The impact of “The Art of Happiness” class on community dwelling older adults: a positive psychology intervention

ABSTRACT

Mental health is often negatively impacted throughout the aging process and declines in psychological health can result in a decreased sense of well-being and overall quality of life in the older adult population. Research has shown that positive psychology interventions can enhance psychological well-being in older adults; however few studies have targeted this population. Researchers sought to evaluate a positive mental health intervention in an older adult population. The Art of Happiness is an 8-week intervention that was conducted at two senior centers. Pre and post intervention assessments of participant subjective happiness, stress, gratitude, life satisfaction, depression, mindfulness, arousal states, and general demographic and health information were completed. Compared to the control group, by the end of the intervention, participants experienced significantly less perceived stress, and were significantly calmer and less tired than before the intervention. Results from this study provide significant contributions to the field of positive psychology and suggest that interventions similar to “The Art of Happiness,” are applicable to older adult populations.

KEYWORDS:

• Older adults
• aging
• positive psychology
• mental health
• subjective happiness
• quality of life

Acknowledgments

Claymore Senior Center, Howard Weston Senior Center.