Identifying key targets for interventions to improve psychological wellbeing: Replicable results from four UK cohorts

Stochl, J., Soneson, E., Wagner, A. P., Khandaker, G. M., Goodyer, I. and Jones, P. B. (2019) Identifying key targets for interventions to improve psychological wellbeing: Replicable results from four UK cohorts. Psychological Medicine, 49 (14). pp. 2389-2396. ISSN 0033-2917

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Abstract

Background: An increasing importance is being placed on mental health and wellbeing at individual and population levels. While there are several interventions that have been proposed to improve wellbeing, more evidence is needed to understand which aspects of wellbeing are most influential. This study aimed to identify key items that signal improvement of mental health and wellbeing. Methods: Using network analysis, we identified the most central items in the graph network estimated from the well-established Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS). Results were compared across four major UK cohorts comprising a total of 47,578 individuals: the Neuroscience in Psychiatry Network, the Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey, the Northern Ireland Health Survey, and the National Child Development Study. Results: Regardless of gender, the three items most central in the network were related to positive self-perception and mood: ‘I have been feeling good about myself’; ‘I have been feeling confident’; and ‘I have been feeling cheerful’. Results were consistent across all four cohorts. Conclusions: Positive self-perception and positive mood are central to psychological wellbeing. Psychotherapeutic and public mental health interventions might best promote psychological wellbeing by prioritising the improvement of self-esteem, self-confidence, and cheerfulness. However, empirical testing of interventions using these key targets is needed.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	intervention targets,mental health,network analysis,psychological wellbeing,applied psychology,psychiatry and mental health,sdg 3 - good health and well-being ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/3200/3202
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Public Health and Health Services Research (former - to 2023) Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Health Economics Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Population Health Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Norwich Clinical Trials Unit
Related URLs:	http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?...
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	12 Oct 2018 10:30
Last Modified:	28 Jun 2025 00:34
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/68496
DOI:	10.1017/S0033291718003288

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