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Embedding Positive Emotions Activities in a Family-Strengthening Intervention to Enhance Receptivity and Engagement

Publication ,  Journal Article
Puffer, ES; Mansoor, M; Rieder, AD; Johnson, SL; Quick, KN; Rasmussen, JM; Salgado, G; Boone, WJ; Proeschold-Bell, RJ
Published in: Journal of Prevention and Health Promotion
April 2025

Fostering participant engagement in behavioral interventions, especially those delivered via videoconferencing and with families, is challenging. Drawing on social-psychological literature on positive emotions and known emotion-action tendency sets (e.g., awe increases openness to new ideas; compassion spurs forming social bonds), we propose that exercises that induce specific positive emotions could enhance receptivity and engagement to achieve session goals in manualized interventions. We conducted a pilot study to test the feasibility and acceptability of incorporating brief positive emotions exercises into a group family intervention. The eight-session manualized intervention, Coping Together, is designed to promote positive family relationships and communication. We selected one positive emotions exercise for the start of each session to induce a specific emotion with an action tendency tailored to that session’s goals. Community health workers (CHWs) facilitated the sessions over Zoom with parents/caregivers and youth ages 7 to 18 during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. Eighteen families (24 caregivers; 24 youth) participated; 92% of caregivers were African American. Caregivers and youth participated in focus groups and post-session surveys. CHWs participated in interviews. Each positive emotions exercise was found to be feasible in implementation, practicality, integration, and acceptability. Participants gave high ratings on enjoyment, clarity, and usefulness for all exercises and most indicated experiencing the intended emotion. Findings suggest attention should be given to unintended emotions, multiple emotions, and the relatability of activities. This feasibility study informs future studies needed to test whether specific positive emotions exercises increase engagement. This approach may potentially strengthen outcomes across interventions.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Journal of Prevention and Health Promotion

DOI

EISSN

2632-0789

ISSN

2632-0770

Publication Date

April 2025

Volume

6

Issue

2

Start / End Page

301 / 334

Publisher

SAGE Publications
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Puffer, E. S., Mansoor, M., Rieder, A. D., Johnson, S. L., Quick, K. N., Rasmussen, J. M., … Proeschold-Bell, R. J. (2025). Embedding Positive Emotions Activities in a Family-Strengthening Intervention to Enhance Receptivity and Engagement. Journal of Prevention and Health Promotion, 6(2), 301–334. https://doi.org/10.1177/26320770241255114
Puffer, Eve S., Mahgul Mansoor, Amber D. Rieder, Savannah L. Johnson, Kaitlin N. Quick, Justin M. Rasmussen, Glaucia Salgado, Wanda J. Boone, and Rae Jean Proeschold-Bell. “Embedding Positive Emotions Activities in a Family-Strengthening Intervention to Enhance Receptivity and Engagement.” Journal of Prevention and Health Promotion 6, no. 2 (April 2025): 301–34. https://doi.org/10.1177/26320770241255114.
Puffer ES, Mansoor M, Rieder AD, Johnson SL, Quick KN, Rasmussen JM, et al. Embedding Positive Emotions Activities in a Family-Strengthening Intervention to Enhance Receptivity and Engagement. Journal of Prevention and Health Promotion. 2025 Apr;6(2):301–34.
Puffer, Eve S., et al. “Embedding Positive Emotions Activities in a Family-Strengthening Intervention to Enhance Receptivity and Engagement.” Journal of Prevention and Health Promotion, vol. 6, no. 2, SAGE Publications, Apr. 2025, pp. 301–34. Crossref, doi:10.1177/26320770241255114.
Puffer ES, Mansoor M, Rieder AD, Johnson SL, Quick KN, Rasmussen JM, Salgado G, Boone WJ, Proeschold-Bell RJ. Embedding Positive Emotions Activities in a Family-Strengthening Intervention to Enhance Receptivity and Engagement. Journal of Prevention and Health Promotion. SAGE Publications; 2025 Apr;6(2):301–334.

Published In

Journal of Prevention and Health Promotion

DOI

EISSN

2632-0789

ISSN

2632-0770

Publication Date

April 2025

Volume

6

Issue

2

Start / End Page

301 / 334

Publisher

SAGE Publications