Enhancing Happiness for Nursing Students through Positive Psychology Activities: A Mixed Methods Study

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Dec 11;17(24):9274. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17249274.

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate a program promoting character strengths, positive psychological capital, learning flow, and sense of calling for nursing students. We conducted a concurrent embedded mixed methods study with 51 nursing students randomly classified into an intervention or a control group. The intervention group exhibited significantly higher scores than the control group for positive psychological capital, learning flow, and sense of calling. Program participation experiences were categorized as "change of views about oneself", "change of views about the world", "stress relief", and "practice of positivity". Among nursing students, this program demonstrated change toward a positive, committed, and meaningful life.

Keywords: happiness; nursing students; positive psychology; program development; universities.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate*
  • Female
  • Happiness*
  • Humans
  • Learning
  • Male
  • Psychology, Positive*
  • Students, Nursing / psychology*
  • Young Adult