Daily Well-being Research Articles

Mundane matters: entangling moments of student wellbeing across cultures, time, space, and virtual worlds

ABSTRACT In this article, we draw on phenomenon from an experiential learning project that invited university students in Australia and Hong Kong to share their conceptions of wellbeing. Inspired by feminist and new materialist perspectives, our analysis highlights a string of mundane moments of ecological entanglements, nutritionally-nourishing forces and spacetimemattering generated when students shared digital stories about their daily wellbeing practices. Through the ‘Day in the Life’ methodology, students in Australia and Hong Kong compiled video vignettes of key moments in their daily lives that they felt supported their wellbeing. Drawing on the notion of ‘mundane data’, we suggest that students’ mundane moments offer in-depth explorations of the student experience, improvisation, habits, and accomplishments across cultures, time, space, and virtual worlds for (re)turning to the basics when conceptualising wellbeing. Our analysis, therefore, notes the importance of attending to matters of mundanity to study and cultivate wellbeing for students across cultures, including how university campuses (both physical and digital) may incorporate these mundane moments via curriculum, pedagogy, and program design.

Fatigue, shortness of breath and well-being in patients with heart failure: A daily trend analysis over 12 weeks

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): This work is supported by the Swedish National Science Council (2020-01109); The Swedish Heart and Lung Foundation (20200190); the Kamprad Foundation (20210074) and the Research Council in South East Sweden (FORSS-940933) Introduction Patients with heart failure (HF) experience symptoms of fatigue and shortness of breath (SoB) that may worsen over time and negatively impacts their well-being. Repeated admissions are partly related to delays in responding to HF symptoms. Purpose This study aimed to investigate the trend of fatigue, SoB and well-being over 12 weeks in patients with HF. Methods Diary data were collected as part of the HF-Wii study. From the 605 patients included in this study, 234 patients completed a 12-week diary. Patients rated their fatigue and SoB daily on a Likert scale (0 = no symptom, 10 = worst possible symptom). Patients also rated their daily well-being with the Cartrils Ladder of Life with 0 representing the worst possible life and 10 for the best possible life. The weekly differences in symptoms and well-being were assessed over 12 weeks. Also, the overall correlation over 12 weeks between symptoms and well-being was calculated. Results In total, 234 patients with HF were included in this analysis, mean age: 68±11 years, 31% female, 11% NYHA-class I, 65% NYHA-class II and 24% NYHA-class III. Over 12 weeks, patients had mild symptom experience. The minimum and maximum mean SoB score was 3.3(±2.1) and 3.8 (±2.5). The minimum mean fatigue score was 3.4 (±2.1) and the maximum was 3.9 (±2.4). The mean well-being minimum score was 5.8(±.9) and the maximum was 6.8 (±1.8). The trend analysis showed that when patients experience more symptom burden over time, this negatively impacted their well-being (Figure 1). A significant negative overall correlation between fatigue and well-being (r = -0.43) and between shortness of breath and well-being (r = -0.42) was noted. Conclusions Symptom experience has a significant influence on patient-reported daily well-being in patients with HF. Close monitoring of symptoms to improve well-being in this population is essential.

The effect of sleep restriction, with or without high-intensity interval exercise, on behavioural alertness and mood state in young healthy males.

Mood state and alertness are negatively affected by sleep loss, and can be positively influenced by exercise. However, the potential mitigating effects of exercise on sleep-loss-induced changes in mood state and alertness have not been studied comprehensively. Twenty-four healthy young males were matched into one of three, 5-night sleep interventions: normal sleep (NS; total sleep time (TST) per night = 449 ± 22 min), sleep restriction (SR; TST = 230 ± 5 min), or sleep restriction and exercise (SR + EX; TST = 235 ± 5 min, plus three sessions of high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE)). Mood state was assessed using the profile of mood states (POMS) and a daily well-being questionnaire. Alertness was assessed using psychomotor vigilance testing (PVT). Following the intervention, POMS total mood disturbance scores significantly increased for both the SR and SR + EX groups, and were greater than the NS group (SR vs NS; 31.0 ± 10.7 A.U., [4.4-57.7 A.U.], p = 0.020; SR + EX vs NS; 38.6 ± 14.9 A.U., [11.1-66.1 A.U.], p = 0.004). The PVT reaction times increased in the SR (p = 0.049) and SR + EX groups (p = 0.033) and the daily well-being questionnaire revealed increased levels of fatigue in both groups (SR; p = 0.041, SR + EX; p = 0.026) during the intervention. Despite previously demonstrated physiological benefits of performing three sessions of HIIE during five nights of sleep restriction, the detriments to mood, wellness, and alertness were not mitigated by exercise in this study. Whether alternatively timed exercise sessions or other exercise protocols could promote more positive outcomes on these factors during sleep restriction requires further research.

Gender differences in reported frequency and consequences of hypoglycemia among adults living with type 1 diabetes: Results from the BETTER registry

AimsTo evaluate the frequency and consequences of level 2 (L2H, glucose level < 3.0 mmol/L with autonomous management) and level 3 hypoglycemia (L3H requiring external assistance to treat), in adults living with type 1 diabetes (T1D), while investigating the role of gender. MethodsCross-sectional analysis of self-reported retrospective data from a Canadian registry of 900 adults living with T1D using logistic regression models adjusted for age, T1D management modalities, hypoglycemia history, and validated patient-reported outcomes scales. Changes in diabetes management, seeking healthcare resources, and impacts on daily well-being were explored. ResultsOf the 900 adults (66% women, mean age 43.7 ± 14.8 years, mean T1D duration 25.5 ± 14.6 years), 87% used wearable diabetes technology. L3H in the past year was reported by 15% participants, similar between genders. Women reported more L2H than men (median (Q1, Q3): 4 (2, 10) vs 3 (1,8), p = 0.015), and were more likely to report persistent fatigue after both L2H and L3H (Odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 1.95 [1.16, 3.28] and 1.86 [1.25, 2.75], respectively) and anxiety (1.70 [1.05, 2.75]) after a L3H. ConclusionsThe findings suggest taking a gender-based differential approach when addressing hypoglycemia and its various consequences for people living with T1D.

Spotlight Interview: The case for daily wellbeing lessons in schools

Nadim Saad talks to CYP Now about the importance of integrating wellbeing lessons in the school day

Relationship Between Training Load, Neuromuscular Fatigue, and Daily Well-Being in Elite Young Wrestlers

ABSTRACT Purpose: This study investigated acute workload (wAW), chronic workload (wCW), acute: chronic workload ratio (wACWR), training monotony (wTM), perceived load training strain indicators (wTS), and countermove- ment jump (CMJ) as indicators of wellness in one season and defined weekly variations. In addition, we analyzed the relationships between training load measurements and weekly reports. Methods: 16 elite young wrestlers were monitored daily with individual observations for 46 consecutive weeks throughout the season. Training load was obtained using the session rating of perceived effort. wSleep, wStress, wFatigue & wMuscle Soreness well-being were monitored daily using the Hooper index. Results: As a result of the analysis, it was found that there is a moderate relationship (r = 0.51, p = .003) between ACWR and w mean load (A.U.) and a high relationship (r = 0.81, p < .001) between monotony and strain.Conclusion: All variables other than ACWR, w mean load, strain, and monotony presented small and statistically insignificant relationships. These results provide coaches and practitioners with new insights into perceived loads and health changes during a season at the elite youth level.

Variation in bittersweet nostalgic feelings and their divergent effects on daily well-being.

Experimental manipulations of nostalgia that privilege positive aspects of the bittersweet emotion have led to the conclusion that nostalgia is a predominantly positive emotion, yet nostalgia covaries negatively with well-being in daily life. To reconcile this discrepancy, we developed and tested the bittersweet variation model of nostalgia that posits that (a) nostalgic feelings vary not only in intensity but also in valence (i.e., how bitter or sweet a nostalgic feeling is); (b) daily events influence the valence of nostalgic feelings; and (c) nostalgia's valence influences well-being. Across two daily diary studies (N = 151; 1,356 daily reports), we found that the valence of nostalgic feelings varied considerably within-persons. Daily positive events predicted more positively rated nostalgic feelings, whereas daily negative events predicted more negatively rated nostalgic feelings. Controlling for the effects of daily events on well-being, positive nostalgic feelings predicted greater well-being, whereas negative nostalgic feelings predicted lower well-being. To provide more robust causal evidence of the effect of nostalgia valence on well-being, we conducted two experiments (N = 445) in which we manipulated nostalgia valence by asking participants to write about positive nostalgic feelings (involving people they remain close to) or negative nostalgia feelings (involving people they no longer remain close to), mimicking typical nostalgic feelings in daily life. Positive nostalgic feelings improved well-being compared with negative nostalgic feelings. Thus, nostalgia is not inherently positive or negative. Rather, the effect of nostalgia on well-being depends on its valence, which is influenced by the eliciting event. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

“Whatever you do, I can do too”: Disentangling the daily relations between exposure to positive social media content, can self, and pressure

ABSTRACT The current 14-day diary study among 186 adolescents (56.1% boys; M age = 15.62 years) examined how daily exposure to positive social media content (i.e., portrayals of individuals’ best possible selves) relates to their daily well-being. The results suggest that exposure to uncommon positive content (i.e., vacations and relationships) positively relates to adolescents’ beliefs about their potential to have a similar, successful lifestyle (i.e., “can self”). Such beliefs seem to turn into pressure to improve on days when adolescents feel that they are not as successful as they believe they should be (i.e., feelings of discrepancy). In conclusion, confident adolescents remain positive when they perceive such content as within reach, yet experience pressure when they perceive themselves as falling behind.

Acute Performance, Daily Well-Being, and Hormone Responses to Water Immersion After Resistance Exercise in Junior International and Subelite Male Volleyball Athletes.

Horgan, BG, Tee, N, West, NP, Drinkwater, EJ, Halson, SL, Colomer, CME, Fonda, CJ, Tatham, J, Chapman, DW, and Haff, GG. Acute performance, daily well-being and hormone responses to water immersion after resistance exercise in junior international and subelite male volleyball athletes. J Strength Cond Res 37(8): 1643-1653, 2023-Athletes use postexercise hydrotherapy strategies to improve recovery and competition performance and to enhance adaptative responses to training. Using a randomized cross-over design, the acute effects of 3 postresistance exercise water immersion strategies on perceived recovery, neuromuscular performance, and hormone concentrations in junior international and subelite male volleyball athletes ( n = 18) were investigated. After resistance exercise, subjects randomly completed either 15-minute passive control (CON), contrast water therapy (CWT), cold (CWI), or hot water immersion (HWI) interventions. A treatment effect occurred after HWI; reducing perceptions of fatigue (HWI > CWT: p = 0.05, g = 0.43); improved sleep quality, compared with CON ( p < 0.001, g = 1.15), CWI ( p = 0.017, g = 0.70), and CWT ( p = 0.018, g = 0.51); as well as increasing testosterone concentration (HWI > CWT: p = 0.038, g = 0.24). There were trivial to small ( p < 0.001-0.039, g = 0.02-0.34) improvements (treatment effect) in jump performance (i.e., squat jump and countermovement jump) after all water immersion strategies, as compared with CON, with high variability in the individual responses. There were no significant differences (interaction effect, p > 0.05) observed between the water immersion intervention strategies and CON in performance ( p = 0.153-0.99), hormone ( p = 0.207-0.938), nor perceptual ( p = 0.368-0.955) measures. To optimize recovery and performance responses, e.g., during an in-season competition phase, postresistance exercise HWI may assist with providing small-to-large improvements for up to 38 hours in perceived recovery (i.e., increased sleep quality and reduced fatigue) and increases in circulating testosterone concentration. Practitioners should consider individual athlete neuromuscular performance responses when prescribing postexercise hydrotherapy. These findings apply to athletes who aim to improve their recovery status, where postresistance exercise HWI optimizes sleep quality and next-day perceptions of fatigue.

Leader–member exchange (LMX) quality and follower well-being: A daily diary study.

Guided by self-determination and social exchange theories, we examine how leader-member exchange (LMX) quality impacts follower well-being. Despite LMX relationships being dynamic in nature, the way relationship quality varies over time and its impact on well-being has not been examined in detail. To address this important issue, a daily diary study is reported of employees from a variety of organizations. One hundred and fifty-eight participants completed a daily diary in the morning and evening for five consecutive workdays (k = 603 observations). Measures included hedonic and eudaimonic well-being, and social and economic LMX exchanges. There was a significant variation of LMX quality over the diary days. Daily LMX quality predicted daily follower well-being (while controlling for morning well-being). Further, for those that interacted with their manager, social LMX exchanges but not economic LMX exchanges predicted daily well-being. Interaction characteristics (frequency, time, content) had a relatively small impact on daily well-being. As predicted, work engagement mediated the relation between daily LMX quality and social LMX exchanges (but not daily economic LMX exchanges) with well-being. The results show how LMX quality affects followers' well-being that varies daily, that is affected by leaders' behaviors. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

A single-center prospective study regarding time to return to activities of daily living after craniotomy for brain tumors.

There are few studies on the time to return to activities of daily living (ADL) after craniotomy in patients with brain tumors. This study aimed to investigate the duration before returning to ADLs after craniotomy for brain tumors and present data that can provide information and guidelines on the appropriate time needed. Patients (n = 183 of 234) who underwent craniotomy for brain tumors between April 2021 and July 2021 capable of self-care upon discharge were enrolled, and data of 158 were collected. The start time of 85 ADL items was prospectively investigated for 4months postoperatively, using the self-recording sheet. Over 89% and 87% of the patients performed basic ADL items within a month and instrumental ADL items within 2months (medians: within 18days), except for a few. Regarding work, 50% of the patients returned within 4months. Washing hair with a wound was performed at 18days of median value, after 4months of dyeing/perming hair, 6days of drinking coffee/tea, after 4months of air travel, and 40days of complementary and alternative medicine. In patients with infratentorial tumors or surgical problems, return times were much later for various items. It is possible to provide practical information and guidelines on the duration to return to ADL after craniotomy in brain tumor patients. These study findings also reduce uncertainty about recovery and daily life and help patients return to their daily life at the appropriate time, thereby maintaining function and daily well-being after surgery.

Quality Conversation Can Increase Daily Well-Being

The associations among the frequency and quality of social interactions and in-the-moment and global well-being have been well-documented. Fewer studies explore whether the content of social interactions is associated with well-being using experimental methods. Drawing from the communicate bond belong theory, seven candidate communication episodes and behaviors were identified. In three studies, participants ( NStudy 1 = 347, NStudy 2 = 310, NStudy 3 = 250) were randomly assigned to engage in one of these communication episodes or behaviors and then completed end-of-day measures of well-being. Compared to participants in the control groups, participants engaging in candidate behaviors experienced increased well-being. MANCOVA results from all studies suggest the frequency of engaging in candidate behaviors was associated with increased well-being. A mini-meta-analysis found a weighted average effect size of d = 0.255. Results suggest that engaging in as little as one communication behavior with one friend in a day can improve daily well-being.

GPS-Derived Daily Mobility and Daily Well-Being in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Introduction: Mobility as a multidimensional concept has rarely been examined as a day-to-day varying phenomenon in its within-person association with older adults’ daily well-being. This study examined associations between daily mobility and daily well-being in community-dwelling older adults with a set of GPS-derived mobility indicators that were representative of older adults’ daily mobility. Methods: Participants wore a custom-built mobile GPS sensor (“uTrail”) and completed smartphone-based experience sampling questionnaires on momentary affective states (7 times per day) and daily life satisfaction (in the evening). Analyses included data across 947 days from 109 Swiss older adults aged 65–89 years. Results: Multilevel modeling showed that, within persons, a day with a larger life space area, more time spent in passive transport modes, and a higher number of different locations was associated with higher daily life satisfaction but not daily positive or negative affect. Follow-up analysis showed that the daily maximum distance from home was positively associated with daily life satisfaction, providing a first indication that exposure to non-habitual environments might be a possible underlying mechanism to explain the effects of mobility. Conclusions: Traveling a long distance away from home and visiting diverse locations may be a way to improve life satisfaction. Results are discussed in the context of research on healthy aging.

Performance Medicine: a novel and needed paradigm for proactive health care.

Performance Medicine is an emerging clinical practice that holds immense promise for advancing preventive health. To date, however, the concept remains imprecise, disorganized, and commercialized. The purpose of this perspective article is to define characteristics, core tenets, and practice standards to help build a common framework. We define performance broadly as "one's capacity to bring energy and attention to what matters most in a given moment". Performance Medicine, therefore, is predicated on the thesis that the critical practices that enhance one's daily wellbeing simultaneously increase both lifespan and healthspan. As a clinical practice, Performance Medicine is proactive and preventive. It focuses on the immediate and actionable strategies to address one's physical, mental, and emotional capabilities every day. The practice employs a values-centered approach that begins with a discovery process to elucidate the client's deeply held beliefs about their health status, life mission and goals, vision for optimal wellbeing, and motivations for change. Subsequent diagnostics and therapies combine evidence-based practices from multiple medical specialties including internal medicine, sports medicine, obesity medicine, integrative medicine, and others. This is complemented by the most recent scientific advancements in nutrition, exercise physiology, sleep, and recovery. The Performance Medicine prescription incorporates a personalized combination of lifestyle-based behavior change practices, evidence-based diagnostics and risk reduction therapies, ongoing monitoring, and community support. Finally, the iterative and incremental process towards enhanced and sustained health is guided and supported by a trusted partnership between the client and a team of expert practitioners and coaches.

IN THE SHADOW OF THE GREAT RECESSION: THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN RECESSION EXPERIENCES AND DAILY INDICES OF WELL-BEING

Abstract The current study examined the associations of positive and negative experiences during the Great Recession (GR) with levels of daily well-being. In 2012, participants from the Midlife in the United States Refresher survey reported on their positive or negative GR experiences related to job, housing, or finances. A subsample, selected into the National Study of Daily Experiences (N=782), also reported on their daily levels of health and well-being across eight consecutive days and provided saliva samples, from which cortisol was assayed. The number of negative GR experiences reported related to poorer daily well-being (negative and positive affect, physical symptoms, stress severity, and cortisol daily peak-to-nadir ratio), whereas, the number of positive GR experiences was only related to lower severity of daily stressors (β=–0.03, p=.03). Examining specific GR experiences revealed that individuals who reported bad housing experience during the GR reported higher daily levels of negative affect (β=0.14, p&amp;lt;.001), physical symptoms (β=0.90, p&amp;lt;.001), and frequency of stressor days (β=0.01, p&amp;lt;.001), and lower daily levels of positive affect (β=–0.19, p=.02). Bad financial experience was related to more physical symptoms (β=0.62, p&amp;lt;.001) and greater severity of daily stressors (β=0.14, p=.03). Conversely, positive financial experiences were related to greater cortisol daily peak-to-nadir ratio (β=1.98, p=.03), but also greater frequency of stressor days (β=0.05, p=.01). Results highlight the potential influence of major economic strains on our ongoing daily experiences. This work has implications for policy and interventions around supporting midlife and older adults facing economic strains, in order to improve daily well-being.

NONLINEAR ASSOCIATIONS OF DAILY STRESS REACTIVITY WITH HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

Abstract Research has repeatedly demonstrated that greater affective reactivity to daily stressors is associated with detrimental health outcomes (e.g. inflammation, mortality). However, most research has only considered linear effects, which precludes an examination of whether moderate levels of stress reactivity may be beneficial. Using daily diary data from the National Study of Daily Experiences (N=2,018) we fit multilevel SEMs to simultaneously model daily within-person associations between stress and negative affect (i.e., stress reactivity), and individual differences in the linear and quadratic associations between stress reactivity and life satisfaction, psychological distress, and chronic conditions. Significant quadratic effects were found for each of the three outcomes (estimates=-20.23; 11.49; 20.81, ps&amp;lt;.001, respectively), indicating a U-shaped pattern where both low and high levels of stress reactivity were associated with poorer health, whereas moderate levels of daily stress reactivity predicted better health outcomes. The results suggest that some affective response to daily stressors can be beneficial.

RISK AND RESILIENCE: HIGHLIGHTING MINORITY STRESS IN A LIFESPAN SAMPLE OF SEXUAL MINORITIES

Abstract Older sexual minorities (OSM), or those older adults sexually attracted to the same sex, are at risk for poorer well-being, which is rooted in the stresses of being marginalized. There is limited knowledge on how older age contextualizes the minority stress process. OSM have witnessed more stigmatized sociopolitical climates, yet report less minority stress compared with younger adults, which may be due to having accrued lifetime practice with stigma. The current study explores age differences in the daily experiences of minority stress in a sample of sexual minorities stratified across the lifespan. Data from a baseline sample of 355 sexual minorities (ages 18-90) confirmed previous research that OSM experienced lower minority stress compared with their younger counterparts (p&amp;lt;.05). Additionally, an age-stratified subset of this sample (N=112; ages 19-79) answered daily surveys for 3 weeks (N=1,923). Using multilevel modeling, we found that older age moderated the daily stress-distress relationships between outness disclosure and positive affect (B=-.005, p&amp;lt;.05); internalized homonegativity and positive affect (B=.004, p &amp;lt;.05) and negative affect (B=-.005, p&amp;lt;.05), and experienced microaggressions and negative affect (B=.007, p&amp;lt;.05). OSM had weaker relationships among four different daily minority stressors and worse daily well-being. There also was support that the associations between age and minority stress were partially mediated by lifelong exposure with marginalization. This project highlights the intersection of sexuality and aging and emphasizes the unique resilience of OSM. The results of this study inform both theory and practice and contribute to a better understanding of how to address OSM’ health disparities.

A critical examination of the effectiveness of gratitude intervention on well-Being Outcomes: A within-person experimental daily diary approach

ABSTRACT Given the rise in the global prevalence of stress and depressive symptoms, there is an increasing need to identify promising interventions that promote well-being. One potential intervention that has been widely discussed in the literature on improving well-being is the practice of gratitude. However, findings on its effectiveness have been marred by inconsistency and publication bias. Building upon past studies, the current study aims to revisit the effect of a gratitude contemplation intervention on multiple well-being outcomes by using a within-person experimental design with a daily diary approach. Multilevel modeling showed that the gratitude contemplation intervention had a significant within-person effect on multiple daily well-being outcomes including negative affect, perceived stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Moreover, the results were robust across varying levels of personality traits. Our study provides another line of evidence to the literature supporting the benefits of gratitude contemplation intervention.

Examining the Aftermath of Work-Family Conflict Episodes: Internal Attributions, Self-Conscious Emotions, Family Engagement, and Well-Being.

Little empirical research exists on attributions that people make regarding work-family conflict that they experience. Our study used attribution theory to examine the aftermath of work-family conflict episodes. We used a diary method in which respondents reported their daily encounters with work-family conflict, attributions they made about its causes, feelings of guilt and shame they experienced, and their levels of daily family engagement and well-being after work. Based on Ilies et al. (2012) we hypothesized that internal attributions of work-family conflict would be associated with feelings of guilt and shame, and that these emotions would in turn be differentially associated with daily after-work outcomes. We also hypothesized that the degree to which individuals were satisfied with the resolution of their work-family conflict would moderate the relationship between internal attribution and guilt/shame. Results largely supported our hypotheses, with guilt demonstrating a positive link to family engagement while shame showed a negative association. We also found that shame, but not guilt, was negatively associated with daily well-being. One's level of satisfaction with the resolution of work-family conflict emerged as a key variable as well. Lastly, we discuss the theoretical and practical ramifications of our findings.

Effectiveness of an emotion regulation intervention versus an active control on daily well-being and cognitive reappraisal: An experience sampling randomized controlled trial.

Effectiveness of an emotion regulation intervention versus an active control on daily well-being and cognitive reappraisal: An experience sampling randomized controlled trial.