Experience Of Well-being Research Articles

Exploring the Relationships Between Body Image, Sexual Well-Being, and Community Connectedness among Gay, Bisexual and Queer+ Men

ABSTRACT Sexual minority (SM) men are more likely than heterosexual men to experience body dissatisfaction due to prevailing body ideals (e.g. lean and muscular) within the SM community. Negative body image can have harmful effects on well-being, and, by extension, sexual well-being. The current study aimed to investigate whether SM men’s minority identification and LGBTQ+ community connectedness moderates the relationship between drives for muscularity and sexual anxiety. To address this aim, 298 Australian-residing SM men completed an online survey that examined drive for muscularity, sexual anxiety, and connectedness or identification with the LGBTQ+ and SM-specific communities. As hypothesized, the results showed a positive relationship between drive for muscularity and sexual anxiety. Additionally, LGBTQ+ community connectedness, but importantly not SM identification, was found to moderate this relationship, showing a positive association only when connection was at low or average levels. These results highlight the beneficial effects that LGBTQ+ community connection can have for SM men, such as protecting them against the harmful impacts of poor body image on sexual well-being. These results also provide preliminary insights into the need to expand the understandings of bodily diversity, and diversity of sexual well-being experiences, among SM men less connected to the broader LGBTQ+ community.

Pain and subjective well-being among older adults in the developing world : A comprehensive assessment based on the WHO Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health

This paper studies the association of pain with subjective well-being (SWB) and time use among older adults in five low- and middle-income countries using data from the first wave of the WHO Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health. We suggest a novel use of anchoring vignettes as direct control functions to account for potentially correlated reporting behaviors such as correlated response scales when analyzing the relationship between subjective variables such as self-reported pain and SWB. Exploiting detailed data on individual time use and several complementary measures of SWB, including fine-grained activity-specific affective experiences derived from an abbreviated version of the Day Reconstruction Method, we find that both evaluative and experienced well-being are markedly lower for people living with pain compared to those without pain. These disparities persist even after controlling for possible confounding from reporting behaviors through the use of anchoring vignettes. Differences in experienced utility by pain status appear to be exclusively due to worse affective experiences during daily activities for those with pain, which seem to be partially mediated through changes in their functional limitations. Pain-related differences in time use, in turn, seem to provide only small compensating effects, underscoring important challenges to the use of changed activity patterns as a viable coping strategy for individuals enduring pain.

A qualitative study of the machine operator’s experience of wellbeing in the New Zealand logging industry

A qualitative study of the machine operator’s experience of wellbeing in the New Zealand logging industry

The Climate Change Worry Scale (CCWS) and Its Links with Demographics and Mental Health Outcomes in a Polish Sample.

Developing valid and reliable measures of psychological responses to climate change is of high importance, as this facilitates our understanding of people's psychological responses, including their pro-environmental behavior. Recently, the Climate Change Worry Scale (CCWS) was introduced. This study aimed to develop the first Polish version of the CCWS and explore its psychometric properties. Our sample comprised 420 Polish adults aged 18-70, with a mean age of 26.20 (standard deviation = 10.61) years. The CCWS's factor structure was assessed with confirmatory factor analysis. McDonald's omega and Cronbach's alpha coefficients were computed to assess internal consistency reliability. Pearson correlations between climate change worry (CCW) and experience of climate change (i.e., an individual's level of perception of being affected by climate change), pro-environmental behavior, ill-being (i.e., anxiety and depression symptoms), and well-being were calculated. Our results support the strong factorial validity of the CCWS, conforming to its intended one-factor solution, with excellent internal consistency reliability for the total scale score (i.e., McDonald's omega and Cronbach's alpha values of 0.93). We noted large positive correlations between CCW and experiences of climate change, as well as pro-environmental behavior, and medium positive correlations with psychopathology symptoms. CCW scores were not associated with well-being. As the CCWS represents a measure of a specific manifestation of worry, we also examined its discriminant validity against more general psychological distress markers, and it evidenced strong validity in this regard. Overall, the Polish version of the CCWS appears to have strong psychometric properties, and will therefore be a useful tool to use in research on psychological responses to climate change.

Exploring the Relationship between Spiritual Well-being and Psychological Well-being among Novice Clergy and Senior Priests in Myanmar: A Basis of Development and Implementation of a Psycho-Spiritual Intervention Program

The study explored the in-depth experiences of spiritual well-being and its role on psychological well-being among clergy towards development and implementation of a Psycho-Spiritual Intervention Program. In particular, the study looked into the lived-experiences of spiritual well-being through the quality of relationship that one has within each component of spiritual well-being and its role on psychological well-being among novice clergy and senior priests because novice clergy and senior priests are the most important stages in priestly life. There is a big difference between these two groups in terms of number of years in priestly life, year of ordination, age and occupation. In order to achieve breadth and depth in the understanding of this phenomenon, the researcher employed the explanatory sequential mixed-method design. A total of 271 clergy (135 novice clergy and 136 senior priests) completed questionnaires about spiritual well-being and psychological well-being, 10 novice clergy and 10 senior priests were then selected for in-depth interviews. The results of regression analyses showed that overall spiritual well-being is a significant predictor of psychological well-being among the clergy. Personal component of spiritual well-being alone and environmental component of spiritual well-being alone were significant predictors of psychological well-being among novice clergy and senior priests respectively. The interviews substantiated these results. It further revealed that transcendental and communal component of spiritual well-being still appear in the picture of the relationship between spiritual well-being and psychological well-being among the clergy. These components, however, were manifested in different ways among the novice clergy and the senior priests. The findings specifically showed that the experience of spiritual well-being within the personal component benefits personal growth, environmental control, self-acceptance, purpose in life and emotional stability among the novice clergy. The experience of spiritual well-being in environmental component, on the other hand, benefits peace of mind, self-acceptance and others-acceptance, increased ability of problem-solving skills, increased happiness and a better physical health among senior priests. The implications of the study for clergy, for counseling practice and for future research have discussed.

Toy tourism: Exploring the co-creating roles of toy-tourist-destination congruence and self-construal in creating well-being and its outcomes

Toy tourism is an emerging tourism development in which tourists and toys can gain interactive and well-being experiences at travel destinations. However, few studies have examined the process of how this can be accomplished through toy tourism activities. By using self-congruence theory and self-construal as a theoretical basis, the study results ( n = 254) demonstrate that the value creation process in toy tourism is an interactive process achieved by integrating destination variables (i.e., congruence among toys, tourists, and tourism destinations) and personal trait variables (i.e., self-construal). Furthermore, such co-creation mechanisms illustrate contributions to the toy tourists’ well-being (i.e., self-expressiveness) and its outcomes (i.e., self-identity and storytelling). This study provides theoretical insights into well-being formation by examining relationships between tourist, destination, and toys through toy tourism activities. Moreover, it provides useful practical implications for toy tourism-related industries.

Reflections on Transformation, Teamwork, and Mentoring: Student Teachers’ Self-Assessed Learning, Equality, and Equity in Competence-Based Education

<p style="text-align:justify">This research concentrated on observing academic student teachers’ teamwork, especially its effectiveness and their attitudes to collaboration and transformation, as well as their reflective, written self-assessments in relation to teamwork. Teams have been studied widely, but these kinds of special contexts are rare. The target group was higher education teachers, the context was an introduction of a new pedagogical program, and the teams acted under the guidance of mentors and occasional lecturers. Besides the content analysis, the study method was a deep analysis of the essays. The most effective positive influencers proved to be social exchanges, including mentoring, peer support, input for learning and the experiences of wellbeing. Individual distrust of working methods in teams, and emotional suspicions of their self-efficacy in transformational settings emerged as latent factors, revealing mainly the difficulty of changing traditional mindsets. The analyses offered individual and community-wide opportunities to steer education in the future.</p>

Hospitalized children experience: Play heroes to build bridges between hospital days and everyday life

Play has positive effects on children’s well-being and development. Play heroes, in Danish, called “Legeheltene”, have worked, for the last 7 years, to improve play and movement for hospitalized children in Danish hospitals. However, the significance of this novel Danish intervention is insufficiently researched. This phenomenological-hermeneutic study explored how children experience interacting with a play hero when hospitalized at a Danish paediatric unit. Combined observations and interviews were performed with children from two paediatric departments. Data were analyzed with inspiration from the French philosopher Paul Ricoeur. Three themes were identified: “A sense of familiarity,” “From loneliness to connectedness,” and “Becoming more powerful.” Children experience that interaction with play heroes is existentially meaningful. Through playful activities, children experience that they are connected to their daily lives outside the hospital and their true selves. Bridges to children’s everyday lives are built, leading to an improved sense of freedom, security, and the ability to manage difficult aspects of their hospital stay. Engagement with play heroes provides children with an experience of well-being and can be a positive direction in care provided to hospitalized children.

The impact of Dance for Parkinson's Disease on subjective well-being and functioning as experienced by dancers and their relatives – A descriptive study

IntroductionResearch has described improved health for persons with Parkinson's Disease (PD) who participate in dance classes. However, few studies focus on how relatives experience their life together with a partner who has PD and how the impact of Dance for Parkinson's Disease (DfPD) influences everyday life. ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to identify and describe the impact of DfPD on subjective experiences of well-being and functioning in daily living as experienced by dancers and their relatives. MethodsThe study used a descriptive method design combining a questionnaire for the dancers at the end of the dance semester and focus group interviews with relatives during a national dance camp. ResultsMost of the dancers experienced DfPD as improving their balance, and both the dancers and relatives experienced increased joy and happiness in life. The results highlight health factors such as improved body movements and social interactions, which makes life easier and raises awareness of the importance of DfPD. ConclusionDancers and relatives consistently experienced being part of a joyful and healthy exercise, testifying to the positive effects that DfPD has on subjective well-being and body functioning for persons with PD and their relatives.

Older adults' experiences of wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic: a comparative qualitative study in Italy and Switzerland.

Particularly at the beginning of the pandemic, adults aged 65 and older were portrayed as a homogeneously vulnerable population due to the elevated health risks associated with contracting the COVID-19 disease. This portrayal, combined with travel restrictions, closures of economic sectors, country-wide lockdowns, and suggestions by governmental authorities to limit social contact, had important implications for the wellbeing of older individuals. However, older adults are a heterogeneous population who relies on different resources to cope with stressful periods, like the COVID-19 pandemic. Simultaneously, countries also employed different measures to contain the virus. Research thus far has focused on the short-term consequences of the pandemic, but studies have yet to address its long-term consequences. We explore older adults' lived experiences nearly 2 years after the pandemic onset. Moreover, we focus on the bordering countries of Switzerland and Italy, who employed contrasting containment measures. This paper analyzes (1) How the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the experiences of wellbeing of older adults in these regions and (2) How older adults coped with the stressors brought about by the pandemic, in particular social distancing. The paper draws on 31 semi-structured interviews with 11 Swiss natives residing in Switzerland, 10 Italian migrants residing in Switzerland, and 10 Italian natives residing in Italy. Interviews were conducted from December 2021 to March 2022. Coping mechanisms of the three groups related to acceptance, hobbies, cognitive reframing, telephone use, vaccine use and social distancing. However, results show heterogeneous experiences of wellbeing, with Swiss natives sharing more positive narratives than the other two groups. Moreover, Italian migrants and Italian natives expressed the long-term negative consequences of the pandemic on their experienced wellbeing.

Defining well-being for the inhabitants of Mexico City

Studied worldwide, well-being is an important principle for the modern societies and needs to reflect the local cultures of the targeted populations. Semantic networks and graph theory address this issue: a definition of well-being comes directly from a sample of the targeted population. The stage one (N = 201, 52% female and 48% male, volunteers—informed consent provided—, 20 years and older, mean = 39.97 years, S.D. = 13.56 years) semantic networks defined well-being. In stage two the networks were the foundation to construct two scales which were validated (sample N = 427, 55% female and 45% male, volunteers—informed consent provided— 20 years and older, mean = 37.75 years, S.D. = 12.54 years). Analyzed with graph theory, well-being resulted in a social complex system (non-linearity, small world phenomenon, emergency), and showed the main elements to define well-being (affect and cognitive components). Its subgraphs were arranged into three main domains with subdomains: health (physical and psychological), relationships (family, friends, community) and resources (personal, material, time). The scale of satisfaction with well-being (α = .912) and the scale of experiences of well-being (α = .969) showed a good fit and obtained adequate values. Semantic networks proved to be a good resource to help in the construction of a questionnaire to study well-being with a cultural perspective.

Managing well-being in paediatric critical care: a multiperspective qualitative study of nurses’ and allied health professionals’ experiences

ObjectivesIt is well evidenced that healthcare professionals working in paediatric critical care experience high levels of burn-out, compassion fatigue and moral distress. This worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. This work...

Ensuring Student Mental Wellbeing whilst introducing Block Mode Intensive Learning and Teaching

As De Montfort University, a UK-based University, introduced block delivery across the undergraduate portfolio the University sought to maintain a continued focus on, and commitment to, an institution-wide approach to embedding mental wellbeing. With mental wellbeing relevant to the whole university community and recognising the power of transformational change to impact wellbeing, the university cross-examined student feedback to understand and ensure mental wellbeing. An intensive block model was introduced at De Montfort University (DMU) from the start of the academic session 2022-23. Undergraduate student experiences and learning from the initial months, focused on those in the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Media, are presented alongside an examination of the methods and impact of embedding mental wellbeing in this new intensive mode; ensuring the continued institutional approach to embedding mental wellbeing in the curriculum, providing inclusive support for all learners. The learning and impact identified from initial experiences indicate areas of strength and areas for development, enhancement and growth. This article presents educational practice implications for other providers exploring and implementing block delivery in intensive learning and teaching modes. The University’s HealthyDMU philosophy recognises mental wellbeing is relevant to all, informed by a social model of wellbeing, in which a student’s experience of mental wellbeing is directly related to their environment and experiences, based on the five ways to wellbeing (Aked, Marks, Cordon & Thompson, 2008). Embedding this throughout the curriculum reduces wellbeing barriers to facilitate student success, establishing pro-active approaches to mental wellbeing and a health promoting environment. This article provides a unique focus on student experience from the position of mental wellbeing embedded in curriculum design and delivery. This paper presents an exploration of student responses to the introduction of intensive delivery at undergraduate level within a UK university, positioned around support for mental wellbeing.

Psychological stress and psychological well-being among sports coaches: A close proximity longitudinal daily diary study

It is essential to understand sports coaches’ experiences of psychological stress and psychological well-being (PWB) on a daily basis to better equip coaches to manage stress and improve well-being. Coaches make a vital contribution to sport and, given the potentially stressful nature of coaches’ roles, are required to manage their own PWB and performance alongside that of the athletes with whom they work. To better understand how to support coaches, we explored coaches’ experiences of stressors, primary appraisals, coping, and PWB using a close proximity longitudinal daily diary approach. Five sports coaches (one woman and four men) each completed an interval-contingent, daily diary over a 28-day period. The diary facilitated understanding of the coaches’ experiences of their worlds and captured descriptions of the coaches’ daily lives. Underpinned by our constructivist paradigm and following an abductive approach to data analysis, four experiences are presented (preparing for major events and championships, competition, admin and national governing body-related tasks, and work-life balance) using a trajectory approach. This method of data presentation allows understanding of each coach’s journey through their experiences as they occurred over the 28-day period. The experiences are categorized into themes representing stressors, primary appraisals, coping, and PWB. Collectively, the findings highlight that coaches experienced certain stressors (e.g., athlete-related) on a regular basis, and that they appraised (e.g., as a challenge) and coped with these experiences in different ways (e.g., via information seeking). The findings also demonstrate that stress experiences influenced different elements of the coaches’ PWB (e.g., relationships with others, personal growth) and that, occasionally, coaches may experience delayed or inaccessible appraisals of a stressor. Lay summary: Five sports coaches’ experiences of psychological stress and psychological well-being are explored using close proximity daily diaries over a 28-day period. Four experiences (preparing for major events and championships, competition, admin and national governing body-related tasks, and work-life balance) are discussed to highlight how psychological stress influences coaches’ psychological well-being.

Wellbeing and religious community participation: Exploring resources for wellbeing in areas of socio‐economic deprivation in the United Kingdom

AbstractA decrease in wellbeing in the United Kingdom since the 2008 economic crisis has been compounded by the closure of community groups in socio‐economically deprived areas. This leaves churches as one of the few communal groups for fostering wellbeing, despite a dearth of research on religiosity and wellbeing in such areas. This article draws on semi‐structured interviews, supplemented with participant observations and ethnographic observations, to explore the social processes involved in shaping experiences of wellbeing amongst religious communities in socio‐economically deprived areas in North East England. It identifies the resources available for wellbeing and the points at which they are accessed. It also expands the existing conception of wellbeing by: (i) unpacking and refining a three‐tiered structure for understanding wellbeing; (ii) identifying a wellbeing paradox, whereby interpersonal vulnerability supports and undermines wellbeing; and (iii) mapping the relationships between the micro, meso and macro levels in shaping experiences of wellbeing, highlighting the need for more qualitative studies of subjective wellbeing. As it does so, this article offers practical insights that can guide those with pastoral responsibilities in areas of socio‐economic deprivation to foster higher levels of wellbeing in their communities.

“The job changes you”: a reflexive thematic analysis of Australian correctional officer mental health

ABSTRACT Correctional officers (COs) work under stressful conditions and experience high rates of potentially psychologically traumatic critical incidents, and yet understanding of their mental health is limited. Therefore, the current study aimed to explore how correctional work impacts CO mental health. Twenty-two Australian COs (12 men, 10 women) working predominantly in high security prisons (91%) with male prison residents (50%) were interviewed about their mental health and workplace experiences. Reflexive thematic analysis of these interviews generated three key themes: the job changes you, it’s a stressful job, and coping strategies. Officers showed both positive and negative changes to their sense of self, daily functioning, and mental health which were generally consistent with experiences of psychological wellbeing, posttraumatic growth, and burnout. These changes were impacted by a variety of operational and organizational stressors and were managed through adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies like social support, humor, and alcohol consumption. The findings support existing theories of the non-dichotomous nature of mental health and mental illness. Along with deepening understandings of CO mental health, this study provides guidance on how COs can be supported to be healthy and productive in the workplace.

Does age matter? The well-being of migrant children in comparative perspective

This article explores the subjective perceptions of well-being of migrant children attending primary school (9-14 years) and secondary school (15-18 years) in Slovenia. It focuses on how they conceptualise their fears, worries and concerns, what is important for them to feel accepted and safe, and how they think about their past and the future. Using a comparative perspective, similarities and differences in the experience of well-being of these two age groups of migrants are explored. The analysis is based on open-ended narrative interviews with migrant children and revolves around the question of whether and how age influences their subjective perception of well-being. The article sheds light on age-specific meanings and understandings of migration processes based on the views and experiences of migrant children and youth regarding their well-being, bringing to the fore the perspectives of children that are often missing or underrepresented in integration policy.

‘In the middle … waiting for a future’: Time and waiting in partner visa migration and family violence in Australia

This article reports on findings regarding the experience of prolonged temporariness of migrant women on partner visas that separated after experiencing domestic or family violence (sponsored women). Four participants’ narratives were selected from a longitudinal study to understand how women rebuild their lives after violence while in an uncertain visa status. The analysis reported in this article reveals two strong experiences: Investigation and waiting times and productive waiting. The conclusion is that like with protection visa applicants and students, waiting and prolonged temporariness is experienced as harmful and delaying progression and healing even when the sponsored women engaged in productive waiting. Further, time and waiting also shape women’s experiences of migration and in the case of this cohort, their relationship with the host country and their experience of safety and well-being.

Digital comfort amidst precarity: New middle classes’ experience of well-being and hardship in pandemic times in Brazil

During the pandemic, digital platforms had a boom in revenue or subscriptions. Despite their increasing relevance, few studies explore how different social strata experience such access. Based on 31 in-depth interviews in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, this article discusses the meanings and practices of digital consumption among the ‘new middle class.’ By focusing on three platforms—ride-sharing apps, food delivery apps, and audio-visual streaming—we interrogate how digital consumption has shaped experiences of well-being and hardship during pandemic times and how it relates to social mobility. We argue that digital platforms brought comfort amidst precarity as mechanisms for accessing relaxing and fun moments while responding to structural issues of Brazilian megacities. Our data also suggest these digital platforms enhance middle-class symbolic status related to individualised and private practices, though collectiveness is still present in participants’ liminal class experience.

Beyond the Buzz: Investigating the Effects of a Notification-Disabling Intervention on Smartphone Behavior and Digital Well-Being

ABSTRACT Turning off push notifications is a common recommendation to reduce smartphone screen time and to improve daily experiences of digital well-being. As only little empirical evidence exists, this study aims to test the effectiveness of this strategy. Based on a preregistered randomized controlled trial (N = 205), including objectively logged smartphone behavior data and daily mobile diary assessments of subjective experiences, we found that a one-week notification-disabling intervention did not affect smartphone behavior (i.e. checking frequency and screen time). This pattern was not dependent on people’s trait fear of missing out. In addition, we found no effects on perceived control, overuse, smartphone vigilance, productivity, and smartphone-related distraction. The intervention did, however, result in a decrease in perceived checking habit strength, indicating that users experienced their smartphone use to be more intentional. The absence of notifications also led to increased fear of missing out, suggesting that disabling notifications results in drawbacks rather than improvements in digital well-being. Together, these findings challenge the assumption that notifications play a prominent role in driving smartphone use and influencing user experiences. Findings are discussed in light of the complex interplay between device features and digital well-being.