Topics in Well-being: Analysis of a Positive Psychology Exercise with Elementary School Children

The main purpose of this study is to examine and describe the subjects and themes in the data collected from a two-month positive psychology intervention with 3rd and 4th grade students. The activity required each of the students to begin and finish each school day by recording three positive events that happened during that day or the prior evening in a positive notebook that was provided to them, therefore increasing the frequency of positive thinking inside the classroom. The students were also encouraged to reflect on the personal significance and value of these positive incidents. A coding system was created to define topics and patterns of the entries. Results show that elementary school students consider academic and physical activities, as well as their friends, families, and teachers as being the most positive, although context may play an intervening role. Differences in the frequency and quality of the entries indicate that the success of this program is highly influenced by the teacher/administrator. This activity further demonstrates elementary school students' ability to express and reflect on their own emotions and well-being, a characteristic which could serve as a protective factor as they enter into adolescence.