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Sare Sarrionandia, Susana Gorbeña, Ignacio Gómez, Patricia Penas, Patricia Macía, Ioseba Iraurgi University of Deusto, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Psychology, Bilbao, SpainCorrespondence: Sare Sarrionandia, Tel +34 944139000 ext 3122, Email saresarrionandia@deusto.esIntroduction: Psychological interventions to cultivate mental health in older adults are scarce and tend to focus on and use a limited number of activities.Objective: The aim of this study was to test the effects of an intervention based on Keyes’ concept of positive mental health.Methods: The intervention was conducted with 24 self-selected participants, while 34 were part of the control group. Positive mental health and distress outcomes were measured at baseline and at the end of the intervention. ANCOVA analysis and effect sizes were calculated.Results: Results showed that the intervention increased mental health (F= 18.22, p< 0.001, η2= 0.334, d= 1.45, power 0.986) and decreased psychiatric symptomatology in the experimental group versus the control group (F= 7.07, p= 0.011, η2= 0.16, d= 0.87, power= 0.736), which showed no change.Discussion: Despite study limitations, the intervention effectively promoted older people’s well-being. Future research, should evaluate the long-term effects of the intervention with varied older adult populations.Keywords: psychological interventions, positive mental health, older adults, effectiveness

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has constituted an unprecedented challenge to society and science and it has provided an unexpected opportunity to explore the effects of a positive intervention in times of adversity and confinement. The goal was to evaluate the effects of a theory driven group intervention to cultivate mental health and flourishing. Design: A pre post design with three groups (151 individuals) was conducted, including an experimental group that received the intervention during the pandemic, a pre-COVID intervention group, and a COVID control group. Main Outcome Measures: Based on Keyes’ concept of positive mental health, measures of subjective, psychological and social well-being were obtained, as well as an indicator of psychological distress (GHQ12). Results: Intervention groups showed an increase in well-being and the COVID control group a decrease. Change scores revealed significant differences. Overall percentage of individuals at risk of ill health in baseline was 25.2%, but after the intervention, the COVID control group reached 64.1%. Conclusions: Despite the limitations, the present findings suggest that interventions to sustain and improve mental health in times of crisis and adversity can be an effective approach.