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

TitleScientists help to unlock the secret to happiness
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.
Persons
Media name/outletSCMP
PlaceHong Kong
Degree of recognitionLocal
Media typePrint
Producer/AuthorLiz Heron
Duration / Length / Size1/4 page
Date14/01/07