Conference Proceeding: Continuing the work of developing a regional positive psychology

Authors

  • Louise Lambert Editor of the Middle East Journal of Positive Psychology https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4651-929X
  • Intisar Al-Sabah Al Nowair, Kuwait
  • Aziz Mulay-Shah GCA
  • Saddiga Al-Ghalib Effat University
  • Zakeya Al-Rasbi UAEU

Keywords:

positive psychology, governance, education, culture, religion, academia, research, measurement, Middle East/North Africa (MENA)

Abstract

Abstract: The move towards greater global wellbeing is growing at a rapid pace and shows no signs of slowing down, especially in the region, where it has taken full steam. This move has witnessed the development of two research centers in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. These developments are not only promising for the continued development of regional wellbeing research from which we can learn about the contributing factors to a life well lived; they inspire the development of a psychology that incorporates aspects of culture and religion, as well as issues of national development. Work in policy development, commercial sector wellbeing initiatives, as well as education and community projects have also emerged. In this panel, we explore those projects and discuss where the field is heading, what needs to be done, and which challenges and opportunities present themselves. The announcement of the Middle East Psychological Association’s (MEPA) first division was also announced, namely Division #1 Positive Psychology.

  ملخص البحث:  يتسارع الدفع باتجاه تحقيق المزيد من الحياة الطيبة بوتيرة حثيثة لا تتباطأ، خاصة في المنطقة حيث تؤخذ الفكرة بحماسٍ تام. شهدت حركة تحقيق الحياة الطيبة تطوير مركزين للبحوث في المملكة العربية السعودية والإمارات العربية المتحدة. وبالإمكان استشفاف العوامل المساهمة في الحياة الطيبة عبر هذه التطورات التي ليست مبشرة باستمرارية تقدم الأبحاث في مجال الحياة الطيبة في المنطقة فحسب، بل تحث على مزيدٍ من الأبحاثِ المتعلقة بعلم النفس المنطوي على قضايا الثقافة والأديان والتنمية الوطنية. وظهرت مبادرات ومشاريع لتحسين جودة الحياة في مجالات وضع السياسات والقطاعات التجارية والتربية والتعليم والمجتمع. وفي هذا الصدد، نقوم باختبار هذه المشاريع والمبادرات لتقصي مسار مجال الحياة الطيبة ومعرفة الواجب عمله وإلقاء الضوء على التحديات والفرص البَيّنَة.  هذا وأعلن عن تأسيس جمعية الشرق الأوسط لعلم النفس بقسمها الأول المسمى بــ "القسم 1: علم النفس الإيجابي".

References

Al-Ghalib, S. J., & Salim, A. Y. (2018). A mindfulness based intervention to enhance university student wellbeing in Saudi Arabia. Middle East Journal of Positive Psychology, 4(1), 142- 157.

Al-Ghalib, S. J., Salim, A. Y., Al-Khalifah, S., & Dahlawi, R. A. (2018). Perceptions of women’s driving in Saudi Arabia: Relationship with openness to experience and happiness. Middle East Journal of Positive Psychology, 4(1), 102-125.

Lambert, L., Mulay-Shah, A., Warren, M. A., & Younis, Y. (2019). The pursuit of national wellbeing policies across the GCC: The what, how, and why? In L. Lambert, & N. Pasha-Zaidi (Eds.), Positive psychology in the Middle East/North Africa: Research, policy, and practise (pp. 11-35). Cham, Switzerland: Springer.

Lambert, L., Passmore, H.-A., Scull, N., Al Sabah, I., & Hussain, R. (2018). Wellbeing matters in Kuwait: The Alnowair’s Bareec education initiative. Social Indicators Research, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-018-1987-z https://rdcu.be/5aOp

Mulay-Shah, A., Younis, Y., Wood, B. P., & Lambert, L. (2019). Commercial life: The private sector’s contribution to wellbeing. In L. Lambert, & N. Pasha-Zaidi (Eds.), Positive psychology in the Middle East/North Africa: Research, policy, and practise (pp. 37-70). Cham, Switzerland: Springer.

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Published

2019-12-30

How to Cite

Lambert, L., Al-Sabah, I., Mulay-Shah, A., Al-Ghalib, S., & Al-Rasbi, Z. (2019). Conference Proceeding: Continuing the work of developing a regional positive psychology. Middle East Journal of Positive Psychology, 5(1), 8–12. Retrieved from https://www.middleeastjournalofpositivepsychology.org/index.php/mejpp/article/view/84

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