Reference no: EM133676325 , Length: word count:2100

Introduction to Positive Psychology

Wellbeing Essay

Task Description:
The overall aim of this assessment task is to explore the alignment between wellbeing theory, research, and practices, and the implications for the ways we can foster/enhance wellbeing in a specific setting/context.

Please note, this assessment task must be completed individually - it is an independent assessment piece, meaning that you cannot work with other students to complete it.

For Assessment 2, you will write a 2100-word essay using a theory of wellbeing to explore wellbeing issues faced in an applied setting/context (e.g., workplace, school), and then evaluate strategies that can be used to improve and build wellbeing in that setting.
The essay should focus on integrating wellbeing theory and research from the published academic literature and how this could be usefully applied in a practical context/setting to generate strategies to increase/build/improve wellbeing.

You will:

Choose one specific applied setting (e.g., a workplace; school; residential aged care; hospital; etc). Alternatively, you may choose one specific population group or context (e.g., new parents; people with a particular chronic illness; teenagers; etc). Ensuring you keep this specific will help give focus to your essay.

Research and then summarise the wellbeing considerations/issues/challenges faced in the chosen context/setting (e.g., what are the wellbeing issues or challenges faced by people living in a residential aged-care setting? e.g., meaninglessness, loneliness, depression, etc). This summary should be based on reputable academic evidence, and should cite at least one published systematic review journal article about the chosen setting.

Apply one positive psychology theoretical framework for wellbeing that can help explain the wellbeing issues identified in your chosen applied context/setting. You will choose one theoretical framework from the list below and demonstrate how it provides an appropriate framework for understanding the wellbeing considerations commonly experienced in the chosen setting (e.g., if ‘meaninglessness' is a concern in aged-care settings, is there a positive psychology theoretical perspective that discusses the importance of ‘meaning' to an individual's wellbeing?) As part of this section, you will produce a visual diagram (e.g., a mind-map, concept-map) outlining the wellbeing issues you discovered in your setting, and how these issues connect to the components within your chosen wellbeing theoretical framework. Your visual diagram needs to be original and have clear relevance to the content of your essay; i.e., no google images or generic diagrams permitted.
Examine how empirical research studies have previously attempted to influence (i.e., increase, improve, build, enhance) wellbeing in the chosen context/setting. In this section, you will summarise and critique at least two published peer-reviewed empirical research studies evaluating intervention/prevention strategies, including what was done in each study (i.e., what the interventions entailed), the procedures used to assess/measure changes in wellbeing in each study, and the results found in each study. You will then evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the intervention/prevention attempts investigated in these research studies.
Your essay will conclude with a summary and evaluation of potential implications and recommendations for future work that is needed in the chosen context/setting.

Thus, in a logical, well-integrated essay (using APA style referencing and headings) you will identify (with well-reasoned justification based on theory) and explore in detail the ways in which wellbeing can be understood and influenced within a practical setting. It is important to note here that you are expected to critically apply positive psychology theoretical concepts to your chosen specific practical context, not just write an essay about positive psychology concepts more generally.

A focus on one of the following four key theoretical perspectives of wellbeing is recommended:
Seligman's PERMA model (See Week 1 Moodle Workbook)
Ryff's Psychological Wellbeing model (See Week 2 Moodle Workbook)
Ryan and Deci's Basic Psychological Needs model from Self-Determination Theory
(See Week 3 Moodle Workbook)
Diener's Subjective Wellbeing model (See Week 4 Moodle Workbook)

There are recommended readings provided in Moodle about each of these theoretical perspectives, and it is expected that your essay will include citations to at least three of these reputable academic sources related to the theoretical perspective you choose to focus on for the essay.

Please note, if you have another preference for your theoretical focus, this can be discussed with the Unit Coordinator.

Introduction to the essay (introduce the wellbeing context/setting and outline what will be covered in the essay)
Discussion of wellbeing issues/challenges faced within the chosen applied context/setting

Rationale for the chosen theoretical framework of wellbeing and demonstration of relevant application to the applied context/setting

Evaluation of ways to increase/build wellbeing in the applied context/setting

Conclusion and future recommendations (summing up of essay, including implications and recommendations for future work in the applied context/setting)

The quality, clarity, and conciseness of written communication, including adherence to the word-limit
Accurate use of appropriate academic references and adherence to APA referencing requirements for in-text citations and the reference list.