A randomised controlled trial (RCT) exploring the impact of a photography intervention on wellbeing and posttraumatic growth during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Background: Emerging evidence points to rising levels of psychological distress resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a need for self-administered, low-cost, and accessible interventions that facilitate wellbeing and growth. Methods: This study used a randomised controlled trial (RCT) design to investigate the effects of a two-week positivity-oriented photography intervention on wellbeing and posttraumatic growth in comparison to a control group. Participants were adults between the ages of 21 and 80 living in the UK recruited between May and August 2020 (n = 109). Results: After adjusting for baseline wellbeing, both wellbeing and PTG were significantly higher in the intervention group compared to the control group following intervention completion, with this effect remaining similar at one-month follow-up. Conclusions: The study offers preliminary evidence that a brief self-administered photography intervention could hold therapeutic value.