Experience Of Well-being Research Articles

The Role of Nonduality in the Relationship Between Flow States and Well-Being

ObjectivesThe current study investigated the hypothesis that the relationship between flow states and well-being is mediated by nondual experiences. Past empirical and theoretical work suggests flow states share similarities with nondual experiences. The current study expanded upon previous work by examining the relationships between flow, nondual experiences, emotion, and well-being.MethodsStudents enrolled in various artistic classes (N = 104) were surveyed once a week for four weeks. Participants reported on their experiences of flow, nonduality, emotion, and psychological and subjective well-being.ResultsHigher scores on measures of both flow (b = 7.03, SE = 0.82, p < .001) and nondual experiences (b = 0.17, SE = 0.02, p < .001) predicted increased positive emotion immediately after class. Nondual experiences partially mediated this relationship, such that when accounting for nondual experiences, the relationship between flow and positive emotion was significantly decreased (b = 4.30, SE = 0.45, p < .001). Longitudinally, nondual experience also mediated the relationship between flow and satisfaction with life (Sobel t = 1.94, SE = 1.06, p = .05). However, while flow predicted increased psychological well-being (b = 0.32, SE = 0.14, p = .02) after the four weeks, nondual experience did not (b = −0.003, SE = 0.002, p = .13).ConclusionsThese findings suggest that flow states may facilitate some features of nonduality and share similarities with meditative states. Additionally, the link between flow and well-being may be explained by its similarities to meditative states, and that creative activities could be useful in fostering well-being.

Differences in the Experiential Well-being of Hispanics and Non-Hispanics Engaged in Elder Care

Differences in the Experiential Well-being of Hispanics and Non-Hispanics Engaged in Elder Care

Perception of wellbeing in educational spaces

Wellbeing and mental health are important pillars of sustainability, as recognised by the WELL Building Standards. With higher education facing a mental health crisis, which has been exacerbated by the pandemic, all potential solutions must be investigated. Applying WELL to educational spaces could help to improve student and staff wellbeing. However, the constant change in occupancy of teaching spaces within higher education alters how design factors influence wellbeing outcomes as compared to standard office or domestic occupancy. This study collects student and staff responses on their experience of wellbeing in educational spaces, together with indoor environment quality data for validation. It found that whilst the perception of the quality of spaces did not necessarily align with the measured quality, it was the perceived quality that impacted wellbeing. Design for wellbeing is a growing market and a costly investment, it is important therefore that this investment is having the impact anticipated. This research demonstrates the importance of designing a space taking into account user perception rather than focusing solely on space performance, and perceived space quality impacts on occupant wellbeing.

Exploring how urban nature is associated with human wellbeing in a neotropical city

Human population growth and urbanisation are putting pressure on urban green and blue spaces worldwide. These spaces provide habitat for biodiversity and, as evidence from the Global North shows, can provide health and wellbeing benefits to urban dwellers. Nonetheless, there is a paucity of evidence regarding the wellbeing benefits associated with urban green and blue spaces from the Global South, where the fastest rates of population growth and urban expansion are occurring. Here, we examine green and blue spaces in Georgetown, Guyana, exploring whether frequency and duration of use is (1) associated with nature-relatedness, safety concerns, and sociodemographic characteristics, (2) associated with specific visit motivations (e.g. physical, cognitive, social), and (3) associated with wellbeing (positive and negative experiential, evaluative, eudaimonic, and mental wellbeing). Participants (n = 512) were more likely to visit green and blue spaces if they had higher nature-relatedness, no safety concerns, aged <35 years, and educated above secondary level. Visit frequency was not related to wellbeing. Visit duration did not differentiate according to visit motivations. Visits to green and blue spaces of more than 25 min were associated with increased positive experiential wellbeing. No comparable patterns were found for the other wellbeing dimensions. These findings can inform public health campaigns targeted at specific sociodemographic groups. Moreover, decision-makers could minimise health inequalities by incorporating new green and blue spaces into future development plans (including the provision of backyards), and enhancing existing spaces (e.g. reducing people’s safety concerns). These measures will help maximise wellbeing across all sectors of society.

Contour of the Day: Social Patterning of Time in Later Life and Variation in Reported Well-Being in Activities

Objective: To contextualize experiences of activities during the day and investigate whether the contour of the day is correlated with well-being during activities. Methods: Drawing on American Time Use Surveys, we employ sequence and cluster analyses to create distinct typologies of daily life patterns, and bivariate analyses to describe whether well-being across activities varies by these typologies. Results: We identified four typologies characterized by different primary activity of the day: leisure (22.7%), TV (22.4%), housework (47.5%), and work (7.5%). Individuals in the work and leisure clusters tend to report more positive well-being and individuals in the housework and TV clusters tend to report more negative well-being in experiences of activities during the day. We also found that well-being experiences in the same activity differed across individuals in the different typologies. Conclusion: Understanding the daily life patterns of older adults may be important, given its correlation with well-being during activities.

Digital Payments and Financial Wellbeing of the Rural Poor: The Moderating Role of Age and Gender

This study aimed to evaluate the financial wellbeing experiences of digital payment systems in Ghana, an emerging economy, using a case study with special emphasis on gender and age. Quantitative data were obtained from customers and mobile money agents operating in two poor rural districts. The study established a significant positive connection between security and satisfaction, ease of use and satisfaction, and convenience and satisfaction in relation to digital payment systems in emerging markets. Also, customer satisfaction mediates trust and the digital payment experience of the poor. The findings also revealed that customer experience of digital payment systems differs based on gender and age categories. Males appeared to value ease of use rather than great customer experience, whereas females valued security over great customer experience. Great customer experience leads to stronger trust levels among female users than males. Also, younger users were more concerned with issues of convenience, while older customers placed a higher premium on security.

Importance of Providing Additional Choices in Relation to Pupils' Happiness, Mastery, Well-Being, Contentment, and Level of Physical Activity in Physical Education.

Previous research points to the importance of providing support to autonomy in PE, because it has a particularly positive effect on motivation in PE. However, previous research has not examined the association between autonomy and the variables; happiness, mastery, well-being, contentment and activity level in PE. This study examined how increased self-determination affects happiness, mastery, well-being, contentment and activity level in PE. The study is an intervention (cross-over study) with one control group (one class) and two intervention groups (two classes), using questionnaires and accelerometers among 88 tenth graders (41 boys and 47 girls). The three classes included approximately the same number of boys and girls. The intervention groups included, respectively, 30 and 29 pupils in each class, and 29 pupils' in the control group. The pupils' experiences of happiness, mastery, well-being, contentment was measured three times–after a month with, respectively, ordinary PE, teacher-directed PE, and self-organized PE (autonomy), and the activity levels (accelerometer) was measured during the 24 lessons that took part in the period of teacher-directed PE and self-organized PE. Factor analysis, repeated measures ANOVA (mixed method ANOVA design) and paired sample t-tests with Bonferroni correction were performed, in order to look at differences in happiness, mastery, well-being, contentment and activity level during periods of; self-determination, teacher-directed PE and ordinary PE. The results show that self-determination in PE gives the pupil a significant increased experience of happiness, well-being and contentment, and also a higher activity level in PE. The results indicate that increased self-determination in PE can positively affect lower secondary school pupils' happiness, well-being, contentment and activity level in PE, and that teachers should strive to encourage self-determination among pupils in PE. Further research should be based on intervention studies studying self-determination over longer continuous period, in classes with both older and younger pupils.

Financial well-being of sportswomen

ABSTRACT Despite efforts to increase female participation and representation in sport, there has been little scholarly focus on sportswomen’s financial wel–being. The purpose of this study is to address this gap in the literature and to contribute to broadening theoretical understanding of subjective financial well-being. The study presents the results of the thematic analysis of interviews with 27 UK sportswomen to understand their experience of financial well-being, which is the ability to sustain current and anticipated desired living standards and financial freedom. Our analysis identified sportswomen’s subjective financial well-being, the personal and contextual factors influencing their perceptions of well-being and the consequences of their financial well–being on quality of life and general well–being. This study yields implications for a range of stakeholders, including governing bodies, policymakers, sports media, team and talent managers and financial institutions, and highlights the need to advance gender equity policies and practices that can positively impact on sportswomen’s financial well-being.

Embracing Arts curricula as integral for children’s wellbeing

ABSTRACT Internationally, research documents a link between children’s creative engagement in Arts and their experiences of positive wellbeing. Yet this is at odds with both the provision of Arts curricula in England’s education system (which continues to decline including substantial cuts to resources and staff), and longitudinal research reporting a decrease in children’s wellbeing. In this article, the authors present findings from a qualitative study conducted as part of a mixed methods project in a Secondary school in England exploring how performing arts curricula (dance, drama and music: ‘PA’) nurture pupils’ hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing. 11 pupils (aged 11–16) engaged in participatory creative projects as a means of expressing their PA experiences. Their projects served as a springboard for in-depth individual interviews. Thematic analysis revealed that Arts curricula are uniquely need-facilitating environments that nurture pupils’ wellbeing in school. Pupils’ experiences suggest that PA curricula positively impacted their eudaimonic wellbeing, satisfying their innate psychological needs of relatedness, autonomy and competence, as theorised in Self-Determination Theory. Pupils’ experiences also underlined the benefits of Arts engagement for their hedonic wellbeing, including increased positive affect and providing a space for regulating emotions. Collectively, the qualitative and quantitative findings from this mixed methods project suggest some pupils engaged in PA are vulnerable, and Arts play a critical role in facilitating their wellbeing. The positive implications of retaining Arts curricula, versus the potential damage to pupils’ wellbeing and wider engagement with school caused by continuing to devalue Arts, is discussed.

Psychiatric Sequelae and COVID Experiences of Post COVID -19 Recovered Resident Doctors and Interns of a Tertiary General Hospital in Mumbai.

The wide and profound psychological impact of the COVID pandemic on people has been demonstrated by several studies. A survey from the Indian Medical Association (IMA) showed that at least 500 doctors have been infected across Maharashtra, with Mumbai doctors making it to the top of the list. The most infected are the resident doctors working in government hospitals. A few doctors also have lost their lives while working in this pandemic. The delicate balance between duty, altruism and fear for oneself and others often causes conflict and feelings of helplessness and dissonance in many health care personnel with a fear to resume back the duty, especially after being a COVID victim. There have been hardly any studies yet, related to understanding the emotional and general well being of COVID-19 positive health care workers who have recovered and resumed their duties. To study in post COVID-19 recovered resident doctors and interns the presence of anxiety and depressive symptoms, sleep changes, general well-being, perceptions of their COVID experience and association of general wellbeing with anxiety, depression and sleep changes. The study was conducted after institutional ethics committee permission and online informed consent from the participants which included medical interns and resident doctors of our institute. A Google form with questions and scales pertaining to the aims of the study (Patient Health Questionnaire, Zung Self Rating Anxiety Scale, Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well Being Scale and Insomnia Symptom Questionnaire) was sent on the Google link to the 150 interns and resident doctors via whatsapp who had recovered from COVID 19 infection. Their details were taken from hospital database with Dean permission. 79 responded to the link with the mean duration of COVID infection being 16.1 ± 8.59 days. 64 participants were hospitalized and 18 participants had lung parenchymal involvement. 28 participants had depressive symptoms on the patient health questionnaire. Only 4 participants experienced anxiety as per Zung self rating anxiety scale. 69 participants had greater well being with scores higher than 40 on the Warwick Edinburgh mental well being scale. 8 participants had sleep related issues affecting their work. A negative correlation of general well being was seen with depression, anxiety and insomnia which was highly significant. The most distressing of COVID experiences were being isolated in a room, transmitting disease to near and dear ones and possibility of a serious complication. Re infection, workload followed by use of PPE was the major concern.Many described their COVID experience as boring, depressing with feelings of loneliness. Our study is the first of its kind to evaluate the psychiatric sequelae and COVID experiences of post COVID-19 recovered resident doctors and interns. Psychosocial and institutional support will definitely help in improving the post COVID sequelae in the resident doctors and interns.

'Back to better': amplifying health equity, and determinants of health perspectives during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction:Equity and social justice have long been key tenets of health promotion practice, policy and research. Health promotion foregrounds the pertinence of social, economic, cultural, political and spiritual life in creating and maintaining health. This necessitates a critical structural determinants of health perspective that actively engages with the experiences of health and wellbeing among diverse peoples. The inequitable impacts of pandemics are well documented, as are calls for improved pandemic responses. Yet, current pandemic and emergency preparedness plans do not adequately account for the social and structural determinants of health and health equity.Methods:Through five one-hour online conversations held in April 2020, we engaged 13 practice, policy, research and community leaders on the intersections of COVID-19 and gender, racism, homelessness, Indigenous health and knowledge, household food insecurity, disability, ethics and equitable futures post-COVID-19. We conducted a thematic analysis of speaker and participant contributions to investigate the impacts and influence of COVID-19 related to the structural and social determinants of health. We analyzed which policies, practices and responses amplified or undermined equity and social justice and identified opportunities for improved action.Findings:Analysis of the COVID-19 pandemic revealed four broad themes:• oppressive, unjust systems and existing health and social inequities;• health and social systems under duress and non-responsive to equity;• disproportionate impacts of COVID-19 driven by underlying structural and socioeconomic inequity; and• enhanced momentum for collective mobilization, policy innovations and social transformation.Discussion:There was a strong desire for a more just and equitable society in a post-COVID-19 world, going ‘back to better’ rather than ‘back to normal.’ Our analysis demonstrates that equity has not been well integrated into pandemic planning and responses. Social movement and systems theories provide insight on ways to build on existing community mobilization and policy openings for sustained social transformation.

Stress and Mental Well-Being Experiences of Professional Football Coaches

The stress experiences and their impact upon the daily lives and mental well-being of English Premier League professional (soccer) football coaches were explored using an in-depth qualitative design. Eight participants were interviewed using a semi-structured approach with thematic and causal network analysis revealing that (a) a range of contextually dependent demands were experienced and interpreted in relation to their situational properties; (b) many demands were appraised and emotionally responded to in a negative manner; (c) a range of coping strategies were adopted to cope with stress experiences, with many reported as ineffective; and (d) stress experiences often led to negative implications for their daily lives and eudaimonic and hedonic well-being. Positive adaptations to some demands experienced were reported and augmented perceptions of mental well-being. The findings of this study make a novel and significant contribution to understanding the interrelationships between the principal components of the stress process and the prospective links between stress and mental well-being.

Travel Mode of Commuting in Context of Subjective Well-Being—Experience from Slovakia

This article deals with commuting to and from work of workers in Slovakia as a part of traveling and its impact on private life of commuters. It provides a more comprehensive view on the socio-demographic determinants which affect the travel mode choice. Furthermore, the study offers several evaluations of the impact on the subjective well-being of commuters. The aim of the article is to review demographic and economic determinants influencing the travel mode choice and to determine its impact on the subjective well-being of respondents. On a sample of approximately 1000 economically active individuals by using several statistical tests (Nominal Logistic Regression, Fisher’s Exact Test, Mann-Whitney Test, Cochran Test, McNemar Test), we identified the determinants affecting the travel mode choice of respondents, including commuting time costs, commuting financial costs, income of respondents, education, gender, type of employment and place of work. This study has also showed that respondents are the most satisfied when commuting by bicycle or on foot and the most dissatisfied when commuting by using public transport. These facts, among others, should be reflected by the creation of sustainable and “green” transport infrastructure in Slovakia.

Mental health, quality of life, wellbeing, loneliness and use of social media in a time of social distancing during the COVID-19 outbreak. A cross-country comparative study

Background The COVID-19 outbreak raised questions about how people experience their mental health, quality of life (QoL), wellbeing and loneliness in the context of social distancing, and the use of social media during this time Aims To examine the experience of mental health, QoL, wellbeing and loneliness and use of social media among people living in Norway, USA, UK and Australia. Methods A cross-country comparative survey of people living in Norway, USA, UK and Australia. Relevant statistical analyses were used to examine differences between the countries and to explore associations between demographic, mental health and psychosocial variables and use of social media. Results There were 3810 respondents from four countries, of which 50 − 74% showed a high level of emotional distress. The Norwegian population reported significantly better mental health, QoL and wellbeing and lower levels of loneliness compared to the other countries. High-frequent use of social media after the COVID-19 outbreak was associated with poorer mental- and psychosocial health. Conclusions The results suggest that the COVID-19 outbreak took a toll on people’s experience of mental health, QoL, wellbeing and experienced loneliness, and high-frequent use of social media was associated with these factors.

Worry, Severity, Controllability, and Preventive Behaviours of COVID-19 and Their Associations with Mental Health of Turkish Healthcare Workers Working at a Pandemic Hospital.

Previous research suggests that psychological and behavioural factors such as worry, severity, controllability, and preventive behaviours are associated with mental health and well-being. Less is known about simultaneous effects of those factors in predicting mental health and well-being. This study aimed to present the prevalence of mental health problems and identify the predictors of mental health and subjective well-being of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants included 245 healthcare workers (Mage = 33.16 ± 7.33; 50.61% females) from a pandemic hospital in Turkey. Healthcare workers reported mild/severe depression, anxiety, and stress. Females tended to be more vulnerable to developing psychiatric symptoms. Worry, severity, and controllability significantly predicted depression, anxiety, stress, and subjective well-being while preventive behaviours only predicted subjective well-being. These findings suggest the importance of assessing healthcare workers’ experiences of mental health and subjective well-being and their associated factors to assist mental health providers tailor assessments and treatment during a pandemic.

The relationship between global distress, mentalizing and well-being in a German teacher sample

Many studies have linked global distress including higher psychological symptom severity and high levels of stress with low levels of well-being among teachers, indicating a need to identify and empirically evaluate protective factors. Mentalizing—the capacity to understand behavior in terms of intentional mental states—may be a candidate protective factor to mediate this association, enhancing well-being in the face of high levels of global distress. The present study examines whether the capacity to mentalize can buffer subjectively experienced stress and psychological symptom severity in a sample of teachers. 215 teachers completed questionnaires measuring self-rated experiences of stress, psychological symptoms, mentalizing capacities and well-being in a cross-sectional design. Structural equation modeling was used to test mediation effects. Our findings show that mentalizing was positively associated with well-being. In addition, mentalizing counteracted the negative influence of stress and psychological symptom severity. However, a structural equation model assessing the mediating effect of global distress on well-being via mentalizing was not significant. Therefore, the data indicate that teachers’ capacity to mentalize, regardless of psychological symptom load and subjective experience of stress, has a positive impact on their well-being. The study highlights the protective function of mentalizing and forms a framework for psychological interventions to increase teachers’ well-being.

Nordic population-based study on internet use and perceived meaningfulness in later life: How they are linked and why it matters.

Aim:The aim was to explore the association between internet use, the use of specific internet-based activities and perceiving life as meaningful, among older adults in two regions in Finland and Sweden.Methods:The data was collected through a population-based survey (N = 9386) as part of the GERDA project conducted in 2016. In order to analyse the associations between perceiving life as meaningful and internet use and related activities, odds ratios with a 95% confidence interval were calculated using binary logistic regression analysis, where socio-demographic factors and health status were controlled for.Results:Statistically significant associations were found between perceiving life as meaningful and internet use in later life. When looking further at the specific internet-based activities under study, activities related to leisure and entertainment showed a statistically significant connection to perceived meaningfulness in later life, after controlling for socio-demographic factors and health status.Conclusions:The results indicated that there was a statistically significant positive association between internet use and perceiving life as meaningful in later life. Online activities related to leisure and entertainment seem to be especially associated with perceived meaningfulness. Although causal direction could not be determined, the results suggest that internet use may support the experience of wellbeing in everyday life among older persons, through the unlimited access to interest-driven activities that it provides.

Group differences and associations among stress, emotional well-being, and physical activity in international and domestic university students

Objective: To examine the differences in experiences of stress, emotional well-being, and physical activity among international and domestic students. Participants: Domestic (n = 4,035) and international (n = 605) students at a large Canadian university. Methods: Responses to items on stress, emotional well-being (happiness and satisfaction with life), and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and strength training were self-reported. Group differences were explored in a multivariate analysis of variance model, and student status was tested as a moderator of the associations between stress, emotional well-being (happiness and satisfaction with life), and MVPA. Results: International students reported significantly lower stress and emotional well-being compared to domestic students, and fewer days of MVPA. Student status moderated the association between stress and MVPA, with the association significant for domestic students. Conclusions: Given the findings, international students may have distinct attitudes and beliefs toward MVPA that could be targeted in tailored interventions.

The Mindful Hedonist? Relationships between Well-Being Orientations, Mindfulness and Well-Being Experiences

Orientations to well-being, including personal values, motives and goals regarding one’s well-being are often related to the experience of well-being. At the same time, studies show positive effects of mindfulness on well-being. It is conceivable, that the strength of the connection between well-being orientations and experiences depend on the degree of dispositional mindfulness. To explore relationships between orientations and experiences of well-being as well as the potential moderation effect of mindfulness, two cross-sectional online studies with German-speaking participants were conducted. In Study 1 (N = 414) mindfulness moderated the relationship between life of pleasure (measured by the Orientations to Happiness Scale) and life satisfaction (β = −0.10, p = 0.017) as well as the relationship between life of meaning (β = −0.10, p = 0.028). As hypothesized, mindfulness moderated the connection between life of engagement and life satisfaction (β = −0.14, p = 0.001) as well as the negative relationship between search for meaning and life satisfaction (β = 0.15, p < 0.001). In Study 2 (N = 731) none of those effects were statistically replicated. Yet, mindfulness moderated the relationship between hedonia (measured by the Hedonic and Eudaimonic Motives for Action Questionnaire) and life satisfaction (β = −0.07, p = 0.048) as well as the relationship between search for meaning and psychological well-being (β = 0.07, p = 0.015). Overall, the results show that mindfulness has no substantial moderating effect on the well-being orientations and experiences relationship. Yet, in both studies, mindfulness and well-being orientations were consistently related to well-being experiences. This points out, that both are related to the experience of well-being, but beyond that not as interacting factors.

Ageing well in older men in Otago and Southland of New Zealand: a focus group study protocol

Background Men in New Zealand (NZ) do not enjoy the same level of health and wellbeing as women. Men generally experience a higher incidence of, and mortality from, major diseases; most importantly, life expectancies for men in NZ are approximately four years less than for women. Such disparities vary across rural and urban communities, and across ethnic sub-groups. In particular, Māori men live some seven years less than other NZ men. Despite such inequalities, men’s health is not recognised as a priority by healthcare providers, government, or at the wider societal level. This qualitative study seeks to address this, by contributing to our understanding of factors associated with health and wellbeing for men in the ageing process. Study findings will also inform the development of a national survey of older men. Method Focus groups will be used to explore the expectations and experiences of health and wellbeing in a cohort of older men (≥45 years) in the Otago and Southland regions. Topics to be explored will include gender role conflict, health service help-seeking, lifestyle behaviours, social engagement, and self-identified health risks. In total, five groups are planned (6-10 men per group) and will be conducted in urban, rural, and urban-rural adjunct areas. Focus groups will be recorded, and transcribed verbatim. Transcriptions will be coded for themes using the abductive thematic analysis approach. Results This paper presents a protocol of a study in progress, and results are not yet known. Discussion This is the first qualitative study focussing on ageing well in men in NZ. It will contribute to our understanding of this aspect of men’s health, and – ultimately – help to inform interventions and policies to better support men to age positively.