Improving Happiness in Flanders

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study aims to assess the effects of two different types of interventions aimed at increasing happiness in the Flemish general population as compared to individuals that receive no intervention.

Detailed Description
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This randomized trial has two aims: First, it investigates the efficacy of two different happiness interventions in increasing feelings of happiness in the Flemish general population using a wait-list controlled design. Second, this study aims to identify predictors of response in both interventions (what works for whom?) Methods Design and procedure Participants will be contacted through social media and directed to a website that is specifically designed for this study. All participants who register for the study first will electronically sign an informed consent and will be asked to complete a brief battery of questionnaires online (base line measures) before randomization. Participants then are assigned randomly using a block-randomized design to one of the three conditions using a computerized algorithm: a condition in which daily small and concrete happiness tips are sent to participants during one month via email (n=400) a condition in which weekly more in-depth happiness tips with a (doing and experiencing) task are given during one month via email (n=400) a wait-list condition (1 month); these participants will be subsequently (after the end of the 4-week intervention) randomized to condition (a) or (b) (n=400) using a block-randomized design. All participants will be assessed weekly during the intervention (see below) and followed-up 6 months after the end of the study. Measures Participants will complete a detailed demographic questionnaire. Primary outcome measures: Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS; Lyubomirsky & Lepper, 1999) Steen Happiness Inventory (SHI; Seligman, Steen, Park, & Peterson, 2005) Secondary outcome measures Positive and Negative Affect Scales (PANAS; Watson, Clark, & Tellegen, 1988) Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9; Kroenke, Spitzer, & Williams, 2001) Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS; Tennant et al., 2007) Brief Symptom Inventory (Korte KlachtenLijst; KKL; Lange, & Appelo, 2007) Predictors of outcome Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ; Steger, Frazier, Oishi, & Kaler, 2006) Depressive Experiences Questionnaire (DEQ; Blatt, D'Afflitti, & Quinlan, 1976) Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R, Fraley, Waller, & Brennan, 2000) Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness (KIMS; Baer, Smith, & Allen, 2004) Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS; Bagby, Parker, & Taylor, 1994) Data analyses Repeated measures Anova and multilevel modeling will be used to assess differences between the three conditions in primary and secondary outcomes at the end of the intervention and at follow-up. Regression analyses and growth curve modeling will be used to examine the effects of the predictors on primary and secondary outcomes.

Official Title
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Happiness in Flanders: A Randomized, Wait-List Controlled Study

Conditions
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Happiness in the General Population

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Weekly tips
* Behavioral: Daily Tips


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Sufficient fluency in Flemish at least 18 years of age Exclusion Criteria: no fluency in Flemish living outside of Flanders

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Weekly tips<br>Daily small and concrete happiness tips | Behavioral: Weekly tips<br>* Participants in this condition receive weekly a more in-depth tip to increase feelings of happiness involving a (doing and experiencing) task<br>|
| Active Comparator: Daily Tips<br>Weekly more in-depth happiness tips involving an active (doing and experiencing) task | Behavioral: Daily Tips<br>* Participants in this condition receive daily a set of small tips aimed at increasing happiness<br>|
| No Intervention: Wait-List Control<br>No intervention | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Subjective Happiness Scale |  | 4 weeks after start of intervention and 6 months after end of intervention | 
| Steen Happiness Inventory |  | 4 weeks after start of intervention and 6 months after end of intervention | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS) |  | 4 weeks after start of intervention and 6 months after end of intervention | 
| Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) |  | 4 weeks after start of intervention and 6 months after end of intervention | 
| Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale |  | 4 weeks after start of intervention and 6 months after end of intervention | 
| Brief Symptom Inventory (KKL, Korte KlachtenLijst) |  | 4 weeks after start of intervention and 6 months after end of intervention | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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happiness, well-being, distress, positive psychology