Three Principles, Expertise and Well-being: Introducing the 3PHR-scale

The popularity of Three Principles of Health Realization (3PHR) interventions among mental health professionals is increasing. We developed a scale to measure the core theoretical beliefs that underlie 3PHR interventions: Thought, Consciousness, and Mind. To test the scale, we surveyed 282 participants enrolled in an annual 3PHR conference (n = 238). We examined the construct validity using confirmatory factor analyses and investigated its associations with 3PHR expertise on one side and well-being—in particular, purpose in life and affect—on the other. We also examined the mediating effect of the 3PHR scale in explaining the relationship between 3PHR expertise and well-being. The factor analyses confirmed the three-factor structure. Results further demonstrated strong positive interrelations between 3PHR expertise, the 3PHR scale and subscales, and levels of well-being. The relationship between expertise and well-being measures was found to be fully mediated by scores on the 3PHR scale. Both the new measurement tool and the results contribute to furthering the knowledge about potentially important drivers of well-being.

The Youth Empowered for Success Program: A Multi-faceted Approach to Youth Leadership Development and School Culture Change in Southern Arizona

Arizona’s first Teen Institute (TI) program, Youth Empowered for Success, began in July 2004. It is the first TI-based project to focus on nurturing resilience via Health Realization (Pransky, 2007). The YES program’s design to “create conditions for success” in high schools is discussed. YES utilizes a strengths-based, multi-faceted approach of (1) teaching participants how to access their innate resilience and common sense (Health Realization), (2) training them in community development for school culture change and (3) helping them develop meaningful partnerships with adults. YES also expands upon the TI model by providing staff support for community development throughout the academic year. It is hypothesized that these efforts ultimately will increase overall well-being and reduce the incidence of alcohol, tobacco and other drug use (ATOD) as well as depression and suicide among youth.