Positive psychology interventions and foster care youth: The impact on subjective well-being through the lens of psychosocial ego development theory and object relations theory

This theoretical thesis explores the potential use of positive psychology interventions (PPIs) for enhancing subjective well-being (SWB) among foster care youth. This examination of positive psychology interventions (PPIs) is filtered through the lenses of the psychodynamic theories of psychosocial ego development and object relations. This theoretical study begins with a brief discussion of psychosocial ego development theory and object relations theory to set forth the guiding framework of this thesis. This theoretical contextualization is followed by a historical account of positive psychology and the use of associated interventions. The use of positive psychology interventions (PPIs) for enhancing the subjective well-being (SWB) of a vulnerable population, foster care youth, is then considered through the lenses of psychosocial ego development theory and object relations theory. Analytical and empirical research on this subject is identified and examined through these varied theoretical lenses. This thesis concludes with a discussion of the findings and the implications they hold for the field of social work.