Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Journal of Religion and Health 6/2016

01-12-2016 | Original Paper

A Positive Psychology Intervention in a Hindu Community: The Pilot Study of the Hero Lab Curriculum

Authors: Siddhi Sundar, Adil Qureshi, Panagis Galiatsatos

Published in: Journal of Religion and Health | Issue 6/2016

Login to get access

Abstract

India has high rates of mental health issues among its youth and low-income communities experience a disproportionate amount of depression and suicide. Positive psychology, the act of promoting well-being, could be used as a tool to promote wellness and help improve the mental health of youth living in slum areas of India. A pilot positively psychology program, “The Hero Lab”, was conducted in a migratory slum in Worli, Mumbai, with trained Hindu community leaders implementing the interventions toward at-risk Hindu youth. The curriculum’s impact showed statistical improvement (p < 0.001) in happiness (General Happiness Scale from 11.24 ± 1.56 to 19.08 ± 3.32), grit (Grit Survey from 2.23 ± 0.34 to 3.24 ± 0.67), empathy (Toronto Empathy Questionnaire from 24.92 ± 3.27 to 41.96 ± 8.41), and gratitude (Gratitude Survey from 16.88 ± 3.47 to 27.98 ± 6.59). While a pilot study, the Hero Lab curriculum demonstrates that positive psychology interventions may be an important tool in improving mental health in at-risk children.
Literature
go back to reference Beck, A. T., Brown, G., Berchick, R. J., Stewart, B. L., & Steer, R. A. (1990). Relationship between hopelessness and ultimate suicide: A replication with psychiatric outpatients. American Journal of Psychiatry, 147(2), 190–195.CrossRefPubMed Beck, A. T., Brown, G., Berchick, R. J., Stewart, B. L., & Steer, R. A. (1990). Relationship between hopelessness and ultimate suicide: A replication with psychiatric outpatients. American Journal of Psychiatry, 147(2), 190–195.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Beck, A. T., Steer, R. A., Kovacs, M., & Garrison, B. (1985). Hopelessness and eventual suicide: A 10-year prospective study of patients hospitalized with suicidal ideation. American Journal of Psychiatry, 142, 559–563.CrossRefPubMed Beck, A. T., Steer, R. A., Kovacs, M., & Garrison, B. (1985). Hopelessness and eventual suicide: A 10-year prospective study of patients hospitalized with suicidal ideation. American Journal of Psychiatry, 142, 559–563.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Betty, S. (2005). The growing evidence for ‘demonic possession’: What should psychiatry’s response be? Journal of Religion and Health, 44(1), 13–30.CrossRef Betty, S. (2005). The growing evidence for ‘demonic possession’: What should psychiatry’s response be? Journal of Religion and Health, 44(1), 13–30.CrossRef
go back to reference Carlson, R. V., Boyd, K. M., & Webb, D. J. (2004). The revision of the Declaration of: past, present an future. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 57(6), 695–713.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Carlson, R. V., Boyd, K. M., & Webb, D. J. (2004). The revision of the Declaration of: past, present an future. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 57(6), 695–713.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
go back to reference Chekki, D. A. (1996). Family values and family change. Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 27, 309–413. Chekki, D. A. (1996). Family values and family change. Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 27, 309–413.
go back to reference Dwyer, G. (2003). Supernatural malaise and key patterns of affliction: Causation, attribution and vulnerability. In G. Dwyer (Ed.), The divine and the demonic: Supernatural affliction and its treatment in North India (pp. 27–51). London: RoutledgeCurzon. Dwyer, G. (2003). Supernatural malaise and key patterns of affliction: Causation, attribution and vulnerability. In G. Dwyer (Ed.), The divine and the demonic: Supernatural affliction and its treatment in North India (pp. 27–51). London: RoutledgeCurzon.
go back to reference Escueta, M., Whetten, K., Ostermann, J., & O’Donnell, K. (2014). Adverse childhood experiences, psychosocial well-being and cognitive development among orphans and abandoned children in five low income countries. BMC International Health and Human Rights, 14, 6.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Escueta, M., Whetten, K., Ostermann, J., & O’Donnell, K. (2014). Adverse childhood experiences, psychosocial well-being and cognitive development among orphans and abandoned children in five low income countries. BMC International Health and Human Rights, 14, 6.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
go back to reference Fantuzzo, J., McWayne, C., & Perry, M. A. (2004). Multiple dimensions of family involvement and their relations to behavioral and learning competencies for urban, low-income children. School Psychology Review, 33(4), 467–480. Fantuzzo, J., McWayne, C., & Perry, M. A. (2004). Multiple dimensions of family involvement and their relations to behavioral and learning competencies for urban, low-income children. School Psychology Review, 33(4), 467–480.
go back to reference Felitti, V. J., Nordenberg, D., Williamson, D. F., Spitz, A. M., Edwards, V., Koss, M. P., et al. (1998). Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 14(4), 245–258.CrossRefPubMed Felitti, V. J., Nordenberg, D., Williamson, D. F., Spitz, A. M., Edwards, V., Koss, M. P., et al. (1998). Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 14(4), 245–258.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Gaiha, S. M., Sunil, G. A., Kumar, R., & Menon, S. (2014). Enhancing mental health literacy in India to reduce stigma: The fountainhead to improve help-seeking behavior. Journal of Public Mental Health, 13(3), 146–158.CrossRef Gaiha, S. M., Sunil, G. A., Kumar, R., & Menon, S. (2014). Enhancing mental health literacy in India to reduce stigma: The fountainhead to improve help-seeking behavior. Journal of Public Mental Health, 13(3), 146–158.CrossRef
go back to reference Goldstein, S., & Brooks, R. B. (2013). Why study resilience? In S. Goldstein & R. B. Brooks (Eds.), Handbook of resilience in children (pp. 3–17). New York: Springer.CrossRef Goldstein, S., & Brooks, R. B. (2013). Why study resilience? In S. Goldstein & R. B. Brooks (Eds.), Handbook of resilience in children (pp. 3–17). New York: Springer.CrossRef
go back to reference Gururaj, G., Isaac, M. K., Subbakrishna, D. K., & Ranjani, R. (2004). Risk factors for completed suicides: a case-control study from Bangalore, India. Injury Control and Safety Promotion, 11, 183–191.CrossRefPubMed Gururaj, G., Isaac, M. K., Subbakrishna, D. K., & Ranjani, R. (2004). Risk factors for completed suicides: a case-control study from Bangalore, India. Injury Control and Safety Promotion, 11, 183–191.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Hussain, A. A., Fawad, M. S., & Ibram, B. (2016). Mental health challenges in low and middle income countries- a health system perspective. Pakistan Armed Forces Medical Journal, 6, 843–848. Hussain, A. A., Fawad, M. S., & Ibram, B. (2016). Mental health challenges in low and middle income countries- a health system perspective. Pakistan Armed Forces Medical Journal, 6, 843–848.
go back to reference Juthani, N. V. (2001). Psychiatric treatment of Hindus. International Review of Psychiatry, 13(2), 125–130.CrossRef Juthani, N. V. (2001). Psychiatric treatment of Hindus. International Review of Psychiatry, 13(2), 125–130.CrossRef
go back to reference Komiti, A., Judd, F., & Jackson, H. (2006). The influence of stima and attitudes on seeking help from a GP for mental health problems: A rural context. Social Psychiatry Psychiatric, 41, 738–745.CrossRef Komiti, A., Judd, F., & Jackson, H. (2006). The influence of stima and attitudes on seeking help from a GP for mental health problems: A rural context. Social Psychiatry Psychiatric, 41, 738–745.CrossRef
go back to reference Kuo, W. H., Gallo, J. J., & Eaton, W. W. (2004). Hopelessness, depression, substance disorder, and suicidality: A 13-year community-based study. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 39, 497–501.CrossRefPubMed Kuo, W. H., Gallo, J. J., & Eaton, W. W. (2004). Hopelessness, depression, substance disorder, and suicidality: A 13-year community-based study. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 39, 497–501.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Lightsey, O. R. (1994). Thinking positive as a stress buffer the role of positive automatic cognitions in depression and happiness. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 41, 325–334.CrossRef Lightsey, O. R. (1994). Thinking positive as a stress buffer the role of positive automatic cognitions in depression and happiness. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 41, 325–334.CrossRef
go back to reference Mak, W. W., Ng, I. S., & Wong, C. C. (2011). Resilience: Enhancing well-being through the positive cognitive triad. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 58(5), 610–617.CrossRefPubMed Mak, W. W., Ng, I. S., & Wong, C. C. (2011). Resilience: Enhancing well-being through the positive cognitive triad. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 58(5), 610–617.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Miller-Karas, E. (2015). Resilience and trauma defined. In E. Miller-Karas (Ed.), Building resilience to trauma: The trauma and community resilience models (pp. 1–10). New York: Routledge Publishing. Miller-Karas, E. (2015). Resilience and trauma defined. In E. Miller-Karas (Ed.), Building resilience to trauma: The trauma and community resilience models (pp. 1–10). New York: Routledge Publishing.
go back to reference Park, N., Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2004). Strengths of character and well-being. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 23(5), 603–619.CrossRef Park, N., Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2004). Strengths of character and well-being. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 23(5), 603–619.CrossRef
go back to reference Seligman, M. E. P., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2000). Positive psychology: An introduction. American Psychologist, 55(1), 5–14.CrossRefPubMed Seligman, M. E. P., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2000). Positive psychology: An introduction. American Psychologist, 55(1), 5–14.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Shafii, M., Carrigan, S., Whittinghill, J. R., & Derrick, A. (1985). Psychological autopsy of completed suicide in children and adolescents. American Journal of Psychiatry, 142, 1061–1064.CrossRefPubMed Shafii, M., Carrigan, S., Whittinghill, J. R., & Derrick, A. (1985). Psychological autopsy of completed suicide in children and adolescents. American Journal of Psychiatry, 142, 1061–1064.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Slade, M. (2010). Mental illness and well-being: the central importance of positive psychology and recovery approaches. BMC Health Services Research, 10, 26.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Slade, M. (2010). Mental illness and well-being: the central importance of positive psychology and recovery approaches. BMC Health Services Research, 10, 26.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
go back to reference Thoits, P. A., & Hewitt, L. N. (2001). Volunteer work and well-being. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 42(2), 115–131.CrossRefPubMed Thoits, P. A., & Hewitt, L. N. (2001). Volunteer work and well-being. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 42(2), 115–131.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Vijayakumar, L., Pirkis, J., Huong, T. T., Yip, P., Seneviratne, R., Hendin, H. (2008). Socio-economic, cultural and religious factors affecting suicide prevention in Asia. In Hendin, H., Phillips, M. R., Vijayakumar, L. et al. (Eds.). Suicide and suicide prevention in Asia (pp. 19–31). Geneva: World Health Organization. Vijayakumar, L., Pirkis, J., Huong, T. T., Yip, P., Seneviratne, R., Hendin, H. (2008). Socio-economic, cultural and religious factors affecting suicide prevention in Asia. In Hendin, H., Phillips, M. R., Vijayakumar, L. et al. (Eds.). Suicide and suicide prevention in Asia (pp. 19–31). Geneva: World Health Organization.
go back to reference Wood, A. M., Maltby, J., Gillett, R., Linley, P. A., & Joseph, S. (2008). The role of gratitude in the development of social support, stress, and depression: two longitudinal studies. Journal of Research in Personality, 42, 854–871.CrossRef Wood, A. M., Maltby, J., Gillett, R., Linley, P. A., & Joseph, S. (2008). The role of gratitude in the development of social support, stress, and depression: two longitudinal studies. Journal of Research in Personality, 42, 854–871.CrossRef
Metadata
Title
A Positive Psychology Intervention in a Hindu Community: The Pilot Study of the Hero Lab Curriculum
Authors
Siddhi Sundar
Adil Qureshi
Panagis Galiatsatos
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Religion and Health / Issue 6/2016
Print ISSN: 0022-4197
Electronic ISSN: 1573-6571
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-016-0289-5

Other articles of this Issue 6/2016

Journal of Religion and Health 6/2016 Go to the issue

Philosophical Exploration

When Brain Death Belies Belief