Major theories informing conceptions of psychological well-being draw heavily from Western-centric perspectives, which often neglect culturally bound frameworks. We investigated how U.S. Hispanics/Latinos conceptualize well-being, how psychosocial and behavioral aspects may increase well-being, and how psychosocial stressors may impact positive emotional states. Spanish-speaking Hispanic/Latino adults were recruited from a church in an urban city in the U.S. and invited to participate in focus groups. Two groups of women (n=19) and one group of men (n=8) participated. The importance of harmonious social relationships emerged as a theme with the central family unit as the fundamental force influencing long-lasting emotional well-being. Additional correlates of well-being included: faith/religiosity; physical health; self-love and -esteem; effective/open communication with family and friends; and financial security. Programs aimed at increasing well-being may need to be adapted before administration in Hispanics/Latinos to include a heightened focus on interpersonal factors. Delivery in religious institutions may also be particularly beneficial.

Although increasing emotional well-being has been proposed as a potential pathway to drive cardiac health, emotional well-being interventions for people with cardiac risk are underdeveloped, particularly among Hispanic/Latino adults. Our objective was to pilot a well-being intervention drawing on positive psychology concepts to determine feasibility and acceptability in Hispanics/Latinos at risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). We developed a Spanish-language positive psychological intervention, with cultural tailoring informed by formative qualitative work, to promote emotional well-being and its antecedents in Hispanics/Latinos. Hispanic/Latino adults (n = 19) self-reporting two or more CVD risk factors were enrolled in our single-arm 8-week pilot trial. The group intervention consisted of 8 weekly 90-min sessions delivered by a bilingual licensed clinical social worker. Mean age was 54.1 years, 68.8% were female, and 50% had ≤eighth-grade education. Eleven of 19 Hispanic/Latino adults completed the 8-week program for a 57.89% retention rate, with a majority of factors leading to dropout unrelated to program content or mode of delivery. Most participants felt satisfied overall with each session (97.1%). Largest increases relative to baseline after receiving the intervention were found in engagement in happiness-inducing behaviors (e.g., meditation), emotional vitality, and subjective happiness using metrics of reliable change and effect sizes. This single-arm trial documented adequate feasibility and acceptability, although strategies to increase retention are warranted. Future studies should test our intervention using a randomized trial design with a larger sample size and inclusion of biomarkers (e.g., C-reactive protein) to document impact of our intervention on cardiac-related health.

Objective

We conducted a randomized controlled trial to determine whether IRISS (Intervention for those Recently Informed of their Seropositive Status), a positive affect skills intervention, improved positive emotion, psychological health, physical health, and health behaviors in people newly diagnosed with HIV.

Method

One-hundred and fifty-nine participants who had received an HIV diagnosis in the past 3 months were randomized to a 5-session, in-person, individually delivered positive affect skills intervention or an attention-matched control condition.

Results

For the primary outcome of past-day positive affect, the group difference in change from baseline over time did not reach statistical significance (p = .12, d = .30). Planned secondary analyses within assessment point showed that the intervention led to higher levels of past-day positive affect at 5, 10, and 15 months postdiagnosis compared with an attention control. For antidepressant use, the between group difference in change from baseline was statistically significant (p = .006, d = -.78 baseline to 15 months) and the difference in change over time for intrusive and avoidant thoughts related to HIV was also statistically significant (p = .048, d = .29). Contrary to findings for most health behavior interventions in which effects wane over the follow up period, effect sizes in IRISS seemed to increase over time for most outcomes.

Conclusions

This comparatively brief positive affect skills intervention achieved modest improvements in psychological health, and may have the potential to support adjustment to a new HIV diagnosis. (PsycINFO Database Record