Changes In Subjective Well-being Research Articles

Enhancing Subjective Well-Being in Taiwanese University Students Through an Eight-Week Mindfulness-Based Program: A Pilot Study

While mindfulness has demonstrated extensive benefits across diverse populations, research on its integration as a formal course and its effects on subjective well-being (SWB), particularly among Taiwanese university students, remains limited. This pilot study examined changes in SWB among 85 Taiwanese university students (61 males, 24 females) following an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Life (MBCT-L) course. Participants included 38 lower-grade (pre-internship) and 47 senior (post-internship) students. SWB was measured using the 29-item Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ), rated on a 6-point Likert scale, and administered before and after the intervention. Results revealed a significant increase in students’ overall SWB scores from 3.69 to 3.92 post-intervention. Although females initially exhibited higher baseline SWB compared to males, no significant sex differences were observed after the course. Score discrepancies between pre- and post-test stages varied across sex and internship status, indicating differential impacts of the MBCT-L course on distinct demographic groups. Additionally, this study validated the reliability of the short version of the OHQ (8 items) for use in similar research contexts. By conducting a formal MBCT-L course for Taiwanese university students, this study provides valuable empirical evidence, contributing to the cross-cultural understanding of mindfulness-based interventions and their effects on SWB.

Essentializing Happiness Mitigates the Changes in Subjective Well-Being Following Negative Life Events.

People hold different beliefs about the changeability of happiness. Some believe that happiness is biologically predetermined and thus unchangeable (essentialist beliefs), while others believe that it is malleable and can be changed (non-essentialist beliefs). Do these beliefs have a tangible impact on how individuals actually experience well-being? Here, we predict and empirically demonstrate that endorsing essentialist beliefs about happiness (EBH) can result in a self-fulfilling prophecy that buffers the changes in subjective well-being (SWB) following life events. Through a series of four studies utilizing diverse methodologies (total N = 7,364), we provide converging evidence that happiness essentialists, compared to non-essentialists, experience relatively stable levels of SWB following life events, particularly negative ones. We find that this pattern also emerges when people recall past events or anticipate hypothetical or impending future events. Together, happiness essentialism extends beyond mere belief and has real-world implications for how individuals experience fluctuations in SWB.

Individual differences in changes in subjective well-being: The role of event characteristics after negative life events.

Negative life events can lead to lasting changes in subjective well-being (SWB). However, people change differently in their SWB after negative life events, and our understanding of factors explaining these individual differences is still limited-possibly because research so far has neglected to investigate differences in the characteristics of the experienced events (e.g., perceived impact, causes of the event). To address this gap, we examined whether perceived event characteristics and objective-descriptive characteristics of negative life events can explain individual differences in changes in SWB. We used data from a longitudinal study in which the SWB of participants (N = 1,068) who had recently experienced a negative life event was assessed at five measurement occasions over 6 months. Perceived event characteristics and objective-descriptive event characteristics were significantly related to each other. Furthermore, both kinds of event characteristics were associated with individual differences in changes in SWB. Finally, specification curve analyses illustrated that several analytical decisions (e.g., the examined SWB component) influenced the association between an event characteristic and changes in SWB. Results from these specification curve analyses can be accessed via a ShinyApp (https://life-event-research.shinyapps.io/EventCharacteristics/). Our findings provide insights into possible causes of the event perception and show that both perceived event characteristics and objective-descriptive event characteristics can help to better understand individual differences in the reaction to major life events. However, as effects seem to depend on several analytical decisions, future research is needed to identify the important characteristics of life events for different events and outcomes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

The impact of outdoor activities on adolescents' mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic

Outdoor activities have always been important in determining an individual's physical and mental health, and this is especially true for adolescents. The value of participating in outdoor activities cannot be stressed in the fast-paced, technologically driven world of today when youngsters are often engrossed in screens and lead sedentary lives.With the potential to have significant effects on health and well-being, COVID-19 is changing how people communicate with their surroundings. To evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on teenagers' engagement in outside activities and subjective well-being (SWB), as well as the potential protective benefits of outdoor activity on declining SWB. We conducted a representative survey of young people age 10 to 18 using a panel (n = 624) between April 30 and June 15, 2020. In what way often do people engage in outdoor activities before and during the epidemic. The results of paired t tests showed drops in both engagements in outdoor recreation and SWB. Strong correlations between alterations to outside games (B = 0.44, p <0.001) and nature based activities (B = 0.22, p = 0.017) were found in a regression model looking at relations between changes in SWB ( = 0.42). The SWB of all adolescent environments who engaged in these activities throughout the epidemic showed less of a drop.The results highlight the importance of providing youth with outdoor recreation alternatives during times of crisis and demonstrate that time's crucial function spent outside and playing in nature in boosting teenagers' ability to pressures like the COVID-19 outbreak.

Monitoring momentary subjective well-being and psychotic experiences during antipsychotic dose reduction: Two single-case time series experience sampling method pilot study.

Personalized dose optimization is desirable to improve subjective well-being and support rehabilitation. Therefore, N = 1 trials investigating tools to self-manage functional outcomes during dose optimization are necessary. The aim of this pilot study was to determine in two N = 1 trials whether an experience sampling method (ESM) smartphone app could be used to monitor and detect changes in subjective well-being and psychotic experiences during and after dose reduction. Two participants with a psychotic disorder in remission underwent gradual dose reduction under a longitudinal self-monitoring paradigm, accompanied by regular clinical monitoring by the attending physician. Subjective well-being was monitored with an (ESM) app through momentary affective experience (positive and negative affect) and physical well-being (tiredness, feeling unwell, and pain). Momentary psychotic experiences were assessed with four items. Time-series linear regression models were used to detect changes in reduction phases compared to baseline. Whereas significant improvements in subjective well-being and psychotic experiences during dose reduction were detected in one participant, the opposite was demonstrated for the other participant, showing worsened subjective well-being and increased psychotic experiences in the reduction phase compared to baseline. Self-monitoring with an ESM smartphone app offers a tool for detecting changes in subjective well-being and psychotic experiences during antipsychotic dose reduction. In this way, ESM may increase an individual's sense of control and empowerment. It may further facilitate dose optimization and shared decision-making at an individual level, which is required considering the high heterogeneity in psychotic disorders. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Changes in subjective well-being and stress of older adults before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal study in Switzerland.

Despite the concerns about older adults' overall quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic, they often demonstrated better resilience, adaptability, and subjective well-being (SWB) than younger individuals. However, longer-term trends remain unclear. This study aims to describe older adults' trajectories in SWB dimensions before, during, and after the pandemic spanning 2017-2022. This study used piecewise growth curve analysis on a subsample of the Swiss Household Panel to investigate the population-average (n individuals = 3086; n = observations = 13,780) trajectories of SWB dimensions and stress among adults aged 65 and older between 2017 and 2022. We also tested whether these trajectories differed by age, gender, and household income. Life satisfaction and positive affect remained stable among older people during the pandemic (2019-2021) but declined after. Negative affect increased during the pandemic and decreased afterward, while stress levels increased slightly before and significantly after the pandemic. The trajectories did not differ by gender or household income, but the oldest-old (> 75-year-old) had a more significant decline in positive affect and life satisfaction pre-pandemic (2017-2019) and stress during the pandemic (2020-2021). Research shows that older adults possess adaptation skills and emotional competencies, which enable them to navigate pandemic challenges. However, we show that the post-pandemic era presents more substantial challenges for this older population, who perhaps face more difficulties adapting to the new uncertain post-pandemic world. Further research needs to examine if these findings replicate in other contexts, for instance, where pandemic containment measures have been more stringent.

On the ability of the SF-6D to capture the consequences of chronic illnesses on subjective well-being: Evidence from France

Using cross-sectional data from a representative sample of the French population (the 2008 Disability Health survey), this paper examines whether the SF-6D, a widely used preference-based measure of health-related quality of life in economic evaluations, fully captures the variation in subjective well-being (SWB) due to chronic illnesses. We conduct a mediation analysis to disentangle the direct and indirect, through the SF-6D, effects of various chronic conditions on SWB (happiness). Our results show that the SF-6D reflects changes in happiness due to most illnesses except mental illness. Changes in SWB mediated by the SF-6D account for 74% of the total effect. The variation unexplained by the SF-6D is significant and increases substantially in the presence of multimorbidity when a chronic illness is combined with anxiety or depression. Overall, our results suggest that the SF-6D incompletely captures the subjective experience of chronically ill patients, especially those with comorbid conditions.

Is the Self-Categorization of Social Network Consumption Related to Subjective Well-Being? A Longitudinal Study of Spanish Adolescents

The impact of social network consumption on adolescents’ subjective well-being (SWB) has remained a subject of debate in cross-sectional studies, and the understanding of how changing social network consumption patterns affect SWB over time is even more limited. This study adopts an innovative approach, utilizing various measurement scales to assess adolescents’ SWB alongside the evolution of their SSNC patterns. A four-wave longitudinal study was conducted involving 341 participants aged 9 to 14 from Spain. The findings indicate that as adolescents age, their perception of SSNC increases, while SWB declines over time. Adolescents categorizing themselves as low consumers of social networks consistently exhibited higher SWB scores than those with medium and high consumption levels. Notably, the relationship between SSNC and SWB showed variations depending on the measurement scale used. An analysis of the evolution of social network consumption profiles (SNCPs) revealed four distinct profiles, although these were not linked to changes in SWB over time. Finally, participants with an extreme consumption profile consistently exhibited significantly lower SWB scores. These findings underscore the importance of continuously monitoring social media use and its effects on SWB, especially within subgroups displaying more extreme consumption patterns, an insight that has implications for preventive interventions.

Personalized Daily Hand Movement Training Methods and Effects: A Case Study

This study proposes a method for personalized daily hand exercise training to address the lack of personalization in rehabilitation training and its disconnect from daily life. This research aims to evaluate the impact of Happiness Memory Therapy on patients’ hand function through gamified daily life training. The methodology integrates Happiness Memory Therapy and Positive Mirror Theory to assist in life game design. Patient interviews and empathy are used to gather life experiences, interests, hobbies, and challenges, which are then incorporated into personalized rehabilitation training. The experimental process includes pre- and post-intervention tests to assess changes in subjective well-being (SWLS), happiness (SHS), positive and negative emotions (PANAS), psychological well-being (PWB), and hand function impairment (DASH). The results show that the intervention significantly enhances patients’ subjective well-being, happiness, positive emotions, and reduces negative emotions and hand function impairments. In conclusion, Happiness Memory Therapy and Positive Mirror Theory are effective in developing personalized daily hand exercise training methods and have a significant impact on improving the psychological health and quality of life of stroke patients, offering new ideas and methods for personalized rehabilitation training.

Commute and built environment: What matters for subjective well-being in a household context?

Much of prior research has shown a growing interest in determinants of subjective well-being (SWB). However, relatively less research has explored the causal effects of commute and built environment (BE) on SWB, and there is little knowledge regarding how these connections differ between household members. The study examines both cross-sectional and longitudinal connections between commute, BE, and SWB, as well as the variations in these connections between couples, by analyzing longitudinal survey data of dual-earner households from Chinese cities. The results indicate that the increase in commute duration results in lower SWB. Shifting to active modes is shown to increase SWB. Nonetheless, shifting in the opposite direction shows no significant effect. All BE changes are correlated with the husbands' SWB changes, whereas only changes in neighborhood categories and neighborhood density appear to matter for wives. The findings indicate that planning strategies can complement transport policies aimed at enhancing SWB.

How the wellbeing function varies with age: the importance of income, health and social relations over the lifecycle

AbstractPrevious literature has identified income, health status and social relationships as the most important predictors of subjective wellbeing (SWB). In addition, the literature has identified a non‐linear relationship between age and SWB, with a dip in SWB in midlife. Explanations of the non‐linear age–SWB relationship include the notion of unmet aspirations and the idea that people's emotional response to the drivers of SWB changes with age. Against this background, we use representative longitudinal data for Germany (1992–2019) with about 570,000 observations for more than 88,000 individuals aged 16–105 years to investigate if and how the association between SWB and its main predictors changes over the lifecycle. Using fixed effects estimation to control for cohort effects and unobserved personal characteristics, we find that the marginal effects of income and social relationships vary with age in a wave‐like fashion, while the positive marginal effect of good health status increases monotonically and progressively with age. Our results are similar for alternative measures of SWB (life satisfaction and living in misery), and for men and women separately. The age‐related changes in the importance of income and social relationships for SWB found in this paper help to explain the relationship between age and SWB found in previous literature.

Working life as a double-edged sword: Opposing changes in subjective well-being surrounding the transition to work and retirement.

The work role is crucial for one's identity and subjective well-being. From a role enhancement perspective, subjective well-being might increase after the transition to work and decrease after retirement. From a role strain perspective, the opposite might be true. Thus, entering and leaving working life might have benefits and costs, leading to improvements in some but impairments in other well-being indicators. To test these assumptions, we examined short- and long-term changes in life satisfaction, happiness, sadness, anxiety, and anger in the 5 years before and 5 years after the transition to work and retirement, respectively. Between 2007 and 2019, each facet of subjective well-being was repeatedly assessed in 2,720 (expectant) career starters and 2,007 (expectant) retirees from the German Socio-Economic-Panel Study. Multilevel analyses adjusted for time-dependent confounders indicated that young adults were more satisfied with their lives in (but not beyond) the first year of working life compared to before, which is in line with set-point theory. In the first 5 years of working life, career starters became happier but also angrier, supporting both the role enhancement and the role strain perspective. Older adults became less satisfied, less happy, sadder, and more anxious in the 5 years before retirement. However, in and after the first year of retirement, they were more satisfied, happier, less anxious, and less angry than before, supporting the role strain perspective. Our findings show that working life is a double-edged sword that influences individual well-being indicators in partially opposing ways. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Is the association between long-term care and subjective well-being socio-economically stratified? Evidence from Europe

ABSTRACT Informal and formal care receipt can affect the overall subjective well-being of care recipients. While much attention has been devoted to the mechanisms by which care use relates to subsequent well-being, no previous research has examined socio-economic stratification in this association. This question is important given that the proportion of disabled older adults relying exclusively on informal caregivers is expected to rise, especially among lower socio-economic status (SES) groups. This study examines SES gradients in the associations of informal and formal care use with subjective well-being, and across four care contexts (Northern, Western, Southern and Eastern Europe) using data on functionally impaired Europeans aged 50 + from the Survey of Health, Ageing & Retirement in Europe (n = 6,012). We investigate how wealth and education moderate the associations between take-up of informal and formal care and changes in subjective well-being (i.e. quality of life and depressive symptoms). We also investigate whether this relationship differs by care context. We find little evidence of SES differences in the association between the onset of care and subjective well-being regardless of the care context. We interpret our findings in light of previous theory and derive implications for future research on the relationship between care receipt and well-being.

Differences in Subjective and Psychological Well-Being of Romanian Adolescents over a Four-Year Period and its Relationship with Free Time

The aim of this study is to explore changes in subjective well-being (life satisfaction and positive affect), as well as psychological well-being among Romanian adolescents over a 4-year period using data from the Children’s Worlds project (Waves 2 and 3). Participants were 12-year-olds (N = 1,504 in 2015; N = 1,145 in 2019). The findings indicated a decline in positive affect and psychological prosperity with the passage of time, while life satisfaction remained constant. To investigate factors influencing the decline, we examined the relationships between well-being and the amount of time adolescents spent in their free time (leisure and duties), as well as their satisfaction with their free time. Leisure activities predicted both well-being measures over time. Duties predicted subjective well-being at both waves but only predicted psychological well-being in Wave 3. Satisfaction with free time predicted both well-being approaches only in Wave 3. The findings suggest that factors related to free time do not contribute to declines in well-being, as they show positive associations with subjective and psychological well-being. The declines likely stem from other unexplored variables, underscoring the need for additional research on contributors to the well-being of Romanian adolescents, particularly following disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic.

An Analysis of the Correlation between the Asymmetry of Different EEG-Sensor Locations in Diverse Frequency Bands and Short-Term Subjective Well-Being Changes.

We focus on finding a correlation between the asymmetries of electroencephalography (EEG) signals and subjective well-being (SWB) when changed on short time scales via environmental conditions. Most research in this field focuses on frontal alpha asymmetry. We systematically examine different sensor locations and filter the sensor data into the delta band, the theta band, the alpha band, the beta band, and the gamma band, or leave the EEG signal unfiltered. We confirm that frontal alpha asymmetry is correlated to SWB. However, asymmetries between other sensors and/or filtering the data to other bands also shows a linear correlation to SWB values. Asymmetries of anterior brain regions show statistically significant results not only in the alpha band but also in the delta band and theta band, or when the data is not filtered into a specific band. Asymmetries of posterior regions show a trend to be correlated to SWB when EEG activity is higher on the opposite hemisphere and filtered into different frequency bands. Thus, our results let us conclude that focusing just on frontal sensors and the alpha band might not reveal the whole picture of brain regions and frequency bands involved in SWB.

Epidemics, pandemics and fertility change: responses to Zika and COVID-19 in Singapore

ABSTRACT Using longitudinal surveys on married Singaporean women of childbearing ages, we compared self-reported changes to fertility plans among 407 and 345 respondents after the 2016–2017 Zika and 2020 COVID-19 outbreaks, respectively. Zika associated with intentions to delay but not reduce childbearing, while COVID-19 was associated with both. Some women reported accelerating and increasing childbearing during COVID-19, with more intending to bring forward births as the pandemic persisted. Education was more predictive of changes in fertility plans during the pandemic compared to the Zika epidemic, and women who delayed childbearing due to Zika were more likely to further adjust timing of childbearing during COVID-19. We considered three possible explanations for changes to fertility plans: fear of infection, change in subjective wellbeing, and income loss, and find stronger effects of perceptions of the virus on downward revisions of fertility plans after the Zika epidemic but a larger role for stress and income loss during the pandemic, reflecting the latter’s wider economic and social impacts.

Examining interindividual differences in unemployment-related changes in subjective well-being: The role of psychological well-being and re-employment expectations

This study examined whether the six trait-like dimensions of psychological well-being (e.g., autonomy and environmental mastery) moderate the effects of unemployment on various facets of subjective well-being (i.e., life satisfaction, satisfaction with life domains, and experienced mood). Further, re-employment expectations during unemployment were investigated as a moderator in this context. The study is based on monthly panel data ( Nobservations > 23,000) of two samples of initially employed German jobseekers, who either registered as jobseekers due to (i) mass layoffs or plant closures ( N = 552) or (ii) other reasons ( N = 988). The results indicate substantial interindividual differences in unemployment-related changes across all examined subjective well-being facets. However, dimensions of psychological well-being did generally not moderate these changes. Only in one unemployment context, environmental mastery was positively related to unemployment-related mood changes. Good re-employment expectations were related to increases in several well-being facets (e.g., leisure satisfaction) compared to being employed, whereas poor re-employment expectations were associated with particularly detrimental effects of unemployment in terms of life satisfaction. Overall, the study provides further evidence that (perceived) contextual features of unemployment seem to be particularly relevant for how individuals experience unemployment, whereas internal (coping) resources only seem to play a negligible role.

Randomized Controlled Trial of Bifrontal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Craving in Alcohol Use Disorder

Background: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a potential neuromodulation option for the management of cravings in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD). This study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of tDCS in the management of craving for alcohol and to measure the change in subjective well-being in patients with AUD following tDCS intervention. Methods: Patients with AUD aged between 18 and 60 years were randomly assigned to active tDCS intervention and sham tDCS intervention groups, each consisting of 17 patients. Over the course of a week, five tDCS sessions were given, with the anode positioned on the scalp over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortices (DLPFC) area, the cathode over the left DLPFC area, and a 2 mA current. After every session, a tDCS side effects checklist was used. Follow-up assessments were conducted at week 1, week 4, and week 8 of the recruitment using the alcohol urge questionnaire (AUQ) and the World Health Organization (WHO) (five) Well-Being Index (WHO-5). Results: A significantly greater reduction in AUQ scores was present in the active tDCS intervention group compared to the sham tDCS intervention at week 1 and week 4, but the difference was not significant at the end of 8 weeks. A significant improvement in WHO-5 scores was found in both groups; however, the difference between the groups was not significant at follow-ups. The side effects observed were mild to moderate in intensity, were short-lived, and did not require any active management. Conclusions: The tDCS may be useful in the acute reduction of craving in AUD. It is a safe and well-tolerated intervention modality.

Gambaran Lifestyle Behavior, Strategi Koping dan Subjective Well-being Remaja Selama Pandemi Covid-19 di Kota Banda Aceh

Introduction: Adaptation to new situations caused by the Covid-19 pandemic limits adolescents' spaces in performing daily routines. This limitation also impacts their subjective well-being. Subjective well-being relates to lifestyle behavior and coping strategies. Therefore it is essential to assess in defining appropriate nursing interventions for adolescents. This study aimed to describe lifestyle behavior, coping strategies, and subjective well-being during the Covid-19 pandemic in Banda Aceh City. Methods: This study employed a descriptive exploratory design with a cross-sectional approach, involving 168 adolescents selected by snowball sampling. Data was collected by using a self-report questionnaire distributed by google form.Results: The study findings show that most of the adolescents tried to obey the regulations during the Covid-19 pandemic (63.1%); few of the respondents planned their daily routines (19.0%); were involved in different activities (10.7%), and only a few who do physical activity regularly (21.4%). Adolescents often shared their feelings (31.5%) and reviewed their relationships with their families (38.7-42.3%). In terms of social and school interactions, adolescents maintained contact with their friends and teachers (35.1-43.5%). The adolescents maintained school obligations at home (49.4%), and this period did not affect their educational path (50.0%). In addition, most adolescents reported slight changes in subjective well-being (41.1%) and mild anxiety (38.1%). Discussion/Suggestion: This study highlights several conditions that need consideration from relevant stakeholders, including community health nurses or school health nurses, in designing interventions to prevent poor lifestyle behaviors and improve adolescents' adaptive coping and subjective well-being. Consequently, nurses should collaborate with families, school boards, public health centers, district health offices, and other government sectors in implementing health promotion programs for adolescents during the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly in improving lifestyle behaviors, adaptive coping, and subjective well-being.

Supplemental Material for Individual Differences in Changes in Subjective Well-Being: The Role of Event Characteristics After Negative Life Events

Supplemental Material for Individual Differences in Changes in Subjective Well-Being: The Role of Event Characteristics After Negative Life Events