Writing Activities and Emotions

Does an Online Two-week Positive Psychological Intervention Improve Positive Affect in Young Adults?

The current study aims to test whether an online two-week positive psychological intervention can increase positive affect in college students. Participants will be recruited from the University of Pittsburgh undergraduate subject pool. Students will be ineligible if they are under the age of 18; currently prescribed medications for cardiac arrythmias; have a history of heart surgery, heart attack, or stroke; are currently pregnant; or currently have symptoms consistent with COVID-19. This study includes an active control arm and an intervention arm. Both arms will be required to complete writing activities every other day for two weeks. Participants in the control arm will list their daily activities, while participants in the intervention arm will complete various positive psychology activities. Questionnaires assessing mood, emotional well-being, social functioning and a few health behaviors will be administered pre- and post-intervention. The investigators aim to recruit 250 undergraduate students with the hope that at least 50 participants per group will complete the entire study.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Must be an undergraduate student at the University of Pittsburgh that is currently taking Introduction to Psychology.
• Must be at least 18 years old
• Not currently prescribed medications for cardiac arrythmias
• Report no history of heart surgery, heart attack, or stroke
• Not currently pregnant
• Must deny having current symptoms consistent with COVID-19.

Exclusion Criteria:

• If the participant does not meet the inclusion criteria.