The Role of Positive Psychology in the Face of Physical Injury/Illness

• Physical injury and/or illness can take a negative toll on the emotional health of the one afflicted.

• However, recent research has suggested that in the face of compromised health, positive psychology can improve emotional health and well-being.

The Role of Positive Psychology in the Face of Physical Injury/Illness

Optimism and Physical Health• According to Quale and Schanke (2010), optimism,

an important characteristic in positive psychology, “is a human strength that can be built in therapy and that optimists are exposed to the same disappointments and tragedies as pessimists, but they are handling them better (pg. 13).”

• This optimism leads to increased awareness of a condition, proactivity in treatment, and minimization of risk factors to health (Quale and Schanke, 2010).

The Role of Positive Psychology in the Face of Physical Injury/Illness

• In their study, Quale and Schanke (2010) interviewed patients with multiple trauma or spinal cord injuries within three weeks of admission to a rehabilitation hospital and within one week of discharge.

• The patients were classified into three trajectories:– Resilience, those who displayed little to no stress upon

admission – Recovery, those who displayed initial stress but recovered over

time– Distress, those who displayed stress upon admission and

discharge• Quale and Schanke found that those classified in the resilience

trajectory (54% of participants) were “above threshold for state positive affect (pg. 15)” and optimism.

The Role of Positive Psychology in the Face of Physical Injury/Illness

• Another study, conducted by Perkman, et al. (2010) sought to improve “stress management… physical healthcare… and behavioral activation (pg. 120)” in patients admitted to a Veterans Affairs mental health clinic.

• Eighty-three veterans participated in this study.• The average participant was “male in his mid-50s,

living alone, not employed, depressed, obese, and with many chronic medical problems (pg. 120).”

The Role of Positive Psychology in the Face of Physical Injury/Illness

• In conjunction with “psychoeducation, skills building, and peer support (pg. 121),” Perlman, et al. (2010) used positive psychology in the form of humor in the wellness program; specifically, “group leaders model[ed] the use of humor to counter negative emotion and make new members comfortable (pg. 125).”

• Participants were interviewed before participating in the wellness program, and after completion of the 15-week program.

• Results showed that of the 56 participants who completed the program, a majority of the patients showed a significant improvement in all areas during the program, and reported continuing those skills during the 6-month to 3-year follow up.

Further Implications• In his study, Phipps (2007) further investigated reports

that children with cancer show less symptoms of depression than their healthy counterparts.

• Phipps credits repressive adaptive styles for this positive emotional and resilience in those diagnosed with pediatric cancer.

• Phipps further implies that more research in positive psychology and pediatric cancer patients because the effects shown in adults, such as “positive mood, perseverance, achievement, lower somatic distress, better health-related quality of life, and longevity (pg. 1061) may also be applicable to children.

References• Perlman, L.M., Cohen, J.L., Altiere, M.J., Brennan, J.A.,

Brown, S.R, Boss Mainka, J., & Diroff, C.R. (2010). A multidimensional wellness group therapy program for veterans with comorbid psychiatric and medical conditions. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 41(2), 120-127.

• Phipps, S. (2007). Adaptive style in children with cancer: implications for a positive psychology approach. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 32(9), 1055–1066.

• Quale, A.J., & Schanke, A. (2010). Resilience in the face of coping with a severe physical injury: a study of trajectories of adjustment in a rehabilitation setting. Rehabilitation Psychology, 55(1), 12-22.