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Effects of a happiness mentoring programme on the positive psychological attributes of polytechnic students
Author
Metrat-Depardon, Cedric David
Supervisor
Teo, Chua Tee
Abstract
The youth’s state of mental health and related high rates of depression worldwide is a growing concern, and Singapore is not an exception (National Youth Council, 2018; World Health Organization, 2018a). These emotional disorders not only affect the everyday functioning of the youths, but also impair their development into healthy adults. Some populations however, seem to be more vulnerable than others; and this is the case with Polytechnics students in Singapore who certainly need psychological support, mentoring and intervention. The PERMA theoretical model of well-being (Seligman, 2011), when translated into positive education interventions (Seligman, Ernst, Gillham, Reivich, & Linkins, 2009), is known to foster the overall psychological well-being of individuals and to contribute to their flourishing (Hoare, Bott, & Robinson, 2017; Norrish, Williams, O’Connor, & Robinson, 2013). This quasi-experimental study tested the effects of a 10-week mentoring programme for a group of Polytechnic students with the aims of enhancing their happiness, well-being and school life satisfaction. The participating students were recruited amongst the full-time students of a Polytechnic in Singapore. The participants self-selected themselves in either the experimental (n = 20) or the control group (n = 14) depending on their availability and desire to partake in the 10-week Positive Psychology Interventions. While there were no significant differences between the experimental and control groups, there were significant differences within each group. The results of paired t-tests showed more significant statistical improvements in the variables of Engagement, Meaning, Accomplishment and Student Life Satisfaction within the experimental group, as compared to the control group. The results of this study seemed to imply that the Positive Psychology Interventions need to be strengthened in terms of duration and reinforcement for the effects to be more visible and sustainable.
Date Issued
2020
Call Number
RJ103.S55 Met
Date Submitted
2020