Positive Psychology Barbara Cherry CSUF, Department of Psychology Gerontology Academic Program 2016 OLLI Retirement Boot Camp
Positive Psychology: What is it? Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000 The Science of Happiness The study of Positive emotions Positive character traits Enabling institutions
In other words. Create a practice of making people lastingly happier
Background The Nun Study Carstensen s Socio-Emotional Selectivity Theory
Six Virtues Wisdom Courage Humanity Justice Temperance Transcendence
Six Virtues: 24 Character Strengths (Peterson & Seligman, 2004) Wisdom/Knowledge Creativity Curiosity Open-mindedness Love of learning Perspective Courage Authenticity Bravery Persistence Zest
Character Strengths Humanity Kindness Love Social Intelligence Justice Fairness Leadership Teamwork
Character Strengths (con t.) Temperance Forgiveness Modesty Prudence Self-regulation Transcendence Appreciation of beauty and excellence Gratitude Hope Humor Religiousness
The Research Happiness defined (Seligman, 2002; Peterson et al., 2005) Positive emotion and pleasure (the pleasant life) Engagement (the engaged life) Meaning (the meaningful life) Happy people are healthier, more successful, and more socially engaged. (Seligman et al., 2005, p.414)
Initial Study Randomized controlled trial 577 adult participants (42% male) 64% between 35 and 54 years of age Internet study 5 happiness exercises 1 placebo exercise Measured happiness at pre-test, post-test, 1 week and 1, 3 and 6 months
Measuring Happiness Steen Happiness Index Adapted from Beck Depression Inventory 20 questions Three kinds of happy life: pleasant, engaged, meaningful Range of scores for each statement: 1 5 Bored Fascinated
STEEN HAPPINESS INDEX INSTRUCTIONS: Please read each group of statements carefully. Then pick the one statement in each group that best describes the way you have been feeling for the past week, including today. Be sure to read all of the statements in each group before making your choice. Question 1 A. I dislike my daily routine. (1) B. I neither enjoy nor dislike my daily routine. (2) C. I enjoy my daily routine, but I do like to get away from it. (3) D. I enjoy my daily routine so much that I rarely take breaks from it. (4) E. I enjoy my daily routine so much that I almost never take breaks from it. (5)
Happiness Exercises Gratitude visit Write and deliver a letter of gratitude Three good things in life Write down 3 things each day that went well and why You at your best Write about when you were at your best and reflect on personal strengths in the story. Review story each day.
Happiness Exercises (con t.) Identifying signature strengths (top five) www.authentichappiness.org www.viacharacter.org Use one of these each day in a new and different way. Using signature strengths Use five highest strengths more often during the next week.
Placebo Exercise Early memories Write about your early memories every night for one week.
Results Gratitude 66 64 62 60 58 Gratitude Placebo 56 54 Pre-test Post-test One week One month
Results Three good things 62 61 60 59 58 Three things Placebo 57 56 One week One month 3 months 6 months
Results Using signature strengths 60.5 60 59.5 59 58.5 58 Strengths Placebo 57.5 57 56.5 One week One month 3 months 6 months
Conclusions Gratitude -- highest increase in happiness Lasting happiness Three good things Using signature strengths Those who persisted with exercises showed highest gain
Considerations Benefits without on-the-ground treatment Cost-effective Health benefits in an easy-to-deliver way
CSUF Positive Psychology Research Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain Center Study Jessie Jones, Health Science Dana Rutledge, School of Nursing Laura Zettel-Watson, Psychology; Gerontology Debbie Rose, Kinesiology Jordan Aquino, Health Science Jennifer Piazza, Health Science Phyllis Talarico, FM support group leader http://fmcp.fullerton.edu/
Longitudinal Study Overview Participants 2008 70 FM 76 non-fm 2010 64 FM 51 non-fm 2012 46 FM 57 non-fm 2014 49 FM 45 non-fm 2016 Measures Medical history, medications, BMI, physical activity level (RAPA), MOS social support survey 19 symptoms (NFMAQ), Composite Physical Function, Beck Depression Inventory Cognitive, physical performance
Cognitive Assessments
CERAD 10-item word list Immediate recall Trials 1, 2, 3 Delayed recall Recognition
Physical Performance
Physical Performance--Balance
Cognitive and Physical Questions Describe your experience with concentration problems over the past week. Describe your experience with forgetfulness over the past week. Functional limitations: How well can you perform tasks such as dressing, bathing, going up and down stairs, light housekeeping, walking two blocks.
2014 Current Research Q Positive Affect Negative Affect Scale (PANAS) 10 statements ask about positive mood 10 statements ask about positive mood Rate statements from 1 (not at all) to 5 (extremely) Does higher positive affect predict better cognitive and physical health?
Table 1.Participant characteristics by group. Healthy Controls FM a Group (n = 44 ) (n = 50) Variable/Group M/% (SD) M/% (SD) Age (years) 72.4 (9.0) c 63.6 (7.4) Gender (% female) 66.0 b - 88.0 - Education (years) 16.2 (1.9) 15.4 (2.1) Positive Affect (PANAS) a 35.1 (7.5) 32.2 (7.7) Negative Affect (PANAS) a 12.4 (3.0) c 16.0 (6.0) a FM: Fibromyalgia; PANAS: Positive and Negative Affect Scale; CERAD: Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer s Disease. b p <.01; c p <.001.
Table 1. Participant characteristics by group Healthy Controls FM a Group (n = 44 ) (n = 50) Variable M/% (SD) M/% (SD) CERAD a Immediate Recall 19.6 (3.7) 21.2 (4.8) CERAD a Delayed Recall 5.9 (2.4) 6.5 (2.5) CERAD a Delayed 19.2 (1.4) 19.3 (1.3) Recognition Concentration Problems 1.6 (2.5) c 5.2 (3.0) 30s Chair Stand (# stands) 13.3 (4.9) 12.0 (4.8) a FM: Fibromyalgia; PANAS: Positive and Negative Affect Scale; CERAD: Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer s Disease. b p <.01; c p <.001.
Results Regression Analyses Enter Age FM or not Positive Affect Do these influence objective cognitive and physical performance Self-report cognitive and physical function
Immediate Recall Age FM or not Positive affect
Delayed Recognition Age FM or not Positive Affect
Concentration Problems Age FM or not Positive affect
30s Chair Stand Lower Body Strength Age FM or not Positive Affect
Trends for Positive Affect and. Delayed Recall Balance Problems Forgetting 30 ft walk Composite Physical Function
Conclusions Positive affect makes a difference in both cognitive and physical health Both performance and self-report Provides an easy and cost-effective means for staying healthy
Cognitive Aging How to Build a Better Brain
Road Map Cognition Cognitive Reserve Telomeres Epigenetics Building a better brain Engage in meaningful activities Get moving Learn something new Be happy
Cognition
Cognitive and Neural Reserve
Cognitive Reserve Employment Health Behaviors Social Support Activity Levels Neurobiology Gender Genetics Telomeres Education Race SES Culture Diet Lifestyle Patterns
Telomeres
Epigenetics
Building Cognitive Reserve Engage in meaningful activities Get moving Learn something new Be happy
Robot & Frank http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jzlsfse730
The USC Well Elderly Study Research Program Randomized clinical trials of an activity-based intervention Well Elderly 1 1994 to 1997 9 month intervention Delivered in English/Mandarin Well Elderly 2 2004 to 2008 6 month intervention Delivered in English/Spanish
Well Elderly Studies I and II Lifestyle Redesign Intervention Lifestyle focused (activity based) group and individual sessions Lifestyle Redesign is the process of infusing healthy and meaningful activities into dayto-day routines
Well Elderly 1 Design Month 1 15 Occupational Therapy 9 Intervention Follow Social Group Control No Treatment Control Follow Health Care Utilization Data Collection
Well Elderly Study II Pre-Post Intervention All Participants Receiving Intervention Month 1 6 12 18 24 Group A Intervention Group B Control Group B Intervention
Well Elderly Study II: Pre-Post Intervention All Participants Receiving Intervention (n = 326) Health-Related Quality of Life - SF36V2 Mental Health Social Function *** * Life Satisfaction - LSI-Z Depression - CES-D Vitality ** Cognition Bodily Pain *** Memory - CERAD Composite: Mental ** Immediate Recall ** Composite: Physical ** Delayed Recall ** General Health * Recognition ns Physical Function ** Visual Search Role Emotional * Psychomotor Speed * Role Physical ns ** ** ***
Well Elderly Study II Conclusions No significant direct effects of the intervention Effects on physical and cognitive health were indirect due to increases in activity Activity-related measures Activity frequency Activity purpose
Path Analysis Activity Frequency Activity Purpose LSI-Z CES-D Program SF-36v2 Physical Active Coping SF-36v2 Mental Social Support Covariates Age Gender Education Ethnicity Perceived Control Non-significant Relationships Significant Relationships
Meaningful Activities Activities that can be done in one hour or less Activities that can be done in one day or less Activities that require more than one day
Building Cognitive Reserve Engage in meaningful activities Get moving Learn new things Be happy
Sitting is the new smoking
Take the stairs Keep moving! Park farther from the door Walk a dog borrow a dog walk a cat
Building Cognitive Reserve Engage in meaningful activities Get moving Learn new things! Be happy
Nifty after Fifty Brain Games Posit Brain Fitness Program Wii Or. visit your computer Google: free brain exercises
https://stayingsharp.aar p.org/games?campaign URL=KNC&cmp=KNC- ADOBE-Bing-DSO-BRN- LAUNCH- GAMES&s_kwcid=AL!45 20!10!12472421352!11 8504068674&ef_id=Utbl ZAAAAHGuqES6:201609 14212815:s Brain Exercises
Building Cognitive Reserve Engage in meaningful activities Get moving Learn something new Be happy
Be Happy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6sxvsuytm