Emotional Health Benefits Research Articles

How to Make Flower Borders Benefit Public Emotional Health in Urban Green Space: A Perspective of Color Characteristics

The emotional health benefits of urban green space have been widely recognized. Flower borders, as a perennial plant landscape, have gradually become a current form of plant application in urban green spaces due to their rich color configurations. However, the related research primarily focuses on the impact of urban green spaces on public health, with relatively little attention given to how the colors of flower borders affect public emotional health. This study explored the relationship between the flower borders color characteristics and the public emotional health. In this study, 24 sample images were used as experimental materials, which selected based on their color richness and harmony. Additionally, face recognition technology and online random questionnaires were utilized to measure the public basic emotions and pleasure, respectively. The result shows that, based on the HSV color model and expert recommendations, 19 color characteristics were identified. The correlation analysis of the results from the public emotion with these color characteristics revealed that 13 color characteristics correlated with public emotional pleasure. Among them, blue, neutral purple, and low saturation were positively correlated. Through factor analysis, these thirteen color characteristics were summarized and categorized into four common factors (F1–F4), three of which are related to color. They are “low saturation of blue-violet percentage” (F1), “color configuration diversity” (F2), “bright red percentage” (F3), and “base green percentage” (F4), with F1 having the largest variance explained (27.88%). Finally, an evaluation model of color characteristics was constructed based on the variance explained by these four factors, which was demonstrated to effectively predict the level of public emotional pleasure when viewing flower borders. The results shed light on the effects of color characteristics on public emotions and provide new perspectives for subsequent flower border evaluations. Our results provide a valuable reference for future flower border color design, aiming to better improve public emotional health.

“Everyone has a weight complex”: Experiences of participation in physical activity in regional, rural and remote Australia

ABSTRACT There are many complex and interrelated personal and structural benefits and constraints to being physically active. In this research, we invited people living in regional, rural and remote (RRR) environments of Australia to share their experiences of being active both currently and historically via an in-depth open-ended online survey. This study focuses on the perspectives of 139 participants, 92 of whom identified as female, 43 identified as male and 2 identified as gender fluid. Our participants were aged 18–76 years. By using an interpretivist lens and applying the feminist, weight inclusive Well Now approach (Aphramor, 2018) as a framework to understand these experiences, we identified that this group of people enjoyed the benefits of being active that included physical, mental, and emotional health benefits, as well as social benefits. Participants also shared stories about exclusion, discrimination, and reluctance to participate in various forms of physical activity. Our findings may help inform the work of practitioners who seek to use a weight inclusive approach in RRR areas and highlight the need to support individuals to find safe spaces and meaningful opportunities to be active.

“It’s Okay He’s Friendly”: Understanding the Experience of Owning and Walking a Reactive Dog Using a Qualitative Online Survey

ABSTRACT A range of physical and emotional health benefits to people are reported to be associated with owning and walking a dog. However, the experiences of dog ownership are not always equivalent, and owners of reactive dogs may face additional challenges that could affect their experience of pet ownership. The aims of this qualitative study were to understand the lived experience of self-identified owners of reactive dogs, to identify key issues and themes that affect their daily lives, and to establish important future research questions. Thirty-seven UK residents completed an online survey containing 14 open-ended questions. Free-text responses were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Five main themes were constructed: lack of understanding, situational control, learning and progress, guardianship, and emotions felt. The biggest challenge that all respondents reported was that other people did not understand their needs, which caused them to act, or their dogs to act, inappropriately. Other people’s off-lead dogs were highlighted as being especially problematic, which sometimes brought owners into conflict with members of the public. On walks, many owners attempted to control the situation by avoiding places frequented by others or walking at antisocial times. The emotions most commonly expressed regarding walking a reactive dog were stress and anxiety. These results suggest that self-identified owners of reactive dogs experience a number of challenges, particularly related to walking their dog, which negatively impact their experience of dog ownership. Suggestions about how the needs of reactive-dog owners and their dogs can be better catered for in society are highlighted, as well as strategies to improve awareness about reactive dogs and how other people can help them and their owners.

In Case You Haven't Heard…

More than a third of graduating college seniors are prioritizing companies with mental health benefits during their job search, media company Tech.co reported on April 25. Nine out of 10 students in the 2023 graduating class have said they believe that employers should offer mental and emotional health benefits according to a recent survey from the student‐focused virtual clinic platform, TimelyCare. Flexibility within workplace environments and work hours were also high on the list of preferences. According to the survey, “92% of graduating students interested in mental health awareness in the workplace is a high number, and looks like the clearest evidence yet that we're seeing a generational shift towards tackling health needs in all their complexity,” survey authors stated. Presumably, plenty of them have already found companies that offer the benefits they need: As of early April, 59% of seniors say they've landed a job prior to graduating, a percentage that's down only a tad from the same survey in 2022, when it reached 62%. The survey also found that 36% of graduates will turn first to companies that offer mental health benefits when seeking a job.

Looking beyond the individual-The importance of accessing health and cultural services for Indigenous women in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Access to cultural activities and culturally relevant healthcare has always been significant for achieving holistic Indigenous health and continues to be a key factor in shaping the health journey of Indigenous individuals and communities. Previous research has indicated the importance of cultural practices and services in sustaining cultural identity for Indigenous peoples, which is a major influence on their wellbeing. This study marks the first phase in a project aimed at establishing an Indigenous healing program and uses a qualitative research approach to understand the health and cultural services that Indigenous women want and require in Thunder Bay, Ontario. During interviews, participants (n = 22) answered questions around their understandings of health and wellbeing, and how they are able to incorporate cultural practices into their circle of care. Thematic analysis was performed on interview transcripts, and 4 key themes were identified: 'independence and self-care', 'external barriers to accessing services', 'finding comfort in the familiar' and 'sense of community'. Together these themes illustrate how Indigenous women feel a strong sense of personal responsibility for maintaining their health despite the multiple environmental factors that may act as barriers or supports. Furthermore, the necessity of embedding cultural practices into Indigenous women's circle of care is highlighted by the participants as they describe the mental, spiritual, social, and emotional health benefits of engaging in cultural activities within their community. The findings demonstrate the need for current modes of care to look beyond the individual and consider the impacts that socio-environmental factors have on Indigenous women. To accomplish this, we hope to increase access to health and cultural services through the creation of an Indigenous healing program that can be adequately incorporated into Indigenous women's circle of care if they wish to do so.

Exploring the influence of residential courtyard space landscape elements on people's emotional health in an immersive virtual environment.

A good residential courtyard space not only brings people a psychological feeling of emotional pleasure but also attracts people to actively engage in more physical activities, which is of great significance to improving people's physical and mental health. Green vegetation and fitness facilities as the most preferred landscape elements in residential courtyard spaces and their effects on people's emotional health have not been further investigated. In this research, a virtual experiment was constructed in a residential courtyard space in Chengdu City, China, and electrodermal sensors were used to measure the real-time emotional changes of people in different virtual scenarios to analyze the effects of two landscape elements, green vegetation and fitness facilities, on people's emotional health, and the differences of such effects among different genders and ages. The results confirm that the combination of virtual reality technology and wearable physiological sensor measurement technology could effectively identify health-promoting landscape elements in urban environments; In residential courtyard spaces, green vegetation is more emotionally healthy than fitness facilities, and fitness facilities have better emotional health benefits for men and people over 30 years of age. The results of the study provide a quantitative basis for the healthier design and transformation of residential courtyard spaces for both green vegetation and fitness facilities.

“I never really thought that a virtual ride would be that good!”: Experiences of participants with disabilities in online leisure-time physical activity during COVID-19

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the sedentary behavior and inactivity of people, including individuals with disability, who were already less active than their able-bodied counterparts. Therefore, it is particularly important to think about how to maintain and increase their leisure-time physical activity (LTPA). Online adaptive programs may represent a useful tool to do so. However, there is a little research focused on the health impacts of online LTPA. ObjectiveThis mixed-methods study aimed to explore the experiences of people with disabilities who participated in online adaptive LTPA along with the factors contributing to or limiting participation. MethodFirst, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 individuals participating in online adaptive LTPA offered by a community organization. Based on these interviews, a survey was developed and completed by 104 participants. ResultsThe results of the study suggested that people with disabilities can get a variety of physical and emotional health benefits when participating in adaptive online LTPA, including a strong social benefit. Staff attitude and knowledge as well as the staff's ability to adapt to participant needs played important roles in facilitating participation. Greater access to equipment was needed. ConclusionThis study offers insights into how online LTPA could support the health-promoting behavior of people with disabilities during the pandemic and beyond.

Awareness of ocean literacy principles and ocean conservation engagement among American adults

Ocean literacy influences ocean conservation and might have an impact on sustainable development practices. We investigated the knowledge American adults possess concerning ocean literacy principles and ocean conservation behaviors by asking participants (N=1226) to complete an online survey on ocean literacy principles, health and well-being benefits of time spent in or by the ocean, emotions that result in behavioral change for conservation, and conservation actions. We used a representative sample of the US population by age, gender, and location. The majority of participants were aware of the ocean literacy principle, that the ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems (82%). Calmness, stress reduction, reduced depression, awe, connection with nature, greater life satisfaction, improved happiness, and a feeling of a spiritual connection or refuge were all associated with the ocean environment’s emotional health benefits. Monthly beach trips were associated with the physical health benefits of spending time near the ocean. Engagement in ocean conservation action was associated with multiple factors, including awareness of ocean literacy principles (the ocean is largely unexplored, ocean health and human health are connected, and the ocean regulates our climate and weather), monthly visits to the ocean, emotions of sadness and awe, feeling a connection to nature, living 10 miles or less to the ocean, and viewing nature documentaries and Instagram. Findings from this study may provide ideas how to engage the American public in understanding, valuing, and caring for our shared life sustaining ocean.

Breastfeeding, nature’s gift for infant growth and development

Exclusive breastfeeding (BF) is the best feeding option for infants under 6 months of age. After this age, complementary feeding with other solid foods and liquids is advised for 1 to 2 years in addition to breast milk or formula. It is well established that BF has physical and emotional health benefits for both mother and child, as it has been demonstrated that it improves long-term neurological development, decreases the incidence of chronic diseases such as obesity, and stimulates the immune system function in children, while also reducing sleep deprivation in mothers and strengthening the mother-child relationship.1

The importance of meaningful participation: health benefits of volunteerism for older adults with mobility-limiting disabilities

AbstractVolunteerism has been increasingly recognised as a health promotion activity for older adults. However, volunteerism has largely been the domain of those who are in good health with few to no physical limitations, and there is limited information about the experiences of older adults with disabilities. This study explores why older adults with mobility-limiting disabilities engage in volunteer work and their perceptions of the personal benefits of volunteering. Twenty older adults, from three Midwest towns in the United States of America, participated in semi-structured, in-depth, face-to-face interviews. Participants in this study identified as having serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs due to a health condition and had volunteered in the last year. Participants were selected purposively for maximum variation in terms of type of disability/impairment, race, gender and age. The constant comparative method of analysis was used to identify themes from their discussions. When asked about why they volunteer and the personal benefits of volunteering, participants discussed seeking out activities that were meaningful to them for both altruistic and more self-directed reasons. They identified a number of physical and emotional health benefits that they saw as directly and indirectly related to being able to participate in these meaningful activities. Findings from this study suggest that, for older adults with disabilities who are interested in volunteer activities, volunteerism can be a beneficial health promotion activity and a potential mechanism for increasing opportunities for meaningful inclusion and participation in their communities.

A TELEWELLNESS APPROACH TO REDUCE BARRIERS TO GROUP EXERCISE FOR ADULTS AGING WITH MOBILITY DISABILITY

Group exercise classes have the potential to provide physical, cognitive, and emotional health benefits, through the physical activity performed as well as the social interaction among class participants. Substantial barriers exist for adults aging with lower-body mobility disabilities to engage in group exercise classes, including lack of transportation to classes, inaccessible buildings where classes are held, and lack of appropriate modifications offered for this population of older adults. Just as telehealth interventions have reduced barriers to healthcare, telewellness interventions can reduce barriers to engaging in wellness activities, such as group exercise classes. We will discuss a research study employing teleconferencing software to translate an evidence-based group tai chi class for adults aging with lower-body mobility disabilities. We will present the adaptation requirements identified to test the efficacy of a telewellness intervention for improving increasing social interaction and positive health behaviors (i.e., physical exercise frequency) for adults aging with disabilities.

Experiences of people with stroke and multiple sclerosis and caregivers of a community exercise programme involving a healthcare-recreation partnership

Purpose: To explore perceptions of people with neurological conditions and their caregivers of the health benefits of a group, task-oriented community-based exercise programme incorporating a healthcare-recreation partnership.Materials and methods: Descriptive qualitative study. Individuals with balance and mobility deficits from a neurological condition, and their caregivers, were interviewed on completion of a group, task-oriented community-based exercise programme incorporating a healthcare-recreation partnership. A thematic analysis was performed.Results: Nine people post-stroke, and four people with multiple sclerosis (MS) (n = 13; 54% male) and 12 caregivers (83% spouses) participated. Two themes emerged. One theme indicated that the programme fosters diverse, interrelated health benefits. Participants described experiences of improved balance, strength, and confidence that translated to improved everyday functioning and social participation. Benefits were reinforced through repeated programme registration. A second theme indicated that caregivers experience challenges and diverse benefits related to the programme. Transportation and programme cost were primary challenges. Caregivers described emotional health benefits from assisting participants during classes and observing participants improvement over time.Conclusions: Group, task-oriented community-based exercise programmes incorporating a healthcare-recreation partnership may yield health benefits for exercise participants and caregivers. Results can guide programme evaluation, the nature and timing of education about such programmes, and efforts to address cost and transportation issues.Implications of rehabilitationStroke and multiple sclerosis commonly cause balance and mobility limitations that can result in physical inactivity and further deterioration in health.Group, task-oriented community-based exercise programmes in which rehabilitation professionals train and support fitness instructors to deliver the exercise programme in community centres may increase access to exercise participation for this group.Study results suggest by improving balance and mobility, these programmes help increase independence in activities of daily living and social and leisure participation, while improving caregiver mental health and decreasing the need for caregiver assistance.Rehabilitation professionals can use findings to inform patient education, and support programme implementation and referral.

Cultivating Well-Being through the Three Pillars of Mind Training: Understanding How Training the Mind Improves Physiological and Psychological Well-Being

Research on the physiological and emotional health benefits of meditative practices has grown exponentially over the last two decades, influencing both scientific literature and popular media. Research has highlighted three distinct components or pillars at the core of meditative practices and mind training. They are, focused attention, open awareness, and kind intention. Neuroimaging studies and recent research, highlight that the repeated practice of directing attention and awareness can enhance neural connections, and turn momentary mindful states into more enduring mindful traits. Most meditative practices typically only engage one or both of these elements, and there has been no identified meditative practice that integrates all three pillars except for a concept referred to as the “Wheel of Awareness”. The Wheel is a practical framework for understanding and practicing mindful awareness which engages all three pillars by shaping how energy and information flows from one component to the next one. Through conscious practice individuals can improve the ability to observe and reflect on the mind, increasing the ability to monitor and modify neural networks which in turn modulate physiological responses within the body. Further research is proposed to further understand the neurobiological underpinnings behind repeated practice, including longitudinal studies monitoring neuroplasticity and activity in establishing new neural connections and synaptic changes.

Companion Animals and Child/Adolescent Development: A Systematic Review of the Evidence.

Childhood and adolescence are important developmental phases which influence health and well-being across the life span. Social relationships are fundamental to child and adolescent development; yet studies have been limited to children’s relationships with other humans. This paper provides an evidence review for the potential associations between pet ownership and emotional; behavioural; cognitive; educational and social developmental outcomes. As the field is in the early stages; a broad set of inclusion criteria was applied. A systematic search of databases and grey literature sources found twenty-two studies meeting selection criteria. The review found evidence for an association between pet ownership and a wide range of emotional health benefits from childhood pet ownership; particularly for self-esteem and loneliness. The findings regarding childhood anxiety and depression were inconclusive. Studies also showed evidence of an association between pet ownership and educational and cognitive benefits; for example, in perspective-taking abilities and intellectual development. Evidence on behavioural development was unclear due to a lack of high quality research. Studies on pet ownership and social development provided evidence for an association with increased social competence; social networks; social interaction and social play behaviour. Overall, pet ownership and the significance of children’s bonds with companion animals have been underexplored; there is a shortage of high quality and longitudinal studies in all outcomes. Prospective studies that control for a wide range of confounders are required.

Engaging Nursing Home Residents in Formal Volunteer Activities: a Focus on Strengths

Nursing homes around the world are seeking new strategies to improve the quality of life for older adults living in their facilities. Involvement of older adults in formal volunteer opportunities is a strategy that can provide social interaction and meaningful experiences and has been associated with physical and emotional health benefits. Although engaging older adults in volunteering has shown promise as a method for improving quality of life, community volunteer opportunities have often been made available only to non-institutionalized older adults. This may be due to negative views of both nursing homes and their residents. In addition, nursing home residents are often isolated both physically and socially from their surrounding community. However, using the strengths perspective as a framework, human service professionals in the United States and around the world can help to address these barriers. Specifically, human service professionals can help reframe negative views of nursing homes, identify strengths of nursing homes and their residents, and create and implement a strengths-based agenda for extending formal volunteer opportunities into nursing homes.

Emotional health across the transition to first and second unions among emerging adults.

The link between romantic relationships and emotional health has been extensively examined and suggests that marriage provides more emotional health benefits than cohabiting or dating relationships. However, the contemporary context of intimate relationships has changed and these associations warrant reexamination among emerging adults in the 2000s. We examined the change in emotional health across the entrance into first and second unions, including cohabiting unions, direct marriage (marriage without premarital cohabitation), and marriage preceded by cohabitation. Using the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, 1997, a nationally representative panel study of youth born between 1980 and 1984 in the United States, pooled fixed-effects regression models indicated that entrance into first cohabiting unions and direct marriages, and all second unions, were significantly associated with reduced emotional distress. Gender differences were found for first unions only; for men, only direct marriage was associated with an emotional health benefit, while both direct marriage and cohabitation benefited women's emotional health.

Recruiting and Retaining Older Adults in Volunteer Programs: Best Practices and Next Steps

The baby boomer generation has begun to reach retirement age. What this highly-educated and racially-diverse cohort does in its retirement years has implications for the boomers, their communities, and society. Formal volunteering has been suggested as a mechanism for engaging older adults, as it has been associated with physical and emotional health benefits. However, older adults from underrepresented groups are not as likely to engage in formal volunteer activities and may miss out on these benefits. A review of the literature identifies seven best practices for engaging older adults, including those from minority groups, in formal volunteer activities. These include: personal invitation, role flexibility, stipends, social interaction, support from staff, meaningfulness, and recognition. Using the framework of the Strengths Perspective, identifying and utilizing the strengths of individuals and communities and volunteer goal setting are suggested as additional best practices that may be particularly relevant in attracting a diverse set of older adult volunteers.

Developing an Older Adult Volunteer Program in a New York Chinese Community: An Evidence-Based Approach

This study reports the results of a pilot volunteer project for older Chinese immigrants and documents benefits for both volunteers and caregiver recipients. Using a social marketing approach, the volunteer project was designed as a social model to promote better health among older Chinese immigrants in New York City. The packaging of this health promotion project as a volunteer program was based on a strengths perspective. In the program, 18 older Chinese immigrants were trained to provide support and referral to family caregivers of ill relatives in the Chinese community. At 6 months, outcomes were evaluated for both volunteers and caregivers. The older volunteers perceived benefits associated with volunteering, specifically, a greater sense of well-being and satisfaction with life. In addition, the majority of volunteers felt empowered by training and volunteering (100 %), felt the skills they learned improved communication with their own families (90 %), and reported physical and emotional health benefits (61 %). At the same time, caregivers reported stress reduction following volunteer support. Findings suggest that a volunteer program model may be an effective health promotion intervention for older Chinese immigrants.

옥상녹화 유형별 거주자 이용행태와 건강효과

The purpose of this research is to identify green roofs based on how to utilize the diverse space. This research also aims to discover the correlation between the use of the green roof and the overall level of the public`s health condition, through which it is intended to grasp the health effects by means of the space of the green roof. The current use patterns of the green roof have been identified generally to have more than 60% accessibility, less than 30 minutes of short-tenn use, relaxation or removing stress, enjoy the view of the surrounding, smoking, walking and exercise. It will be highly effective to furnish facilities and plants for tree planting, and to get financial maintenance & management subsidy for the purpose of revitalizing the green roof. It is expected that if the green roof is created in educational institutes, hospitals and shopping centers, where the current level of health conditions is generally low, it will contribute in promoting the city dwellers` health benefits. In addition, the physical environmental renovation through establishing the green roof will bring about producing a healthy city because the emotional health benefits also will make a positive impact upon physical health.

Implications of postmastectomy radiation therapy on optimal timing and approach for breast reconstruction

Despite advances in early detection and ample data demonstrating the long-term safety of breast-conservation therapy, mastectomy continues to be increasingly utilized in the treatment of breast cancer. Studies have shown significant psychosocial and emotional health benefits for breast reconstruction after mastectomy. Skin-sparing mastectomy is a safe technique that facilitates immediate breast reconstruction (IBR). Although IBR does not increase local recurrence rates or delay the initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy, there is some evidence that it is linked to increased complications in the setting of postoperative radiotherapy. With the growing recognition of the importance of local tumor control on long-term survival, an emphasis is being placed on identifying women who may benefit from postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT). Although PMRT can undeniably improve breast cancer outcomes in high-risk patients, it may have a deleterious effect on reconstruction complications and aesthetic outcomes. As the indications for PMRT continue to evolve, determining the best timing for and type of reconstruction after mastectomy has never been more important.