The effects of positive psychology interventions in Arab countries: A systematic review
Date
2022
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Publisher
John Wiley and Sons Inc.
Abstract
While there is evidence for the effects of positive psychology interventions (PPIs) in the Western world, we know little about their effects on Arab cultures. This review aimed to assess the effects of PPIs on well-being and mental health across Arab countries. Systematic searches of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental studies investigating PPIs in Arabia were conducted in six English and Arabic databases from the inception of positive psychology in 1998 to 28 February 2022. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tools. The protocol was published in the BMJ Open. Forty-four studies from 10 Arab countries (n = 3598 participants) were included. Of these, 12 were RCTs and 32 were quasi-experimental. The studies mainly focused on adults (73%) and healthy populations (86%). PPIs included mindfulness, positive thinking, strengths, hope, optimism, self-compassion, positive traits, and multiple PPIs. Nearly all studies (91%) mentioned cultural adaptation; however, little detail was given. This is the first review in Arabia. PPIs appear to be effective for promoting well-being and reducing mental health issues. However, there were some risks of bias concerns. Future research should include younger and clinical populations, using larger samples and providing more details about adaptation. © 2022 The Authors. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Association of Applied Psychology.
Description
This article is licensed under Creative Commons License and full text is openly accessible in CUD Digital Repository. The version of the scholarly record of this article is published in Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being (2022), available online at: https://doi.org/10.1111/aphw.12391
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Review
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Keywords
Arab countries, mental health, positive psychology interventions, systematic review, well-being
Citation
Basurrah, A. A., Di Blasi, Z., Lambert, L., Murphy, M., Warren, M. A., Setti, A., . . . Shrestha, T. (2022). The effects of positive psychology interventions in arab countries: A systematic review. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-being, doi:10.1111/aphw.12391