Foster Well-being Research Articles

Transformational Leadership and Organization Innovation in Chinese Colleges

This study investigates the relationship between transformational leadership and organizational innovation in Chinese higher vocational colleges. Through questionnaires, data were collected from faculty and administrators in five universities. Findings reveal a strong consensus on the importance of transformational leadership qualities, including moral exemplarship, motivational visioning, individualized support, and charismatic leadership. Additionally, participants expressed positive perceptions of organizational innovation, including management, cultural, and resource integration. The study found significant correlations between transformational leadership and organizational innovation, highlighting the pivotal role of effective leadership in fostering an innovative environment. Recommendations include prioritizing the cultivation of transformational leadership qualities among administrators, encouraging teachers to embrace innovative pedagogical approaches, and developing strategic plans that emphasize innovation and flexibility. HR offices are advised to design employee support programs to foster well-being, professional development, and satisfaction. Future research should delve deeper into the nuanced relationships between leadership behaviors, organizational culture, and innovation outcomes within higher education. Longitudinal studies and mixed-method approaches are recommended to comprehensively capture the interplay between leadership and innovation processes. By embracing innovative research methodologies, the study aims to contribute to a culture of continuous improvement and excellence within the academic landscape.

Why does Creativity Foster Well-Being? Autonomy, Competence, and Relatedness during Everyday Creative Activities

The study of creativity in daily life explores creativity as it happens. A consistent finding is that engaging in creative activities predicts greater positive emotions, particularly for activated positive states. To understand why creative activity might foster well-being, we turned to self-determination theory’s (SDT) organismic needs—autonomy, competence, and relatedness. We conducted a seven-day experience sampling study of 125 university students, many majoring in creative fields. We asked about current creative activity, emotional state, and experience of autonomy, competence, and relatedness. At the within-person level, all three needs significantly mediated the relationship between doing something creative and increased positive emotion and reduced negative emotion, with the most consistent effects for high arousal positive emotion and low arousal negative emotion.

The Impacts of Anxiety on Highly Intellectual Students

Anxiety is a pervasive mental health challenge that can significantly affect the cognitive, emotional, and academic performance of students, particularly those identified as highly intellectual. This research explores the multifaceted impacts of anxiety on highly intellectual students, focusing on its influence on cognitive functioning, emotional well-being, and social interactions. By examining factors such as perfectionism, heightened self-expectations, and the pressure to excel, the study identifies key contributors to anxiety within this demographic. Utilizing qualitative and quantitative methodologies, including surveys, interviews, and cognitive assessments, this research aims to uncover patterns that differentiate the anxiety experiences of highly intellectual students from their peers. The study also investigates coping mechanisms, resilience factors, and the role of support systems in mitigating anxiety. By providing actionable insights, the research seeks to inform educators, mental health professionals, and policymakers on how to create supportive environments that foster well-being while maintaining academic excellence.

Urban amusement parks of Midnapore (West Bengal, India): Utility, accessibility and structural diversity

Urban parks significantly enhance the urban residents' quality of life, offering spaces for recreation that positively impact physical and mental well-being. This comprehensive study, involving 400 diverse respondents, delves into urban park usage, visitor preferences, and attributes, shedding light on their crucial role in urban planning and community welfare. Demographic factors such as age, gender, religion, education, and health were analyzed, underscoring the importance of inclusive park design. Most participants frequented parks, favoring walking, biking, and motorbikes for transportation. While accessibility generally received positive feedback, some respondents faced challenges due to long travel times, hinting at potential distribution disparities. The study also explored willingness to pay for park access, revealing varying pricing opinions and aiding in sustainable park management decisions. Satisfaction levels varied across parks, with higher scores associated with diverse green spaces, well-maintained facilities, and safety measures. Preferences were influenced by factors like distance and cost. Structural diversity analysis highlighted varying degrees of diversity among parks, emphasizing the importance of diverse amenities, accessible design, and sustainable management practices. These insights offer valuable guidance for urban planners and park authorities to address community needs and foster well-being and community connection in urban spaces.

Family Social Capital and Sustainable Well-Being: Navigating Chinese Adolescents’ Well-Being During COVID-19 Lockdown

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic caused widespread disruption as governments took actions to limit the spread of the virus. Measures such as physical distancing and lockdowns changed living conditions, leading to challenges such as social isolation and reduced connectedness. This study explores COVID-19’s impact on adolescents’ well-being, emphasising family social capital, which refers to supportive adult-child relationships that foster well-being and enhance remote learning. Quantitative data was collected through an online survey from August 2022 to August 2023, involving 4008 students and 3511 parents. Semi-structured interviews with six students and their parents (either the mother or the father) provided in-depth insights into the perceived role of family social capital in shaping adolescents’ well-being during quarantine. Quantitative data revealed that parental education level significantly influenced adolescents’ self-reported well-being and resilience, and family income influenced parents’ perceptions of their children’s well-being. Qualitative data highlighted the importance of strong family bonds, effective parent-child relationships, and robust family support in mitigating the adverse effects of prolonged home quarantine. The research also discovered the role of adolescents’ agency in building social capital through web-based communities. The study contributes to understanding Chinese adolescents’ well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing implications for supporting their well-being in the post-pandemic era.

Nexus of Workplace Spirituality, Employee Wellbeing, and Employee Commitment: A Comparison Between Social Enterprises and Other Organisations in Vietnam

This article examines the influence of workplace spirituality on employee wellbeing and employee commitment when financial needs are met with a focus on social enterprise. A survey of N = 595 Vietnamese employees and managers in both social enterprises (N = 138) and non-social enterprises (N = 457) indicated a (1) positive relationship between spirituality at work and wellbeing (adjusted R square = .521, pvalue<.001); (2) this relationship was moderated by the type of organisation, which is more positive for social enterprises (adjusted R square = .527, pvalue<.001); and (3) a positive effect of types of organisation and workplace spirituality on the likelihood of committing to current employment. The study also found a higher level of workplace spirituality, employee wellbeing, and employee commitment in social enterprises. In short, the study is evidence for organisations and governments to foster wellbeing and promote social enterprises.

Entrepreneurs’ thriving after venture distress: The role of self-compassion, learning, and venture failure

Well-being is important to entrepreneurs, yet entrepreneurship does not necessarily foster well-being. Stressful work conditions such as venture distress might put entrepreneurs’ well-being under pressure. Drawing upon self-determination theory, we investigate the conditions that enhance entrepreneurs’ thriving after experiencing venture distress. We test this model on a survey-based sample of 177 entrepreneurs in Belgium who either persisted with their distressed venture or started a new one after their distressed venture had failed. Our findings reveal that personal attributes of self-compassion and learning from venture distress can buffer the potential negative effects of venture distress experiences on entrepreneurs’ subsequent thriving. In addition, this protective capacity is not mitigated by the failure of the distressed venture. We further discuss the theoretical and practical implications of these findings. JEL CLASSIFICATION: L26, M13, I31

NAMAH—An Innovative Tele-ECHO Mentoring Program to Foster Well-being Among Physicians

Background: The current study aimed to develop and implement the National Assistance in Mental Health for Health Care Providers (NAMAH) module, which focused on wellness and building resilience for a cohort of physicians. Methods: The NAMAH module is a 12-week tele-mentoring program leveraging videoconference technology that uses the ECHO (Extension of Community Healthcare Outcome) HUB and SPOKE and consists of real-life case discussions and a brief didactic. The module’s content was developed after iterative feedback from experts and incorporated suggestions from healthcare providers (HCPs) following a needs assessment. A pre and post-design was used to assess the impact of the module on psychological distress using the self-reported Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) and burnout using the Maslach Burnout—Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) among the 32 physicians who participated. Results: There was a significant decrease in the mean scores before (19.5 ± 6.27) and after (17.38 ± 6.23) the NAMAH module ( p < .05) in the psychological distress as measured by K 10 with a Cohen’s d of 0.41 (95% CI: 0.05–0.77). There was also a significant decrease in the mean scores after the intervention in the emotional exhaustion and depersonalization domain of the MBI-HSS with a medium effect size (Cohen’s d of 0.65) and large effect size (Cohen’s d of 0.94), respectively. Conclusion: The findings from this pilot study lay a foundational framework, encouraging further exploration, research, and scaling-up of such interventions to enhance mental health among physicians and HCPs.

Exploring how 'wish-granting' interventions foster wellbeing for children with life-threatening health conditions and their families: A qualitative study.

Wish-granting is a form of positive psychological intervention that seeks to promote child wellbeing by fulfilling a wish of their choice. This study aimed to explore families' experiences of receiving wish-granting interventions to understand how wishes impact wellbeing. Fifty in-depth semi-structured interviews were carried out with 22 families (23 parents, 17 young people); seven charity volunteers; and five health professionals, recruited from the United Kingdom. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using a thematic framework approach. Findings suggest wishes improve wellbeing by increasing positive emotion; by broadening families' horizons; by providing an alternative focus; and by fostering opportunities for togetherness. To grow and maintain impact, consideration should be given to developing strategies that increase anticipation; keep wish memories alive; encourage children to make wishes that stretch their perceived limitations; and facilitate families to share their experiences and 'give back' to the community.

Momentary savoring in daily life in an adult life-span sample.

Savoring moments can foster well-being. Older adults are theorized to prioritize emotional well-being in daily life, which directs their attention to positive aspects of life. In this study, with data collected from 2018 to 2021, 285 adults aged 25-85 completed an experience sampling procedure (six times a day for 10 days) where they reported their experienced emotions, whether they were savoring the moment, and how close they felt to their most recent social partner. They also completed a trait-level questionnaire on psychological well-being. Across the age range, individuals were more likely to savor moments when they were with close social partners. Older people were more likely than younger people to report savoring when experiencing high levels of positive affect. The tendency to savor was also tied to psychological well-being among individuals independent of their age. Findings highlight the relational aspect of savoring in daily contexts and suggest that savoring may contribute to well-being, helping to account for age advantages in well-being. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

School Burnout and Emotional and Psychological Well-Being in Secondary School Students: Mediating Roles of Resilience and Hope

This study examined the mediating roles of psychological resilience and hope in the relationship between school burnout, and the well-being of students. Participants consisted of 721 Turkish secondary school students, (52.6% girls; mean age = 12.76 ± 0.82) studying from grades 5 to 8. The participants completed the School Burnout Inventory, Children’s Hope Scale, Child and Youth Resilience Measure, and Stirling Children’s Well-Being Scale. The results showed that school burnout was negatively related to resilience, hope, and well-being. Resilience and hope were positively associated with well-being. The results of structural equation modeling revealed that resilience and hope mediated the impact of school burnout on well-being. These results emphasize the potential of resilience and hope as key factors in enhancing well-being among secondary school students. They also provide a foundation for developing targeted interventions to foster well-being within the school context by promoting strength-based strategies and practices, including cultivating resilience and hope.

Team-based care in specialist practice: a path to improved physician experience in British Columbia

BackgroundSpecialist physicians in the province of British Columbia commonly work on teams in acute care settings such as operating rooms or inpatient hospital units. However, while the implementation of team-based care (TBC) has been supported in primary care clinics, no formal mechanisms have supported specialist physicians in adopting TBC in their private outpatient offices. Adopting TBC models is associated with improving physician experience, efficiency, and patient experience.MethodsThe Institute for Healthcare Improvement Breakthrough Series guided a program to support 11 specialist physicians, representing nine different specialties, to develop and implement TBC in outpatient offices. Participants were supported through resources including funding, mentorship, and learning opportunities. To determine whether the program improved physician experience, quantitative data were collected using the validated Mini Z survey and qualitative data were collected through monthly reports, semi-structured interviews, and focus groups. Patient experience data were collected through surveys and follow-up calls.ResultsThe fifteen-month program was successful, with 10 of the 11 specialists implementing TBC in their offices. The Mini Z results demonstrated that physician experience improved over the course of the program, with scores on job satisfaction, work pace, and time spent on the electronic medical record improving the most. Interviews with specialists and focus groups with specialists’ team members support these findings, with participants stating that TBC modulates workloads, begins to affect burnout, improves work-life balance, and increases the efficiency of care. Patients reported positive experiences while receiving TBC. Patients were less likely to visit the emergency department after consultations with specialist teams, and providers agreed that their patients would be less likely to seek acute care because of the new practice models.ConclusionTBC is a viable model for specialist physicians and their health care teams practicing in British Columbia to foster well-being, job satisfaction, and efficiency, and to improve patient experience. These findings may be of interest to specialists, health care providers, policymakers, and administrators looking to better support and retain specialist practices that are integral to patient care.

Building Sustainable Belonging: inclusive approaches to Block design and delivery to foster wellbeing and belonging in and across student and staff communities

Building Sustainable Belonging: inclusive approaches to Block design and delivery to foster wellbeing and belonging in and across student and staff communities

A prospective test of the broaden-and-build model of positive emotions: examining the role of will and ways as temporal mediators of hedonic and eudaimonic well-being in adults

ABSTRACT Integrating Fredrickson’s (2001) broaden-and-build model of positive emotions with Snyder’s (1994) theory of hope, the present prospectively designed study sought to examine positive mood as a predictor of hedonic and eudaimonic well-being (e.g. life satisfaction, psychological well-being), and to determine if hope agency and pathways accounted for any prospective association identified between positive mood and indices of well-being. One hundred and thirty-six adults completed a measure of positive mood at Time 1, a measure of hope agency and pathways at Time 2 (1 month later), and measures of well-being at Time 3 (2 months later). Results of mediation testing indicated that hope agency, but not hope pathways, had indirect effects on each of the three indices of well-being examined. Taken together, these prospective findings provide further evidence for the importance of positive mood in building hope agency as an important explanation for how positive mood might foster well-being in adults.

Appreciative inquiry and strengths development in the workplace: a dual comparative study

ABSTRACT Research has shown that Appreciative Inquiry (AI) and strengths development interventions can foster well-being, engagement, and performance in the workplace. However, additional studies are needed to develop effective interventions and test their effects on these variables, notably from a comparative perspective. The objective of this research was therefore to measure and compare the effects of AI and strengths development interventions on employee well-being, engagement, and performance at work. Two quasi-experimental studies were conducted among workers in France (n = 202; in-person intervention protocol) and Canada (n = 70; online intervention protocol). Results of analyses of variance indicate that AI and strengths development interventions led to improvements in well-being and engagement. Additionally, results suggest that AI and strengths development interventions produce distinct effects on the studied variables. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Associations between perceived occupational stressors and symptoms severity of depression, anxiety and stress among academic faculty: First cross-sectional study from Qatar

BackgroundMental health concerns among university faculty are on the rise, with reports of anxiety, depression, and occupational stress, impacting the higher education community. In Qatar, an assessment of faculty mental health has not been previously realized. The objectives of the current study were twofold: Firstly, to evaluate the extent of perceived occupational stress, depression, anxiety, and stress, and secondly, to assess the association among these mental health parameters.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among faculty using an online, self-administered, anonymous, voluntary survey. All faculty were included by sending the survey to their institutional emails. In addition to faculty demographics and general health status, the survey measured perceived stress due to academic job roles using the Faculty Stress Index (FSI) with its five distinct domains, and assessed faculty mental health using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 items (DASS-21). Modified Poisson regression with robust variance was used to assess how FSI influences levels of depression, anxiety, and stress.ResultsA total of 112 faculty responded to the survey. The highest faculty self-perceptions of mental health conditions were for anxiety (63% at least moderate), followed by depression (30% at least moderate), and least for stress (26% at least moderate). The overall mean FSI score was 48.8 ± 29.4; time constraint and rewards and recognition domains scored highest (18.5 ± 11.4 and 13.3 ± 9.3 respectively) while the departmental influence domain scored least (4.8 ± 4.4). Increased risk of at least moderate levels of self-perceived depression and stress were significantly associated with higher FSI score (p˂0.001). Increased risk of at least moderate levels of depression were less likely among faculty aged 50 years and above (p = 0.034), while increased risk of at least moderate levels of anxiety were more likely among faculty from humanities colleges (p = 0.027).ConclusionsThis is the first investigation of university faculty mental health in Qatar, indicating multifactorial perceived occupational stress, associated with higher perceived severity of mental health conditions. These baseline results establish links between specific occupational stressors for faculty and their mental well-being. As such, assessment of mental health conditions, controlling occupational stress, and developing tailored mental health interventions for faculty, are strategic to implement and foster well-being of academics. Further research into mental health of faculty and designing effective interventions that consider their specific stressors and associated factors are warranted.

How Can GenAI Foster Well-being in Self-regulated Learning?

This paper explores how generative AI (GenAI) can improve the well-being of learners within self-regulated learning (SRL) frameworks in the corporate context. In the “GenAI to Support SRL” section, it presents three custom versions of ChatGPT aimed at assisting learners. These so-called GPTs demonstrate the GenAI’s potential to actively support learners in SRL and positively influence their well-being. The “Discussion” and “Summary and Outlook” sections provide a balanced overview of the opportunities and risks associated with GenAI in the field of learning and highlight directions for future research. The results indicate that GenAI could improve the well-being of learners in SRL through providing personalized guidance, reducing feelings of stress, and increasing motivation and self-efficacy. At the same time, there are several challenges for companies and employees that need to be overcome.

On proposing relational environmental metaphors to stimulate engagement and foster well-being in the midst of climate change.

Messages regarding climate change that are intended to stimulate responsible engagement can impact our mental health in both positive and negative ways, which in turn can increase or limit the potential engagement being sought through those very messages. Increasingly alarmist environmental metaphors are being brought into question due to their possibly detrimental impact on mental health and well-being, and in their place, relational environmental metaphors are proffered to instill hopeful and constructive individual and collective engagement for responsible climate action. This article discusses how both alarmist and relational environmental metaphors interact with eco-emotions. It proposes, in light of concepts arising from Porges' Polyvagal Theory - on the psychophysiology of autonomic states created in contexts of threatening cues and feelings of safety and connection -, that relational environmental metaphors are preferable for stimulating responsible collective engagement and fostering global well-being in the midst of climate change.

Shifting the paradigm: a critical review of educational approaches for fostering learner wellbeing

This critical review explores how contemporary education is undergoing a paradigm shift by integrating learner wellbeing as a core objective. The review delves into the potential shortcomings of traditional, exam-driven educational approaches, which can inadvertently contribute to stress, anxiety, and a sense of alienation among learners. Studies have shown positive correlations between SEL programs and improvements in student mental health, academic performance, and social skills. Mindfulness interventions have also demonstrated promising results in reducing stress and anxiety while promoting emotional resilience and focus among learners. On the other hand, student-centred pedagogies have been linked to increased student engagement, motivation, and self-efficacy. However, the review acknowledges that challenges remain in fully integrating wellbeing into educational practices. Teacher training and professional development are crucial for successfully implementing these approaches. Additionally, ensuring consistency and alignment between wellbeing initiatives at the classroom level and broader school policies remains a concern. Furthermore, standardized testing and high-stakes assessments can continue to create pressure and anxiety, potentially undermining efforts to foster wellbeing. In conclusion, this critical review highlights the growing recognition of learner wellbeing as a core educational objective. By exploring various theoretical frameworks, the limitations of traditional approaches, and the potential of emerging practices, the review underscores the need for a paradigm shift in education. Ultimately, integrating wellbeing into the educational experience has the potential to nurture not only academically successful individuals but also well-rounded, resilient, and thriving learners.

International students creating comedy to foster wellbeing and connectedness

It is well established that international students attending higher education institutions in Australia and other parts of the world face challenges that can affect their state of well-being and connectedness. Higher education institutions have attempted to counter these issues by providing specifically designed programs with varying success. This study builds on some of the more successful programs that draw on the relationship between creativity and collaboration. The program aimed to foster international students’ well-being by teaching them how to harness their creative potential and explore through stand-up comedy the funny side of life as international student in Australia. The analysis shows that the program positively enhanced well-being by fostering a sense of connectedness and by providing a space to take risks in a safe and supportive fashion. Data also indicated that the program contributed to the development of knowledge and skills transferrable to other academic and non-academic contexts.