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Comparing Personality-Tailored and Generic Guidance for Brief Well-Being Interventions: A Randomised Experiment

Bratz, Benjamin LU (2026) PSYP01 20261
Department of Psychology
Abstract
This randomised experiment tested whether tailoring recommendations for brief positive psychology interventions to participants' self-identified Big Five personality traits produced greater improvements in subjective well-being, a more positive intervention experience, and greater adherence than supportive generic guidance. The final sample included 28 participants, who were randomly assigned to receive tailored or generic guidance for one of two exercises: mindful breathing or gratitude journaling. They were encouraged to practise for approximately one week. At follow-up, the conditions did not differ significantly on any primary outcome. The clearest difference concerned positive affect, which was higher in the tailored condition after... (More)
This randomised experiment tested whether tailoring recommendations for brief positive psychology interventions to participants' self-identified Big Five personality traits produced greater improvements in subjective well-being, a more positive intervention experience, and greater adherence than supportive generic guidance. The final sample included 28 participants, who were randomly assigned to receive tailored or generic guidance for one of two exercises: mindful breathing or gratitude journaling. They were encouraged to practise for approximately one week. At follow-up, the conditions did not differ significantly on any primary outcome. The clearest difference concerned positive affect, which was higher in the tailored condition after controlling for baseline scores, although the estimate remained statistically uncertain. Exploratory analyses also indicated that increases in positive affect were associated with longer practice duration and a more positive intervention experience. While the small sample and brief intervention period limit what can be concluded about the benefits of tailoring, the study illustrates how guidance can be personalised while retaining the same core activities and provides a basis for testing more sustained and targeted forms of personalisation. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Bratz, Benjamin LU
supervisor
organization
course
PSYP01 20261
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
subjective well-being, positive psychology interventions, Big Five, mindfulness, gratitude
language
English
id
9251577
date added to LUP
2026-09-22 10:51:38
date last changed
2026-09-22 10:51:38
@misc{9251577,
  abstract     = {{This randomised experiment tested whether tailoring recommendations for brief positive psychology interventions to participants' self-identified Big Five personality traits produced greater improvements in subjective well-being, a more positive intervention experience, and greater adherence than supportive generic guidance. The final sample included 28 participants, who were randomly assigned to receive tailored or generic guidance for one of two exercises: mindful breathing or gratitude journaling. They were encouraged to practise for approximately one week. At follow-up, the conditions did not differ significantly on any primary outcome. The clearest difference concerned positive affect, which was higher in the tailored condition after controlling for baseline scores, although the estimate remained statistically uncertain. Exploratory analyses also indicated that increases in positive affect were associated with longer practice duration and a more positive intervention experience. While the small sample and brief intervention period limit what can be concluded about the benefits of tailoring, the study illustrates how guidance can be personalised while retaining the same core activities and provides a basis for testing more sustained and targeted forms of personalisation.}},
  author       = {{Bratz, Benjamin}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Comparing Personality-Tailored and Generic Guidance for Brief Well-Being Interventions: A Randomised Experiment}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}