School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
BMJ Open. 2022 Aug 17;12(8):e055506. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-055506.
Poverty has a detrimental influence on psychological well-being of children. Existing evidence shows that positive psychology interventions are possible to mitigate such impact. Despite criticisms that positive psychology resembles a scientific Pollyannaism that promotes overly positivity, positive psychology is not the scientific Pollyannaism that denies the difficulties and emotions that people may experience. Whereas, positive psychology acknowledges the difficulties and emotions, alongside with building up human resilience, strength and growth to face adversity. This study examined the feasibility of implementing a positive psychology intervention among Hong Kong Chinese children living in poverty.
A feasibility randomised controlled trial will be conducted. A convenience sample of 120 children aged 13-17 years will be recruited from a community centre in Kwai Tsing district. Participants who are randomised into the experimental group will join a 1.5-hour workshop covering four positive psychology techniques: (1) gratitude visits/letters, (2) three good things, (3) you at your best and (4) using signature strengths. A booster intervention will be provided at 1 week. Control group participants will not receive any intervention. Assessments will be conducted at baseline and at 1-week, 1-month, 3-month and 6-month follow-ups.
Descriptive statistics will be used to calculate the feasibility measures. Effect sizes on psychological outcomes (ie, self-esteem, depressive symptoms and quality of life) will be estimated by mixed between-within subjects analysis of variance using partial eta squared with poverty (yes, no) entering into the model as a factor.
Ethical approval has been obtained from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University Institutional Review Broad. We will obtain parental consent as our subjects are below 18 years old. Findings from this study will be disseminated via international publications and conferences.
NCT04875507.
贫困对儿童的心理健康有不利影响。现有证据表明，积极心理学干预措施可能有助于减轻这种影响。尽管有人批评积极心理学类似于一种科学上的盲目乐观主义，它宣扬过度的积极性，但积极心理学并不是那种否认人们可能经历的困难和情绪的科学盲目乐观主义。相反，积极心理学承认困难和情绪，同时培养人类的适应力、力量和成长，以应对逆境。本研究旨在检验在香港贫困儿童中实施积极心理学干预的可行性。
将进行一项可行性随机对照试验。将从葵青区的一个社区中心招募 120 名 13-17 岁的儿童作为便利样本。随机分配到实验组的参与者将参加一个 1.5 小时的工作坊，涵盖四种积极心理学技巧：（1）感恩访问/信件，（2）三件好事，（3）最佳状态和（4）利用特长。在 1 周时提供强化干预。对照组参与者将不接受任何干预。评估将在基线和 1 周、1 个月、3 个月和 6 个月随访时进行。
将使用描述性统计来计算可行性措施。使用混合的组间-组内主体方差分析，采用偏 eta 平方，以贫困（是，否）作为模型中的一个因素，来估计心理结果（即自尊、抑郁症状和生活质量）的效果大小。
香港理工大学机构审查委员会已批准了这项研究。由于我们的研究对象年龄在 18 岁以下，我们将获得家长的同意。本研究的结果将通过国际出版物和会议进行传播。
NCT04875507。
