Brief computerised self-help interventions, the “Miracle Question,” and the moderating effects of openness-to-experience

Brief, self-help positive psychology interventions (PPIs) have certain advantages over longer, guided interventions (e.g. higher completion rates). The “Miracle Question(s)” – the most famous intervention in solution-focused therapy and coaching – appears to be a promising brief, self-help PPI. However, very little experimental research on the “Miracle Question” has been conducted. The present study investigated the effects of a brief self-help MQ intervention on several aspects of wellbeing, including hope, expectancy, goal clarity and affect. The MQ intervention was compared against both a problem-focused and neutral coaching approach. Three online experiments were conducted with participants aged 18-76 across the world. Two experiments focused on “life problems” whilst the third focused on problems in interpersonal relationships. Results suggested that all three interventions raise expectancy in the context of life (but not relationship) problems. However, as hypothesised, the relative effects of such interventions may depend on openness-to-experience. At high[low] levels of openness-to-experience, the MQ technique was more[less] effective than the problem-focused or neutral coaching interventions, at least for some aspects of wellbeing. The study sheds much-needed light on the MQ technique and on brief self-help interventions. Widely recommended as a means of enhancing wellbeing, the MQ technique may not be universally effective (in a self-help format) and requires further investigation. On the other hand, the study suggests that brief self-help computerized PPIs may indeed be enthusiastically adopted, especially when compared with longer interventions.