The privilege of happiness: positive psychology interventions disproportionately appeal to, and work best for, select demographic groups

Positive Psychology Interventions (PPIs) are practices individuals can employ to increase their subjective well-being. Examples include gratitude journals and mindfulness exercises. Despite evidence of PPIs’ efficacy broadly, little is known about the relative efficacy of PPIs for different demographic populations. To address this gap, we examined data from a large sample (N = 10,585) who voluntarily enrolled in a four-week online PPI-based program. We find that those who enroll are more likely to be women, White, and older. Further, women, White, older, and higher socioeconomic status individuals were more likely to engage with the program (completing at least one PPI). Among those who completed their first week’s PPI, older and Latinx participants reported greater benefit from it. Among those who completed the full program, increases in subjective well-being were similar across all demographic groups. Future PPI research must identify strategies to better attract and engage a diverse range of users.