A Study On The Effect Of Group Counseling Based On Positive Psychology On Freshmen’s Mental Health

Objective:With the empirical study method, the paper combined the theory of positive psychology and the practice of group counseling, and studies the effect of group counseling based on positive psychology to freshmen’s mental health, which will enrich the theory and practice of university mental education.Methods:Three classes with similar background were chosen to participate in the group counseling by the way of quasi experimental design. They were divided into three groups:the experimental group, a comparison group and controlled group. Eight group counseling activities were conducted on the experimental group, eight meeting activities were conducted on the comparison group, while no group counseling activities were done on the controlled group. Then the three groups had tests three times separately:before the experiment, after the group counseling and two months after the group counseling. What’s more, some qualitative material was collected. The validity is examined according to the analysis on the data and qualitative material.Results:The group counseling based on positive psychology has a remarkable effect to improve their subjective well-being and mood state, ease anxiety and depression, and improve their mental health significantly. As well, its effect is durative and lasts for a long time. The meeting group improves their mental health partially while the controlled group does not bring significant change.