Wednesday 22 July 11:25
- 12:55
Hall: 05 - Ottagonale
Chair and Presenter:
Greenglas Esther
Co-Chair:
Lippke Sonia
Discussant:
Schwarzer Ralf
Division: Division 8: Health Psychology
This symposium showcases innovative research and interventions in applied psychology, addressing pressing psychological challenges across the world and in different settings. The presentations span diverse populations and methodologies, unified by a commitment to contextual sensitivity, co-creation, and digital or online innovation.
First, a study with 661 Canadian university students explores psychological responses to the return to in-person classes post-COVID-19. Findings reveal that perceived health risks, especially among students with disabilities, are linked to lower well-being and reduced attendance, while perceived benefits predict greater engagement. The study highlights the importance of addressing health-related anxieties to support student mental health and academic participation.
In the second presentation, Parenting in the Moment (PIM) is used, a multilingual, trauma-informed online intervention for forcibly displaced families in the U.S. Grounded in the ADAPT parenting model, PIM supports emotion regulation, positive parenting, and stress management. Preliminary RCT results with 100 families who were refugees to the United States show improvements in parental efficacy and reduced family stress, emphasizing the potential of scalable, culturally responsive interventions.
In the third presentation, Meaning in Life as a Self-Regulatory Resource for Physical Activity is investigated. Through three studies, this research tested the role of meaning in life (MIL) in reducing exercise procrastination and promoting physical activity. Experimental, daily diary, and intervention-based designs demonstrate that MIL enhances positive emotion, self-control, and future orientation, leading to sustained behavioral change. These findings position MIL as a promising target for integrated well-being interventions.
The fourth presentation is reporting on a quasi-experimental study with 181 chronically ill and multimorbid patients who evaluates two psychological interventions during a multi-week hospital stay. Drawing on the EASE model and DGP guidelines, the interventions target anxiety, depression, and loneliness. Social support emerged as a key mediator between self-efficacy and depression, underscoring the need for individualized, socially embedded mental health care.
The firth study dives into co-creative approaches to loneliness among international students. A mixed-methods study in Germany addresses loneliness and social stress among international students. Two co-designed interventions—a campus gardening initiative and a literacy campaign—foster emotional safety and social participation. Early feedback suggests these strategies offer a replicable model for inclusive academic environments.
Finally, the effectiveness of a self-help online Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) intervention in enhancing meaning-making and psychological flexibility was evaluated among seven male patients after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), using a multiple-baseline single-case experimental design. Individual results highlighted the sense of identity and psychological flexibility during the intervention phase.
