Savoring Interventions Increase Positive Emotions After a Social-Evaluative Hassle

Abstract

Achieving a high quality of life is dependent upon how individuals face adversity. Positive psychological interventions are well-suited to support coping efforts; however, experimental research is limited. The purpose of the current research was to examine whether different savoring interventions could increase important coping resources (i.e., positive emotions) in response to a social-evaluative hassle. We completed an experimental mixed subject design study with a university student sample. All participants completed a hassle induction task and were then randomly assigned into different intervention groups. Positive emotion ratings were collected at three points in time (baseline, post-induction task, post-intervention). Results revealed a significant time x intervention interaction effect, such that individuals in the savoring the moment intervention reported higher levels of positive emotions (at post-intervention) compared to individuals assigned to the true control group, guided imagery control group, and savoring through reminiscence intervention. Such findings represent a significant extension to savoring theory and offer support for savoring the moment exercises as a primary prevention strategy to bolster effective responses to social-evaluative hassles.

Keywords: positive emotions; savoring dimensions; savoring interventions; social-evaluative hassles; stress.

Figure 1

Mean heart rate and galvanic skin response score across Time. Errors bars represent standard errors of the mean.

Figure 2

Interaction effect between time and intervention on positive emotions. Errors bars represent standard errors of the mean.