Impacts of a Church-Based Positive Psychological Intervention in Spanish-Speaking Hispanics/Latinos with Uncontrolled Hypertension: Results from the ¡Alegrate! Randomized Clinical Trial

Rosalba Hernandez (), Jinsong Chen, Soonhyung Kwon, Lizet Martinez, Angela Martinez, Geovana Martin Alemany, Dana Romero, Elizabeth L. Addington, Jeff C. Huffman and Judith T. Moskowitz
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Rosalba Hernandez: University of Illinois at Chicago
Jinsong Chen: University of Nevada at Reno
Soonhyung Kwon: University of South Florida
Lizet Martinez: University of Illinois at Chicago
Angela Martinez: University of Illinois at Chicago
Geovana Martin Alemany: University of Arizona
Dana Romero: University of Illinois at Chicago
Elizabeth L. Addington: Northwestern University
Jeff C. Huffman: Harvard Medical School
Judith T. Moskowitz: Northwestern University

Journal of Happiness Studies, 2025, vol. 26, issue 3, No 2, 21 pages

Abstract: Abstract The current study examined the intervention effects of a culturally tailored positive psychological intervention on the well-being profiles of Hispanics/Latinos with uncontrolled hypertension. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups (N = 96), either the ¡Alégrate! ("Get Happy!") positive psychological intervention arm (N = 51) or a wait-list control group (N = 45). The intervention consisted of eight weekly in-person sessions, facilitated by a licensed psychologist or social worker, aimed at improving positive affect and overall psychological well-being. Outcome measures of well-being included dispositional optimism, positive affect, life meaning and purpose, emotional vitality, and engagement in happiness-inducing behaviors. The analysis utilized independent two-sample t tests and intention-to-treat multivariable linear regression methods. There were no significant baseline differences in psychological well-being scores between the intervention and wait-list control groups. Half of the participants were female, with a mean age of 57.9 years, and 90.6% reported Mexican heritage. In regression analyses examining between-group differences, the ¡Alégrate! positive psychological intervention led to significant improvements in optimism (β = 1.23, p = 0.011) and engagement in happiness-inducing behavior (β = 14.98, p = 0.005) from baseline to post-intervention, while no such changes were seen in the wait-list control arm. Findings suggest that the strengths-based ¡Alégrate! positive psychological intervention effectively enhanced well-being measures in Hispanics/Latinos with uncontrolled hypertension, providing a promising approach to address mental health disparities in this underserved group. Future research should examine long-term impacts of the intervention in a larger and more heterogeneous sample of Hispanics/Latinos, considering factors such as acculturation, country of origin, and other culturally relevant variables.

Keywords: Positive psychological intervention; Hispanics/Latinos; Uncontrolled hypertension; Cultural tailoring; Psychological well-being; Randomized controlled trial (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/s10902-024-00854-4

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