Previously submitted to: JMIR Research Protocols (no longer under consideration since Dec 23, 2019)
Date Submitted: Jul 8, 2019
Open Peer Review Period: Jul 12, 2019 - Jul 26, 2019
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Making Moments Meaningful: A protocol for a brief positive psychological photo-ethnographic intervention using Instagram
ABSTRACT
Background:
Given that more than half the world’s population report feelings of meaninglessness and that access to psychological services are limited or expensive, psychologists need to develop innovative and scalable means to provide psychological services to those in need. Social media platforms provides an innovative channel through which to administer, track and scale brief positive psychological interventions aimed at aiding individuals to finding meaning and purpose in their lives. Instagram, a visual ethnographic platform, could be used as a means to aid individuals to discover the sources of meaning in a structured and systematic manner.
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to develop an intervention protocol for a brief online photographic meaningful-moments intervention aimed at enhancing meaning in life through Instagram. This study builds upon the pilot study of Steger et al. (2014) through not only looking at the short-, medium-, and long-term efficacy of the intervention, but also employing social media (Instagram) as an intervention platform.
Methods:
A pre-experimental mixed-method longitudinal intervention design was employed to investigate the effectiveness of the intervention. Quantitatively, a four x treatment group design, employing an online psychometric assessment methodology, was used to assess changes in the study variables over time (a week before-, directly after-, three months after and one year after the completion of the intervention). Qualitatively, data was obtained through both the photos taken and the personal reflections thereon. The Mobile Phone Visual Ethnography approach was employed to gather visual images and textual data relating to the meaningful moments experienced by participants. A post-positivistic (Visual Voice) Interpretative Phenomenological Analytical strategy was employed to analyse the textual data obtained through the personal reflections of the participants (in the context of the visual images).
Results:
The effect the intervention will be evaluated through tracking changes in meaning, life satisfaction, depression/stress/anxiety, and gratitude over time. Further, it aims to understand the personal sources of meaning of participants during the intervention.
Conclusions:
The study will add knowledge as to the efficacy of a brief, scalable positive psychological intervention aimed at enhancing meaning through social media. Further, it will provide evidence as to the sources of meaning in peoples lives. Clinical Trial: Not Applicable
Citation
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