ABSTRACT
Diverse approaches are necessary in the ongoing effort to reduce health disparities and improve health equity. Positive psychology science and clinical practice offers one such approach by emphasizing strengths, resilience, and positive affect, such as optimism. However, the field of positive psychology would benefit from increased attention to the historic inequities, social determinants of health, and systemic and structural bias and racism that impact the daily lives of historically marginalized people. By fostering strengths-based practices and approaches, such as faith and spirituality, optimism, and culturally relevant coping strategies, positive psychology interventions (PPIs) can effectively address the negative effects of bias, discrimination, and racism. Further, emerging research indicates the opportunity for positive psychology approaches to target oppressors, potentially mitigating experiences of discrimination. Finally, PPIs have been well-studied in diverse populations and settings around the globe, speaking to the tremendous potential impact of PPIs to support health equity.
