TABLE 3.

179 research findings on the effect of happiness trainings on happiness observed direction of change and statistical significance.

Nature of happiness training	Cross-sectional had training versus did not have training	Longitudinal before versus after training
		Change in treatment group only		Difference with change in control group
		Post-intervention	After follow-up	Post-intervention	After follow-up
Single kind of training
Best possible self-exercise		+	+	+	−
Cognitive reframing		+		+
Comparison with similar people		+
Enlightenment about happiness		+ +	+	−
Goal-setting training		+/+ + − + +	+/+ + + +	+/+ + + 0 0	− 0
Laughter yoga		+		+
List and practice perceived ways to happiness		+/+
Practice retrospective sources of happiness		+		+
Live up to one’s values		++	+	+ +	+
Meditation, mindfulness	+/−	+ + + + +	+ + +	+ − + +	− +
Novelty trying		+	+	0	0
Lifestyle awareness training		+	+	+	+
Life-review exercise		+		+	−/−/0
Mood awareness training		+ +/+/+	+/+ +/+/+	+/+/+	+/+/+
Positive thinking training		+ + +	+	− + +	−
• Count blessings and curses	+/0 + 0 −	+ + +	+	+
• Gratitude training	+ − +/+ +	+ + +	−	− +	−
• Kindness training	+/+	+/−		+/−
• Recall of positive events		+ + + +	+ +	+ +
Savoring training		+	+	+/+	−/−
Multiple kinds combined
Training of multiple mental skills	+/0	+ + + + + + + +/+	+ + + + + +/+	+ + + + + +/+	+ + + − +/+
• Enlightenment + exercises		+ +/+		+ +/+/+ +/+/+ +/+
% independent studies positive
- all positive	56%	96%	96%	87%	47%
- positive and significant (p < 0.05)	11%	49%	52%	37%	29%

Signs link to finding page inWorld Database of Happiness. Click linked sign to view the page. Signs indicate observed differences. + = positive difference, significant. + = positive difference, not significant. 0 = no difference. − = negative difference, not significant. .− = negative difference, significant.