TITLE:
A Study on the Impact of Positive Psychology Group Counseling on Mood Changes in College Students
AUTHORS:
Cuimei Shen, Zhanyang He, Houwei Zhu
KEYWORDS:
Positive Psychology Group Counseling, College Students, Mood Changes
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.11 No.6,
June
21,
2024
ABSTRACT: Research Objective: This study aims to explore the impact of positive psychology group counseling on mood changes among college students, aiming to enhance their psychological health. Utilizing the PERMA model as the theoretical framework and employing a group counseling approach, this empirical study seeks to validate the positive effects of group counseling on the mood of college students, providing valuable insights for educational authorities and families to further promote holistic development in college students. Methodology: The study recruited college students from a teacher’s college in Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, China, randomly dividing 44 participants into an experimental group and a control group. The 22 students in the experimental group participated in an 8-week positive psychology group counseling program, while the control group did not receive any intervention. Mood states of both groups were measured before and after counseling using the Brief Profile of Mood States (POMS), and data were statistically analyzed, including measures of normal distribution and paired sample t-tests, to assess the impact of group counseling on mood changes in college students. Result: Results indicate significant improvements in positive emotions, confidence levels, and reductions in negative emotions among students who participated in positive psychology group counseling. Compared to the control group, the experimental group showed significant differences in mood state scores, reflecting positive psychological changes. Conclusion: This suggests that positive psychology group counseling effectively enhances the psychological health of college students, aiding in stress relief, self-awareness enhancement, and resilience building. Thus, positive psychology group counseling can be considered an effective psychological health intervention that positively impacts the psychological development of college students. These findings offer valuable practical experience and guidance for educational authorities and families, helping to advance mental health education and overall development among college students.