Positive Health Program

Description

The project [POSITIVE HEALTH PROGRAM (POS-H-PRO)] seeks to identify positive stimuli that promote human flourishing, which includes physical, emotional, social, spiritual and financial well-being (as is health defined by WHO). Thus, it focuses on concepts that go beyond “fixing” current health imperfections. Using an engineering analogy, one can say that it seeks to build a highway to human flourishing that through positive stimuli in daily life and at work will lead to complete well-being. Specifically, POS-H-PRO examines the impact positive factors in life and while-at-work have had on alleviating the negative effects disease burden, social distancing and economic shutdowns related to COVID-19 have had on health and well-being. Second, POS-H-PRO studies how cultural attendance and participation help to live longer and healthier life. Finally, since everyone desires having purpose in life and this factor is also a well-recognized as positively affecting health and longevity, POS-H-PRO aims at identifying factor that make life more meaningful and purposeful. Using rigorous methods and reliable data sources POS-H-PRO identifies new, so far, understudied factors positively contributing to human flourishing. It also provides evidence on how to help people live fulfilled lives, especially in a dynamically environment related to population aging, evolving life styles (sedentary life styles, e-cigarettes), and environmental challenges, not disregarding the recent threats related to the COVID-19. The findings of the project POS-H-PRO will help to inform policy makers and practitioners about the efficiency of strategies that enable individuals to attain and maintain well-being. They will also help to establish which policies will be most likely successful in promotion of human thriving.

Summary of project results

The "Positive Health Program" aimed to address several key issues and barriers:

• Lack of Evidence on Positive Effects: Despite progress in positive health and psychology, we still don''t have enough evidence on how positive factors affect health and well-being. Many positive aspects, like the impact of work environments and finding purpose in life, haven''t been studied enough.
• Narrow Definition of Health: Health is often seen only in terms of avoiding sickness, but it''s much more than that. The program aimed to look at health more broadly, considering how positive factors contribute to overall well-being, not just physical and mental health.
• Fragmented Evidence and Bias: Past studies often only examined one aspect of health at a time, leading to scattered evidence and potential biases. Our project examined multiple aspects of health together to get a clearer picture and reduce bias.
• Limited Understanding of Positive Work Impact: While we know much about how work can harm well-being, we know less about how it can be beneficial. Our program filled this gap by exploring how work can contribute positively to overall flourishing.
• Methodological Challenges: Previous research on positive influences on health has been constrained by specific methods. We addressed these challenges to understand better how positive factors affect health and well-being and the other way around.

Overall, the "Positive Health Program" aimed to improve our understanding of how positive factors influence health and well-being, overcome methodological hurdles, and broaden our definition of health to include overall flourishing.

The "Positive Health Program" project explored how positive experiences and engagement in art can enhance people''s well-being, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. We examined three primary areas:

• Understanding the Good Things: Our research demonstrated how positive aspects of our personal and work lives can improve our emotional state and help us cope with the illness and stress caused by the pandemic. Strong morals, financial stability, and community involvement were essential for maintaining mental health.
• Art and Feeling Good: We discovered that participation in artistic and mind-stimulating activities, such as theater or playing chess, can elevate our happiness and foster connections with others. Engaging with art has also been shown to enhance well-being and even positively impact organizations.
• Finding Meaning: We investigated the elements that contribute to a meaningful life. Adhering to moral principles and possessing specific personal strengths were identified as crucial for experiencing a sense of purpose.

The project also achieved several concrete outcomes:

• We authored 14 additional scientific papers and two book chapters beyond our initial plan.
• We participated in ten international conferences focused on health and well-being, where we shared our findings and gained insights from others.
• Additionally, we applied for a grant to research how positive experiences and art can improve people''s well-being.

The "Positive Health Program" had significant impacts in various areas, benefiting both scientific fields and broader sectors:

• Psychological and Health Sciences: Our research identified specific character strengths, such as zest, self-regulation, hope, and gratitude, showing how they strongly affect people''s quality of life and health behaviors. This helps us better understand well-being.
• Public Health Policies: Our project indicates that public health policies aimed at strengthening these character attributes could be well-received and positively impact societal well-being. However, we also uncovered unexpected insights, such as the interaction between positive experiences and distress during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, which require further investigation.
• Organization Science: Enhancing work environments and fostering positive atmospheres are crucial for employee health and work outcomes, revealing how organizations can promote well-being.
• Arts and Humanities: Our research showed that theater and intellectually stimulating leisure activities can improve social skills and quality of life, especially for older adults.
• Economic and Finance: We found that saving money can help reduce mental health risks, giving us insights into how household finances affect well-being.
• Psychology: Our research highlighted how ethical behaviors and specific character strengths contribute to meaningfully living longer.

Additionally, our project received global recognition, with one study making it into the "Top 10 Insights from the Science of a Meaningful Life in 2023" list by the Greater Good Science Centre at the University of California, Berkeley.