Clinical Research Directory

Positive Events Training to Enhance Positive Emotions in Adolescents With Elevated Depressive Symptoms: An N=1 Trial

Sponsor: KU Leuven

Summary

Research shows that high positive emotionality is an essential ingredient in building resilience in youngsters, especially those with a vulnerability to develop depressive symptomatology. It may empower youngsters against actual depression and its various long-term adverse outcomes. One way to achieve positive emotions is via the recollection and anticipation of specific positive events. Therefore, to cultivate positive emotions in young people, the researchers developed a user-friendly training program translated from basic research findings: Positive Event Training (PET). Through PET, adolescents learn to solidify positive memories and positive plans. This low-threshold program, delivered as a group training at secondary schools, was well received by adolescents in a previous project of our lab (Recalling and Anticipating Specific Positive Events to boost Resilience in Adolescents). In the context of the current study, the PET program, which normally consists of four 1-hour sessions, will be delivered in three individual sessions. The previous project at secondary schools showed that PET leads to heightened positive emotions particularly among youths with elevated depressive tendencies. This indicates that PET can offer increased resilience against depression, especially for vulnerable young individuals. In our current project, the researchers conduct a comprehensive, fine-grained evaluation of the PET program's effectiveness, delivered in an individual format, by collecting intensive data and detailed participant feedback.

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