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Healthcare
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Positive Psychology in Healthcare: Interdisciplinary and Intercultural Perspectives
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Positive Psychology in Healthcare: Interdisciplinary and Intercultural Perspectives

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 June 2026 | Viewed by 7499

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Freda N. Gonot-Schoupinsky

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Wellbeing, University of Bolton, Bolton BL3 5AB, UK
Interests: health psychology; positive psychology; laughter and humour; positive autoethnography; complementary and integrative medicine
Prof. Dr. Claude-Hélène Mayer

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Industrial Psychology and People Management, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
Interests: positive psychology; psychobiography; positive autoethnography; 4IR; intercultural health in workplaces

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As definitions of health and wellbeing extend from the biological and physical to the psychological, mental, spiritual, cultural, emotional, behavioral, and social, the role of positive psychology (PP) in healthcare becomes increasingly relevant. PP is concerned with improving quality of life and the scientific study of positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, accomplishment, character strengths and the virtues of wisdom, courage, humanity, justice, temperance, transcendence. PP interventions investigate, for example, the role of resilience, optimism, laughter, humor, gratitude, hope, and self-determination on physical and mental health, Each ‘wave’ of PP has a different focus: PP1.0 emphasizes the positive, PP2.0 integrates positive and negative aspects, and PP3.0 addresses systemic perspectives.

The integration of PP into healthcare represents a shift from solely treating illness to actively promoting flourishing and sustainable behavioral change. Research suggests that fostering optimism, gratitude, and purpose can enhance motivation and adherence to healthy behaviors, ultimately improving both mental and physical health outcomes. Evidence-based strategies rooted in positive psychology can enable healthcare professionals to create a more patient-centered approach that not only prevents disease but also cultivates long-term wellbeing.

We would like to invite you to submit research presenting contemporary applications of PP in healthcare. Articles may explore the role, application, and impact of different aspects of PP on healthcare in relation to its effects on patients and healthcare workers, health and mental health. Perspectives (also see the journal’s ‘scope’) may include inpatient care, chronic care, critical care, nursing, sport, prevention, and treatment. Articles, whether they are quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods research, reviews, case reports, research notes, or short communications, should conform to the journal’s requirements. Positive autoethnographies and positive autoethnographic case studies will also be considered. 

Dr. Freda N. Gonot-Schoupinsky
Prof. Dr. Claude-Hélène Mayer
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • quality of life
  • positive emotions
  • life satisfaction
  • virtues
  • meaning
  • spirituality
  • healthy behaviors
  • character strengths
  • healthy lifestyles
  • flourishing/thriving
  • existential positive psychology
  • positive autoethnography

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 468 KB  
Article
Integrated Wellbeing: Illustrating the Benefits of Approaching Domain-Specific Development Within an Integrated Framework
by Theunis Jacobus De Wet and Tessa De Wet
Healthcare 2026, 14(8), 1086; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14081086 - 19 Apr 2026
Viewed by 304
Abstract
Background: Human wellbeing consists of dynamic interactions and feedback loops across multiple life domains, a perspective increasingly emphasised within positive psychology’s systemic and strengths-based approach to flourishing. This study develops a systemic framework to model these interdependencies and examines how cross-domain investment can [...] Read more.
Background: Human wellbeing consists of dynamic interactions and feedback loops across multiple life domains, a perspective increasingly emphasised within positive psychology’s systemic and strengths-based approach to flourishing. This study develops a systemic framework to model these interdependencies and examines how cross-domain investment can optimise both domain-specific and integrated wellbeing across the lifespan. Methods: Using a Cobb–Douglas functional form with associated growth and resource constraints, we formalise the interaction between physical and financial wellbeing as an example and analyse their joint contribution to overall wellbeing. Results: The model demonstrates that improvements in one domain of wellbeing can enhance wellbeing in another, thereby shifting the optimisation frontier. While narrow domain-specific wellbeing strategies are subject to larger diminishing marginal returns, cross-domain investment generates reinforcing effects that elevate both domains simultaneously and increase integrated wellbeing. Conclusions: In line with positive psychology’s focus on leveraging strengths to support areas of relative weakness, the findings show how developing one domain of wellbeing can mitigate constraints in another. These findings align with positive psychology’s emphasis on multidimensional flourishing and resource-building processes, highlighting the importance of systemic resource allocation and suggesting that wellbeing optimisation requires coordinated, contextualised multi-domain strategies rather than siloed approaches. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Positive Psychology in Healthcare: Interdisciplinary and Intercultural Perspectives)
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19 pages, 1187 KB  
Article
Long-Term Effects of Positive Psychotherapy Compared to Cognitive Behavior Therapy in Clinical Depression: An 18-Month Follow-Up Randomized Controlled Trial
by Elena Fischer, Linda Maria Furchtlehner, Raphael Schuster and Anton-Rupert Laireiter
Healthcare 2026, 14(5), 692; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14050692 - 9 Mar 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 921
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Positive Psychotherapy (PPT) is an empirically supported treatment that directly targets positive resources and personal strengths as its primary logic. PPT is effective in amplifying happiness and well-being as an additional way to enhance positive mental health while also ameliorating symptoms [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Positive Psychotherapy (PPT) is an empirically supported treatment that directly targets positive resources and personal strengths as its primary logic. PPT is effective in amplifying happiness and well-being as an additional way to enhance positive mental health while also ameliorating symptoms of negative affect, especially in depression, anxiety disorders, and stress disorders. However, few studies have been conducted to investigate these effects in the long run. This study extends our previously published findings on the short-term efficacy of PPT by extending the follow-up period to 18 months and comparing its long-term effects with those of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) within the same randomized controlled trial. Methods: Forty-nine out-patient participants with a DSM-IV diagnosis for depressive disorder (MDD, Dysthymia) were treated with 14 sessions of manualized PPT (n = 23) or CBT (n = 26) group therapy. In a randomized controlled two-center-study, questionnaires on depressive symptoms (BDI-II, MADRS, DHS), psychological distress (BSI), and well-being related outcomes (FS, PPTI, SWLS) were administered at baseline and 18-month follow-up. Results: Analyses using linear mixed models indicated significant differences in long-term treatment outcome for depressive symptoms (BDI-II, DHS, MADRS) and satisfaction with life (SWLS), depicting better outcomes for the PPT group. Between group effect sizes at 18-month follow-up were primarily in the middle range for all outcome measures, in favor of PPT. Conclusions: This study provides support for the long-term efficacy of PPT in the treatment of depression and improvement of positive resources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Positive Psychology in Healthcare: Interdisciplinary and Intercultural Perspectives)
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16 pages, 308 KB  
Article
Playful Minds Under Pressure? Exploring Links Between Playfulness, Stress, and Satisfaction in Employees and Students
by Rebekka Sendatzki, Kay Brauer and René T. Proyer
Healthcare 2026, 14(4), 431; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14040431 - 9 Feb 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 642
Abstract
Background/Objectives: University students and working professionals, especially those preparing for or employed in healthcare, face substantial psychological demands. Identifying low-cost, easily deployable personal resources to buffer stress and enhance satisfaction is therefore a priority for positive-psychology research and practice. Adult playfulness, the disposition [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: University students and working professionals, especially those preparing for or employed in healthcare, face substantial psychological demands. Identifying low-cost, easily deployable personal resources to buffer stress and enhance satisfaction is therefore a priority for positive-psychology research and practice. Adult playfulness, the disposition to (re)frame everyday situations in an entertaining, interesting, or meaningful way, may represent such a resource, but evidence from applied settings remains scarce. We investigated how four facets of playfulness relate to perceived stress and job/academic satisfaction across study and work contexts, as well as whether these associations differ by healthcare affiliation. Methods: We analyzed two samples comprising 499 employed adults from diverse occupational backgrounds and 635 university students (Ntotal = 1134). Participants completed measures of playfulness, perceived stress, and job/academic satisfaction. Results: Multi-group confirmatory factor analyses supported scalar measurement invariance across occupational status and healthcare affiliation. Structural equation models indicated that lighthearted playfulness was associated with lower perceived stress. Associations between playfulness facets and satisfaction were weak overall and were primarily observed among working adults. We found no evidence for moderation by healthcare affiliation. Conclusions: Given that playfulness is a relatively stable disposition whereas stress and satisfaction. These findings underscore the importance of a differentiated conceptualization of playfulness and point to the potential value for future research examining facet-specific, context-sensitive applications in education and practice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Positive Psychology in Healthcare: Interdisciplinary and Intercultural Perspectives)
15 pages, 253 KB  
Article
The Links Between Physical Activity, Metacognition, and Empathy Among Physiotherapy Students
by Anica Kuzmić, Manuela Filipec and Miro Jakovljević
Healthcare 2025, 13(18), 2350; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13182350 - 18 Sep 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1253
Abstract
Background: Physical activity, metacognitive awareness, and empathy are interconnected factors that play a significant role in the overall well-being of university students. Together, these elements contribute to the development of more self-aware, emotionally intelligent, and academically engaged students. The aim of this study [...] Read more.
Background: Physical activity, metacognitive awareness, and empathy are interconnected factors that play a significant role in the overall well-being of university students. Together, these elements contribute to the development of more self-aware, emotionally intelligent, and academically engaged students. The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between physical activity, empathy, and metacognition among physiotherapy students, as well as determining whether differences exist between undergraduate and graduate students. Methods: A cross-sectional study evaluated 468 physiotherapy students using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire—short version, the Metacognitive Awareness Inventory, and a shortened version of the Empathy Quotient supplemented with demographic questions. The respondents were students of undergraduate and graduate studies of physiotherapy, were male and female, and were between the ages of 18 and 25 years. Results: Higher levels of vigorous-intensity physical activity, walking, and total physical activity are significantly associated with increases in Declarative Knowledge (p = 0.000; p = 0.001; p = 0.000), Empathy Quotient (p = 0.029; p = 0.000; p = 0.006), and Cognitive Empathy (p = 0.002; p = 0.000; p = 0.001). Undergraduate students demonstrated higher levels of Declarative Knowledge (p = 0.000), whereas graduate students scored higher in Procedural Knowledge (p = 0.020), Planning (p = 0.000), Information Management Strategies (p = 0.000), and Evaluation (p = 0.005). Undergraduate students demonstrated higher overall empathy, cognitive empathy, and social skills (p = 0.000). Conclusions: This is the first study to examine this issue in the context of physiotherapy students. Our findings highlight the importance of creating integrated programs that promote physical activity, metacognitive awareness, and empathy concurrently among physiotherapy students. Enhancing metacognitive skills through targeted educational strategies helps students strengthen their critical thinking and self-regulation, enhance academic outcomes, and better prepare students for their professional role. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Positive Psychology in Healthcare: Interdisciplinary and Intercultural Perspectives)
15 pages, 251 KB  
Article
The Relationship Between Spirituality, Stress, and Depression Among Health Professionals in Greece
by Evangelos C. Fradelos, Maria Saridi, Vasiliki Kitsiou, Anastasios Christakis, Pavlos Sarafis, Ioanna V. Papathanasiou, Dimitra Latsou, Theodosios Paralikas and Aikaterini Toska
Healthcare 2025, 13(13), 1484; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13131484 - 20 Jun 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2577
Abstract
Background: Spirituality has emerged as a potential protective factor that may promote mental well-being and resilience among healthcare workers. Aim: This study aims to examine the relationship between spirituality, stress, and depression among healthcare professionals in Greece. Methods: This cross-sectional [...] Read more.
Background: Spirituality has emerged as a potential protective factor that may promote mental well-being and resilience among healthcare workers. Aim: This study aims to examine the relationship between spirituality, stress, and depression among healthcare professionals in Greece. Methods: This cross-sectional study surveyed 412 employees at the Corinth General Hospital in Greece, including medical, nursing, and administrative personnel. The data were collected using the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy—Spiritual Well-Being 12 (FACIT-SP12), the Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ), and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). The statistical analyses included non-parametric tests, correlation coefficients, and multiple regression. Results: The mean spirituality score was 34.6 (±6.83), while the stress and depression scores were 74.6 (±14.87) and 14.7 (±10.20), respectively. Spirituality was significantly and negatively correlated with both stress (r = −0.479, p < 0.001) and depression (r = −0.452, p < 0.001). Gender, years of service, educational level, and marital status were also associated with variations in stress, depression, and spirituality levels. Women and those with lower education reported significantly higher levels of stress and depression. Additionally, some demographic variables such as age and sector of employment did not show significant associations with spirituality or depression. The regression analysis confirmed spirituality as an independent predictor of lower stress levels (B = −1.158, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Spirituality is a significant predictor in mitigating stress and depression among healthcare workers. Promoting a supportive spiritual climate and incorporating elements of spiritual leadership in healthcare settings may enhance employee well-being and resilience. Future research should expand on these findings across diverse institutional and cultural contexts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Positive Psychology in Healthcare: Interdisciplinary and Intercultural Perspectives)
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