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UT launches Training in Positivity app

The University of Twente is set to launch a brand-new Training in Positivity app, TIP for short. It can be downloaded free of charge. This app is designed to improve the well-being of people who are experiencing a challenging time. The app encourages users to spend three weeks training mental skills that build their resilience and hope. The app which can be downloaded via the TIP website if you will participate in the research, consists of videos, tried and tested exercises, questionnaires and motivational texts and quotes. Professor Bohlmeijer, the initiator of the project explains, ‘The University of Twente will use this app to begin a study into the effects on the well-being of people who could do with some extra support to brighten their outlook.’

Recent studies have shown that large numbers of people are suffering from mental fatigue. This could be a result of the coronavirus crisis but also other setbacks. These studies reveal the need for simple, low-level interventions that can help people stay mentally resilient in the face of challenging times. An effective strategy is to work with a positive and friendly attitude towards goals that energise you and connect with your strengths. This has motivated the University of Twente to develop its free Training in Positivity app (TIP).

The Training in Positivity app

The app is made up of six parts, each incorporating an introductory video, a written explanation and a number of exercises. The exercises focus on six themes: joy, trust in yourself, trust in the future, kindness, resilience and connection. The exercises are based on positive psychology and have proven their value in scientific research. The app keeps track of the exercises that the users complete. When they have done an exercise for three days, they receive automated information about their progress in developing a skill. The app’s homepage features a maze. As they complete the exercises, participants travel through the maze and finally arrive at the centre, at their own strength. The participants are sent a daily reminder and an encouragement to do the exercises, which take around 10-15 minutes a day to complete.

Scientific basis

Positivity does not mean a complete lack of sadness or worry in your life. What positivity does mean is the ability to experience pleasure, meaning and purpose even when times are tough. There is already considerable evidence that positive psychology can improve well-being and mental health. Previous research carried out at the University of Twente shows that a programme of exercises based on positive psychology can greatly enhance people’s mental sense of well-being (Schotanus-Dijkstra et al., 2018). A selection from these exercises is now available on the app and the researchers believe it has the potential for use in a range of contexts: among students, in a healthcare setting or in the workplace.

Registration for the app and the research

The University of Twente now wants to discover whether the free Training in Positivity app will also be effective for people suffering from mild depression, stress, mental fatigue and other psychological complaints. People can sign up to take part in this study. Half of the participants will be able to start using the app after completing a number of questionnaires, and the other half will begin four weeks later. This will be decided by drawing lots. For more information and to register, visit the website.

drs. M.M.J. van Hillegersberg - Hofmans (Martine)
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