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Positive psychology and children with chronic illness
Author
Loh, Jacelyn Jinfeng
Supervisor
Yeo, Lay See
Abstract
Positive psychological interventions such as practicing gratitude have been found to increase happiness and reduce depressive symptoms in adolescents and adults. However, research on the efficacy of these interventions with children is limited and almost non-existent for children with chronic illness. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the efficacy of gratitude interventions with chronically ill children. Particularly, it was of the researcher’s interest to investigate the relationship between the outcomes of the positive intervention and resilience in children with chronic illness. Chronic illness has an adverse impact on children and their family members and chronically ill children are often at risk of psychological and behavioural maladjustment such as depression, anxiety and aggression. However, there are children who are able to overcome challenges and demonstrate resiliency. Positive emotions such as gratitude and positive traits such as self-esteem have been found to buffer against the negative effects of trauma and adversities. These protective factors are commonly found in people who are resilient. It is therefore important to build these protective factors in children through positive psychological interventions and foster resiliency in them. The study also sought to examine the mechanisms through which the interventions may increase resilience in children. Twenty-seven participants from Club Rainbow (Singapore), a charity organization rendering assistance to children with chronic illness, were recruited. Eighteen participants received the gratitude intervention and nine participants underwent the control activity on a weekly basis over a period of four weeks. Resilience, gratitude, self-esteem and affect were measured at the pre-test and post-test. The results of the study showed no significant difference in the outcomes between the gratitude intervention and control condition. Recommendations for improvements of the current study and future directions involving the application of gratitude intervention in health sector were made.
Date Issued
2017
Call Number
BF204.6 Loh
Date Submitted
2017