Factor Wellness Inventory Research Articles

Seeds of Wellness: A Pilot Study of Horticultural Therapy and Nature-Based Expressive Arts to Support Holistic Wellness for Adults

ABSTRACT Ecotherapeutic and nature-based interventions have shown promise in supporting holistic wellness. A pilot study was conducted to measure the effectiveness of Seeds of Wellness, an eight-week horticultural therapy and nature-based expressive arts program designed to support holistic wellness. The Five Factor Wellness Inventory (5F-WEL) and Reese EcoWellness Inventory were used to measure change in wellness throughout the program. A check-in and follow-up assessment was developed and administered at the start and end of each weekly session to measure change throughout the program. The process of development, implementation, study results, and implications are reviewed. Statistical analysis showed that there was a significant improvement in overall EcoWellness Inventory scores from the start to the end of the program. According to the 5F-Wel, there was no significant change in overall wellness behavior scores from the start to the end of the program. However, weekly check-in and follow-up scores illustrated positive changes in participants from the start to the end of each session, suggesting that perceived wellness may have been positively impacted. Future studies could include a focus on the impact of horticultural and nature-based on perceived wellness.

Measurement Invariance of FFWEL Scores of Helping Professionals by Sex and Race Across U.S. and Filipino Samples

Objective This study explored the structure validity and sex and country measurement invariance for Filipino and U.S. adults using the Five Factor Wellness Inventory (FFWEL-A2). Method Confirmatory factor analysis and measurement invariance were conducted to determine consistency of responses across sex and country categories. Factorial ANOVAs were used to determine differences by sex, race, and country. Results The hypothesized 5-factor and second-order factor structure of the FFWEL provided equivalent but poor to adequate fit to the data in a large sample (N = 2,071) of U.S. and a smaller sample (N = 269) of Filipino counselors and counselors-in-training. Coefficients α were >0.80 for almost all domain scores, but only five of the 17 facet scores met the 0.80 criterion. Weak measurement invariance was evident for men (n = 502) and women (N = 1838) across both the U.S. White and Filipino group comparisons. Conclusions Counselors should take care to explore the way they and clients understand wellness and consider that not everyone will have the same understanding of the individual factors as outlined in the FFWEL-A2, especially among male, female, and diverse people from different countries. Significance statement Wellness is an ethical and professional imperative for counselors to avoid professional impairment and burn out. In this study, scores on the FFWEL-A2, a prominent measure of wellness, displayed partially biased measures of male and female scores across U.S. and Filipino samples and across diverse racial groups, probably due to complexity of the wellness model.

Perspectives of American Indian/Alaska Native Mental Health Practitioners on Psychological Distress, Social Support, and Wellness

Objective: This quantitative research study employed a correlational design to determine if there is an association between social support, psychological distress, and wellness among American Indian and Alaska Native mental health practitioners (AI/ANMHPs). Methods: A quantitative correlational approach examined to what extent a relationship exists between social support, psychological distress, and wellness among mental health practitioners who are Native American. The variable of psychological distress was measured by the Outcome Questionnaire 45 (OQ-45.2), the variable of social support was measured by the Multidimensional Scale of Social Support (MSPSS), the variable and the variable of wellness was measured using the Five Factor Wellness Inventory (5F-WEL). Results: The sample comprised 95 AI/ANMHPs in the United States. A Spearman’s rank-order correlation was used to explore the relationship between social support and psychological distress (RQ1) and social support and wellness (RQ2) among AI/ANMHPs. The results of the study indicate a statistically significant negative correlation between social support and psychological distress (rs= -0.386, p < .001) and a statistically significant positive correlation between social support and wellness (rs = 0.439, p < .001). Conclusions: The current study found two statistically significant correlations. Social support was statistically significantly negatively correlated with psychological distress, and social support was statistically significantly positively correlated with overall wellness. These findings suggest that as the NAMHPs perceive more social support, their psychological distress decreases; so, NAMHPs need more culturally responsive support if they want to manage distress.

“Wellness is wholeness”: Explorations of wellness among Black gay men

AbstractThe Indivisible Self Model of Wellness undergirded this mixed methods phenomenological exploration of the conceptualizations and experiences of wellness among nine Black gay men who had not tested positive for HIV. Data sources included in‐depth semistructured interviews and participant responses on the Five Factor Wellness Inventory. The following themes emerged from the thematic analysis of the interview transcripts: holistic self‐love, spiritual journey, kinship, social responsibility, sexual literacy, and approaches to HIV prevention. Additionally, cross‐validation of the qualitative and quantitative data revealed the central roles that social connectedness and spirituality played in these men's lives. Findings from this study provide a detailed picture of wellness within this sample and indicate considerations for expanding wellness to account for sexual health and wellness practices.

Psychometric Synthesis of the Five Factor Wellness Inventory

This quantitative synthesis combines results of 59 studies that published psychometrics of the Five Factor Wellness Inventory (5F‐Wel; Myers & Sweeney, 2005a, 2005b). Although few studies reported complete statistics, and demographically targeted research studies are needed, this synthesis reflects that the 5F‐Wel (also known as the FFWEL; Mind Garden, n.d.) is sound psychometrically for adults: Internal consistency, subsample means, and intrascale correlations are promising, as are correlations with related constructs. Consequently, the 5F‐Wel demonstrates utility for clinical use when working with clients on wellness goals.

Effects of an Experiential Training Group on Psychological Wellness and Professional Efficacy for Counsellors-in-Training

Despite the recognized value of an experiential training group in major counselling program accrediting and governing institutions, there is a paucity of research investigating the effectiveness of such a training group for counsellors-in-training (CITs). The present study examined the effects of a wellness-themed training group conducted in Hong Kong on CITs’ psychological wellness and group leader self-efficacy. The Five Factor Wellness Inventory (5F–Wel) and the Group Leader Self-Efficacy Instrument (GLSI) were administered to forty-three CITs of a Hong Kong master’s degree program in counsellor education. A pretest–posttest design was employed to compare psychological wellness and group leader self-efficacy before and after a 12-hour experiential training group. Two research aims were addressed. The findings showed significant increases in group leader self-efficacy and psychological wellness among CIT participants. Further investigation showed that Coping Self, Creative Self and Life Satisfaction improved significantly following the experiential training group. The foci of promoting an awareness of personal resources and identifying personal-fit positive coping strategies in the current group intervention might contribute to the positive results. The present findings have important implications for counsellor educators who have an important role in preparing competent and resilient CITs. The mandatory participation of the CITs as group members in an authentic, feedback experiential training group is recommended in a professional counselling program.

Greening Counseling: Examining Multivariate Relationships Between Ecowellness and Holistic Wellness

Researchers developed the ecowellness construct to draw focus on the human–nature connection in counseling. The authors examined relationships between the EcoWellness Inventory and the Five Factor Wellness Inventory in a study with 749 participants ages 18 to 84. Results provide further support for the significance of ecowellness as a dimension of holistic wellness that merits additional attention in humanistic counseling and research.

The Effectiveness of Adlerian Group Play Therapy-based Counseling Intervention on the Holistic Wellness of Neglected Children

Childhood is regarded as a highly crucial developmental stage for humans, whereby it is believed to be the most appropriate time to administer important interventions for the purpose of improving the holistic wellness of individuals. Hence, the aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of the Adlerian Group Play Therapy in improving the holistic wellness of neglected children. The study design was quasi experimental which was performed by measuring the preand post-test wellness scores for the control and interventional groups. A total of 83 children between the age of 10 and 12 years were purposively selected from the children’s homes. In this case, only a total of 66 children were included as the participants of this study after the initial administration of the Five Factor Wellness Inventory – Elementary School Age version (FFWEL-E) as they managed to score less than one standard deviation which was below the mean. Meanwhile, paired random sampling was carried out to equally divide them into the control and treatment groups with 33 participants each. In addition, all participants of the treatment group were further divided into eleven small groups of three to enable the conduct of nine weekly counseling sessions in total that lasted 90 minutes each. The data of this study was evaluated using the analysis of variance (ANOVA). The findings showed significant differences between the pre and post-test wellness scores of the control and treatment groups [F (1, 64) = 78.942, p

Do Wellness Tourists Get Well? An Observational Study of Multiple Dimensions of Health and Well-Being After a Week-Long Retreat.

Background: Wellness retreats use many complementary and alternative therapies within a holistic residential setting, yet few studies have evaluated the effect of retreat experiences on multiple dimensions of health and well-being, and no published studies have reported health outcomes in wellness tourists.Objectives: To assess the effect of a week-long wellness-retreat experience in wellness tourists.Design: A longitudinal observational study with outcomes assessed upon arrival and departure and 6 weeks after the retreat.Setting: A rural health retreat in Queensland, Australia.Interventions: A holistic, 1-week, residential, retreat experience that included many educational, therapeutic, and leisure activities and an organic, mostly plant-based diet.Outcome measures: Multiple outcome measures were performed upon arrival and departure and 6 weeks after the retreat. These included anthropometric measures, urinary pesticide metabolites, a food and health symptom questionnaire, the Five Factor Wellness Inventory, the General Self Efficacy questionnaire, the Pittsburgh Insomnia Rating Scale, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, the Profile of Mood States, and the Cogstate cognitive function test battery.Results: Statistically significant improvements (p < 0.05) were seen in almost all measures (n = 37) after 1 week and were sustained at 6 weeks (n = 17). There were statistically significant improvements (p < 0.001) in all anthropometric measures after 1 week, with reductions in abdominal girth (2.7 cm), weight (1.6 kg), and average systolic and diastolic pressure (−16.1 mmHg and −9.3 mmHg, respectively). Statistically significant improvements (p < 0.05) were also seen in psychological and health symptom measures. Urinary pesticide metabolites were detected in pooled urine samples before the retreat and were undetectable after the retreat.Conclusion: Retreat experiences can lead to substantial improvements in multiple dimensions of health and well-being that are maintained for 6 weeks. Further research that includes objective biomarkers and economic measures in different populations is required to determine the mechanisms of these effects and assess the value and relevance of retreat experiences to clinicians and health insurers.

Examining How the Adlerian Life Tasks Predict Anxiety in First-Year Counseling Students

The authors examined how the five life tasks of Adlerian theory predicted anxiety in 183 entry-level counseling students using the Five Factor Wellness Inventory (5F-Wel). Data was collected on beginning counseling students for three years from four separate master’s-level counseling programs across three different regions in the continental United States. Results found four significant predictors of anxiety. Suggestions for academic interventions and implications for future research are discussed.

Bullying: A Wellness Concern Among Appalachian Youth

Adolescents in a southeastern, rural school were given the Five Factor Wellness Inventory and a survey to examine the relationship between bullying and wellness. A significant correlation between an aggregate score of bullying and total wellness (r = −.43, p &lt; .001) was revealed. Implications and strategies for counselors are discussed.

Finding Your New Normal: Outcomes of a Wellness-Oriented Psychoeducational Support Group for Cancer Survivors

Group interventions have been useful for survivors to overcome the challenges of cancer. This study employed a pre/post, mixed-methods design to explore the influence of an 8-week support group on the holistic wellness of 14 breast cancer survivors. Pairing experiential activities with wellness-centered psychoeducation was viewed positively by participants and corresponded to increased scores on the Five Factor Wellness Inventory. Interview data generated insight for future group work with cancer survivors. Notably, care should be taken to consider the varied individual cancer experiences and it may be worthwhile to structure groups so that members can “pay forward” their new knowledge.

The Effects of a Wellness Intervention in Supervision

This study investigated the use of a wellness intervention in clinical supervision among counselors in training. Wellness and supervisory working alliance were measured through the use of the Five Factor Wellness Inventory (Myers & Sweeney, 2005b) and Supervisory Working Alliance Inventory – Trainee Version (Efstation, Patton, & Kardash, 1990) and compared to those who had not received the wellness intervention. Results indicated that total wellness measures increased among those who received the intervention. However, the use of a wellness intervention appeared to have a limited impact in strengthening the supervisory working alliance.

Factorial Invariance and Latent Mean Differences for the Five Factor Wellness Inventory With Korean and American Counselors

This study aimed to examine the factorial equivalence of the Five Factor Wellness Inventory across U.S. and Korean professional counselors and counselors-in-training. Latent means analyses demonstrated that there were significant differences between U.S. and Korean counselors for the five domains of wellness.

PROMOTING TEACHER EFFECTIVENESS THROUGH A HOLISTIC WELLNESS MODEL

Research was conducted to determine if a holistic wellness model could promote teacher effectiveness with 54 teacher interns at a Mississippi campus. The purpose of this research was to determine whether holistic wellness as defined by creative self, coping self, social self, essential self, and physical self as measured by the 5F-Wel can be used to predict teacher effectiveness as measured by the STAI. The research question proposed for this study was: Is there a relationship between wellness as measured by the Five Factor Wellness Inventory and effective teaching as measured by the STAI? The research design was correlational. A convenience sample of voluntary participants among the 54 teacher interns was used. The predictor variables were the second order factor scores on the 5F-Wel. These factors are creative self, coping self, social self, essential self, and physical self. The dependent variable was the overall formative score on the Student Teacher Assessment Instrument (STAI). Effective teacher research supported the Student Teacher Assessment Instrument as a viable measure of teacher effectiveness. The results obtained show the predictor variables included in the multiple linear regression analysis did not predict teacher effectiveness as measured by the STAI at an accuracy greater than chance. A statistically significant relationship between the predictor variables and dependent variable was not found. Specifically, wellness as measured by the second order factors on the 5F-Wel did not predict teacher effectiveness as measured by the STAI in this study. Recommendations were to replicate this study using similar methodology in other geographical locations. Being that guidelines of state universities are of unison, it can be assumed that dissimilarities exist among the individual programs. Therefore, replicating this study at another university could provide dissimilar results or possibly indentify a specific characteristic from an intern population that would benefit from a holistic wellness model. Key words: teacher efficacy, teacher wellness, holistic wellness, student teacher.

Promoting Self‐Esteem in Adolescents: The Influence of Wellness Factors

To assess the extent to which holistic wellness factors are predictive of self‐esteem, the authors administered the Coopersmith Self‐Esteem Inventories, School Form (Coopersmith, 2002), and the Five Factor Wellness Inventory (Myers &amp; Sweeney, 2005a) to 225 adolescents ages 15 to 17 years. Wellness factors (Coping Self, Social Self, and Creative Self) explained a significant portion of the variance in components of self‐esteem (General Self‐Esteem, Home‐Parents Self‐Esteem, and School‐Academic Self‐Esteem). Implications for counselors and for further research are considered.

Developing A Holistic Wellness Model

The objective of the present study was the development of a holistic theoretical wellness model that served as frame of reference for the construction of a valid and reliable inventory that was considered suitable for the assessment of wellness of employees of a South African life insurance organisation. The 5 Factor Wellness Inventory was developed from existing proven wellness inventories. A non-random sample of 673 employees of the organisation concerned participated in a cross-sectional survey by completing the Inventory and a biographical questionnaire. Goodness of fit between the holistic wellness model and a data set derived from the application of the 5 Factor Wellness Inventory was determined empirically. The structural equation modelling statistics produced acceptable goodnessof- fit indices albeit with some scope for improvement. The Root Mean Square Error of Approximation indices supported acceptance of the holistic work-wellness model. The validity of the Inventory was also estimated.