Aim: This study evaluated the effectiveness of a strengths-based psychological intervention specifically tailored for use with university students in Qatar. The intervention involved a cross-cultural adaptation of Character Strengths interventions to target cognitive and affective dimensions of well-being.
Method: The sample consisted of 131 participants from Qatar University (93 females and 38 males). 43 participated in two intervention groups (individual counseling intervention and group counseling intervention) and 88 were enrolled in four non-intervention groups. The instruments used in this study were: The Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), and the Global Assessment of Character-Strengths-24 (GACS-24).
Results: Participants in the individual counseling intervention attained the highest posttest mean scores in the SWLS and Positive Affect Schedule, and they were noted to be the only group whose posttest mean score in the Negative Affect Schedule decreased as compared to the pretest mean score. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) showed a significant effect related to the Intervention Type on the SWLS Pretest Score. No main effects were noted for either age or gender. For investigating the impact of the intervention, a series of Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) analyses were conducted.