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

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.