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Individuals, particularly those considered “hard-to-reach,” often engage well with assessment tools that involve active dialogue and the co-construction of knowledge. Strengths profiling is one such tool that enables a person-centered and autonomy supportive approach to the identification of character strengths. Strength profiling is an adaptation...
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The link between emotional intelligence (EI) and negative emotions, especially anxiety, has been investigated in different educational contexts including second/foreign language (L2) learning contexts. However, the link between EI and positive emotions remains underexplored, despite the growing interest of second language acquisition (SLA) research...
The link between emotional intelligence (EI) and negative emotions, especially anxiety, has been investigated in different educational contexts including second/foreign language (L2) learning contexts. However, the link between EI and positive emotions remains underexplored, despite the growing interest of second language acquisition (SLA) research...
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... One challenge in developing such interventions has been identifying the most effective developmental competencies or strengths to target in opportunity youth to promote thriving. Prior studies, drawing largely on qualitative and mixed methods designs, indicate that opportunity youth across a variety of circumstances self-identify hope as a source of internal strength (Cooley et al., 2019;McCay et al., 2010;Reeves, 2021) in addition to resilience and self-esteem, which are in turn linked to lower rates of depression, suicidality, and hopelessness (McCay et al., 2010). Yet, research highlighting the most salient strengths that might be targeted in strengths-based programs for opportunity youth remains minimal. ...
The hardships faced by youth experiencing or at-risk for experiencing homelessness, or opportunity youth, are well documented. Programs for these youth are often deficit-based, failing to recognize existing strengths to foster resilience. The Good Gifts Program is a positive youth development intervention created collaboratively with opportunity youth, service providers, and researchers to augment existing services with the goal of nurturing gratitude, generosity, and hope. We evaluated this pilot program during a period of wide-spread service disruption (in the summer of 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic). Opportunity youth (n = 38; aged 16–24) completed up to four group sessions as well as pre- and post-test assessments, with daily diaries throughout. Results showed no overall evidence for program efficacy and, indeed, declines in gratitude, generosity, and hope with greater program attendance. The modest sample size and significant heterogeneity in program fidelity, participation, and context presented challenges to data interpretation and highlight considerations for future work.
... Hunter et al. (2021) midieron el bienestar mental utilizando la Escala de Bienestar Mental de Warnick-Edinburg validada para población adolescente (Clarke et al., 2010) y Copolov et al. (2018 lo hicieron desde una perspectiva más holística utilizando la Escala de Bienestar Personal -PWI-A-(Grupo Internacional de Bienestar, 2013). Cooley et al. (2019), utilizaron un instrumento específico para la etapa vital objeto de estudio, la Escala de Bienestar Adolescente -EPOCH- (Kern et al., 2016); a su vez, Arslan (2021) midió la vertiente social del bienestar psicológico mediante la subscala de bienestar social del formulario corto de Continuidad en la Salud Mental -MHC-SF- (Keyes et al., 2008). En la medición de la resiliencia hubo menos hetereogeneidad en el uso de instrumentos ya que el 57.1%, (N=4), de los estudios de corte cuantitativo utilizaron la Escala de Resiliencia Conner-Davidson -CDRISC-10- (Conner y Davidson, 2003). ...
En los próximos años, la juventud será un sector poblacional que se encontrará en una situación particular de riesgo social. Así, se pone de relieve la necesidad de identificar qué investigaciones relacionan los factores que influyen en un funcionamiento psicológico positivo y generan un capital protector frente a la exclusión.En este artículo se presenta una revisión sistemática que pretende indagar sobre la relación entre el desarrollo de procesos de resiliencia y el bienestar psicológico en jóvenes en riesgo social.De este estudio se desprenden una serie de conclusiones que invitan a establecer nuevas líneas de investigación sobre esta temática.
... People living in contexts of poverty might be less likely to have access to environments that reinforce their strengths and skills. One study used the VIA model to qualitatively document the strengths of 118 youth living in a supported living facility in the UK (Cooley et al., 2019). The researchers successfully classified 98% of the answers using the VIA model although the participants used a variety of terms to describe their strengths (Cooley et al., 2019). ...
... One study used the VIA model to qualitatively document the strengths of 118 youth living in a supported living facility in the UK (Cooley et al., 2019). The researchers successfully classified 98% of the answers using the VIA model although the participants used a variety of terms to describe their strengths (Cooley et al., 2019). Another study investigated the self-perceived strengths of 116 adults experiencing homelessness (Tweed et al., 2012). ...
... In the study conducted with youth living in homelessness described in the introduction, the researchers used strengths profiling to explore participants' strengths in a group setting (Cooley et al., 2019). This strategy was part of an experiential learning program that aimed for participants to develop their awareness and use of their strengths and skills. ...
This paper aims to empirically explore the strengths and skills among public housing tenants as well as the opportunities offered by their environment to use them. In Québec (Canada), 310 participants took part in interviews including open and closed-ended questions about their strengths and skills. Public housing tenants indicated possessing a diversity of strengths and skills. Although participants hinted toward a positive influence of their environment, they quantitatively evaluated the available opportunities to use their strengths and skills as moderately satisfying. The findings suggest a need for interventions specifically tailored to low-income populations such as public housing tenants.
... However, a research gap with this population is a quantitative assessment of how young people's experiences of strengths-based programmes can lead to learning outcomes, which would contribute to the small evidence base within this area. Note: Evidence to support components of the logic model to date is italicised. 1 [10], 2 [11], 3 [12], 4 [13], 5 [9], 6 current manuscript, 7 [14], 8 [8], 9 [15], 10 [16]. ...
... However, a research gap with this population is a quantitative assessment of how young people's experiences of strengths-based programmes can lead to learning outcomes, which would contribute to the small evidence base within this area. Note: Evidence to support components of the logic model to date is italicised. 1 [10], 2 [11], 3 [12], 4 [13], 5 [9], 6 current manuscript, 7 [14], 8 [8], 9 [15], 10 [16]. ...
... The programme consisted of 10 sessions that took place at the supported accommodation sites (average duration 2 h) or in the community (4 h). For more information about programme activities, see Cooley et al. [10] and Cumming et al. [8]. The programme also included an OAE residential, but these data are reported elsewhere [12]. ...
Underpinned by the New World Kirkpatrick model, and in the context of a community-based sport psychology programme (My Strengths Training for Life™) for young people experiencing homelessness, this process evaluation investigated (1) young peoples’ reactions (i.e., program and facilitator evaluation, enjoyment, attendance, and engagement) and learning (i.e., mental skills and transfer intention), (2) the relationship between reaction and learning variables, and (3) the mediators underpinning this relationship. A total of 301 young people living in a West Midlands housing service completed questionnaires on demographics and reaction and learning variables. Higher levels of programme engagement were positively associated with more favourable reactions to the programme. Enjoyment positively predicted learning outcomes, which was mediated by transfer intention. Recommendations are made for (1) a balance between rigor and flexibility for evaluation methods with disadvantaged youth, (2) including engagement as well as attendance as indicators of meaningful programme participation, (3) measuring programme experiences (e.g., enjoyment) to understand programme effectiveness, and (4) providing opportunities for skill transfer during and after programme participation. Our findings have implications for researchers, programme commissioners, and policymakers designing and evaluating programmes in community-based settings.
... However, a research gap with this population is a quantitative assessment of how young people's experiences of strengths-based programmes can lead to learning outcomes, which would contribute to the small evidence base within this area. Note: Evidence to support components of the logic model to date is italicised. 1 [10], 2 [11], 3 [12], 4 [13], 5 [9], 6 current manuscript, 7 [14], 8 [8], 9 [15], 10 [16]. ...
... However, a research gap with this population is a quantitative assessment of how young people's experiences of strengths-based programmes can lead to learning outcomes, which would contribute to the small evidence base within this area. Note: Evidence to support components of the logic model to date is italicised. 1 [10], 2 [11], 3 [12], 4 [13], 5 [9], 6 current manuscript, 7 [14], 8 [8], 9 [15], 10 [16]. ...
... Process evaluations seek to understand an intervention's context (e.g., environment), mechanisms (e.g., participants' responses to, and interactions with, the intervention, mediators, and unintended consequences), and implementation (e.g., delivery quality and quantity) [17]. This type of evaluation ensures Note: Evidence to support components of the logic model to date is italicised. 1 [10], 2 [11], 3 [12], 4 [13], 5 [9], 6 current manuscript, 7 [14], 8 [8], 9 [15], 10 [16]. ...
Underpinned by the new world Kirkpatrick model and in the context of a community-based, sport psychology program (My Strengths Training for Life™) for young people experiencing homelessness, this process evaluation investigated: (1) young peoples’ reactions (program and facilitator evaluation, enjoyment, attendance, and engagement) to and learning (mental skills and transfer intention), (2) the relationship between reaction and learning variables, and (3) the mediators underpinning this relationship. 301 young people living in a West Midlands housing service completed questionnaires on demographics, reaction and learning variables. Higher levels of program engagement were positively associated with more favorable reactions to the program. Enjoyment positively predicted learning outcomes, which was mediated by transfer intention. Recommendations are made for: (1) a balance between rigor and flexibility for evaluation methods with disadvantaged youth, (2) including engagement as well as attendance for indicators of meaningful program participation, (3) measuring program experiences (e.g., enjoyment) to understand program effectiveness, and (4) providing opportunities for skill transfer during and after program participation. Findings have implications for researchers, program commissioners, and policy makers working designing and evaluating programs in community-based settings.
... Autonomy refers to the need to feel volition and have a sense of choice in one's actions, relatedness is the need to feel connected to others and integrated into a larger social whole, and competence is the need to feel efficacious and believe that one's actions result in intended outcomes. MST4Life™ program facilitators support these needs [27][28][29] by creating a relaxed and enjoyable environment that offers autonomy support (e.g., regular opportunities to make personal choices and give input), interpersonal involvement (e.g., demonstrating acceptance, care, warmth, understanding, and respect for participants), and appropriate structure (e.g., the provision of clear instructions and guidance, positive expectancy, optimal challenges, and constructive feedback; [30]). ...
... While this may be viewed as a limitation, the nature of community-based research does not necessitate the use of a randomized trial, instead highlighting the inherent issues of this typically clinical approach [61,62]. Given that this feasibility study was conducted at two different sites within a single housing service, further implementation has since occurred at more long-term accommodation sites, as well as in shorter-stay accommodation sites (e.g., 30 days or less) within the same housing service [15,[27][28][29]54,55]. Between 2015 and 2020, more than 600 young people took part in MST4Life™ and evidence is accumulating to demonstrate the short-and long-term impact of the program, including the finding that MST4Life™ participants are two times more likely to transition into EET and independent living, compared to standard care by the Housing Service [63]. ...
... By doing so, MST4Life™ offers the potential for a new model of intervention for services that support young people experiencing homelessness or those at risk. This study and the extant literature on MST4Life™ [15,[25][26][27]51,52] also illustrates how working in equal and mutually beneficial partnerships with the community can contribute to the development of new intervention approaches that more effectively understand and respond to the inequalities experienced by socially disadvantaged communities. ...
My Strengths Training for Life™ (MST4Life™) is a positive youth development program for improving wellbeing and social inclusion in young people experiencing homelessness. MST4Life™ addresses a gap in strengths-based programs aimed at promoting healthy and optimal development in vulnerable older adolescents/emerging adults. The program was co-developed with a UK housing service as part of a long-term (>8 years) community–academic partnership. This mixed-methods study describes a key step in developing and evaluating the program: exploring its feasibility and acceptability with 15 homeless young people (Mean age = 19.99 years, SD = 2.42; 60% male, 40% female). Participants experienced 8 weekly sessions within their local community, followed by a 4-day/3-night residential outdoor adventure trip. In addition to their attendance records, the viewpoints of the participants and their support workers were obtained using diary rooms and focus groups. Feasibility was indicated via the themes of attendance, engagement, and reaction. The findings suggested that young people enjoyed and perceived a need for the program, that they considered the program and its evaluation methods to be acceptable, and that both the community-based and outdoor adventure residential phases could be implemented as planned. Minor modifications are needed to recruitment strategies before it is more widely rolled out and evaluated.
... programme activities, TIDieR checklist, and logic model). The present study contributed to the wider evaluation of MST4Life™ which has implemented a variety of data collection methods (Cooley et al., 2019;Parry et al., 2021;Parry et al., 2022;Quinton et al., 2021;Tidmarsh et al., 2021). ...
... This finding corroborates evidence from an evaluation of Dutch youth housing services which suggested strengths-based practices can nurture young people's basic psychological needs . Combined with the positive outcomes experienced by participants Parry et al., 2022;Quinton et al., 2021;Cooley et al., 2019) it is evident that MST4Life™ is a good intervention for young people experiencing homelessness and demonstrates the capacity for sport and exercise psychology to contribute to important social missions beyond enhancing performance (Schinke et al., 2016). ...
... The aim of this study was to conduct an in-depth exploration of the implementation of MST4Life™ as part of a wider mixed methods evaluation to directly apply to this programme within the housing service (Cooley et al., 2019;Cumming et al., 2022;Parry et al., 2021;Parry et al., 2022;Quinton et al., 2021;Tidmarsh et al., 2021). Thus, by design this study was a targeted, focussed, in-depth exploration of these participants within the MST4Life™ programme. ...
Social media-based racism is growing exponentially with new social media platforms developing at a rate that research struggles to keep up with. Football is an active participant on these platforms which has subse- quently led to well documented media reports of racial abuse. However, research has been limited within English football when attempting to understand the extent of social media-based racism, social media behaviour, racism campaigns, programmes and legislation to tackle online racism within the industry, which this paper addresses. The purpose of this paper is to provide a critical review of the literature on social media-based racism within male English football through the lens of applied psychology. Opportunities for applied psychology from a social justice perspective to challenge social media-based racism through therapy, research, and training are highlighted. Micro and macro approaches to address social media-based racism are examined, with proposed future developments discussed.
... Moxley and Washington [75] noted that some the homeless appreciate their experience of being without a home or economic security, regarding it as a personal journey. A recent study [76] conducted among youths living in emergency shelters showed that although they rarely reported gratitude in comparison to other VIA character strengths, they were grateful to the facilitators for their 10-week intervention. In another study, Rew and colleagues [77] acknowledged that gratitude together with hope and optimism explain life satisfaction, even after controlling for other variables. ...
Although empirical reports draw attention to the pathological aspects of the functioning of the homeless, recent studies show the benefits related to the elevating roles of different positive phenomena in coping with difficulties for this group of people. The main goal was to verify whether there is a direct relationship between religiosity and gratitude among the homeless, and whether this association is moderated by the reported help-seeking since both religiosity and gratitude seem to play an important role in homeless people's lives. In total, 189 homeless persons participated in the study. Their mean age was M = 56.55 (SD = 12.39; range = 27-86). Most respondents were men (n = 119; 63%). The Scale of Religious Attitude Intensity and the Gratitude Questionnaire were used. The outcomes presented a statistically significant positive correlation between religious attitude and gratitude (r = 0.326***, p = 0.001). Help-seeking played a moderatory role in this relationship. Therefore , it can be assumed that the relationship between religiosity attitude intensity and dispositional gratitude is stronger when homeless persons seek specific help from other people or institutions compared to when they do not look for assistance. Homeless people, overcoming their limitations by actively asking for help, can strengthen their bonds with God (faith, religiosity) and with others (dispositional gratitude).
... Attendance is recorded to establish the amount of program received, and young people's engagement in these sessions are also rated by facilitators using a scale ranging from 0% (not at all engaged in the session; did not participate and/or left) to 100% (completely engaged in the session; actively participated in all activities and discussions). With the young people's consent, materials used in sessions such as strength profiles (Cooley, Quinton, Holland, Parry, & Cumming, 2019) as well as records kept by the Housing Service about their engagement in EET activities during and following their participation in MST4Life™ was also included in the evaluation (Jabbour & Siu, 2019). ...
... Activities are designed to become progressively more challenging over the sessions to build young people's selfefficacy beliefs (Bandura, 1997). Earlier activities are simpler, shorter, and can be done independently (e.g., completing a strengths profile; see Cooley et al., 2019), whereas later activities are more complex and involve greater planning and group work (e.g., organizing a charity cake sale). Initial pilot work demonstrated attendance rates of 75% for Phase 1, which was considered to be highly successful by staff from the Housing Service when compared to other programs. ...
Traditionally, UK housing services have focused on providing temporary accommodation, identifying risk factors, and preventing negative outcomes to young people experiencing homelessness. However, deficit approaches may lead young people to becoming dependent on services and face greater marginalisation and stigmatisation. Meeting long-standing calls to focus more on young people’s positive attributes and abilities, the My Strengths Training for Life™ (MST4Life™) program was developed as a community partnership with a large housing service. This paper describes the rationale, logic model, and content of the MST4Life™ program using the TIDieR (Template for Intervention Description and Replication) checklist. MST4Life™ is a strengths-based and experiential psychoeducation intervention for young people aged 16-24 years who are homeless or at risk. Grounded in positive youth development and basic psychological needs theory, its aim is to provide meaningful opportunities for participants to recognise, use, and further develop their mental skills and strengths. In turn, enhancing intentional self-regulation is expected to improve physical, mental, and social health and wellbeing, and support positive transitions to independent living. The potential long-term impacts include a reduction in the number of young people returning as homeless, lower rates of mental illness and mortality, and a cost saving to the public purse.
... To further enable the youths to identify their unique qualities and strengths, an additional strength-based technique included in this workshop was the character strengths survey (Via Institute on Character, 2021). This strengths-based profiling intervention significantly increased resilience following the use of a range of methods to build on individual character strengths for homeless youths (Cooley et al., 2019). An adaptation of performance profiling used in sports psychology (cf. ...
