Enhancing Emotional Well-Being in Adolescents: A Quasi-Experimental Study on the PERMA Model

The concept of well-being is closely tied to feelings of happiness and effective performance. In this study, we explore the impact of the PERMA model—a framework developed by Martin Seligman—on the emotional well-being of ۱۴- to ۱۶-year-old girls exhibiting symptoms of depression. The PERMA model comprises five fundamental components: ۱. Positive Emotion (P): Encouraging positive feelings such as joy, gratitude, and contentment. ۲. Engagement (E): Fostering full absorption in meaningful activities. ۳. Relationships (R): Cultivating meaningful connections with others. ۴. Meaning (M): Finding purpose and significance in life. ۵. Accomplishments (A): Achieving meaningful goals. Our quasi-experimental study involved female students in the ۹th and ۱۰th grades in Tehran. We used Achenbach’s Youth-Self-Report (YSR) questionnaire to identify participants exhibiting depression symptoms. We also administered the PERMA questionnaire before and after a ۶-week training course, which focused on the model's components. The results indicated that as the total score of PERMA and the subcomponent of positive emotion increased, the depression score decreased significantly (p-value < ۰.۰۵). However, the other components did not show a significant relationship with changes in depression. Based on these findings, we can conclude that PERMA model training promotes flourishing and reduces depression symptoms in ۱۴-۱۶-year-old girls.

Keywords:

positive psychology , well-being , PERMA , depression , adolescents