Can Positive Psychology Improve Psychological Well-Being and Economic Decision-Making? Experimental Evidence from Kenya
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 5152741 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Victoria Baranov (0000-0003-4777-6466, The University of Melbourne), Johannes Haushofer (0000-0002-9984-9113, Princeton University), Cholsoon Jang (0000-0002-2495-9852, Princeton University), Chaning Jang |
| Year | 2020 |
| Volume | 68 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 1345-1376 |
| Publication date | 2020-07-01 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Economic Development and Cultural Change (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0013-0079 • E-ISSN: 1539-2988 |
| Publisher | University of Chicago Press (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1086/702860 |
| PMID | 33087942 |
| OpenAlex | W2911602932 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 11 |
| References cited | 71 |
We conduct a randomized experiment to evaluate the effect of a light-touch, low-cost psychological intervention on psychological well-being and economic decision-making in a developing country setting. Residents of an informal settlement in Kenya were randomly assigned to participate in best-practice exercises designed to promote gratitude, self-affirmation, and aspirations. We show that although we were successful in manipulating the psychological construct (reported gratitude increased by 0.3 standard deviation), there is no evidence that the intervention affected overall psychological well-being, beliefs, or aspirations. We also see no effects on real-incentive tasks measuring cognitive control or temporal discounting. Our results are important because light-touch positive psychology interventions are being widely promoted in workplaces and schools worldwide as a low-cost way to dramatically improve psychological well-being
Cognition · Construct (python library) · Economics · Gratitude · Incentive · Intervention (counseling) · Positive psychology · Psychological intervention · Psychological well-being · Psychotherapist · Well-being · Applied Psychology · Computer Science · Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics · Optimism, Hope, and Well-being · Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction · Psychology · Social Psychology
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Effectiveness of a comic book intervention on mental health literacy among adolescents and youth in Burkina Faso
How do emotional intelligence and psychological well-being affect decision making in Omani SMEs? Mediating role of entrepreneurial intention
The influence of cultural identity education on students’ positive psychology
Developing educational and vocational aspirations through international child sponsorship
Can destigmatizing mental health increase willingness to seek help? Experimental evidence from Nepal
Improving childhood immunization through maternal support
Context matters
Locus of Control and Economic Decision-Making
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Positive Psychology in Clinical Practice
Child mental health and human capital accumulation
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How to increase and sustain positive emotion
Effects of a Large-Scale Unconditional Cash Transfer Program on Mental Health Outcomes of Young People in Kenya
A meta-analysis of depression severity and cognitive function
Counting blessings in early adolescents
Group Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depression in Rural Uganda
Grand challenges in global mental health
On the psychology of poverty
Emotion and Decision Making
The global burden of mental disorders
Experimental manipulations of self-affirmation
Maternal Depression, Women’s Empowerment, and Parental Investment
Training, Wages, and Sample Selection
Some Consequences of Having Too Little
The Short-term Impact of Unconditional Cash Transfers to the Poor
Gratitude and well-being
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Efficient Estimation of Average Treatment Effects Using the Estimated Propensity Score
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Enhancing well‐being and alleviating depressive symptoms with positive psychology interventions
Recursive Processes in Self-Affirmation
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The effect of positive psychology interventions on well-being and distress in clinical samples with psychiatric or somatic disorders
Multiple Inference and Gender Differences in the Effects of Early Intervention
Poverty Impedes Cognitive Function
Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise
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The role of positive emotions in positive psychology
The grateful are patient
Beyond baseline and follow-up
Dissociating the facets of hope
The Effects of Cognitive
Aspirations and Inequality
Changing Households' Investment Behaviour through Social Interactions with Local Leaders
Deflecting the trajectory and changing the narrative
Counting blessings versus burdens
Positive Psychology Progress
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The Psychology of Change
Building a practically useful theory of goal setting and task motivation
Attrition from self-directed interventions
The psychological toll of slum living in Mumbai, India
Poverty, Aspirations, and the Economics of Hope
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| Citations per year | 1.83 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2020 - 2026 (7) |
| Highly cited | No |