Cited by 720Psychological Well-being and Life SatisfactionOptimism, Hope, and Well-beingAging and Gerontology Research

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Becoming happier takes both a will and a proper way: An experimental longitudinal intervention to boost well-being.

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Lyubomirsky, Sonja, Dickerhoof, Rene, Boehm, Julia K., Sheldon, Kennon M.·2011·Emotion

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Abstract

An 8-month-long experimental study examined the immediate and longer term effects of regularly practicing two assigned positive activities (expressing optimism and gratitude) on well-being. More important, this intervention allowed us to explore the impact of two metafactors that are likely to influence the success of any positive activity: whether one self-selects into the study knowing that it is about increasing happiness and whether one invests effort into the activity over time. Our results indicate that initial self-selection makes a difference, but only in the two positive activity conditions, not the control, and that continued effort also makes a difference, but, again, only in the treatment conditions. We conclude that happiness interventions are more than just placebos, but that they are most successful when participants know about, endorse, and commit to the intervention.

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Authors: Lyubomirsky, S., Dickerhoof, R., Boehm, J. K., & Sheldon, K. M.
Affiliations: University of California, Riverside (US)
University of Missouri (US)
ORCID: Lyubomirsky, Sonja
Boehm, Julia K.
Sheldon, Kennon M.
Venue: Emotion
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Published: 2011-04
Volume: 11
Issue: 2
Pages: 391-402
ISSN: 1528-3542 (ISSN-L)
1931-1516
DOI: 10.1037/a0022575
PMC: PMC4380267
OpenAlex: W2137553736
Cited by: 720
References: 75
Citations by year: 2026: 23 · 2025: 50 · 2024: 48 · 2023: 65 · 2022: 37 · 2021: 51 · 2020: 54 · 2019: 45 · 2018: 38 · 2017: 56 · 2016: 47 · 2015: 58 · 2014: 62 · 2013: 39 · 2012: 32
FWCI: 63.08
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Locations: Emotion (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Chapman University Digital Commons (Chapman University) (submittedVersion)
eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
Funders: National Institute of Mental Health (5 R01 MH065937-04)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Optimism, Hope, and Well-being
Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
Keywords: happiness interventions, well-being, optimism, gratitude, positive activities, self-selection, effort investment, placebo effect, longitudinal intervention
MeSH terms: Affect, Behavior Therapy, Female, Happiness, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Motivation, Personal Satisfaction, Psychological Tests, Surveys and Questionnaires

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Becoming happier takes both a will and a proper way: An experimental longitudinal intervention to boost well-being.

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