Journal of Positive Psychology and Wellbeing

The impact of a school-based positive psychology programme on state wellbeing in Irish school children: A cluster randomized controlled trial

2025-09-12T09:22:16+00:00

Childhood into early adolescence is a critical developmental period for mental health, with growing evidence that universal school-based wellbeing interventions can improve children’s mental health outcomes, with lifelong benefits.

The A Lust for Life (ALFL) school-based positive psychology intervention is widely implemented in Ireland, with some evidence of benefits. This cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the ALFL programme for children in fifth and sixth class grades, aged 9-13 years, using a measure of state wellbeing as the primary outcome variable, with trait measures of wellbeing, depression and anxiety as secondary outcome variables, building on previous research studies. Participants were 402 children, recruited from 9 schools, randomly allocated to a 10-week ALFL programme group (n = 180) or 10-week waiting list control group (n = 222). Outcome measures were administered pre and post intervention/waiting time. The trial showed that the ALFL schools programme led to small improvements in state wellbeing arising from using behavioural skills learned on the ALFL programme (d = 0.18, p = .034), and an increase in the use of skills learnt on the programme to promote state wellbeing (d = 0.27, p = .001), but no significant improvements in measures of trait wellbeing, anxiety or depression. This study’s use of a state wellbeing measure and its consideration of children’s real-world use of skills learnt, which are central to the evaluated intervention’s theory of change, constitute an original contribution to the research base.

Comparison of MRI brain in multiple sclerosis patients at 1.5 T and 3.0 T MRI scanners: A follow up study

2025-09-12T09:24:41+00:00

Objective:

The symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a complex autoimmune disease, are numerous. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is the most sensitive technique for diagnosis and monitoring treatment of MS. Recently, the high magnetic field MRI system performed routinely for MS patients. The purpose of the study was to retrospectively evaluate the sensitivity of MRI scanning for multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions at 1.5-T and 3.0-T during 6 month follow-up period.

Method:

We retrospectively studied brain MRI at 1.5-T and 3.0-T in 28 MS patients. MRI scans were performed on two visits, at baseline and six months later. The scanning protocol was identical at all time points and the period between 1.5-T and 3.0T scans was 72 hours. The scanning protocol included contiguous axial of FLAIR, T2WI, Proton density, T1WI, and postcontrast T1 weighted imaging.

Result:

The overall mean number of lesions was significantly higher in 3 Tesla (21 lesions) compared to 1.5 Tesla (11 lesions) (P<0.05). The overall mean number of lesions was significantly higher in 3 Tesla at follow up visit (25 lesions) compared to baseline visit (21 lesions) (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the overall mean number of lesion between 1.5 tesla at follow up visit (12 lesions) compared to baseline visit (11 lesions) (P>0.05).

Conclusion:

Using high-field MRI system could improve the sensitivity for early detection of multiple sclerosis lesions. The diagnosis of multiple sclerosis would influence by strength of magnetic field scanner. A further large cohort study is recommended for protocol optimization with different scanner strength and various imaging vendors.

An Exploratory Factor Analysis And Reliability Analysis Of The Personal And Social Influence On Employability Among Youth From Marginalised Community

2025-09-19T13:20:26+00:00

Exploration of personal and social factors that influence employability is an essential tool for the youth from marginalized communities to enter labour market and sustain in a career successfully. Previous studies have proven the contribution of personal and social factors in shaping the career of the youth population. However, there is a very limited access to instrument that assess the personal and social influence on employability that based on Malaysian context. Therefore, the research aimed at developing instruments that emphasis personal and social influence on employability. This study commenced to gain empirical evidence of validity and reliability of the item using a survey questionnaire. The instruments’ validity and reliability were measured on youth from marginalized community in Malaysia. Quantitative research designs that employ questionnaire were selected by researchers in administrating the research. Around 1181 Malaysian youth at the age range from 15 to 25 years old from marginalised community were selected by using probability sampling method to participate in this study. The internal consistency reliability, standardized residual variance, construct validity, and composite reliability were measured. Findings of the study proved that all the constructs are significant in assessing personal and social influence on employability.

Development And Validation Of The Feeling Better Scale (FBS)

2025-09-19T13:28:30+00:00

The Feeling Better Scale (FBS) is a new self-report measure of ‘state well-being’. It assesses well-being following the use of skills learnt in a school-based positive psychology intervention program, A Lust for Life (ALFL). The FBS, along with other validated measures, were administered to 305 children. Additionally, these scales were administered to 345 children who completed the ALFL programs and 382 children who were in a control group. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses showed that a 23-item, 2-factor version of the FBS best fit the data. The FBS had excellent reliability (α=0.93, ω=0.93). There was weak, but significant test-retest reliability (ICC=0.2, p<0.001, N=382). The FBS had good concurrent and construct validity moderately correlated with trait well-being (r(304)=0.34, p<.01). It was responsive to change following ALFL intervention (t(344)=3.07, p<.01, SRM=0.17). Overall, the FBS is a measure of state well-being that may be used to evaluate the impact of the ALFL program.