Effectiveness of an app-based intervention to improve well-being through cultivating positive thinking and positive emotions in an adult sample: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Fabio Alexis Rincón Uribe; Maria Fernanda Monteiro Favacho; Paula Marília Nascimento Moura; Diana Milena Cortés Patiño; Janari da Silva Pedroso

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1200960

Effectiveness of an app-based intervention to improve well-being through cultivating positive thinking and positive emotions in an adult sample: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Front Psychol. 2023 Jul 19:14:1200960. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1200960. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Fabio Alexis Rincón Uribe¹, Maria Fernanda Monteiro Favacho², Paula Marília Nascimento Moura², Diana Milena Cortés Patiño³, Janari da Silva Pedroso^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicologia, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil.
² Faculdade de Psicologia, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil.
³ Programa de Pós-Graduação em Teoria e Pesquisa do Comportamento, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil.

Abstract

Introduction: Interventions to promote health and well-being based on the construction of psychological resources can positively impact the daily life of users and foster human flourishing. Nowadays, mobile health represents a safe way to support health research and implement evidence-based psychological interventions. The present study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a mobile app-based intervention program (OneUS) designed to cultivate positive emotions and positive thinking to improve overall well-being.

Methods: The study is designed as a randomized controlled trial. Two hundred participants will be randomly assigned to either a mobile health intervention condition (OneUS App) or an active control condition. The intervention consists of a program to cultivate positive emotions and positive thoughts. The active control intervention will comprise a set of mental imagery exercises and daily routine recording. The primary outcome comprises optimal well-being assessed using the multidimensional PERMA-Profiler scale. The sample will include adult people from the general population, who will be assessed at 8 time points: baseline (t1), intervention (t2, t3, t4, t5, t6) post-intervention (t7) and 3-month follow-up (t8).

Discussion: Mobile apps seem to be promising tools to promote health and well-being. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of a mobile app (OneUS) aiming to cultivate positive emotions and positive thinking to improve well-being. The main strength of this study is the development of an evidence-based mobile health app, based on intentional mental training, to promote well-being. The limitations of this study relate to potential participant drop-out and the non-generalizability of the results to clinical populations.

Clinical trial registration: https://ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-43hpwqk, Identifier RBR-43hpwqk.

Keywords: mobile health; positive emotions; positive psychology; positive thinking; smartphone apps; smartphone apps well-being; well-being.