Levels Of Well-being Research Articles

Mental well-being of sexual minority individuals: Exploring the role of intraminority stress

AbstractThe recently posed intraminority gay community stress theory states that sexual minority (SM) men may experience stress within their community resulting in lower levels of mental well-being. However, only few quantitative studies have evaluated this theory, and none of these studies examined the impact of intraminority stress on the mental well-being of SM female populations. In Dutch-speaking SM individuals who were assigned male at birth (N = 293) and SM individuals who were assigned female at birth (N = 527), this exploratory study examined associations between the four facets of intraminority stress and five mental health symptoms. When controlling for demographics and minority stress, intraminority stress was positively associated with psychological distress, body dissatisfaction, and interpersonal awareness in both SM male and SM female individuals, while positive associations with timidity were only found in the latter. As for the intraminority stress facets, particularly the SM community’s focus on competition and exclusion of social diversity seem to impact the mental well-being of SM individuals. The results support the notion that intraminority stress – along with minority stress – has important value in explaining mental health problems in SM male and SM female populations. Future research may examine how intraminority stress relates to the protective effects of community connectedness and having a sense of belonging, and to what extent and how intraminority stress should be addressed in interventions for stress-sensitive mental health symptoms in SM populations.

Психологическое благополучие и жизнестойкость замещающих матерей

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">This article analyzes the relationship between psychological well-being and resilience in the context of attitudes toward adopted children among foster mothers. The hypothesis suggests that a mother’s active participation in upbringing promotes democratic relationships with the child and creative approaches to problem-solving, and that her psychological well-being depends on an optimistic attitude and willingness to cooperate with the child. The respondents were 48 foster mothers, raising between 1 and 7 adopted children. The average age of the substitute mothers was 40 ± 6 years. To test the hypothesis, the following methods were used: the “Resilience Test” by S. Maddi, the “Psychological Well-Being Scale” by K. Ryff, the “Parental Attitude Diagnostics” questionnaire by A.Ya. Varga and V.V. Stolin, and the “Personal change-readiness survey” in the adaptation by N.A. Bazhanova, G.L. Bardier. The study confirmed the hypothesis and identified a connection between psychological well-being and resilience in substitute mothers. It was also established that the well-being and ability of a substitute mother to withstand social pressure depend on her ability to cope with stress, her readiness for self-realization, and her ability to achieve goals. A high level of psychological well-being contributes to the enjoyment of raising an adopted child.</span></p>

COVID-19 and University Students' Well-Being: An Ecological and Multidimensional Perspective on Post-Pandemic Effects.

In February 2020, the Italian government started to adopt measures to contain the spread of COVID-19. This emergency had a strong impact on people's lives and daily activities, negatively affecting their well-being. One of the groups of people that suffered the most from the pandemic emergency and the related isolation was university students. Based on these considerations, this article analyzes the effects of COVID-19 on Italian students' well-being during three periods: the first lockdown (March-April 2020), one year later (March-April 2021), and two years after the lockdowns (March-April 2022). Three samples comprising a total of 765 participants (M = 21 years, SD = 2.87) completed an online self-report questionnaire, which included the I COPPE scale (its short form), a tool that measures the perception of present and future well-being, both as an overall evaluation and its six specific domains: interpersonal, community, occupational, physical, psychological, and economic. The results indicated a general trend in the well-being levels of university students from the beginning of the pandemic to 2022. Compared to 2020, in 2021, there was a sharp decline in well-being, whereas in 2022, there was an increase in well-being levels. Practical implications, limitations, and future recommendations arising from the present study are extensively discussed.

Just-World Beliefs, System Justification, and Their Relationship with People's Health-Related Well-Being: A Narrative Review.

Beliefs about a social system help people understand and evaluate their environment and are related to their behavior within a society. When people believe that they live in a just social system and develop positive attitudes about the social and political environment, they experience greater satisfaction and well-being. This phenomenon is known as a palliative effect. Two theoretical approaches that explain support for social and political systems are the beliefs in a just world and system justification approaches. The objective of this review was to analyze the literature published between 2019 and 2023 that addressed the associations of beliefs in a just world and system justification with health-related well-being. The search yielded 2064 potentially eligible articles, 26 of which were ultimately selected. The results showed that beliefs in a just world are associated with a more positive perception of the world and better health outcomes. In addition, people with a greater propensity to justify the system experience higher levels of health-related well-being. This positive association is consistently observed across different social groups and contexts. These findings support the phenomenon of palliative effects attributable to beliefs in a just world and system justification.

Spiritual Well-Being Levels and Self-Care Agency of Patients Receiving Chemotherapy With Port Catheter: A Correlational, Descriptive Study.

This study was conducted to determine the levels of Patients' spiritual well-being (SWB) and self-care agency (SCA) of patients receiving chemotherapy with a port catheter. It was a correlational and observational study. Data were collected between December 2021 and March 2022. The sample was 88 people. Of the participants; 59.1% were women, 88.6% were married, 38.6% were primary school graduates, 47.7% were unemployed, and 51.1% had income equal to their expenses. Furthermore, 38.6% patients had breast cancer diagnosis and 52.3% did not have any chronic diseases. Both scale scores were affected by different variables and there was a positive correlation between SCA and SWB. Better SWB positively affected SCA. Patient age and duration after cancer diagnosis affected SCA and SWB. Notably, SCA and SWB levels of the patients may change with age and disease progression, and patients should also be monitored in this respect.

Generational Differences in Moral Injury, Resilience, and Well-Being Among Nurses: Predictors of Intention to Leave Position and Profession.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the negative impact of moral injury on nurses' well-being. However, there is a lack of research about generational differences among nurses, particularly on newer nurses who have been identified as having a higher rate of intention to leave. This study examines generational differences among nurses on moral injury, well-being, resilience, and intention to leave their nursing position and profession. This is a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from registered nurses in clinical practice in Ohio between July and August 2021. Data on demographics, moral injury, resilience, and well-being were collected using an online survey. Participants were categorized into 4 generational groups based on their age in 2021: Baby Boomers (57-75 years old), Generation X (42-56 years old), Generation Y (27-41 years old), and Generation Z (12-26 years old). Descriptive and inferential statistics, including logistic regression and analysis of variance, were employed for analysis. Significant generational differences were found in years of clinical experience, moral injury, resilience, and well-being. Baby Boomers reported higher well-being and resilience and lower moral injury. Notably, the intention to leave the profession was more strongly associated with well-being and moral injury levels than with the years of experience or generational group. The findings suggest that interventions to improve nurse retention should prioritize enhancing well-being and addressing the root causes of moral injury. Tailored strategies addressing the needs of different generations are necessary for mitigating the adverse effects of current healthcare challenges on nurse attrition.

Quality-of-life in older adults: its association with emotional distress and psychological wellbeing

BackgroundThere is consistent evidence of the impact of depression and health on Quality of Life in older adults. However, the influence of anxiety or psychological wellbeing aspects has been less extensively studied. This study aims to assess the association between quality of life and sociodemographic characteristics (gender, age), levels of health, emotional distress (anxiety and depression) and psychological wellbeing (personal growth and purpose in life).MethodsThe survey was conducted with 361 older adults (mean age = 68.44 years) This study was of cross-sectional design.ResultsWe found that the older adults’ quality of life increased when increased the levels of health, personal growth and purpose in life and when there were lower scores in anxiety and depression. This model explained 63.2% of variance. In contrast, sociodemographic characteristics did not show any association with quality of life.ConclusionsA better understanding of the factors associated with quality of life could help health professionals to develop interventions that enhance it. Efforts to address older adults’ quality of life focusing on older adults’ perceived health and emotional status should be considered.

Age Discrimination of Senior Citizens in European Countries

This paper addresses perceived age discrimination of older persons in European countries. This disturbing issue has become all the more prominent, having doubled over a relatively short period between 2018 and 2021. Strongly associated with bad health outcomes, low levels of wellbeing, and considerable social tensions, age-related discrimination against senior citizens is a sign of the lack of their social integration. Our study used secondary data analysis based on survey methodology. Statistical analysis was performed on data from the European Social Survey wave 10 (2021) subsample of people aged 65 and above to assess the senior population’s age-based discrimination experiences and its individual and macro-level determinants. The results indicate that in all European countries, low socioeconomic status, older age, and living alone are strongly associated with the experience of age discrimination. Having bad health and being functionally limited in everyday activities results in a state of dependency that is connected to a higher risk of perceived exposure to age discrimination. Smaller populations, such as those in villages, are protective against discrimination at older age. Finally, compared to other welfare regimes, in social democratic welfare states with egalitarian redistribution systems and high levels of social benefits, there is a significantly larger share of old people who reported to have been victims of age discrimination. Our results have implications for policy in the context of ageing societies.

Developmental Pathways and Adjustment of Adult Women Who Experienced Early Pubertal Development: A Mixed-Method Approach

Early maturation among girls is a major stressful event that might affect their development and wellbeing during the adolescent years. However, the research literature is inconsistent as to whether the impact of early maturation among girls continues into their adult life. Taking a narrative approach, 45 adult women were interviewed and asked to describe their developmental life history following early maturation. Further, they reported on their wellbeing and body image. Analysis of the interviews yielded three developmental pathways: women for whom early maturation still impacts their daily life; women who were able to cope with the premature puberty and function well, but are still bothered by issues of body image; and women for whom early maturation served as an incentive for personal growth, who reported a high level of wellbeing, and comfort with their body. Findings underscore the importance of considering individual differences and different pathways of development among individuals.

Informing the cannabis policy debate: a cross-sectional study of current and former cannabis users in Ireland

ABSTRACT Background Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug with considerable international discourse regarding its legal status. This study sought to examine the wellbeing, experiences, and attitudes of adults who have used cannabis to inform policy debates. Methods A national, cross-sectional survey was completed. Data related to demographics and attitudes was collected along with validated questionnaires to measure level of dependence and wellbeing. Results Respondents (n = 732) were primarily males (61%) with a median age of 21. Three-quarters (75%) consumed cannabis more than 100 days with few regretting their cannabis use. Additionally, 60% reported previous use of both cocaine and MDMA and three-quarters currently use tobacco. While strongly in favor of more liberal cannabis policies they were ambivalent about decriminalizing all drugs. Depending on the cutoff used, 14.6% to 32.2% of respondents potentially meet the criteria for cannabis dependence. Wellbeing was overall good; however, women were at significantly higher odds of poor wellbeing (OR = 2.59; 95% CI = 1.78, 3.76). Conclusion Findings suggest unanimity among cannabis users toward more liberal legal policies but have discord regarding other drugs. Harm reduction, particularly in relation to tobacco, other substances, and women is indicated.

Adolescent mental well-being in time of crises: The role of social and residential contexts.

The extent of the impact and the interconnections among factors within social and residential contexts during the COVID-19 lockdowns on mental well-being remain to be elucidated. We identified latent classes of each of social and residential context during the lockdown and examined their associations with mental well-being among adolescents in France 1-year after the first lockdown. We used data collected in 2021 in a cross-sectional school-based pilot study for EXIST, from 387 participants ages 12-15 years. Participants reported retrospectively on characteristics of their social and residential contexts during the lockdown, and their current mental well-being in self-report questionnaires. We used latent class analysis to identify latent classes of social and residential contexts, and linear regression models to examine the associations between these contexts and mental well-being. Four social context classes were identified: class 1 "Low opportunity for social contact at home," class 2 "Moderate opportunity for social contact at home," class 3 "High opportunity for social contact at home," and class 4 "Very high opportunity for social contact at home." Relative to class 4, lower levels of mental well-being were observed among adolescents in class 1 (b = -4.08, 95% CI [-8.06; -0.10]) 1 year after the lockdown. We identified four residential context classes based on proximity to nature, type of residence (e.g., apartment, house), and level of neighborhood deprivation. No association was detected between residential context during the lockdown and adolescent mental well-being one-year later. A limited social context may negatively impact adolescent mental well-being during crises.

Семья как субъект правореализации на современном этапе развития российского законодательства

Today family as a collective subject of law enforcement performs a number of important for government functions: upbringing, educational, reproductive. Creation of conditions for full realization families` rights and opportunities becomes the State`s task. The article considers the problem of family recognition as an independent subject of law enforcement, reviews forms of rights realization by the family and its members, characterizes the main measures of state support, its influence on the level of legal protection and family well-being.

The Effect of a Physical Activity Program on Subjective Well-Being, Happiness and Problem-Solving Skills in Patients with Schizophrenia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to examine the effect of Physical Activity Program applied to patients with schizophrenia on subjective well-being, happiness and problem-solving skills levels. This study was conducted with a total of 86 individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia (43 intervention and 43 control) registered in a family health center. Subjective Well-Being Scale, the Short Form of the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire and Problem-Solving Inventory were used to collect the data at baseline and, post-intervention. Significant increases in subjective well-being, happiness, and problem-solving skills were found in the intervention group after the total of 12 weeks of the Physical Activity Program, which included walking and exercises, compared to the control group. Accordingly, it can be said that the Physical Activity Program is an effective method that increases subjective well-being, happiness and problem-solving skills. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier number is NCT15976921 and date of registration is 21/11/2023, retrospectively registered.

How Do Changes in Ecosystem Services Multifunctionality Influence Human Wellbeing? Evidence From the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration in China

ABSTRACTA proclaimed goal of landscape management is to improve the multifunctionality of ecosystem services (ESs) to sustain higher levels of human wellbeing (HWB). Although the enhancement of ES multifunctionality is often considered to lead to better HWB, empirical evidence directly supporting this claim remains scarce. This study investigates the relationship between ES multifunctionality and HWB in rapidly urbanizing regions, using the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration in China as a case study. We quantified ES multifunctionality with the Gini‐Simpson Diversity Index and identified ES multifunctional types using the bundle approach. We also calculated both the HWB mean score and HWB evenness score with the improved radar chart method, examining their relationships with ES multifunctionality through Spearman correlation analysis and the Kruskal–Wallis rank‐sum test. Results showed that (1) ES multifunctionality exhibited varied relationships with HWB indicators, but overall showed significant negative associations with both HWB mean score and HWB evenness score. (2) Each HWB indicator significantly differed across the detected ES bundles, but none of the bundles exhibited the highest values of all HWB indicators. (3) HWB mean score and HWB evenness score were generally higher in the peri‐urban bundle while lower in the agriculture and forest bundles. Our findings suggest that peri‐urban landscapes can provide relatively higher and more balanced levels of HWB in urban agglomerations. This also implies that a “land‐sharing” urban development model, which balances natural and built environments, may be more beneficial for enhancing ES multifunctionality and HWB compared with a “land‐sparing” model, where natural and built areas are separated.

SARS-CoV-2 induced vitamin D deficiency and psychological stress: a manifestation of autoimmune disease onset.

The global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic significantly altered lifestyles, access to healthcare, and social interactions, introducing unprecedented physical and psychological stress all over the world. This study explores the relationship between psychological stress, vitamin D (Vit-D) levels, and autoimmune connective tissue diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, polymyositis, dermatomyositis, and rheumatoid arthritis. The analysis was based on over one million patient data points derived from anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) testing conducted both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic 2017-2021. In a subset of patients, longitudinal data were collected bi-yearly to yearly over 5-8 years using the same three-month criteria. The dataset was analyzed using GraphPad Prism9 using paired t-tests or ordinary one-way ANOVA with a significance threshold of p < 0.05 to ensure robust correlations between the variables. Data indicated that Vit-D levels peaked between 2017 and 2019 before declining, while ANA data demonstrated a rise in autoimmune connective tissue disease cases during the pandemic, reaching a peak in 2021. A clear correlation was observed, with autoimmune disease incidence increasing as Vit-D levels decreased. In-depth case analysis revealed that declining Vit-D levels preceded higher ANA titers and increased autoimmune disease severity, whereas improvements in Vit-D levels were associated with reduced ANA titers and less severe disease manifestations. The findings suggest that maintaining mental health and ensuring adequate Vit-D supplementation could be essential strategies for mitigating autoimmune disease risks and maintaining immune stability, particularly in pandemic scenarios. Clinically, these results underscore the need for early interventions targeting both psychological well-being and Vit-D levels to reduce the burden of autoimmune diseases.

Measurement, spatial differences and driving effects of well-being levels in China.

As the largest developing country, China has accumulated enormous material wealth since its reform and opening-up policy. How to effectively evaluate the level of well-being in China has become a meaningful research endeavor. Using the entropy method, Dagum Gini coefficient and Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) decomposition methods, the study examines the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics, spatial differences and driving effects of provincial well-being levels from 2007 to 2020. The results of this study suggest that the level of well-being as a whole, as well as in the eastern, central and western regions increased significantly over the period, with an "east-to-west decreasing" distribution in China. In terms of the pattern of inter-provincial distribution, although the level of well-being in the central and western regions has improved at a faster rate, most provinces in the eastern region have always been among the leading teams on the path of livelihood development. There is still enormous room for improvement in the level of well-being in the central and western provinces. The overall differences in the development of well-being in China, as well as intra-regional and inter-regional differences among the three major regions, showed a narrowing trend. Intra-regional differences in the development of well-being are greatest in the western region, and inter-regional differences in the development of well-being are greatest in the eastern and western regions. Inter-regional differences are the main reason for the spatial differences in well-being among China's provinces. The combination of economic, social, ecological and technological effects has led to a gradual increase in the level of well-being over the sample period. Among them, economic, social and technological effects have a clear positive driving effect on the increase of well-being levels, while ecological effect have a certain negative driving influence.

Influence Of Grief Counselling On Psychological Wellbeing Among Widows At Africa Inland Church, Nairobi Area Church Council, Kenya

The death of a spouse can be extremely unbearable and even psychologically incapacitating. Widows face challenges that deeply affect their psychological wellbeing. The church has remained the best place for most widows in seeking consolation. This study investigated the influence of grief counselling on psychological wellbeing among widows at the Africa Inland Church, Nairobi Area Church Council, Kenya. Materials and Methods: The study was informed by the Cognitive Behavioral Theory and the Dual Process Model of Coping with Bereavement. The study used a causal research design, and census sampling technique was adopted. The sample size of the study was 114 widows. The Brief Grief Questionnaire (BGQ), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and the Psychological Well-being Scale (PWB) were used for data collection. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 25. Results: The findings showed that most (n = 66, 64.1%) of the widows were at high grief reaction, 22.4% (n = 31) of the widows had moderate grief reaction, while 13.5% (n = 15) were at low grief reaction. Also, 62.2% (n = 50) of the participants scored a high level of psychological wellbeing, 24.3% (n = 34) were at moderate level of psychological wellbeing, while 13. % (n = 28) of the participants were at low level of psychological wellbeing. Conclusion: The study established that grief counseling influenced the psychological wellbeing among widows (F- value (1, 5013.255) = .208, p = .030 ≤ 0.05). The study recommended that the leadership of the Africa Inland Church could work in collaboration with psychologists to formulate programs to reach out to the widows for psycho-education and possible coping strategies with regards to grief reaction

Impact of healthy lifestyles on mental health indicators in adolescents after the COVID-19 pandemic

ObjectiveHealthy lifestyles are extremely important since they are one of the main protective factors in adolescence, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. However, no explanatory models have been found that study the impact of healthy lifestyles on levels of anxiety, depression, and psychological well-being. The study's objective was to test a model that allows determining the impact of healthy lifestyles on mental health indicators in adolescents in a post-COVID-19 pandemic period. MethodNon-probabilistic sampling was used to collect the participants. The sample included 1515 Peruvian adolescents of both sexes (53.4% men and 46.6% women) from 12 to 18 years of age (M = 14.5; SD = 1.5). The WMS Healthy Lifestyle Scale, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire, and the General Well-being Index were used to measure the variables. ResultsThe study results show that the proposed explanatory model presents adequate fit indices (χ2 = 4280.30; df = 1113; P < 0.001; RMSEA = 0.043 [IC90% 0.042 – 0.045]; CFI = 0.94; TLI = 0.94; SRMR = 0.064). Specifically, it was found that the practice of healthy lifestyles negatively predicts the level of anxiety (-0.37; P < 0.001) and depression (-0.47; P < 0.001). On the other hand, it positively predicts the level of psychological well-being (0.74; P < 0.001) experienced by adolescents. The study also found that an important group of adolescents present anxiety symptoms (38.6%) and depression (38.3%). ConclusionHealthy lifestyles are important for the mental health of adolescents since they manage to predict the level of anxiety, depression, and, above all, the level of psychological well-being of adolescents after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Merck Animal Health Veterinary Team study reveals factors associated with well-being, burnout, and mental health among nonveterinarian practice team members.

To assess the levels of burnout, well-being, and mental health of nonveterinarian employees of veterinary practices and, for context, compare them to veterinarians and the general population by use of validated instruments. An online survey of 2,271 nonveterinary practice employees drawn from members of the North American Veterinary Technicians Association, members of the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association, referrals from veterinarian respondents to a companion survey, and a large hospital group that owns several hundred US veterinary practices. The study was fielded from September 11 to October 9, 2023. A majority of practice team members were satisfied with their work in veterinary medicine. However, serious psychological distress was twice as prevalent among team members as among veterinarians and well-being was lower than that of veterinarians. Burnout was similar to veterinarians. Personality played a role: team members on average were more likely to score higher in neuroticism than veterinarians and the general population, and neuroticism was a predictor of low well-being, poor mental health, and burnout. There was also evidence of substantial financial stress among team members. Serious psychological distress was common among practice team members. Financial stress may play a role. Burnout and low levels of well-being were also common. This study provided a useful profile of the psychological conditions that many practice employees may be experiencing.

Work-life Balance of White-collar Remote Workers in a Technopark in Turkey

The main purpose of the current study was to explore the work-life balance experiences of white-collar employees who shifted to remote work in a Technopark in Turkey during the COVID-19 pandemic, using a phenomenological approach. The research was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, 49 white-collar workers participated by completing online questionnaires to assess their work-life balance. In the second phase, two focus group discussions were held, involving 11 participants. The data gathered from the questionnaires and focus groups were analyzed using interpretive content analysis method with MAXQDA 20 software. The content analysis revealed that personal factors, such as personality traits and adaptability, influenced the work-life balance of the white-collar employees. Among organizational factors, workplace culture and the home environment emerged as significant determinants. Most remote workers were found to be unable to set a work-life balance, consequently experiencing conflicts. However, some participants managed to maintain a harmonious balance between their professional and personal lives, though it tended to be skewed towards a work-centered equilibrium. The observed imbalances resulted in several negative outcomes for the participants, including the need for psychological support, role conflicts in different aspects of life, and diminished motivation. In contrast, those who achieved balance reported higher levels of life satisfaction, job satisfaction, and subjective well-being.