Positive psychology intervention in education well-being and achievement

Pages:251-257
Jayashree Sanghani, Usha Upadhyay and Smita Sharma (Centre for Positive Psychology, PRATYUSHA, Janakpuri, Secunderabad, AP)

This paper explores how Positive Psychology Intervention (PPI) is noteworthy in education and empowers educational institutions to enhance students’ achievement and well-being. Positive psychology focuses on mental health promotion and prevention activities. It is generally a proactive intervention rather than reactive. PPI are interventions or intentional activities that aim to cultivate positive cognitions, positive feelings and/or positive behaviors that enhance well-being and ameliorate depressive symptoms. These interventions increase positive affect and life satisfaction as well as decrease negative affect through intentional activities; and are not just efficacious but of significant value in participants real lives. Schools are required to generate students who not only achieve high grades but are also capable of living a good life, one in which they find purpose, meaning and happiness. School success requires hope, optimism, emotional energy and motivation, elastic resilience, strong relationships, clearly understood values, refined purpose, and challenging, motivating goals. Parents also desire schools to teach more than academic achievement, i.e. to nurture a love of learning, creativity, resilience, optimism, character strengths, and wellbeing in their children. In the present scenario students as well as teachers experience high levels of psychological stress and anxiety due to various factors, and the prevalence of depression among young people is dreadfully high worldwide. We, at Reach BeYond centre for Positive Psychology have initiated two research projects in education, incorporating principles of positive psychology as follows: Positive Psychology Intervention in Education for the students of private schools belonging to grade 9, 10 and 11. Parents reported that there is a positive change in their wards. Self Efficacy and Language Skill Development through Positive Psychology Intervention for the underprivileged students of a school run by charitable trust. Both above mentioned projects are under process and a lot of constructive changes are noticed among students. The final findings of the research will open a new chapter in the field of Positive Psychology in India. PPIs into life and work of schools may act as buffer against aversive life events, stress and problems, and empower students to have increased levels of creativity, better critical thinking skills and increased levels of positive emotion and adventitious to the larger society.