Art-of-Living Training: Developing an Intervention for Students to Increase Art-of-Living.
BACKGROUND
Art-of-living describes a mindful and self-determined way of dealing with one's self and way of life. It is related to measures of well-being. Art-of-living is based on strategies and attitudes which can be learned and therefore can be changed. Two types of training for students to increase art-of-living were developed and tested in two studies to determine the effects on art-of-living measures.


METHODS
Study 1 dealt with the initial examination of whether it is possible to enhance the art-of-living by training selected art-of-living strategies. Therefore, training with three conditions was developed and conducted with secondary school students (ages 16-19). In Study 2, a second art-of-living training was developed and conducted with children from primary school (ages 8-11).


RESULTS
In Study 1, the art-of-living measures increased significantly for the training conditions compared to a control group. In addition, Study 2 showed that higher levels of the art-of-living lead to a better quality of life.


CONCLUSIONS
In summary, the training successfully enhanced art-of-living. Limitations on and benefits of utilising the art-of-living training are discussed.
Technische Universität Darmstadt, Germany. lang@psychologie.tu-darmstadt.de.
Jessica
J
Lang
Technische Universität Darmstadt, Germany.
Bernhard
B
Schmitz
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006240:Happiness; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D064866:Mindfulness / Q000379:methods*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012572:School Health Services; D012574:Schools; D012649:Self Concept; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
art-of-living; intervention; positive education; quality of life; students; well-being