Do online positive psychology interventions work equally well in distressed and non-distressed users?

Past research suggests distress level may differentiate users of online positive psychology interventions (OPPIs). Non-distressed users are moderately happy and use OPPIs as a self-improvement tool to maximize their sense of well-being. Distressed users experience high levels of negative affect and use OPPIs to relieve their suffering and unhappiness. The present study was designed to explore whether distressed and non-distressed individuals experience different outcomes after practising an OPPI. Demographic and psychological well-being information was collected from two large international samples (combined N = 6856) for up to 6 months following completion of a variety of brief positive psychology interventions (e.g. cultivating gratitude, self-compassion, optimism). Using cluster analysis to subgroup OPPI users, Study 1 found a two cluster solution for classifying OPPI users based on distress level, replicating the findings first observed by Parks, Della Porta, Pierce, Zilca, and Lyubomirsky (2012). Study 2 explored differences in well-being outcomes between these two clusters. The distressed cluster reported greater decreases in depressive symptoms and increases in life satisfaction over time than the non-distressed cluster. Previous experience with psychotherapy was associated with greater long-term improvements in life satisfaction for the distressed cluster, although attrition rates were higher for the distressed cluster in one sample. Based on these findings, distress level appears to distinguish both who uses OPPIs and who stands to benefit most. Distressed individuals experienced the greatest gains, although they were also more likely to have difficulty with regular participation. The high attrition rate and limited scope of outcome measures of well-being were discussed as limitations. Future research was encouraged to clarify the different mechanisms in effect for distressed and non-distressed OPPI users and to develop interventions more resistant to attrition.