Combining PPI Domains and Targeting Cognitive Mechanisms: A Failed Proof-of-Concept for PPI Research

Positive psychological interventions (PPIs) are activities that target positive variables (e.g., gratitude or kindness) to elicit a response in population, such as improving adaptive functioning, promoting well-being, reducing depression, enhancing quality of life. Despite several decades evidence, meta-analysis by White et al. (2019) concluded the effect sizes PPIs may be smaller than previously recorded and their effects on depression generally nonsignificant. In current study, we created new PPI, called Best-Self PPI (BS-PPI), provide proof-of-concept two relatively unexplored properties enhance sizes, which are: (1) combining domains (i.e., multiple targeted variables) into single intervention (2) designing cognitive mechanisms change. Using double-masked procedure, randomly assigned undergraduate students (n = 133) between ages 18 32 (Mage 19.97, SD 1.66; women; n 85, 63.9%; White: 87, 65.41%) complete either BS-PPI – containing elements meaning, character strengths, optimism control condition before completing measures affect. One day later, participants completed measure affect Self-Referential Encoding Task, behavioral self-referential processing bias, is strength valance words one uses describe oneself, test potential targeting mechanism week The results suggest did not compared group despite consistency this study with many other studies sample size, design, population), aligns meta-analysis. We discuss implications failed for research recommendations moving forward these properties.