Abstract

Stressful events can adversely affect individuals' well-being and mental health, increasing the likelihood of developing symptoms and psychopathological disorders. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of three brief individual intervention programs-positive cognitive-behavioral, mindfulness, and brief systemic-for reducing emotional distress and enhancing well-being in individuals exposed to a stressful event within the past 3 months. Participants (N = 147) were randomly assigned to one of the three intervention programs or a waiting-list control group. Symptoms of post-traumatic stress and depression, post-traumatic growth (PTG), and life satisfaction were assessed at three points: before the intervention, 1 month after the intervention, and at the 6-month follow-up. Analyses revealed significant improvements across all four variables at post-intervention, with moderate to large effect sizes, and no significant differences between the programs. These findings support the effectiveness of brief intervention programs in reducing emotional distress and enhancing well-being. The contributions and limitations of these brief interventions for individuals exposed to significant life events are discussed.