An online positive psychology intervention to promote resilience

Psyfit is a positive psychology online mental fitness training for adults with mild symptoms of depression and anxiety. The current study aims at determining whether Psyfit can promote a psychological resilient reaction as well. To do this the research of Bolier et al. (in press) was extended. A comparison was made between participants who experienced a critical life event (N=86) and participants who did not (N=57). In addition, it was assessed if the effectiveness of the intervention depended on the type of critical life event. The outcome measures were well-being measured with the WEMWBS and depressive symptoms measured with the CES-D. Online measurements were taken at baseline, two months after baseline at posttest, and after six months at follow-up. It was not proven that the effectiveness of the intervention depended on whether or not participants experienced a critical life event, concerning well-being at posttest (F(1,141)=0.52, p=0.47) and follow-up (F(1,141)=0.12, p=0.74) and depression at posttest (F(1,141)=0.49, p=0.49) and follow-up (F(1,141)= 0.03, p=0.87). No evidence was found that the effectiveness of the intervention depended on the type of critical life event concerning well-being at posttest (F(4,81)= 0.62, p= 0.65) and follow-up (F(1,86)= 0.85, p= 0.50) and depressive symptoms at posttest (F(1,81)= 0.89, p=0.47) and follow-up (F(1,119)=0.41, p=0.66). If adversity is defined in a much broader sense Psyfit has the potential to promote resilience. In addition, it looks that the intervention is applicable to a variety of critical life events.