Our mission is to enhance health and happiness through translational research, practice, and education in Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology.
Do Positive Psychology Interventions work in non-Western ‘Arab’ cultures?
This project was created with the aim of examining whether positive psychology interventions (PPIs) are effective in Arab cultures, where values differ from those for which the PPIs were originally developed.
The project consists of a systematic review to assess the effects of PPIs on well-being and mental health across Arab countries in addition to identifying the types of PPIs and measurement tools applied in such studies to date. The findings from this review will be used to inform the design and delivery of PPIs in a randomised controlled trial (RCT). The RCT focuses on adapting existing PPIs to test their validity and effectiveness in Arab society, particularly in Saudi Arabia.
The project aims to promote the well-being of higher education students by developing interventions that have a better person-culture activity fit and by incorporating elements that align with the values and beliefs of that culture. It also examines the impact of students’ stress mindset on well-being.
Led by: Asma Basurrah
Supervised by: Dr. Zelda Di Blasi and Dr. Annalisa Setti
Time Awareness Coaching to Address Hybrid Workers’ Work-Time Practices and Wellbeing
The ways we think about, spend, and value our time have widespread impacts on our lives, impacting our health, wellbeing, and productivity, often without our full awareness of their influence. This project aims to develop time awareness strategies that can be applied to a range of professional and personal contexts to support individuals and teams to reflect on current time habits and intentionally adopt habits that support their wellbeing.
Specifically, this project aims to develop an evidence-based time awareness coaching approach that supports companies and workers to establish effective work-time practices while adjusting to hybrid work models.
The project consists of a systematic review examining previous time management interventions used in the workplace and how they have effectively supported employees. Mixed methods research investigates how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the ways individuals think about and spend their time. Combined with positive behaviour change theories, this research will be used to design and test a time coaching intervention. This intervention will aim to support hybrid workers to reflect on their time, draw awareness to effective work habits, and motivate the development of effective work-time practices that support both professional and personal growth.
Led by: Anna Navin Young
Supervised by: Dr. Zelda Di Blasi and Dr. Sarah Foley
Nature–Based Interventions (NBIs) for Personal and Planetary Wellbeing
This is an interdisciplinary project on nature–based interventions (NBIs) at the climate-biodiversity-health nexus. An umbrella review aims to synthesize the available evidence on nature–based interventions (NBIs) which are aimed at enhancing mental health and wellbeing. This project mainly focuses on intersections of nature–based interventions that enhance mental health and wellbeing, while promoting the restoration of the natural world. This research has an impact at the intersection of two major global crises; mental health and climate change. Personal meaning that individuals hold for nature to support the synthesis of NBIs which resonate with the individual will also be considered. This research will lead to the development of nature–based interventions which benefit both the climate and biodiversity, while simultaneously enhancing human wellbeing.
Led by: Topaz Shrestha
Supervised by: Dr. Zelda Di Blasi, Dr. Sarah Foley, and Dr. Marica Cassarino