title: [Promoting psychosocial well-being in adolescence. A controlled study].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the recent years a large body of literature has focused its attention to the study of the positive aspects of adolescence, in particular quality of life, happiness and social functioning. The school is an ideal setting for promoting learning abilities, educational processes and also optimal human and social development.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  A new school program for the promotion of psychological well-being has been tested and compared to an attention-placebo intervention in a high school setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine classes (227 students) were enrolled in the study and randomized to: a) School Well-Being Therapy intervention (5 classes); b)attention-placebo (4 classes). 1) Symptom Questionnaire (SQ); 2) Psychological Well-Being Scales (PWB); 3) Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS) were administered at pre- and post-intervention, and after six months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  WBT school intervention was associated to an improved Personal Growth (PWB), and to decreased distress (Somatization (SQ), Physical Well-being (SQ), Anxiety (SQ), and RCMAS Physiological Anxiety).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A school intervention focused on the promotion of positive emotions and psychological well-being has resulted to be effective not only in increasing these dimensions in high school students, but also in decreasing distress, in particular anxiety and somatization.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Psicologia, Universita di Bologna, Italy. fedra.ottolini@unibo.it
authors.forename: Fedra
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ottolini
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ruini
authors.forename: Carlotta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Belaise
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tomba
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Offidani
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Albieri
authors.forename: Dalila
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Visani
authors.forename: Ernesto
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Caffo
authors.forename: Giovanni Andrea
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Fava
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D010549:Personal Satisfaction