The Science

From an idea to a testable program.

Stronger Minds draws from positive psychology, social-connection research, behavioral science, cognitive neuroscience, and functional-outcomes research.

Research question

Can brief, engaging activities support well-being, connection, and everyday functioning?

01

Feasibility

Can the program be delivered consistently in a community setting?

02

Engagement

Do participants complete activities and find them acceptable?

03

Experience

Do participants report changes in well-being or social connection?

04

Function

Can simple behavioral indicators be collected reliably?

Evidence base

What the literature tells us

Prior research supports studying structured positive-psychology approaches and social connection, but effects vary by intervention and population. Stronger Minds therefore treats the first study as a feasibility and community-implementation project rather than assuming efficacy.

Seligman et al. (2005) — empirical validation of positive-psychology interventions.

Sin & Lyubomirsky (2009) — meta-analysis of positive-psychology interventions and well-being.

Bolier et al. (2013) — meta-analysis of randomized controlled positive-psychology studies.

Tejada-Gallardo et al. (2020) — systematic review/meta-analysis of school-based positive-psychology interventions.

Fu et al. (2025) — systematic review/meta-analysis of strength-based capacity-building interventions.

Holt-Lunstad et al. (2015) — meta-analytic evidence on social isolation/loneliness and health.

Measurement philosophy

Three layers of evidence.

01

Feasibility

Recruitment, attendance, completion, time burden, satisfaction, fidelity, and unexpected events.

02

Participant experience

Well-being, social connection, meaningfulness, comfort, and perceived usefulness.

03

Behavior & function

Simple, repeatable indicators such as task completion, response latency, or validated cognitive tasks when justified.

Scientific caution

Correlation is not causation.

A small pre/post pilot can reveal feasibility and preliminary signals, but it cannot establish clinical efficacy by itself. Future controlled studies should be designed with experienced research and clinical collaborators.