The How, Why, What, When, and Who of Happiness

“…Lyubomirsky, Dickerhoof, Boehm, & Sheldon, 2011; Seligman, Steen, Park, & Peterson, 2005), counting one’s blessings (Chancellor & Lyubomirsky, 2012; Emmons & McCullough, 2003; Froh, Sefick, & Emmons, 2008; Lyubomirsky, Sheldon, et al., 2005; Seligman et al., 2005), practicing optimism (Boehm et…”

“The most effective interventions tend to be varied, integrated, and personalized (Lyubomirsky & Layous, 2013; Layous & Lyubomirsky, 2012; Sheldon & Lyubomirsky, 2012).”

“Emerging research in this domain suggests that the degree of ‘fit’ between the person and activity as captured by the user’s experience is linked to gains in wellbeing (Layous and Lyubomirsky 2014).”

“The SHM, and some of the assumptions embodied in the CONTACT Kennon M. Sheldon SheldonK@missouri.edu © 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group pie chart, has informed both of our research efforts and has given rise to several more nuanced models, including our joint Hedonic Adaptation Prevention mod…”

“…have begun considering issues related to effective translation and found that adjusting the dosage and variety of the active ingredients can enhance the likelihood that strategies for improving psychological well-being will be adopted, implemented, and maintained (Layous & Lyubomirsky, 2014).”

“Moreover, Layous and Lyubomirsky (2014) argued that PPIs might work best for depressed individuals when used in conjunction with psychotherapy rather than as stand-alone interventions.”

“…indicates that autonomy supportive environments provided by the researcher may increase intervention effectiveness (Della Porta et al., as cited in Layous & Lyubomirsky, 2012) and instructional support may hinder intervention effectiveness (Kaczmarek et al., 2014), the individual’s baseline…”

“Furthermore, demonstrating that Givers would benefit from performing acts of kindness was our least risky hypothesis (given that the benefits of practicing prosociality have been documented in other studies; see Layous & Lyubomirsky, 2014, for a review).”

“One important aspect for the PPIs to be successful, however, is the motivation of the participants as noted in other contexts (Layous & Lyubomirsky, 2014).”

“Different variables have been put forward (Layous & Lyubomirsky, 2014) that relate to the characteristics of the activity as well as to personal traits, while seeking a fit between both.”

“On this point, however, the activities’ characteristics, the individual’s characteristics, and the individual-activity harmony are quite important (Layous, Chancellor, Lyubomirsky, Wang, & Doraiswamy, 2011; Layous & Lyubomirsky, 2014).”

“Increased relatedness to others has also been found to mediate the effects between a gratitude intervention and increased levels of well-being (Layous & Lyubomirsky, 2014).”

“…to hedonic behavior, eudaimonic behaviors induce a greater variety of positive emotions (e.g., gratitude, contentment, joy) and are comprised of complex behaviors that are more self-perpetuating, less likely to lead to boredom, and less subject to hedonic adaptation (Layous and Lyubomirsky, 2014).”

“In fact, Layous and Lyubomirsky (2014) argue that the question is no longer whether wellbeing activities and interventions work, but rather how such interventions work and to what degree.”

“Accordingly, numerous experimental and longitudinal studies have demonstrated that the intentional application of certain cognitive and behavioural strategies can effectively and sustainably increase wellbeing and happiness levels (e.g., Layous & Lyubomirsky, 2014; Sin & Lyubomirsky, 2009).”

“1.3 Expanding Understanding of Key Moderators: Effort Multiple factors have been found to affect the degree to which positive activities work to increase well-being (Layous and Lyubomirsky 2014; Lyubomirsky and Layous 2013).”

“Future studies could experimentally manipulate variety, person-activity fit, or other variables like social support to examine whether they really have an influence on the effectivity of PAIs in the organizational context.”

“Positive activity interventions experimentally test the practice of simple, self-administered cognitive and behavioral strategies that can increase subjective well-being by promoting positive feelings, positive thoughts, and positive behaviors (Layous & Lyubomirsky, 2014).”

“What are the characteristics that determine why some people respond better to a wellbeing intervention than others [23,24]? One possibility is that wellbeing interventions will be most effective when the characteristics of the participant and the characteristics of the wellbeing tasks are optimally matched (i.”

“Moreover, this study incorporated tailoring (matching) procedures that allowed participant preferences to play a role in adherence to treatment, given that the possibility that this would increase exercise practice [46].”

“As summarized by Layous and Lyubomirsky (2014), characteristics of the positive activity (e.g. timing and dosage, variety) and the person (e.g. motivation and beliefs, effort, social support, culture, baseline levels of well-being) can moderate the efficacy of positive activities.”

“PAIs are simple, low-cost cognitive behavioral strategies that involve mirroring the thoughts and behaviors of naturally happy people (e.g., being thankful, optimistic, or kind) to enhance well-being (Layous & Lyubomirsky, 2014).”

“As Layous and Lyubomirsky highlight, ‘one positive act (a kindness toward a classmate) stimulates a chain of positive events’ (Layous & Lyubomirsky, 2014, p. 487).”

“Some scholars claimed the importance of exploring the mechanisms underlying depression (Ford et al., 2014) and happiness (Layous & Lyubomirsky, 2014).”

“One widely-used model to describe this type of fit specifically in the context of PP is PersonActivity Fit (PAF) by Layous and Lyubomirsky [35].”

“As well-being is a multifaceted construct, activities can impact well-being through increasing positive emotions, behaviors, thoughts, and fulfilling important psychological needs (Layous & Lyubomirsky, 2012).”

“…prompts high self-focus and a sense of entitlement to happiness, and when one’s explicit aim is the achievement of the goal (i.e., increased happiness) rather than enjoyment of the journey (Ford & Mauss, 2014; Layous & Lyubomirsky, 2014; see also Fiedler & Arslan; and Forgas, this volume).”

“For example, as research suggests individualizing intervention (Layous & Lyubomirsky, 2014) coaches can be more sophisticated in how they use positive psychology.”

“First, findings from the happiness literature show that motivation and believing in the effectiveness of happiness-enhancing activities yield more long-term happiness (Layous and Lyubomirsky 2014).”

“Layous and Lyubomirsky (2014) pointed out that the most reliable way to increase happiness is by voluntarily adopting certain strategies on a cognitive and emotional level rather than just by ameliorating one’s life circumstances.”

“Neuroscience has demonstrated their essential role in the behaviour of all living beings and that their value lies in the universality of the rules governing them (Damasio, 2006; Layous & Lyubomirsky, 2014).”

“Care should be taken, however, to investigate to what extent such interventions are in line with an individual’s background, interests, and motivation (Layous & Lyubomirsky, 2014), as this will likely predict their effectiveness.”

“…but also serve to build a repository of information used to facilitate the personalization of PPI treatment, a growing trend (Perna et al., 2018) where the empirical grouping of PPIs can allow predictions to be made in terms of which have the most value to consumers (Layous & Lyubomirsky, 2014).”

“As a consequence, intentional activities can have lasting benefits for our well-being (Lyubomirsky 2008; Layous and Lyubomirsky 2014; Lyubomirsky 2001).”

“That is, hedonic wellbeing has an affective component (the “hallmark” of happiness; Layous & Lyubomirsky, 2014, p. 473) and a cognitive component (Emerson et al., 2017; Pavot & Diener, 2008).”

“Furthermore, Layous and Lyubomirsky (2014) assert that a large portion of individuals’ happiness is determined by the way they “choose to think and behave in their daily lives” (p. 474).”

“Indeed, many PPIs have been demonstrated to be effective, yet what precisely drives their effects remains somewhat ambiguous (see, Layous & Lyubomirsky, 2014).”

“…and is seen to include the role of affect (Carter, 2004; Lykken & Tellegen, 1996), and a broad range of cognitive processes utilised to evaluate external conditions and to deliver satisfaction with one’s life (Huppert & So, 2011; Layous & Lyubomirsky, 2014; Lench et al., 2019; Ryff & Singer, 2006).”

“…of them PAM, individuals with depressive symptoms might not have the energy or motivation to commit to an intervention, or they might feel discour-aged if the intervention has no immediate effects (Layous & Lyubomirsky, 2014 ) which could limit or even reverse beneficial intervention effects.”

“Further, because the work circumstance of PSS can create perceptions of overprotectiveness, it can detract from individuals’ sense of autonomy (Layous & Lyubomirsky, 2014; Skinner & Edge, 2002) in the establishment of an action plan to deal with emotional exhaustion.”

“…intervention type and participants’ internal motivations and values improves the likelihood of successful adoption and maintenance of learning (Layous and Lyubomirsky 2014), yet few people currently have access to programs that venture beyond the application of conventional educational or…”

“Similarly, advances in the science of wellbeing have generated increasing interest in the study of happiness and the contributors to mental well-being (Layous and Lyubomirsky 2014; Joshanloo and Niknam 2019).”

“…emotion regulation is explained by deliberate engagement in emotion-regulating activities (e.g., practicing kindness, seeking distraction, taking a break, and indulging in a relaxing moment), not by the change of material qualities (e.g., changing a room color) (Layous & Lyubomirsky, 2013).”

“Being a public campaign, it is also possible that some participants were influenced by a sense of social pressure, resulting in some insin-cere gratitude being posted (Armenta et al. 2017; Layous and Lyubomirsky 2014).”

“However, several investigations have demonstrated that characteristics of the individuals performing the interventions impact their efficacy (see Layous & Lyubomirsky, 2014; for a review).”

“Analogously, as observed in research on happiness interventions, a lack of authenticity suppresses the positive effect of the intervention (Layous & Lyubomirsky, 2014).”

“For more detailed discussions of these and other factors, see Layous and Lyubomirsky (2014) and Nelson and Lyubomirsky (2014).”

“Happiness is a state of being happy and can easily be acquired through minimal cognitive and behavioral approaches that everyone can use in their lives (Layous & Lyubomirsky, 2014; Sin & Lyubomirsky, 2009).”

“Some recent work proposed in the positive psychology research community (Layous & Lyubomirsky, 2014; Seligman 2011) offers important scientific evidence to develop a social information infrastructure to guide diverse citizens’ collective behaviors towards achieving a flourished society.”

“This bottom-up approach is in line with theories of fit which recognize that interventions are most effective when tailored to individuals and communities, rather than taking a Bone size fits all^ approach (Fordyce 1983; Layous and Lyubomirsky 2012).”

“For example, the SHM guided researchers to test if gratitude activities (e.g., journaling, counting one’s bless - ings) would increase happiness, whereas the PAM helped elucidate that some forms of gratitude activities are more effective than others (Regan et al., 2023 ).”

“These findings suggest a low level of person-activity fit for some individuals (Layous & Lyubomirsky, 2014; see also Howell, 2017) and/or that some important factors (e.g. personal, contextual, and/or processual) might not be well captured within the S-AII intervention, which results in limited…”

“Thus far, the majority of scientific studies have focused on whether well-being enhancing interventions are effective (Layous and Lyubomirsky 2012; Bolier et al. 2013b; Weiss et al. 2016; Sin and Lyubomirsky 2009), but not whether they attract a different audience.”

“…well-being generally refers to “ the experience of joy, contentment, positive feelings, and low negative feelings, all combined with the sense that one ’ s life is good, worthwhile, meaningful, and functions smoothly without signi fi cant dif fi cul-ties ” (Layous and Lyubomirsky, 2014, p. 3).”

“…for research in Positive Psychology to increase our understanding about which Positive Psychology Intervention (PPI) works best, for whom, and under which circumstances (Fordyce, 1983; Kubzansky et al., 2023; Layous & Lyubomirsky, 2014; Lyubomirsky et al., 2005a, 2005b; van Agteren et al., 2021).”

“In [5], a list of activities to increase people’s well-being based on findings in positive psychology is reported.”

“In contemporary society, this pursuit of ultimate good often translates into seeking happiness through various means, such as higher income, prestigious careers, favorable living environments, or material possessions (19).”