Investigators
Amy Finlay-Jones, Keely Bebbington, Donna Cross, Elizabeth Davis
Project team members
Asha Parkinson
Collaborators
Monique Kerr (Allergy Support Hub), Emma Warner (Allergy Support Hub), Bec Johnson (Type 1 Diabetes Family Centre), Barbara Mullan (Curtin University), Claire Treadgold (Starlight), Rachel Collins (PCH)
Partners
Starlight Children's Foundation, Allergy Support Hub, Type 1 Family Centre, Asthma WA
Project description
The aim of this project is to develop and test a series of modules to promote mental health among young people with chronic conditions, using a positive psychology framework. Positive psychology interventions have substantial potential to optimise wellbeing and prevent mental ill health among young people with chronic illness. Positive psychology takes a strengths-based approach to alleviating distress and promoting wellbeing and resilience.
Our objectives are to (a) identify which positive psychology constructs should be targeted; (b) develop module content and design; and (c) pilot test the modules to determine their acceptability and impact on mood. We will develop and test a series of brief online modules, each targeting a different positive psychology construct (e.g. hope, optimism, self-compassion, self-efficacy).
The constructs to be targeted will be guided by analysis of our existing dataset that contains longitudinal data on positive psychology constructs, wellbeing, adjustment, and distress among young people living with chronic conditions. We will select the constructs that are most robustly associated with mental health over time and develop one brief module for each of these. We will engage a co-design group, comprising young people with chronic conditions, to co-create module content with us. Modules will be developed for online delivery. We will pilot each module with young people with chronic conditions to gather data on acceptability and usability of the module, as well as its impact on mood and coping.
Funding
Healthway