AbstractsPsychology
Can mindfulness and nostalgia raise adolescents’ happiness and subjective well-being?
| Institution: | Linnæus University |
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| Department: | |
| Year: | 2015 |
| Keywords: | Adolescents; Happiness; Subjective well-being; Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS); Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS); Best Personal Self (BPS); Nostalgia; Mindfulness.; Humanities; Other Humanities; Other Humanities not elsewhere specified; Humaniora; Annan humaniora; Övrig annan humaniora; Teacher Education Programme for Upper Secondary School, 300/330 credits; Ämneslärarprogrammet med inriktning mot arbete i gymnasieskolan, 300/330 hp; Psychology; Psykologi |
| Record ID: | 1344265 |
| Full text PDF: | http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-41267 |
Abstract
Worldwide, 450 million people are estimated to have a mental health problem. Therefore this study set out with the aim to fill the gap in research on how to raise happiness and subjective well-being amongst adolescents. The sample of the study consisted of 90 students ranging from 16 - 19 years of age. They were randomly assigned to one of two methods; BPS (Best Personal Self) or nostalgia. Each group was then given varying instructions on a task they would perform on a daily basis, with tests taken on the first and last day of the study. The tests consisted of questions from the PANAS (Positive and Negative Affect Scale) and the SWLS (Satisfaction with Life Scale), which would determine the different methods short- and long-term effect on the participants happiness and subjective well-being. A control group was used to compare the results of the test groups. The results indicated nostalgia as being the most effective way to raise short-term well-being amongst adolescents, which raised interesting questions for future studies.
