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Research on positive psychology intervention is in its infancy; only a few empirical studies have proved the effectiveness and benefits of psychological capital interventions in workplaces. From a practical perspective, a more convenient intervention approach is needed for when organizations have difficulties in finding qualified trainers. This study aims to extend the psychological capital intervention (PCI) model and examine its influence on work-related attitudes. A daily online self-learning approach and a randomized controlled trial design are utilized. A final sample of 104 full-time employees, recruited online, is randomly divided into three groups to fill in self-report questionnaires immediately before (T1), immediately after (T2), and one week after (T3) the intervention. The results indicate that the intervention is effective at improving psychological capital (PsyCap), increasing job satisfaction, and reducing turnover intention. The practical implications for human resource managers conducting a flexible and low-cost PsyCap intervention in organizations are discussed. Limitations related to sample characteristics, short duration effect, small sample size, and small effect size are also emphasized. Due to these non-negligible drawbacks of the study design, this study should only be considered as a pilot study of daily online self-learning PsyCap intervention research.

Approximately 20% of people will experience a depressive episode by adulthood, making adolescence an important developmental target for prevention. CATCH-IT (Competent Adulthood Transition with Cognitive-behavioral, Humanistic, and Interpersonal Training), an online depression prevention intervention, has demonstrated efficacy in preventing depressive episodes among adolescents reporting elevated symptoms. Our study examines the effects of CATCH-IT compared to online health education (HE) on internalizing symptoms in adolescents at risk for depression. Participants, ages 13–18, were recruited across eight US health systems and were randomly assigned to CATCH-IT or HE. Assessments were completed at baseline, 2, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. There were no significant differences between groups in change in depressive symptoms (b = −0.31 for CATCH-IT, b = −0.27 for HE, p = 0.80) or anxiety (b = −0.13 for CATCH-IT, b = −0.11 for HE, p = 0.79). Improvement in depressive symptoms was statistically significant (p < 0.05) for both groups (p = 0.004 for CATCH-IT, p = 0.009 for HE); improvement in anxiety was significant for CATCH-IT (p = 0.04) but not HE (p = 0.07). Parental depression and positive relationships with primary care physicians (PRPC) moderated the anxiety findings, and adolescents’ externalizing symptoms and PRPC moderated the depression findings. This study demonstrates the long-term positive effects of both online programs on depressive symptoms and suggests that CATCH-IT demonstrates cross-over effects for anxiety as well.

Common mental disorders (CMDs) such as depression and anxiety are highly prevalent among older adults. While psychosocial interventions are increasingly recognized for their preventive potential, a comprehensive synthesis of their effectiveness with nonclinical elderly populations is pending. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of such interventions in reducing depressive and anxiety symptoms among older adults with subclinical symptom levels and to examine potential moderators (that is, intervention type, length, delivery modality, and control group characteristics). A meta-analysis was conducted of 58 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) testing psychosocial interventions aimed at preventing depression and/or anxiety, using validated measures and targeting adults aged ≥60. Moderator variable effects were assessed through mixed-effects meta-regressions, and effect generality was examined using multiverse analyses. Psychosocial interventions showed a moderate postintervention effect in reducing depressive symptoms (d = −0.474) that remained nontrivial and modest at follow-up (d = −0.386) compared to control. For anxiety, a small-to-moderate effect was observed postintervention (d = −0.333), with a small, albeit nominally nonsignificant, effect at follow-up (d = −0.205) compared to control. No significant differences were found between intervention types or control conditions. Younger participants experienced greater reductions in depressive symptoms from pre-to-post-intervention and at follow-up, and in anxiety symptoms from pre-to-post-intervention only. Multiverse analyses showed that intervention effects generalized across numerous variables, thus indicating a remarkable robustness of the findings. Our findings demonstrate that it is important to implement psychosocial interventions in community settings, regardless of intervention type, to protect the elderly against CMDs.

The START (STrAtegies for RelaTives) intervention reduced depressive and anxiety symptoms of family carers of relatives with dementia at home over 2 years and was cost-effective. To assess the clinical effectiveness over 6 years and the impact on costs and care home admission. We conducted a randomised, parallel group, superiority trial recruiting from 4 November 2009 to 8 June 2011 with 6-year follow-up (trial registration: ISCTRN 70017938). A total of 260 self-identified family carers of people with dementia were randomised 2:1 to START, an eight-session manual-based coping intervention delivered by supervised psychology graduates, or to treatment as usual (TAU). The primary outcome was affective symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, total score (HADS-T)). Secondary outcomes included patient and carer service costs and care home admission. In total, 222 (85.4%) of 173 carers randomised to START and 87 to TAU were included in the 6-year clinical efficacy analysis. Over 72 months, compared with TAU, the intervention group had improved scores on HADS-T (adjusted mean difference -2.00 points, 95% CI -3.38 to -0.63). Patient-related costs (START versus TAU, respectively: median £5759 v. £16 964 in the final year; P = 0.07) and carer-related costs (median £377 v. £274 in the final year) were not significantly different between groups nor were group differences in time until care home (intensity ratio START:TAU was 0.88, 95% CI 0.58-1.35). START is clinically effective and this effect lasts for 6 years without increasing costs. This is the first intervention with such a long-term clinical and possible economic benefit and has potential to make a difference to individual carers. G.L., Z.W. and C.C. are supported by the UCLH National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre. G.L. and P.R. were in part supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRC) North Thames at Bart's Health NHS Trust. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health. Z.W. reports during the conduct of the study; personal fees from GE Healthcare, grants from GE Healthcare, grants from Lundbeck, other from GE Healthcare, outside the submitted work.

Purpose Creating a healthy lifestyle is important across different life stages. Commercial smart wearable devices are an innovative and interesting approach as an early psychological intervention for modifying health-related behaviors. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the effects of smart wearable devices on health-promoting lifestyles and quality of life. Methods The study design was a three-parallel randomized controlled trial with a 3-month intervention. Two commercial smart wearable devices (smartwatches and smart bracelets) with different levels of complicated functions were applied as a psychological intervention in comparison with a smartphone app as the control group. Participants were healthy young adults with a median age of 26 years. Outcome measurements were conducted by self-administered questionnaires. Chi-square tests and ANOVA were performed for testing the difference of participants at baseline, and generalized estimating equations were performed for testing the effect of the intervention. Results At the beginning, 81 participants were recruited and 73 participants completed the study. Results of a healthy lifestyle demonstrated significant group effects of exercise and a significant effect of the interaction for self-actualization and stress management in the experimental group with a smartwatch (Self-actualization: MD = 0.35[− 0.10,0.80]; Exercise: MD = 0.21[− 0.33 0.75]; Stress management: MD = 0.36[− 0.04,0.76]) by comparing with only using mobile app (Self-actualization: MD =  − 0.03[− 0.25,0.18]; Exercise: MD =  − 0.12[− 0.38,0.14]; Stress management, MD =  − 0.28[− 0.55,0.00]). The significant effect of group-by-time interaction for self-actualization was found in the experimental group with a smart bracelet (MD = 0.05[− 0.30,0.20]) by comparing with the control group. The GEE-adjusted model indicated significant effects of the interaction on the comprehensive, physical, and mental quality of life in the experimental group with the smartwatch (Comprehensive: MD = 0.24[− 0.04,0.52]; Physical: MD = 0.67[0.26,1.09]; Mental: MD = 0.72[0.29,1.16]) by comparing with the control group (Comprehensive: MD =  − 1.57[− 2.55, − 0.59]; Physical: MD = 0.25[0.00,0.50]; Mental: MD = 0.08[− 0.11,0.27]). Conclusion From a psychological perspective, smart wearable devices have potential benefits of shaping a healthy lifestyle and improving the quality of life. Enhancing the utility of commercial well-designed smart wearable devices is an innovative and effective strategy for promoting public health.

A prior randomized trial found a school social intervention yielded significantly better outcomes (social and autism features) immediately following intervention compared to typical school programming (services-as-usual [SAU]) for children on the autism spectrum. In that study, children in the SAU condition subsequently completed a summer social intervention. This study tested longer-term maintenance of effects for children who completed both interventions. A total of 103 children (ages 6–12 years) on the autism spectrum enrolled and 102 completed the initial RCT. Following the summer social intervention, 90 children from the original RCT completed the longer-term follow-up study. In addition to baseline and posttest in the initial RCT, children from both groups were tested at three follow-up points (five total testing points). At the time of first longitudinal follow-up testing, the children were 1.25–4.25 years post-intervention (ages 8–15 years). Longitudinal multilevel model analyses (and follow-up contrasts) revealed significant improvements for both groups post-intervention on measures of emotion recognition, autism features, and social skills, indicating maintenance of post-intervention improvements over the three follow-up testing points. No between-group differences were found for autism features or social skills over time; however, the school social intervention may have yielded somewhat better emotion recognition skills. Exploratory tests found that child IQ, language level, and length of time since completing the intervention did not moderate outcomes. Both social interventions yielded positive and durable longer-term improvements for children on the autism spectrum. [ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03338530; November 8, 2017; original retrospectively registered trial]

Purpose Few digital interventions target patients with advanced cancer. Hence, we feasibility-tested Finding My Way-Advanced (FMW-A) , a self-guided program for women with metastatic breast cancer. Methods A single-site randomised controlled pilot trial was conducted. Participants were recruited through clinicians, professional networks, and social media and randomised to intervention or usual-care control. Participants were randomly allocated to either the intervention ( FMW-A; a 6-week, 6-module CBT-based online self-directed psychosocial program for women with MBC + usual care resources) or control (usual care resources: BCNA’s Hope and Hurdles kit). Feasibility outcomes included rates of recruitment, uptake, engagement, and attrition. Distress, QOL, and unmet needs were evaluated for signals of efficacy, and qualitative feedback was collected to assess acceptability. Results Due to COVID-19 and funding constraints, the target recruitment of 40 was not reached ( n  = 60 approached; n  = 55 eligible; n  = 35 consented). Uptake was high ( n  = 35/55; 63.6%), engagement modest (median 3/6 modules per user), and attrition acceptable (66% completed post-treatment). Efficacy signals were mixed: compared to controls, FMW-A participants experienced small improvements in fear of progression ( d  = 0.21) and global QOL ( d  = 0.22) and demonstrated a trend towards improvements in cancer-specific distress ( d  =  0.13 ) and role functioning ( d  = 0.18). However, FMW-A participants experienced small-to-moderate deteriorations in general distress ( d  = 0.23), mental QOL ( d  = 0.51), and social functioning ( d  = 0.27), whereas controls improved. Qualitatively, participants (n  =  4) were satisfied with the program, perceived it as appropriate, but noted some sections could evoke transient distress. Conclusion The study demonstrated feasibility (high uptake and acceptable retention) and generated realistic recruitment estimates. While FMW-A appears promising for targeting cancer-specific distress and fear of progression, the mixed findings in quality of life and general distress warrant further revisions and testing.

Few treatments specifically target father depression and alcohol use, despite their high prevalence worldwide and adverse impacts on families and youth. Fathers are also less likely to engage in treatment than female caregivers. To address this gap, a team of US- and Kenyan-based clinician-researchers developed Learn, Engage, Act, Dedicate (LEAD), a five-session, task-shifted psychosocial intervention for fathers in Eldoret, Kenya. This hybrid type-1 study aims to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of LEAD, a peer-father delivered psychosocial intervention for fathers at risk for depression and alcohol use. Secondary aims include exploring changes in child mental health and family functioning, potential mechanisms of change, and key implementation outcomes such as fidelity. We will conduct a hybrid type-1 pilot study using a parallel randomized controlled trial (RCT) design, enrolling 102 fathers randomized 2:1 to LEAD or a waitlist control group. All participants will be offered treatment as usual at baseline, with waitlist participants receiving LEAD following the waitlist period. Assessments will be conducted with fathers, their female partners, and one child aged 8-17. Primary aims are to explore changes in fathers' depression and alcohol use; secondary aims include examining changes in family functioning and child well-being, understanding mechanisms driving change or nonresponse, and assessing the feasibility and acceptability of peer-father counselor implementation. Findings will inform a future hypothesis-testing hybrid trial to examine LEAD's effectiveness in improving father and child mental health and evaluate associated implementation strategies. This work will contribute to strategies for engaging and retaining men in mental health services. Trial Registration #: NCT06489314 (ClinicalTrials.gov); July 4, 2024.

Background Young adults (YAs) with cancer of any stage face challenges and unmet needs across biopsychosocial domains. YAs who have rapidly declining health trajectories, or who enter end-of-life stage sooner-than-anticipated, merit greater understanding so their providers can prioritize patients’ needs and values during this vulnerable period. This analysis sought to explore the lived experiences and priorities of patients whose cancer progressed rapidly, or who entered end-of-life stage unexpectedly, by conducting a thematic analysis on transcripts generated by their participation in a randomized control trial (RCT) designed for YAs with newly diagnosed cancer. Methods During a multisite RCT evaluating the efficacy of Bright IDEAS-YA, a 6-session psychosocial problem-solving intervention for YAs newly diagnosed with cancer, all Bright IDEAS-YA intervention sessions were recorded. Despite RCT eligibility criteria designating that participants should have a life-expectancy of 6 + months, some enrolled participants were unable to continue study participation due to death or rapid health decline. This analysis identified each participant who died during study participation or withdrew due to rapid health decline that had been enrolled into the intervention arm of the Bright IDEAS-YA RCT ( n  = 12). Individuals completed between 2 and 6 Bright IDEAS-YA sessions, which were transcribed verbatim for analysis ( n  = 60 transcripts). From December 2022 to March 2023, 10 researchers reviewed all available Bright IDEAS-YA transcripts and inductively co-developed a codebook on emergent transcript themes. Two researchers then co-coded all Bright IDEAS-YA transcripts, establishing a cut-off date of December 31, 2023 for participants eligible for subanalysis, once thematic saturation was determined. Results Emergent themes included Cancer and Treatment, Mortality, Social Systems, Emotions, Work/Academics, Mental Health, Spirituality, COVID-19, Meaning Making, and Participation in Bright IDEAS-YA. Only a subset of themes reflected end-of-life challenges. Conclusions YAs who approached end-of-life or saw unexpectedly fast declines in their healthcare trajectory showed many similarities to YAs outside of end-of-life contexts. Some, but not all, participants reflected on goals and challenges related to end-of-life during Bright IDEAs-YA participation. To ensure YAs are holistically understood, and that their priorities both prior to and during end-of-life are respected by their healthcare teams, it is important that providers collaborate with YA patients and introduce care strategies that elicit patients’ values and goals. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, #NCT04585269, October 14, 2020.

Anxiety is commonly experienced by autistic people and impacts on quality of life and social participation. New anxiety interventions are required to effectively meet the needs of autistic people. Personalised Anxiety Treatment-Autism (PAT-A©) is a bespoke, modular approach to treating anxiety in up to 12 sessions. This study explored the feasibility and acceptability of delivering PAT-A© in the UK National Health Service (NHS). A single-blind randomised controlled trial design. Thirty-four autistic adults were recruited via clinical services and randomised to receive either PAT-A© or enhanced treatment as usual (CCSP). Outcome assessments relating to anxiety, quality of life and related constructs were completed at baseline, immediately post intervention; and at 3 and 12 months. Seventy-one percent of the PAT-A© group and 65% of the CCSP met diagnostic threshold for at least three anxiety disorders. Retention was good across both groups, with 82% (N = 14/17) completing the full course of PAT-A© and 71% (N = 12/17) attending both psychoeducational sessions in CCSP. 94% in PAT-A© and 82% in CCSP completed some follow up assessment 3 months post-intervention. Thematic analysis of interview data revealed that many participants valued the personalised approach, developed transferable skills and experienced positive changes to their anxiety. Participants were willing to be recruited and randomised, PAT-A© was feasible to deliver in the NHS and the trial methods and materials were acceptable. Our findings indicate that a fully powered clinical and cost-effectiveness trial of PAT-A© is warranted.