City catches the positive psychology bug sweeping US campuses: Scientists help unlock the secret to happiness

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Description

Describe a joint project that involved researchers from CityU, HKU, and PolyU to examine the associations between positive psychological constructs and salivary cortisol. 

Period14 Jan 2007

Media contributions

1

Media contributions

  • TitleScientists help to unlock the secret to happiness
    Degree of recognitionLocal
    Media name/outletSCMP
    Media typePrint
    Duration/Length/Size1/4 page
    PlaceHong Kong, China
    Date14/01/07
    DescriptionResearchers at HKU, City University and Polytechnic University are undertaking joint research with Westminster University in England into the relationship between opti-mism, positive emotions and the stress hormone cortisol.

    Julian Lai Chuk-ling, the associate head of City University’s department of applied social studies, said he had found that optimistic people had lower levels of the stress hormone. He was now doing research into whether behaviour would change if they adopted more optimistic attitudes.

    “Positive psychology is more effective than conventional psychology and psychotherapies in helping people to function at their full capacity and overcome life diffi-culties,” Dr Lai said.
    Producer/AuthorLiz Heron
    PersonsChuk Ling Julian LAI
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