduction outlining your topic and the main issues that will be covered.
• a Conclusion summarising the main points of the essay and leaving the audience with final things to consider.
Solution
Introduction
Prisons are highly stressful environments due to which mental health risks are higher among prisoners as compared to the general population (Davies et al., 2021). Thus, rehabilitation programs must consider both physical and psychological factors to optimize success. One of the most significant positive psychological interventions is mindfulness. In the following discussion, the role of mindfulness interventions in improving the mental health conditions of young prisoners will be elaborated. In this regard, suitable literature support and research design will be identified. Moreover, how the intervention should be administered or modified will also be explained with the help of previous research on the topic. Moreover, as Aboriginal people are a culturally sensitive group, required modifications in the program will also be evaluated for university assignment help.
Role of Mindfulness in Addressing the Issues Faced by Young Prisoners
Prisons play a stronger role in correcting the behaviors of the prisoners for the betterment of society. However, a potential risk due to mental illness the correctional setting cannot perform well. The prisoners who are mentally affected may feel that they are in less optimal social situations. This can lead them to commit further crimes and return to jail. In this regard, Ifeagwazi et al., (2020), argued that higher attention needs to be provided to the mental health needs of prisoners so that their quality of life and overall health can be improved. This can reduce the chances of re-offending and jailbreak. Ifeagwazi et al., (2020), also identify that somatic symptom disorder is a highly common mental disorder among prisoners. This impacts various other conditions of physical and mental health that lead to conversion disorder and illness anxiety disorder. In somatic symptom disorder, people started to strongly focus on their physical symptoms which leads to high anxiety and distress. In this regard, mindfulness interventions are identified to be very successful in improving mental health outcomes among prisoners due to their link to acknowledging internal experiences such as cognitions and emotions. Davies et al., (2021), have argued that through mindfulness attention can be regulated to foster an accepting and open attitude among prisoners. The article identified that the main benefit of this intervention is that 75% of prisoners start appraising situations to be less stressful. In a similar article of Carmo et al., (2024), it has been identified that mindfulness-based interventions provide positive psychological and physical health benefits to the prisoners. The study showed that self-esteem is higher among the group that participated in the intervention as compared to the control group outside the program. Attention capacity and body awareness increase after the program among the prisoners including describing, observing and non-reacting capacities. On the other hand, the control group did not show any changes between pre and post-intervention situations in these capacities. The program has also positively affected the coping capability of the participants with anxiety and stress and reduced judgment and depressive symptoms (Carmo et al., 2024). Thus, the ability of prisoners to handle stress in the prisons increases which strongly improves their quality of life. Thus, it is a good fit for the targeted audience and setting.
Literature Support
Many articles have provided strong evidence to support mindfulness interventions in prison settings. In this regard, Ifeagwazi et al., (2020) conducted a study on Nigerian prisoners using a 15-item Mindfulness Awareness Attention Scale (MAAS) to assess the major traits of the intervention. The study shows that prisoners who are continuously engaged in mindfulness activities such as meditation are more likely to report somatic complaints. The article also reported that with one unit rise in dispositional mindfulness, somatic complaints among young prisoners reduced by 0.21 units. Prisoners who were meditating during the study also developed higher self-awareness that positively reinforced their quality of life. Pankovics & Martinovic, (2024), also conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of meditation-based interventions in prisons. Behavioral-specific mindfulness meditation-based interventions (MMBI) trends were evaluated among the prisoners. The main statistical trend identified in this meta-analysis is that the effect of mindfulness intervention is significant in reducing recidivism (p <0.01) and substance use (p <0.05). In this regard, Pankovics & Martinovic, (2024), argued that most of the rehabilitation programs in prison are focused on socialization improvements, behavioral interventions and educational programs with a tendency to psychological development. This restricts the offenders from developing empathy, mental balance and physical wellness effectively which reduces the rehabilitation quality of the prisoner. On the other hand, rehabilitation programs that include mindfulness programs enable the prisoners to become more self-aware and self-regulated with a higher ability to maintain healthy coping strategies (Pankovics & Martinovic, 2024). In another mixed method study by Turner et al., (2022), it was identified that mindfulness activities in the prisons increase enthusiasm among the prisoners. Most of the participants enjoy the interventions which are different from their usual prison routines. The study was conducted in the prisons of England and Wales. The prisoners reported significant development in their health along with withdrawal from substance use, becoming more relaxed and calm, sleeping better and showing self-development. However, Turner et al., (2022), identified that the evaluation process of the effectiveness of such programs is efficient. Moreover, participants are not provided with the option to choose their preferred programs. Most of the time the programs are implemented by prison officers. Apart from that, due to a lack of resources and motivated prison staff, strong results are also not observed in many prisons.
Research Design
Qualitative design is the most suitable for assessing the efficacy of the intervention and evaluation of the change. Interviews and focus groups can be implemented to offer a comprehensive assessment. The data obtained from these methods are more suitable to be analyzed with a thematic analysis process which helps acknowledge changing trends and patterns in the data (McGeechan et al., 2019). In the study of Maroney et al., (2021), a similar design was implemented while assessing the impact of mindfulness interventions on prisoners. An 8 week mindfulness-based cognitive program was implemented in the prison environment where each session ran for 2.5 hours. In the initial stage, participants were interviewed for an hour and a half which enabled the researchers to identify current stressors for the prisoners that impact their behavior. Moreover, their family history, background, health considerations, forensic history and employment histories were identified to understand why they are attracted to the mindfulness course. The intervention included meditation, body scans and mindful movement. At the end of the program, participants were interviewed again to understand the benefits of the intervention. The interview process has high validity as it can provide insights regarding the changes among prisoners from the start to the end of the program. The impact of stressors can be demonstrated in both stages. In this regard, Maroney et al., (2021), also reported that not only the chaos and stress of the prison regime was better managed through the program but also other prisoners became interested in the process as they were experiencing common problems such as depression, stress and loneliness. Moreover, as compared to quantitative methods such as surveys, interviews are more suitable for understanding people’s experiences and complex psychological phenomena comprehensively (Dunwoodie, Macaulay & Newman, 2023). Thus, the reliability of interview findings is higher for the chosen setting. Moreover, the quality of the intervention will be measured by asking pre-identified questions during the interview. This may include “Were you satisfied with the materials used during the intervention?” or “How often did you practice the mindfulness methods between each session?”. Similarly, the outcome of the intervention will be assessed by asking questions to the participants such as “Did you observe any improvement after participating in the program?” or “Do you have any stressors that are not cured even after this program?”. Bouw et al., (2019), have implemented similar change assessment measures in their study to evaluate whether the mindfulness programs achieved their aim or not. The implication was highly successful which can enhance the reliability and validity of the findings in similar settings.
Administering The Intervention
Various factors need to be considered while implementing mindfulness-based interventions in the prison environment such as length of intervention, type of participants and type of exercises. The length of the intervention is highly important to be determined effectively to align it with the prison rules such as the restrictive schedule of inmates. In most cases, prisoners have very little time to participate in additional activities. However, Carmo et al., (2024), identified a 90-minute session to be suitable for improving the mental health of the prisoners. A total of 15-20 sessions will be appropriate for engaging the young prisoners in the program and enabling them to understand current ways of practicing the activities. A comprehensive approach to MBCT and MBSR is suitable to ensure the overall development of a prisoner's mental health. This can include the development of mindfulness skills through group interaction, discussion and practices. As addressed by Carmo et al., (2024), a range of mindfulness meditation exercises can be included such as yoga, sitting meditation, body scan and mindfulness walking. Every session can be started by yoga practices followed by meditative practices. Moreover, at the end of each session, feedback must be collected from the participants where they can discuss emotional experiences and physical sensations observed during the session. Apart from that, the sessions need to be conducted under the supervision of a skilled and licensed MBCT instructor who has enough access to resources. However, any prisoner who has a high risk of violence as compared to others needs to be excluded from the program. In the study conducted by Maroney et al., (2021), violent and psychotic prisoners were excluded from the MBCT course along with those who were actively traveling with issues of ongoing intoxication and drug use. This exclusion is necessary to avoid the risk of breaching prison protocols. Apart from that, informed consent should be taken from the prisoners to ensure they have the right to decide whether to participate in the program or not. Moreover, similar to the article of Bouw et al., (2019), to help them make an informed decision, necessary information will be provided such as the type of exercises, the aim of the program and what benefits they can potentially obtain from the program. Apart from that, during the previous and post-interview sessions of the program, participants will be assured of anonymity so that they can explain their experiences more effectively.
Modification of Intervention
Mindfulness programs are already implemented in various prisons across the world. However, as identified in the literature, most of the programs do not follow formal evaluation processes along with not providing any systematic choice to the prisoners to participate in the program. This is the major practical issue in the implementation process as it reduces the positive results of the practice. Thus, as aligned with the recommendations of Turner et al., (2022), a thorough and systematic evaluation is needed to be ensured by prison staff which is beneficial for young prisoners as well as cost-effective. Moreover, desired well-being outcomes also need to be implemented before the programme to evaluate its efficacy accurately. This will incorporate data about drug taking, recidivism, violence and self-harm. In this regard, the use of a few scales can also enhance the evaluation process of mindfulness interventions. As mentioned by Bartels, Oxman & Hopkins, (2019), mindfulness interventions in prisons do not include appropriate scales to evaluate outcomes effectively. Thus, the articles proposed DASS-21 that can be considered while implementing the program which comprises three 7-item self-report scales. Through this, the improvement in depressive, anxious and stressful conditions among participants can be better measured throughout the program. These scales also have internal consistency which is beneficial for tracking relevant changes. Bartels, Oxman & Hopkins, (2019), also proposed DERS which is a 36-item scale that is suitable for self-reporting emotional management. Due to its high internal consistency, DERS can be used to evaluate achievements of goal-directed behaviors among prisoners such as impulse control and the ability to regulate emotions which have a strong impact on their mental well-being.
Practical Issues To Be Considered for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
Cultural appropriateness is the main consideration while implementing the intervention for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. The people have distinctive cultures influenced by their own beliefs, values and worldviews. Thus, it is necessary to identify whether Western treatment frameworks in mindfulness interventions are culturally appropriate for these people or not. In this regard, Ponturo & Kilcullen, (2021), argued that culturally competent clinicians need to be included in the program who have awareness, understanding and knowledge about the indigenous people to implement the most suitable mindfulness activities in the prisons. Similarly, in the article of Treasury (2021), it is identified that the emotional and social well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are associated with their cultural, spiritual and community identity. In this regard, traditional practices will be suitable such as mindful listening of stories related to land and other natural features. Moreover, building partnerships with culturally competent organizations is viewed to be efficient in supporting program delivery. Through this, the mentors can ensure all the considered practices align with the cultural beliefs of the Aboriginal people to obtain a positive outcome. Treasury (2021), has also stated that while implementing any program for people in the group, guidance needs to be obtained from cultural advisors so that designing and implementation can be done effectively. Apart from that, as mentioned by Quigley et al., (2021), community consultation is also necessary so that justified goals can be made which are within the scope rather than just ticking the boxes without any significant results. Another necessary modification can be to implement the intervention in small group settings. Through this, a strong sense of community can be developed among the prisoners to stay more engaged in the process. Moreover, an adaptive and flexible approach can be implemented where participants will provide feedback after each session (Quigley et al., 2021). Through this, the needs of the participants can be better identified. Qualitative interview processes can be efficient to successfully evaluate the results. However, while working with this culturally sensitive group, respectful evaluation needs to be implemented to understand their experiences more accurately.
Conclusion
From the above analysis, it can be concluded that the role of mindfulness interventions in improving the mental health of young prisoners is very significant. Through this, the chances of re-offending and jailbreak are reduced along with better management of stress and anxiety among the targeted audience. Self-esteem and awareness are considerably increased after this intervention among prisoners which is helpful for them to stay less anxious and stressed in the environment. The literature has strongly supported this intervention for improving the overall condition of the prisoners. A meta-analysis showed that substance use and recidivism are considerably reduced after this intervention. The offenders developed more empathy and physical wellness which improved their rehabilitation quality. A qualitative design implemented through interviews is identified to be most suitable for this intervention. The program can include activities such as sitting meditation, mindfulness walking and yoga to optimize results. However, highly psychotic and drug-addicted prisoners need to be excluded to maintain prison protocols. On the other hand, as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are culturally sensitive, this intervention can be implemented for them by incorporating cultural awareness mentors, taking guidance from community members and conducting interviews while maintaining a strong respectful environment.
Reference
Bartels, L., Oxman, L. N., & Hopkins, A. (2019). “I would just feel really relaxed and at peace”: findings from a pilot prison yoga program in Australia. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 63(15-16), 2531-2549. https://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X19854869
Bouw, N., Huijbregts, S. C., Scholte, E., & Swaab, H. (2019). Mindfulness-based stress reduction in prison: Experiences of inmates, instructors, and prison staff. International journal of offender therapy and comparative criminology, 63(15-16), 2550-2571. https://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X19856232
Carmo, C., Iacob, V., Brás, M., & Fernandes, J. (2024). Effects of a mindfulness-based intervention on male Portuguese prisoners. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 68(6-7), 677-692. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0306624X221106333
Davies, J., Ugwudike, P., Young, H., Hurrell, C., & Raynor, P. (2021). A pragmatic study of the impact of a brief mindfulness intervention on prisoners and staff in a Category B prison and men subject to community-based probation supervision. International journal of offender therapy and comparative criminology, 65(1), 136-156. https://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X20944664
Dunwoodie, K., Macaulay, L., & Newman, A. (2023). Qualitative interviewing in the field of work and organisational psychology: Benefits, challenges and guidelines for researchers and reviewers. Applied Psychology, 72(2), 863-889. https://iaap-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1111/apps.12414
Ifeagwazi, C. M., Nwokpoku, E. E., Chukwuorji, J. C., Eze, J. E., & Abiama, E. E. (2020). Somatic symptoms among prison inmates: Contributions of emotion regulation, dispositional mindfulness, and duration of stay in prison. International Journal of Prisoner Health, 16(2), 151-164. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPH-02-2019-0009
Maroney, M., Luthi, A., Hanney, J., Mantell, A., Johnson, D., Barclay, N., ... & Crane, R. (2021). Audit of a mindfulness-based cognitive therapy course within a prison. Journal of Correctional Health Care, 27(3), 196-204. https://research.bangor.ac.uk/portal/files/39113860/2021_Audit_of_mindfulness.pdf
McGeechan, G. J., Richardson, C., Wilson, L., Allan, K., & Newbury?Birch, D. (2019). Qualitative exploration of a targeted school?based mindfulness course in England. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 24(2), 154-160. https://research.tees.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/4192024/621943.pdf
Pankovics, N., & Martinovic, M. (2024). Freedom from Within: A Meta-Analytic Review of Mindfulness Meditation-Based Interventions in Prisons. European Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 7(2), 1-22. https://doi.org/10.33422/ejbs.v7i2.1251
Ponturo, A., & Kilcullen, M. (2021). A systematic review of evidence-based psychological interventions and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Clinical Psychologist, 25(2), 198-211. https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/68049/14/JCU_68049AAM.pdf
Quigley, R., Russell, S. G., Sagigi, B. R., Miller, G., & Strivens, E. (2021). Community involvement to maximise research success in Torres Strait Islander populations: More than just ticking the boxes. Rural and remote health, 21(3), 1-7. https://search.informit.org/doi/pdf/10.3316/informit.994199465584568
Treasury, Q. (2021). Wise practice for designing and implementing criminal justice programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. https://www.qgso.qld.gov.au/issues/10316/wise-practice-designing-implementing-criminal-justice-programs-aboriginal-torres-strait-islander-peoples-april-2021-edn.pdf
Turner, M., King, N., Mojtahedi, D., Burr, V., Gall, V., Gibbs, G. R., ... & Walker, T. (2022). Well-being programmes in prisons in England and Wales: a mixed-methods study. International Journal of Prisoner Health, 18(3), 259-274. https://pure.hud.ac.uk/ws/files/38580873/IJPH_03_2021_0021.R3_Final_120721.pdf
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