Improvement In Subjective Well-being Research Articles

The PositivaMente Program: Universal Prevention of Suicidal Behaviour in Educational Settings

AbstractSuicidal behaviour is a major socio-health problem worldwide. However, there are few empirically validated programs for universal prevention of suicidal behaviour in school settings. The aim of the present study was to design and validate the PositivaMente program for the prevention of suicidal behaviour in school-age adolescents aged 14–15 from the North of Spain. A quasi-experimental design was used with pre- and post-treatment evaluation with experimental and control groups and a six-month follow-up. The final sample consisted of 264 participants (M = 14.30 years, SD = 0.56; 54.5% girls), with 161 participants in the experimental group and 103 in the control group. Measuring instruments were administered to assess suicidal behaviour, emotional and behavioural difficulties, depressive symptomatology, prosocial behaviour, subjective well-being, and self-esteem. The PositivaMente program was designed and implemented in educational settings. A statistically significant improvement in subjective well-being was found, as well as a statistically significant reduction in emotional problems and problems with peers among female participants in the experimental group versus those in the control group at the 6-month follow-up. However, male participants did not seem to benefit from the program. The overall evaluation from the sample and satisfaction with PositivaMente were positive. Empirically supported actions for the prevention of suicidal behaviour need to be designed in order to make informed decisions. Future studies should implement the PositivaMente program with other populations and contexts, develop a brief version, and collect information on cost-effectiveness.

Role of anti-Asian racism for subjective well-being among people of Asian origin in Germany.

People of Asian origin in Germany are affected by racial-ethnic discrimination, which became even more evident in the context of surging anti-Asian racism (AAR) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Experiences of discrimination can pose a threat to mental health. This study tested the role of discrimination experiences for subjective well-being in a sample of Asian origin people in Germany. A total of 671 participants (76.5% women) who self-identified as being of Asian origin participated in an online survey in December 2020. Participants completed several measures of racial-ethnic discrimination experiences, some of which were related to the pandemic (e.g., experienced microaggressions and perceived change in discrimination experiences during the pandemic), as well as indicators of subjective well-being (positive and negative affect, life satisfaction, and subjective health status). In structural equation models, discrimination experiences were associated with lower subjective well-being (b = -.36, SE = .16, p < .05). A follow-up analysis suggested that this relationship was evident for discrimination measures that had a reference to the pandemic as well as measures without this reference. The range of different discrimination experiences among people of Asian origin in Germany is characterized by discrimination in the context of the pandemic and also beyond, and these may have a significant negative impact on the mental health of those affected. The findings of this study have practical implications both for reducing anti-Asian stigmas in society and in the context of psychological counseling of affected individuals, which should target the maintenance or improvement of subjective well-being. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Social media use and subjective well-being among university students in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic

PurposeThis study explored how the use of different social media is related to subjective well-being among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.Design/methodology/approachWe surveyed 1,681 university students in the Kanto region of Japan in May 2021 to investigate how social media use relates to subjective well-being. We also examined the effects of self-consciousness and friendship, self-presentation desire, generalized trust, online communication skills, depression tendency and social support from others.FindingsThe responses revealed 15 possible patterns of social media usage on four widely used social media in Japan (LINE, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook). We selected users with the top five patterns for further statistical analyses: LINE/Twitter/Instagram/Facebook, LINE/Twitter/Instagram, LINE/Twitter, LINE/Instagram and LINE only. Overall, self-establishment as a factor of self-consciousness and friendship, and social support from others had positive effects on the improvement of subjective well-being, whereas depression tendency had negative effects on their subjective well-being regardless of their usage patterns, of which the results of social support from others and depression tendency were consistent with the results of previous studies. Regarding other factors, they had different effects on subjective well-being due to different patterns. Effects on subjective well-being from self-indeterminate and self-independency as factors of self-consciousness and friendship, praise acquisition, self-appeal and topic avoidance as factors of self-presentation desire were observed.Originality/valueThis is among the earliest studies on the relationship between young generations’ social media use and subjective well-being through social media usage patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.

Well-Being Therapy in systemic sclerosis outpatients: a randomized controlled trial.

Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) patients have psychological distress and poor well-being and need a tailored treatment. Psychological interventions, rarely tested for efficacy, showed poor benefits. The present randomized controlled trial tested the efficacy of Well-Being Therapy (WBT) in SSc patients. Thirty-two outpatients were randomized (1:1) to WBT (n = 16) or Treatment As Usual (i.e. routine medical check-ups) (TAU) (n = 16). Primary outcome was well-being. Secondary outcomes included functional ability related to SSc, psychological distress, mental pain, suffering. All participants were assessed at baseline (T0). The WBT group was assessed after two months (end of WBT session 4) (T1), after four months (end of WBT session 8) (T2), after seven months (3-month follow-up) (T3), and after 10 months (6-month follow-up) (T4). The TAU group was assessed two (T1), four (T2), seven (T3), and ten (T4) months after baseline. WBT produced a significant improvement in subjective well-being (p ≤ 0.001), personal growth (p = 0.006), self-acceptance (p = 0.003) compared with TAU, maintained at T3 as what concerns subjective well-being (p = 0.012). WBT produced greater decrease in psychological distress (p = 0.010), mental pain (p = 0.010), suffering (p ≤ 0.001) compared with TAU, maintained at T4 as what concerns suffering (p ≤ 0.001). Participants reported high satisfaction with WBT. The study provides preliminary evidence on the benefits of WBT as short-term approach for in- and out-patient SSc healthcare paths. Studies with larger samples are needed to have the evidence for recommending WBT to SSc patients.

Neuropsychological Test Feedback of a School Dropout with Depressive Episode

Neuropsychological Test Feedback of a School Dropout with Depressive Episode&#x0D; *Mr. Deepshri Phukan,&#x0D; Research-Scholar, Department of Psychology, Gauhati University, Guwahati, Assam;&#x0D; **Dr. Rita Rani Talukdar,&#x0D; Professor, Department of Psychology, Gauhati University, Guwahati, Assam;&#x0D; &#x0D; Abstract &#x0D; Aim: Psychological test feedback provides objective guidance in decision-making as well as assists in rehabilitation and treatment. The effectiveness of feedback must be judged in terms of patient benefits. This case study aims to study the benefits of neuropsychological test feedback in an individual with a depressive episode.&#x0D; Method: This study is designed as a case study of a school dropout diagnosed with a depressive episode. The neuropsychological assessment feedback session has been conducted following the Collaborative Therapeutic Neuropsychological Assessment model (CTNA). In particular, the focus of this case study is on how the Color Trails Test and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test can be used as therapeutic interventions in a depressive episode.&#x0D; Results: Results show that the neuropsychological test feedback helps the individual in decision-making, resolving conflicts, making priorities, and improving interpersonal communication. Results also show treatment effects in symptom reduction, level of functioning, and overall improvement in subjective well-being. The findings have implications for managing depressive episodes and the use of test feedback as a therapeutic intervention.&#x0D; Keywords: feedback, depression, neuropsychological assessment, therapeutic assessment.

One-Lung Ventilation during Rigid Bronchoscopy Using a Single-Lumen Endotracheal Tube: A Descriptive, Retrospective Single-Center Study.

Using one-lung ventilation (OLV) through a single-lumen endotracheal tube (SLT) in the untreated lung during rigid bronchoscopy (RB) and jet ventilation, high oxygenation can be guaranteed, whilst procedures requiring thermal energy in the other lung are still able to be used. This pilot study aimed to examine the bronchoscopy-associated risks and feasibility of OLV using an SLT during RB in patients with malignant airway stenosis. All consecutive adult patients with endobronchial malignant lesions receiving OLV during RB from 1 January 2017 to 12 May 2021 were included. We assessed perioperative complications in 25 RBs requiring OLV. Bleeding grades 1, 2, and 3 complicated the procedure in two (8%), five (20%), and five (20%) patients, respectively. The median saturation of peripheral oxygen remained at 94% (p = 0.09), whilst the median oxygen supply did not increase significantly from 0 L/min to 2 L/min (p = 0.10) within three days after the bronchoscopy. The 30-day survival rate of the patients was 79.1% (95% CI 58.4-91.1%), all of whom reported an improvement in subjective well-being after the bronchoscopy. OLV using an SLT during RB could be a new treatment approach for endobronchial ablative procedures without increasing bronchoscopy-associated risks, allowing concurrent high-energy treatments.

SCHIZOPHRENIA DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic is seriously affecting healthcare systems all over the world as well as public mental health; nevertheless, evidence about the COVID-19 pandemic's effects on people with schizophrenia and the emergence of psychotic symptoms is just now starting to emerge. Schi Recent findings : zophrenia patients exhibit worse COVID-19-related outcomes, including mortality, and are more susceptible to the disease. They exhibit minimal levels of knowledge and worry about the likelihood of infection, but they also displayed signicantly stable levels of psychotic symptoms and even an improvement in subjective well-being during the epidemic. In some cases, the onset of psychotic symptoms appears to be related to SARS-CoV-2, extended social isolation, and the propagation of false information. Clinicians should advise and educate their patient Summary: s on the hazards associated with COVID-19 and the SARS-CoV-2 infection as well as the steps that should be taken to prevent spreading the disease. Maintaining continuity of care is very important, especially for frail patients. Face-to-face visits are sometimes still necessary, despite the fact that telemedicine may be a useful help. Since viral involvement of the central nervous system appears to be relatively uncommon in COVID-19, the idea that viral infection directly contributes to the emergence of psychotic illnesses is currently under discussion

Physical Exercise, Social Capital, Hope, and Subjective Well-Being in China: A Parallel Mediation Analysis.

Based on data from the 2017 China General Social Survey, a conditional process analysis was conducted to explore the association between physical exercise and subjective well-being, as well as the parallel mediating effect of social networks and a sense of hope. The results showed that physical exercise had a significant positive predictive effect on the participants' subjective well-being. Furthermore, social networks and a sense of hope mediated the association between physical exercise and subjective well-being. Physical exercise indirectly promoted subjective well-being by enhancing social networks and a sense of hope. However, the indirect effect of a sense of hope on the association between physical exercise and subjective well-being was greater than that of social networks. The results of this study revealed the internal mechanism of the effect of participation in physical exercise on the improvement of subjective well-being, which is of great significance for formulating relevant policies and plans to further improve Chinese residents' well-being.

Impact of hormone therapy side effects on health-related quality of life, distress, and well-being of breast cancer survivors

To explore the modulatory role of Adjuvant Hormone Therapy (AHT) on health-related quality of life (QoL), subjective well-being and distress prevalence in Breast Cancer (BC) survivors, considering the survival phase. Cross-sectional study with control group. 616 BC survivors participated. Examination of interaction effect between AHT and time since end of primary treatment showed that many of the positive changes observed through the survival phases were experienced exclusively by survivors without AHT. When AHT was not prescribed, longer time elapsed was associated with a decrease in distress prevalence and an improvement in subjective well-being and QoL. It seems there is a turning point around the fifth year after finalization of primary treatment, from which the survivors without AHT significantly improve in several areas and those with AHT do so to a lesser extent. It is expected that the improvement in QoL throughout the different survival phases will have a significant impact on the adherence and maintenance of AHT and, consequently, the likelihood of survival. Thus, AHT side-effects should be routinely assessed by health care providers to gain accurate knowledge that allows improving the QoL of BC survivors.

Dynamics of subjective student wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND: Because the COVID-19 pandemic has continued for a long time, it has become necessary to explore the dynamics of mental health phenomena during this period.&#x0D; AIM: To identify the dynamics of the emotional component of the subjective wellbeing of the personality of students in the psychological and pedagogical areas at various stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.&#x0D; MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study involved 911 students in the psychological and pedagogical areas at the University of Tyumen, Kurgan State University, and Ural Federal University. The research method used was the scale of subjective wellbeing by Perrudet-Badoux as adapted by M.V. Sokolova. Measurements were taken in April 2020, May 2021, October 2021, and January 2022.&#x0D; RESULTS: In April 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic, the university students had the lowest indicators of the emotional component of the subjective wellbeing of the individual. A year later, in May 2021, there was an increase in subjective wellbeing, which, however, was not statistically significant. The trend of improvement in subjective wellbeing continued for six months to October 2021, when it became significantly higher than when the pandemic began. At the fourth measurement in January 2022, subjective wellbeing had stabilized, indicating that the students had adapted to the conditions of the pandemic.&#x0D; CONCLUSION: The emotional component of the subjective wellbeing of the personality of students was subject to dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the two years of the pandemic, university students have adapted to the stressful situation of the pandemic as reflected by the improvement and stabilization of the emotional component of subjective wellbeing.

Pilot Study of Hypnotic Relaxation Therapy for Well-Being (HRT-WB): A New Intervention to Enhance Well-Being and Positive Affect

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility, acceptability, and potential effect of a novel hypnotherapeutic intervention, informed by positive psychology, to enhance well-being in college students. The present study investigated adapting hypnotic relaxation therapy for enhancing well-being (denoted as HRT-WB). Twenty-seven college students were enrolled in a 5-week intervention of HRT-WB and instructed in daily home practice of HRT-WB self-hypnosis using audio recordings. Participants completed baseline and endpoint measures of well-being and symptoms of psychological distress. Results showed participants who received the HRT-WB intervention experienced improvements in subjective well-being as well as reductions in psychological distress. At endpoint, 71% of the participants who completed the HRT-WB intervention were categorized as experiencing high levels of well-being, or flourishing. In addition, HRT-WB is a feasible intervention, with high rates of retention, compliance with home practice, and satisfaction. Based on these promising results, further research into HRT-WB is warranted. HRT-WB could be a well-accepted, easily administered, and effective means of addressing well-being and enhancing flourishing.

The Effects of a Digital Well-being Intervention on Older Adults: Retrospective Analysis of Real-world User Data.

BackgroundDigital interventions have been shown to be effective for a variety of mental health disorders and problems. However, few studies have examined the effects of digital interventions in older adults; therefore, little is known about how older adults engage with or benefit from these interventions. Given that adoption rates for technology among people aged ≥65 years remain substantially lower than in the general population and that approximately 20% of older adults are affected by mental health disorders, research exploring whether older adults will use and benefit from digital interventions is needed.ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine the extent to which older adults engaged with a digital well-being intervention (Happify) and whether engaging with this program led to improvements in both subjective well-being and anxiety symptoms.MethodsIn this retrospective analysis, we analyzed data from 375 real-world Happify users aged ≥65 years who signed up for the platform between January 1, 2019, and December 23, 2021. Changes in well-being and anxiety symptoms across 42 to 182 days were assessed using responses to the in-app assessment, which users were prompted to take every 2 weeks, and were compared among users who engaged with the program at the recommended level (ie, 2 or more activities per week) or below the recommended level.ResultsIn all, 30% (113/375) of the sample engaged with the platform at the recommended level (ie, completed an average of 2 or more activities per week), and overall, users completed an average of 43.35 (SD 87.80) activities, ranging from 1 to 786, between their first and last assessment. Users were also active on the platform for an average of 19.36 (SD 27.16) days, ranging from 1 to 152 days. Moreover, older adults who engaged at the recommended level experienced significantly greater improvements in subjective well-being (P=.002) and anxiety symptoms (P<.001) relative to those who completed fewer activities.ConclusionsThese data provide preliminary evidence that older adults engage with and benefit from digital well-being interventions. We believe that these findings highlight the importance of considering older adult populations in digital health research. More research is needed to understand potential barriers to using digital interventions among older adults and whether digital interventions should be modified to account for this population’s particular needs (eg, ensuring that the intervention is accessible using a variety of devices). However, these results are an important step in demonstrating the feasibility of such interventions in a population that is assumed to be less inclined toward digital approaches.

Understanding Components of Therapeutic Alliance and Well-Being from Use of a Global Digital Mental Health Benefit During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Longitudinal Observational Study

Digital mental health services leverage technology to increase access to care, yet less is known about the quality of therapeutic relationships in a virtual setting. This study examined components of therapeutic alliance (a mechanism underlying successful treatment) and its association with beneficial treatment outcomes in a real-world, virtual setting. The objective is to examine (1) participant ratings of components of therapeutic alliance with providers in a virtual setting, (2) changes in subjective well-being and depressive symptoms among participants who began care with elevated depressive symptoms, and (3) the association between components of alliance and changes in participants’ well-being. Adults (N = 3,087, M age = 36 ± 9 years, 54% female) across the world with access to digital mental health benefits who engaged in videoconference sessions with a licensed therapist (18%, 555/3,087), certified coach (65%, 2,003/3,087), or both (17%, 529/3,087) between Sept. 29, 2020 and Oct. 12, 21. Participants completed 2 adapted items from the Working Alliance Inventory (goals and bonds subscales) after each session, and ratings were averaged across visits (Cronbach’s ɑ = .72). Participants’ World Health Organization-Five (WHO-5) Well-Being Index scores at the start and end of the study period were used to measure changes in subjective well-being. Descriptive and inferential statistics were conducted to examine average alliance ratings across demographics and utilization types and the association between alliance and well-being. The median adapted therapeutic alliance score was 4.8 (range: 1–5) and did not differ by age, country, or baseline well-being (Ps > .07). Females reported higher components of alliance than males (4.88 vs. 4.67, P = .01). Participants utilizing telecoaching reported higher components of alliance than those utilizing teletherapy or both telecoaching and teletherapy (4.83 v. 4.75, P = .004), though effect sizes were negligible. Among those with elevated baseline depressive symptoms (n = 835), participants reported an average WHO-5 increase of 15.42 points (95% CI 14.19–16.65, P < .001, Cohen d = 1.06) with 58% (485/835) reporting clinical recovery and 57% (481/835) reporting clinical improvement in depressive symptoms. Higher components of therapeutic alliance scores predicted greater well-being at follow-up (b = 2.04, 95% CI 0.09–3.99, P = .04) after controlling for age, sex, baseline WHO-5, and number of days in care (R2 = .06, P < .001). Exploratory analyses indicated this association did not differ by utilization type, baseline well-being, or session utilization (Ps > .34). People with access to one-on-one videoconferencing care via a digital mental health benefit formed a strong bond and sense of alignment on goals with both coaches and therapists. Higher components of alliance scores were associated with improvements in subjective well-being among participants who began care with elevated depressive symptoms, providing evidence that a positive bond and goal alignment with a provider are two of many factors influencing virtual care outcomes. Continued focus on the quality of therapeutic relationships will ensure digital mental health services are patient-tailored as these platforms expand equitable access to evidence-based care.

Effect of the "Art Coloring" Online Coloring Game on Subjective Well-Being Increase and Anxiety Reduction During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Development and Evaluation.

BackgroundCOVID-19 has spread worldwide and generated tremendous stress on human beings. Unfortunately, it is often hard for distressed individuals to access mental health services under conditions of restricted movement or even lockdown.ObjectiveThe study first aims to develop an online digital intervention package based on a commercially released coloring game. The second aim is to test the effectiveness of difference intervention packages for players to increase subjective well-being (SWB) and reduce anxiety during the pandemic.MethodsAn evidence-based coloring intervention package was developed and uploaded to an online coloring game covering almost 1.5 million players worldwide in January 2021. Players worldwide participated to color either 4 rounds of images characterized by awe, pink, nature, and blue or 4 rounds of irrelevant images. Participants' SWB and anxiety and the perceived effectiveness of the game in reducing anxiety (subjective effectiveness [SE]) were assessed 1 week before the intervention (T1), after the participants completed pictures in each round (T2-T5), and after the intervention (T6). Independent 2-tailed t tests were conducted to examine the general intervention (GI) effect and the intervention effect of each round. Univariate analysis was used to examine whether these outcome variables were influenced by the number of rounds completed.ResultsIn total, 1390 players worldwide responded and completed at least 1 assessment. Overall, the GI group showed a statistical significantly greater increase in SWB than the general control (GC) group (N=164, t162=3.59, Cohen d=0.59, 95% CI 0.36-1.24, P<.001). Compared to the control group, the best effectiveness of the intervention group was seen in the awe round, in which the increase in SWB was significant (N=171, t169=2.51, Cohen d=0.39, 95% CI 0.10-0.82, P=.01), and players who colored all 4 pictures had nearly significant improvements in SWB (N=171, F4,170=2.34, partial ŋ2=0.053, P=.06) and a significant decrease in anxiety (N=171, F4,170=3.39, partial ŋ2=0.075, P=.01).ConclusionsThese data indicate the effectiveness of online psychological interventions, such as coloring games, for mental health in the specific period. They also show the feasibility of applying existing commercial games embedded with scientific psychological interventions that can fill the gap in mental crises and services for a wider group of people during the pandemic. The results would inspire innovations to prevent the psychological problems caused by public emergencies and encourage more games, especially the most popular ones, to take more positive action for the common crises of humankind.

Subjective Well-Being and Bilateral Anterior Insula Functional Connectivity After Exercise Intervention in Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment.

While it is well known that exercise training is associated with improvement in subjective well-being among older adults, it is unclear if individuals with cognitive impairment experience the same effects elicited by exercise on subjective well-being. We further explored whether the bilateral anterior insula network may be an underlying neural mechanism for the exercise training-related improvements in subjective well-being. We investigated the effects of exercise training on subjective well-being in older adults (78.4 ± 7.1 years) with mild cognitive impairment (MCI; n = 14) and a cognitively normal (CN; n = 14) control group. We specifically assessed the relationship between changes in subjective well-being and changes in functional connectivity (FC) with the bilateral anterior insula from before to after exercise training. Cardiorespiratory fitness, subjective well-being, and resting-state fMRI were measured before and after a 12-week moderate-intensity walking intervention. A seed-based correlation analysis was conducted using the bilateral anterior insula as a priori seed regions of interest. The associations between bilateral anterior insula FC with other brain regions and subjective well-being were computed before and after exercise training, respectively, and the statistical difference between the correlations (before vs after exercise training) was evaluated. There was a significant Group (MCI vs CN) × Time (before vs after exercise training) interaction for subjective well-being, such that while those with MCI demonstrated significantly increased subjective well-being after exercise training, no changes in subjective well-being were observed in CN. Participants with MCI also showed an exercise training-related increase in the bilateral anterior insula FC. While there was no significant correlation between subjective well-being and bilateral anterior insula FC before exercise training, a positive association between subjective well-being and bilateral anterior insula FC was found in the MCI group after exercise training. Our findings indicate that 12 weeks of exercise training may enhance subjective well-being in older adults diagnosed with MCI and, further, suggest that increased bilateral anterior insula FC with other cortical regions may reflect neural network plasticity associated with exercise training-related improvements in subjective well-being.

Effectiveness of group metacognitive training and cognitive-behavioural therapy in a transdiagnostic manner for young patients with psychotic and non-psychotic disorders.

To investigate group metacognitive training and cognitive-behavioural therapy (MCT/CBT) prospectively in a young population with various psychiatric disorders, including psychotic and mood disorders. This was a prospective study to investigate the effectiveness of group MCT/CBT on quality of life, psychotic symptoms, depression, self-esteem, perceived stress, social function and social cognition. The objective measures included the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), clinical global impression (CGI), personal and social performance scale for social functioning, a computerized continuous performance test for sustained attention and a computerized emotional recognition test for social cognition. Self-report measures administered included the Subjective Well-being under Neuroleptics for quality of life, Ambiguous Intentions Hostility Questionnaire for suspiciousness, Drug Attitude Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, Perceived Stress Scale, Brief Resilience Scale, Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale and visual analogue scale for the EQ-5D. Among 110 young patients with early psychosis and mood disorders who participated, 82 (74.5%) completed the study. Social functioning, quality of life, self-esteem, resilience, depression, suspiciousness, social cognition, sustained attention and scores on the PANSS and CGI improved significantly after completing group MCT/CBT. Perceived stress, resilience and suspiciousness improved significantly only in participants with a non-psychotic disorder. Improvements in subjective well-being of the participants were associated with increases in self-esteem and resilience and decreases in depression and perceived stress. Our study showed that group transdiagnostic MCT/CBT for young patients with mental illness improved subjective wellbeing, self-esteem, resilience, social cognition and social functioning and significantly diminished suspiciousness, perceived stress and depression.

Examining the Link Between Physical Activity and Cognitive Function: A Parallel Mediation Model of Health and Wellbeing Among Adolescents.

BackgroundAdolescents’ engagement in daily physical activity brings multiple benefits, including reduction in obesity, improvement of mental health, and enhancement of cognitive function (CF). While prior studies have examined the link between physical activity and cognitive function, little is known regarding the extent to which this relationship is shaped by health and wellbeing factors. This study examines how subjective wellbeing (SWB) and general health (GH) mediate the relationship between adolescents’ physical activity and cognitive function.MethodsThis study estimates a parallel structural equation model using the Program for International Student Assessment 2018 dataset. Specifically, a total of 63,228 15-year-old subjects in nine countries/economies satisfied the study inclusion criteria, including in Bulgaria, Georgia, Hong Kong, Ireland, Mexico, Panama, Serbia, Spain, and United Arab Emirates. Frequency of moderate physical activity (MPA, ≥3.0 Metabolic Equivalent Task) was reported weekly; SWB and GH were assessed using an internationally validated multi-item standardized questionnaire. SWB was measured by students’ self-evaluated satisfaction with their health, life, and schooling. GH was measured by students’ physical health and mental health status. Cognitive function (CF) was modeled as a latent function consisting of plausible values derived using item response theory on reading, mathematics, and science achievement tests.ResultsFindings indicated that increase in weekly MPA was positively associated with higher levels of SWB (p < .001), GH (p < .001), and CF (p < .001) among the study subjects. Parallel mediation analyses revealed that more frequent weekly MPA had relatively large direct effects (p < .001) on CF, and indirect effects channeling through improvements in SWB and GH were non-trivial (p < .001). Heterogeneity results showed that boosts to CF, associated with MPA, were larger for mathematics and science than for reading (p < .001).ConclusionThis study used a large-scale international dataset to show that the positive relationship observed between MPA and CF among adolescents was robust, and that SWB and GH were two critical mediators through which physical activity positively bolster CF.

Using Shared Medical Appointments for Delivering Patient-Centered Care to Cancer Survivors: A Feist-Weiller Cancer Center Pilot Study.

Background: Shared medical appointments (SMAs) have shown promise in the care of patients with conditions such as diabetes; however, the impact of lifestyle medicine-based SMAs on the overall health status of cancer survivors remains poorly understood. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional survey of patients was conducted to study the impact of a unique lifestyle medicine-based survivorship program on cancer survivors. Results: A total of 64 patients were telephonically contacted for the survey, out of which 39 (60.9%) patients responded. All patients (39 of 39, 100%) found the program to be helpful in some way; 26 patients (66.7%) found SMAs to be significantly helpful, while 13 patients (33.3%) found SMAs as only somewhat helpful. The majority noted feeling a great sense of support (35 of 39, 89.7%), followed by improvement in appetite (21 of 39, 54%) and improvement in pain (14 of 39, 35.9%). All patients reported at least some improvement in subjective well-being (SWB); patients who attended >3 appointments reported significant/very significant improvement in SWB (P = .03). Conclusion: SMAs offer promise in the effective delivery of lifestyle medicine-focused care to cancer survivors. Further prospective studies are needed to validate these findings.

You Are What You Eat: Affirming Podcast and Subjective Wellbeing among African American Women

The purpose of this exploratory study was to investigate whether intentional exposure to affirming messages via podcast would lead to improvement in subjective wellbeing in a sample of African American women. This two-part study used a mixed-methods design to measure subjective wellbeing using the Multicultural Quality of Life Index and a series of focus groups. During Phase 1, participants rated and discussed culturally relevant affirmations that informed the development of the podcast intervention used in Phase 2. The results revealed that stressors such as microaggressions, mental distress, and competing demands justified the need for support. Participants indicated that the podcast intervention was an enriching experience that illuminated the necessity of restorative practices that heal and revitalize the spirit. The intervention led to positive behavior change; and these results demonstrated the podcast benefits, suggesting that intentional exposure to positive messages may help some African American women cope with life stressors.

Mandatory employer-sponsored health financing scheme for semiformal workers in Bangladesh: An experimental assessment

In this study, we present findings from an experimental evaluation of a mandatory employer-sponsored health insurance scheme in Bangladesh. We randomly introduced the scheme to female artisans to understand the impacts on healthcare utilisation, expenditure and subjective well-being using both survey and administrative data. Our findings suggest that the scheme broke even; however, it covered only six percent of the overall health expenditure and 16 percent of the hospitalisation costs. We find higher inpatient care utilisation, particularly among women, and in favour of empanelled hospitals causally associated with the intervention, consistent with the design of the scheme. We do not find significant healthcare savings or improvement in subjective well-being, consistent with low coverage. The findings suggest the scheme to be financially sustainable and it changes the healthcare seeking behaviours as the scheme incentivises. However, meaningful savings and protection against catastrophic health expenditures will require a higher level of coverage.