Component Of Mental Well-being Research Articles

"Eco-caring together" pro-ecological group-based community interventions and mental wellbeing: a systematic scoping review.

Poor mental wellbeing is a challenge for societies across the world, as is the increasing threat of climate change, and emerging evidence suggests these challenges are interrelated. Green and social prescribing of non-clinical interventions hold promise as a cost-effective and widely accessible way to improve wellbeing, and interest is growing in whether pro-ecological communal activities have mutual benefits for both people and the planet. Communal pro-ecological activities are growing in popularity, and research is gathering pace into whether participation influences mental wellbeing. The present systematic review scopes the existing evidence base to explore what is being done, what is being found, and what additional research is required. Electronic databases (PsychNET, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) were searched for studies that involved groups of people undertaking pro-ecological activities, where components of mental wellbeing were assessed. Eligibility criteria were purposely broad, including all study designs and participants across the lifespan. Thirty-seven eligible studies were identified. Nearly half of the studies used mixed-method designs, and most studies used surveys or interviews to evaluate outcomes. Most pro-ecological activities involved planting vegetation, and habitat creation, maintenance, or restoration. Methodological quality varied considerably. Among the perceived therapeutic mechanisms reported, the social elements of the interventions were prominent. Coherent synthesis of the current evidence base is challenging given the heterogeneous range of methods, samples, and interventions within the studies. However, the results here demonstrate promise that with future research and better methodological rigor, pro-ecological group-based interventions hold the potential to improve mental wellbeing and influence sustainable behavior. https://osf.io/vmpr6/.

4.P. Workshop: Mental health among adolescents – from epidemiological surveillance to school-based promotion

Abstract Tacitly it has been assumed that mental health would prevail in the absence of pathology. However, the relationship between mental illness and mental health is not symmetrical in the sense that the absence of the former necessarily means high levels of the latter. On the contrary, a growing body of evidence shows that high levels of well-being independently predict less subsequent mental illness and have a range of positive effects on individuals and society. If we continue to neglect positive conceptualisations of mental health and health assets in our research, we will end up with an impoverished picture of the distribution and determinants of mental health at the population level. Drawing from our experience with epidemiological surveillance and the development, testing and evaluation of a new manual-based intervention to promote adolescent mental health, the objective of this workshop will be to present how mental health can be conceptualized, monitored, and promoted using the two continua model of mental health. The latter holds that mental illness and mental health are two related but distinct dimensions as opposed to the conventional single continua model that puts mental illness at one end and mental health at the other as opposites. To accomplish the workshop in a coherent manner require four presentations. The first two presentations will illuminate the importance of including also mental well-being in epidemiological surveillance of mental health and an example will be made of this using a regional population survey among Swedish adolescents prior to and three years after the Covid-19 outbreak. The last two presentations will shift focus from measuring population needs to addressing these needs with a tailor made school-based intervention. The school with its compensatory mandate is an important arena for health-promoting interventions as it may positively influence students’ developmental trajectories into adulthood, especially their mental health. Likewise, mental health is important for the school and for society, since students who are mentally flourishing have an easier time learning things and better conditions to cope with school. However, there is a dearth of evaluated interventions designed specifically to promote mental well-being in adolescents. Current theories of hedonic and eudemonic well-being along with the solution-focused approach will be presented as frameworks for enhancing well-being in adolescents followed by its application in a new manual-based programme aimed at promoting mental well-being in upper secondary school. The Solution-focused Intervention for Mental health was developed over a period of five years in three feasibility studies. The last presentation will briefly describe from theory to practice how components of mental well-being are broken down to indicators, contextualised and given practical meaning in everyday life. Key messages • To properly assess adolescent mental health in a population, using the two continua model, means to measure and combine the results of both mental ill health and mental well-being. • The new Solution-focused Intervention for Mental health (SIM) is a manual-based program designed and tested to promote adolescent mental health in upper secondary school.

The relations between mental well-being and burnout in medical staff during the COVID-19 pandemic: A network analysis.

BackgroundAlthough poor mental well-being (MW) has been documented among individuals experiencing burnout during the coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) pandemic, little is known about the complex interrelationship between different components of MW and burnout. This study investigates this relationship among medical staff during the COVID-19 pandemic through network analysis.MethodsA total of 420 medical staff were recruited for this study. Components of MW were measured by the 14-item Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS), and components of burnout were measured by a 15-item Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey (MBI-GS) Questionnaire. Network structure was constructed via network analysis. Bridge variables were identified via the bridge centrality index.ResultsThe edges across two communities (i.e., MW community and burnout community) are almost negative, such as edge MW2 (“Useful”) – B14 (“Worthwhile”) and edge MW1 (“Optimistic about future”) – B13 (“Happy”). The edges within each community are nearly positive. In the MW community, components MW1 (“Optimistic about future”) and MW6 (“Dealing with problems”) have the lowest bridge centrality. And in the community of burnout, components B13 (“Happy”) and B14 (“Worthwhile”) have the lowest bridge expected influence.ConclusionWe present the first study to apply the network approach to model the potential pathways between distinct components of MW and burnout. Our findings suggest that promoting optimistic attitudes and problem-solving skills may help reduce burnout among medical staff during the pandemic.

Quality of the Human–Animal Bond and Mental Wellbeing During a COVID-19 Lockdown

ABSTRACT Companion animal ownership has been associated with a wide variety of physical and psychological health benefits. The extent to which a person gains any welfare advantages from the animal in their care, however, may be related to a wide variety of factors, one of which is the quality of the human–animal relationship. Thus far, little attention has been devoted to the role of attachment to one's companion animal on psychological wellbeing during a global pandemic, a time when mental health has been shown to be extremely poor. Therefore this study aimed to explore the relationship between the quality of the companion animal–human bond and mental wellbeing during a period of COVID-19-induced national lockdown in the United Kingdom. A purpose-designed online survey that aimed to measure sociodemographic background, companion animal ownership status, attachment level, and various components of mental wellbeing (depression, loneliness, positive experience, stress) was developed and completed by 249 UK-based adults (146 companion animal owners, 103 non-owners). Analysis revealed no significant relationship between companion animal ownership and any of the mental health outcome measures. Attachment to one's companion animal, however, was found to be a strong predictor of mental wellbeing, with higher bonds of attachment associated with higher levels of depression, loneliness, and lower levels of positive experience. Attachment to one's companion animal was not significantly associated with participants’ stress levels. Overall, findings from this study point to emotional vulnerability in people who are highly attached to their companion animal, although limitations must be borne in mind. This is an area worthy of further exploration, particularly considering the pandemic-induced rise in the number of people who have acquired a companion animal and the increment in mental health problems that has been predicted to emerge from COVID-19.

Cognitive-Behavioral-Related Prayer Types and Mental Health Relations among Muslim Samples

Psychological and subjective well-being depends on how an individual feels about his/her life and how he/she responds to life events. Individually, the person may unconsciously feel all external events occurring beyond his/her control in his cognitive schemas. Especially considering mental health, the influence of religious beliefs and practices on various components of mental well-being has emerged as one of the most studied topics in the psychology of religion in recent years. Most studies have focused on the role of religion in seeking answers about individuals' search for meaning and their reactions to life events. There is a prevalent finding that prayer plays a constructive role in the lives of individuals faced with life’s difficulties and exposed to stressors. Thus, for scientists over the past few decades, the possible application of the cognitive behavioral framework within the psychology of religion has become a key element of both subjective and psychological well-being. Using theoretical applications as to the relationship between religiosity and mental health, it was appeared that various prayer measures are predominantly derived from Christian religious norms and beliefs. However, non-Christian religions have been mostly disregarded in such inquiries. More specifically, the links between religiosity and mental health among Muslim individuals have been neglected even though there are several forms of religious behavior in Islam that are of great importance to the daily lives of believers. Therefore, the current research aims to investigate the link between different types of Islamic prayer and indicators of well-being using the cognitive-behavioral mechanism among Muslim individuals. An online link was used to recruit participants from many Islamic student communities and several worship places in different cities/regions of England in this study. The online questionnaire composed of six prayer types (obligatory, necessary, voluntarily, supererogatory, supplication, and invocation prayers), six psychological well-being domains (autonomy, environmental mastery, positive relations with others, personal growth, self-acceptance, and purpose in life), and two subjective well-being domains (life satisfaction, and positive and negative affects). The representative sample consisted of 214 participants (female= 145, male= 69), aged between 18 and 66 (M = 27.01, SD = 8.80). The results of the correlational analysis indicated that obligatory (fard) prayer, voluntarily (sunna) prayer, supplication (duʿāʾ) prayer and invocation (dhikr/remembrance of God) prayer have positive relationship with the well-being variables, while no correlation of necessary (wājib) prayer and supererogatory (nawāfil) prayer with any of the well-being variables is appeared. The results of the multiple regression analysis showed that obligatory, voluntarily, and necessary prayers were not predictors of psychological or subjective well-being variables. Although only the type of supererogatory prayer was found to be predictive, the relationship was in the opposite direction. In addition, the supplication prayer accounted for the unique variance in predicting the psychological well-being scores, while the invocation prayer accounted for the unique variance in predicting subjective well-being. In light of James and Wells’ cognitive and behavioral models, the present study has identified only the types of supplication and invocation prayer as important factors that have a positive effect for individuals in providing psychological support for them. Therefore, the presented data suggest that people are more like to have better psychological and subjective well-being when their prayers take the form of a supplication prayer and invocation prayer in which they rely on God for guidance and support and refresh their thinking through feeling God’s presence. As can be seen from the present findings, it is important to consider the applicability of belief structures in specific community settings. Here, both the theoretical framework and practical direction can contribute to an understanding being held as to the relationship between Muslim prayer types and mental well-being and provides guidance for health practitioners regarding how different prayer models can lead individuals to have better well-being.

Quality of life and mental health in adolescent users of oral contraceptives. Results from the nationwide, representative German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS)

ObjectiveUsing data from the nationwide, cross-sectional KiGGS (German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents) study, we investigated whether hormonal contraception in adolescents aged 15 to 17 years was linked to health-related quality of life and mental health problems.MethodsStudy participants had undergone standardized recordings of blood pressure and measurements of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D]. Quality of life was assessed by self- and parent-rated KINDL-R questionnaires, whereas mental health problems were screened by means of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ).ResultsSelf-rated quality of life was similar between users (n = 522) and non-users (n = 1173, 69.2%) of oral contraceptives (69.2 ± 11.2 vs. 69.2 ± 11.0, p = 0.943), as was the parent-rated version (72.9 ± 10.6 vs. 72.9 ± 10.5, p = 0.985). Likewise, no significant differences were observed between the two groups with respect to both self- (10.9 ± 4.4 vs. 10.8 ± 4.6, p = 0.732) and parent-rated SDQ scores (7.2 ± 4.8 vs. 7.0 ± 4.6. p = 0.390). However, serum 25(OH)D (59.5 ± 32.9 vs. 46.1 ± 28.0 nmol/L, p < 0.001) and mean arterial blood pressure (88.2 ± 7.4 vs. 86.5 ± 7.7 mmHg, p < 0.001) were significantly higher in users than in non-users. There was a trend towards a higher rate of psychotropic drug prescription in participants taking oral contraceptive pills as compared to those not receiving hormonal contraception (17.8% vs. 14.4%, p = 0.052). A series of linear regression models with either KINDL-R or SDQ as dependent variable confirmed that there were no associations between components of mental well-being and contraceptive drug use, irrespective of whether self- or parent-ratings were included in these models.ConclusionsIn a large, representative sample of German adolescents, exposure to exogenous contraceptive hormones was associated with higher arterial blood pressure and serum 25(OH)D concentration, whereas hormonal contraception was not linked to health-related quality of life or mental well-being.

Mental Well-Being of Older People in Finland during the First Year in Senior Housing and Its Association with Physical Performance.

Growing numbers of older people relocate to senior housing, when their physical or mental performance declines. The relocation is known to be one of the most stressful events in the life of older people and affect their mental and physical well-being. More information about the relationships between mental and physical parameters is required. We examined self-reported mental well-being of 81 older people (aged 59–93, living in northern Finland), and changes in it 3 and 12 months after relocation to senior housing. The first measurement was 3 months and the second measurement 12 months after relocation. Most participants were female (70%). Their physical performance was also measured, and associations between these two were analyzed. After 12 months, mental capability was very good or quite good in 38% of participants, however 22% of participants felt depressive symptoms daily or weekly. Moreover, 39% of participants reported daily or weekly loneliness. After 12 months participants reported a significant increase in forgetting appointments, losing items and difficulties in learn new things. They felt that opportunities to make decisions concerning their own life significantly decreased. Furthermore, their instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), dominant hand’s grip strength and walking speed decreased significantly. Opportunities to make decisions concerning their life, feeling safe, loneliness, sleeping problems, negative thoughts as well as fear of falling or having an accident outdoors were associated with these physical parameters. In addition to assessing physical performance and regular exercise, the various components of mental well-being and their interactions with physical performance should be considered during adjustment to senior housing.

Visits to urban green-space and the countryside associate with different components of mental well-being and are better predictors than perceived or actual local urbanisation intensity

Abstract Maintaining mental well-being in highly urbanised locations, especially large cities, is challenging but exposure to green-space can promote well-being. We address three poorly resolved questions concerning the relationships between mental health, urbanisation and green-space: i) the relative importance of city size, local intensity of urbanisation and visiting green-space, ii) if visits to urban green-space and the countryside have equivalent associations with well-being, and iii) if biodiversity knowledge moderates relationships between well-being and visiting green-space (such moderation may occur if exposure to biodiversity contributes to relationships between visiting green-space and well-being). We use data from just over 200 respondents recruited in randomised door-to-door surveys across six English cities. We find that visiting green-space increases mental well-being but that city size and the intensity of urbanisation around respondents’ homes have negligible influence. The limited effect of local urbanisation holds when considering the perceived amount of greenery or built-up land rather than objectively quantified indices. More frequent visits to the countryside and urban green-space are positively associated with higher well-being scores, but visits to urban green-space are more strongly associated with lower anxiety, whilst countryside visits associate with higher life satisfaction. Biodiversity knowledge did not consistently moderate relationships between well-being and green-space visit rates. Whilst we use a cross-sectional approach our data suggest that mental well-being can be achieved by residents in highly urbanised locations if they frequently access green-space, but achieving high well-being across all its components requires access to the countryside and not just urban green-space.

2299 – Social capital and common mental disorder: analysis of the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2007

Purpose Social capital is emerging as an important component of mental well-being. Our aim was to assess the relationship between social capital and common mental disorders and to explore the role of social capital in the relationship between deprivation and common mental disorders. Methods This study used data collected from 7023 adults in England who completed the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (2007). Common mental disorders (CMD) were measured using CIS-R. Questions on both cognitive (CSC) and structural social capital were included, as well as data on area level deprivation. Results We found a strong association between higher CSC and lower levels of CMD, depression and anxiety. Structural social capital was associated with lower levels of CMD and depression but was not conclusively associated with lower levels of anxiety. While there is a relationship between low social capital and deprivation, we found that higher CSC was still associated with lower CMD in participants living in deprived areas. Results for structural social capital were less conclusive although an association with lower overall CMD was still found in the most deprived communities. Conclusion In a nationally representative sample, higher social capital is associated with lower levels of CMD. There appears to be a relationship between low social capital and deprivation and this may have implications for the mental wellbeing of individuals living in deprived communities.

Relationships between exercise and three components of mental well-being in corporate employees

Abstract Objectives The main purpose of the present study was to examine the relationships between exercise participation and three components of mental well-being (physical self, work-related, and global) in a sample of corporate employees. As a subsidiary and exploratory question, we also examined whether these well-being components are more strongly related to structured exercise participation scores compared to total levels of physical activity. Design Cross-sectional survey. Method The participants were 312 employees from an information technology company (n=204 males and n=108 females). Structural equation modelling was used to examine links between exercise participation and the three well-being components within a hierarchical framework, featuring global well-being constructs at the apex and specific elements of well-being at lower levels. Results Support was found for the a priori model in that there were direct paths from exercise to physical self and enthusiasm at work. Furthermore, there were indirect paths between exercise and global well-being components through measures of the physical self and enthusiasm at work. The results of an alternative model using physical activity as opposed to exercise were generally similar. Conclusion The support found for the exercise and well-being model indicates that exercise is associated directly and indirectly with high well-being in various facets of employees' lives. Thus, this study extends previous research that has examined associations between exercise and isolated indicators of employee well-being. Finally, the results pertaining to physical activity suggest that workplace exercise promotion programmes should incorporate and promote lifestyle physical activity.