The Role of Positive Psychology in the Face of Physical Injury/Illness Physical injury and/or illness can take a negative toll on the emotional health of the one afflicted. However, recent research has suggested that in the face of compromised health, positive psychology can improve emotional health and well-being.

The Role of Positive Psychology in the Face of Physical Injury/Illness Optimism and Physical Health According to Quale and Schanke (2010), optimism, an important characteristic in positive psychology, “is a human strength that can be built in therapy and that optimists are exposed to the same disappointments and tragedies as pessimists, but they are handling them better (pg. 13).” This optimism leads to increased awareness of a condition, proactivity in treatment, and minimization of risk factors to health (Quale and Schanke, 2010).

The Role of Positive Psychology in the Face of Physical Injury/Illness In their study, Quale and Schanke (2010) interviewed patients with multiple trauma or spinal cord injuries within three weeks of admission to a rehabilitation hospital and within one week of discharge. The patients were classified into three trajectories: – Resilience, those who displayed little to no stress upon admission – Recovery, those who displayed initial stress but recovered over time – Distress, those who displayed stress upon admission and discharge Quale and Schanke found that those classified in the resilience trajectory (54% of participants) were “above threshold for state positive affect (pg. 15)” and optimism.

The Role of Positive Psychology in the Face of Physical Injury/Illness Another study, conducted by Perkman, et al. (2010) sought to improve “stress management… physical healthcare… and behavioral activation (pg. 120)” in patients admitted to a Veterans Affairs mental health clinic. Eighty-three veterans participated in this study. The average participant was “male in his mid-50s, living alone, not employed, depressed, obese, and with many chronic medical problems (pg. 120).”

The Role of Positive Psychology in the Face of Physical Injury/Illness In conjunction with “psychoeducation, skills building, and peer support (pg. 121),” Perlman, et al. (2010) used positive psychology in the form of humor in the wellness program; specifically, “group leaders model[ed] the use of humor to counter negative emotion and make new members comfortable (pg. 125).” Participants were interviewed before participating in the wellness program, and after completion of the 15-week program. Results showed that of the 56 participants who completed the program, a majority of the patients showed a significant improvement in all areas during the program, and reported continuing those skills during the 6-month to 3-year follow up.

Further Implications In his study, Phipps (2007) further investigated reports that children with cancer show less symptoms of depression than their healthy counterparts. Phipps credits repressive adaptive styles for this positive emotional and resilience in those diagnosed with pediatric cancer. Phipps further implies that more research in positive psychology and pediatric cancer patients because the effects shown in adults, such as “positive mood, perseverance, achievement, lower somatic distress, better health-related quality of life, and longevity (pg. 1061) may also be applicable to children.

References Perlman, L.M., Cohen, J.L., Altiere, M.J., Brennan, J.A., Brown, S.R, Boss Mainka, J., & Diroff, C.R. (2010). A multidimensional wellness group therapy program for veterans with comorbid psychiatric and medical conditions. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 41(2), Phipps, S. (2007). Adaptive style in children with cancer: implications for a positive psychology approach. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 32(9), 1055–1066. Quale, A.J., & Schanke, A. (2010). Resilience in the face of coping with a severe physical injury: a study of trajectories of adjustment in a rehabilitation setting. Rehabilitation Psychology, 55(1),