Psychological – Positive Attitudes – KidneyPal

Positive Attitudes

Psychological Domain

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Psychological

In the Psychological Domain, the sociodemographics that were moderately correlated were educational attainment and occupational status. These two factors had a stronger relationship to psychological quality of life (QoL) compared to the other variables, which showed only weak correlations.

Individuals with higher education or stable, fulfilling work are better equipped to handle the emotional challenges of long-term treatment. Education can improve health literacy and self-confidence, while meaningful work provides structure, social connection, and a sense of purpose. Together, these factors play a powerful role in helping patients maintain a positive mindset and emotional resilience throughout their treatment journey.

Positive Attitudes

Positive Attitudes is often associated with a person’s self-respect, emotional stability, and optimistic view of life, which contributes to overall mental well-being (Jahoda, 1958; World Health Organization [WHO], 2022).

General Interventions

(For age, sex, marital status, household income, comorbidities)

1. You should practice gratitude

Focus on the positive aspects of your life, even in small moments, to help improve your overall attitude (Atad & Russo-Netzer, 2021).

2. You should set realistic and achievable goals

Break down large tasks into smaller steps to build your sense of accomplishment and reinforce positive thinking (Lopez-Garrido, 2023).

3. You should engage in positive self-talk

Affirm your strengths and remind yourself of your progress, as this helps foster a positive attitude towards life and challenges (Scales, 2024, p. 8-10).

Educational Attainment-Based: Lower Formal Education

1. You should engage in activities that make you feel proud of yourself.

Simple successes, like completing a task or helping someone, can build a positive attitude (Niveau et al., 2021).

2. You are encouraged to surround yourself with supportive people

Having a positive support system is key to improving your attitude (Cohen, 2024).

3. You should practice focusing on what’s going well in your life.

Reflecting on the good things, even if they are small, helps you build an optimistic outlook (Taherkhani et al., 2023).

Educational Attainment-Based: Higher Formal Education

1. You should use affirmations to remind yourself of your capabilities.

Positive statements about your strengths can help reinforce an optimistic mindset (Bohlmeijer et al., 2022).

2. You should identify and challenge any negative thinking patterns

This helps you move from a reactive to a proactive approach in life (Escobar-Soler, 2023).

3. You should participate in activities that align with your passions

Doing what you love boosts your self-esteem and supports a positive attitude toward life (Wright, 2024).

Occupational Status-Based: Unemployed

1. You should focus on personal growth opportunities during this period.

Take this time to learn new skills or explore interests that may help you regain a sense of purpose (Stephany, 2020).

2. You are encouraged to stay connected with others

Socializing with others can help keep negativity at bay and foster positive thinking and connection (Nichol, 2023).

3. You should consider setting daily goals that contribute to personal growth, even small ones.

Achieving goals, no matter how small, helps build a positive attitude (Yanamadala & Weiss 2022).

Occupational Status-Based: Employed

1. You should focus on the positive aspects of your work.

Try to find things you enjoy, even in challenging tasks, and remind yourself of what you like about your job (Schienle et al., 2025).

2. You should take short breaks during your workday

Frequent breaks help prevent burnout and keep you motivated (Ojala et al., 2022).

3. You should celebrate small wins at work and recognize your achievements, no matter how minor they seem.

Celebrating progress fosters a positive attitude and a sense of accomplishment (Kaushal, 2021).

References

● Atad, O. I., & Russo-Netzer, P. (2021). The effect of gratitude on well-being: Should we prioritize positivity or meaning? Journal of Happiness Studies, 23(3), 1245-1265. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-021-00448-4
● Bohlmeijer, E., Kraiss, J., Schotanus-Dijkstra, M., & Ten Klooster, P. (2022). Gratitude as mood mediates the effects of a 6-Weeks gratitude intervention on mental well-being: Post hoc analysis of a randomized controlled trial. Frontiers in Psychology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.799447
● Cohen, M. (2024). HOW TO Take Better Care of Yourself. Good Housekeeping, 275(1). link.gale.com/apps/doc/A779735930/HRCA?u=anon~99e62314&sid=googleScholar&xid=40726421
● Escobar-Soler, C., Berrios, R., Peñaloza-Díaz, G., Melis-Rivera, C., Caqueo-Urizar, A., Ponce-Correa, F., & Flores, J. (2023). Effectiveness of Self-Affirmation Interventions in Educational Settings: A Meta-Analysis. Healthcare (Basel), 12(1). https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12010003
● Kaushal, N. (2021). Happiness at work with contentment: Enriching workplace well-being through ancient wisdom. The Palgrave Handbook of Workplace Well-Being, 643-669. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-30025-8_82
● Lopez-Garrido, G. (2023, July 10). Self-efficacy: Bandura's theory of motivation in psychology. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/self-efficacy.html
● NANDA International. (2021). NANDA Nursing Diagnoses: Definitions and Classification, 16th Edition.+
● Nichol, B., Wilson, R., Rodrigues, A., & Haighton, C. (2023). Exploring the effects of volunteering on the social, mental, and physical health and well-being of volunteers: An umbrella review. VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations, 35(1), 97-128. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11266-023-00573-z
● Niveau, N., New, B., & Beaudoin, M. (2021). Self-esteem interventions in adults – A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Research in Personality, 94, 104131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2021.104131
● Ojala, A., Neuvonen, M., Kurkilahti, M., Leinikka, M., Huotilainen, M., & Tyrväinen, L. (2022). Short virtual nature breaks in the office environment can restore stress: An experimental study. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 84, 101909. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2022.101909
● Scales, A. (2024). Sacred practices of affirmation, meditation and worship. Albert Scales.
● Schienle, A., Tanzmeister, S., & Osmani, F. (2025). Effects of gratitude exercises on reducing anxiety: An app-assisted study. Acta Psychologica, 254, 104874. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.104874
● Stephany, F. (2020). Does it pay off to learn a new skill? Revealing the economic benefits of cross-skilling. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3717077
● Taherkhani, Z., Kaveh, M. H., Mani, A., Ghahremani, L., & Khademi, K. (2023). The effect of positive thinking on resilience and life satisfaction of older adults: A randomized controlled trial. Scientific Reports, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-30684-y
● Wright, A. (2024). Passion, purpose, and position: Reignite Your passion, deepen your calling. National Center for Youth Issues.
● Yanamadala, V., & Weiss, B. (2022). Setting and Achieving Goals. The Successful Health Care Professional’s Guide, 21-29. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-95950-0_4