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Table 3 Overview of multi-component positive psychology active control intervention

From: A behavioural activation intervention to increase engagement with life and wellbeing in older adults: Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Week

Content

Estimated duration

1.Wellbeing, positive emotion and positive psychology

What is wellbeing?

Introduction to positive psychology

The benefits of positive emotion

Reflection

60 min

2. Gratitude and optimism

Review of previous week

Gratitude

Activities to increase gratitude

 3 Good things1

  Expressing gratitude2

Optimism

  Optimism reflection

60 min

3. Character strengths and forgiveness

Review of week and activities

Character strengths and identification

  Character strength task3

Forgiveness

  Forgiveness reflection

45 min

4. Savouring

Review of week and activities

Introduction to savouring

  Savouring the past activity4

  Savouring the present activity5

  Savouring the future activity

45 min

5. Reviewing achievements, troubleshooting and modifying activities

Review of week and activities

Troubleshooting problems with activities

15–20 min

6. Beyond the program

Review and reflection of activities

Review of progress

Preparing for the future

15–30 min

  1. 1 Seligman ME, Steen TA, Park N, Peterson C. Positive psychology progress: empirical validation of interventions. American psychologist. 2005;60(5):410
  2. 2Parks AC, Schueller S. The Wiley Blackwell handbook of positive psychological interventions: John Wiley & Sons; 2014.; Lyubomirsky S, Dickerhoof R, Boehm JK, Sheldon KM. Becoming happier takes both a will and a proper way: an experimental longitudinal intervention to boost well-being. Emotion. 2011;11(2):391
  3. 3Seligman ME, Rashid T, Parks AC. Positive psychotherapy. American Psychologist. 2006;61(8):774
  4. 4Palmer CA, Gentzler AL. Adults’ self-reported attachment influences their savoring ability. The Journal of Positive Psychology. 2018;13(3):290–300
  5. 5Smith JL, Hanni AA. Effects of a savoring intervention on resilience and well-being of older adults. Journal of Applied Gerontology. 2019;38(1):137−52