title: Group intervention: A way to improve working teams' positive psychological capital.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Positive psychological capital is reported to have positive effects on people's well-being and attitudes to their working lives.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to investigate if it is possible to increase the level of positive psychological capital by two group intervention programs.
  
  
  METHODS
  The research design was a controlled study with 2 × 2 experimental groups and two control groups. Two of the experimental groups received intervention I (IG I), the other two experimental groups received intervention II (IG II). Assessments were made before and after the intervention programs, with a follow-up at six months post-intervention. Instruments measuring the fundamentals of psychological capital: self-efficacy, hope, optimism, as well as health and job satisfaction were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results show that it is possible to increase the level of positive emotions, self-efficacy and job satisfaction of members of a working team by using group intervention methods. The positive changes observed at the end of the program remained six months after the intervention, with the exception of job satisfaction in IG II. It seems that the intervention had a greater influence on those persons who at the start of the study reported a low level of self-enhancement. The results were more pronounced in intervention group I where reinforcement of the resources and positive aspects of the work place environment were provided.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A 10-week group intervention program that focused on learned optimism proved to be successful in increasing levels of self-efficacy and job satisfaction. While improvement was maintained six months post-intervention the small sample size and the attrition rate are limitations. Results are promising and further research is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Avonova Management Support, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Harty
authors.affiliation: Swedish Employment Agency, Kungälv, Sweden.
authors.forename: John-Anders
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Gustafsson
authors.affiliation: Ersta Sköndal University College, Campus Bräcke, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Björkdahl
authors.affiliation: Ersta Sköndal University College, Campus Bräcke, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Möller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006126:Group Processes; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D010348:Patient Care Team; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013548:Sweden
keywords: group intervention; hope; job satisfaction; optimism