The effectiveness of positive psychology-based interventions in prisons on well-being: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Journal article

Positive psychology-based interventions (PPIs) have shown promising evidence for improving psychological well-being in a variety of contexts and are consistent with calls for strengths-based interventions in correctional settings. While these interventions have been tested in prison settings, no study has empircally assessed effectiveness of PPIs for improving psychological well-being in prisons. In this study, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on the effects of PPIs on psychological well-being in prisons. 9 studies (4 RCTs) were included, representing 662 participants. We found large, significant effects on psychological well-being in comparison with control arms (Hedge’s g = 0.76). Additionally, we found large, significant within-group effects (Hedge’s g = 0.66) on psychological well-being. The overall quality of included studies was poor, however, limiting the certainty of these findings. Our findings indicate that positive psychology-based interventions can significantly improve psychological well-being in prison settings.

Authors: Klapow, MC; Shea, K; Bohn, T; Hoffman, D

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• Journal: Journal of Positive Psychology
• Publication date: 2025-02-12
• Acceptance date: 2024-12-02
• DOI: 10.1080/17439760.2025.2461532
• EISSN: 1743-9779
• ISSN: 1743-9760
• Language: English
• Keywords: well-being; meta-analysis; prisons; corrections; positive psychology interventions; RCT