Mental Health Promotion Activities Research Articles

Researching into Chinese university students' mental health in the post-pandemic era - problems and causes.

Mental health challenges have still been widely pervasive among Chinese university students after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. This article aims to explore mental health challenges encountered by Chinese university students in the post-pandemic era and explain causes to these challenges using a qualitative approach. We conducted six focus group interviews with university students in Zhuhai, China, and altogether 61 students including 43 female students, and 18 male students participated in the study. Our results indicate that sleep difficulties, anxiety, and stress are the three primary mental health challenges experienced by students. Academic pressure, social influence including peer pressure and pursuit of social acceptance, and pandemic related policies and measures are the causes to the above mental health challenges. The results of this study will inform the development of mental health promotion, intervention, and education activities for university students to bolster their resilience and cope with mental health problems in the post-pandemic era. Meanwhile, our results could illuminate the services stakeholders provide to university students in the future.

Effect of Government Guidelines and Corporate Governance on Telework Adoption and Occupational Health Measures in Taiwanese-Listed Companies

BackgroundTelework adoption in Taiwan has surged because of government guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examined the disclosure practices of Taiwanese-listed companies, assessing their adherence to government telework guidelines and their correlation with corporate governance, focusing on occupational health measures. MethodsWe conducted a guideline-adherent cohort analysis of the 2020 and 2021 sustainability reports of 295 Taiwanese-listed companies. We assessed their disclosure of corporate measures for teleworking in alignment with two government guidelines, specifically occupational health measures. Using the McNemar test and general estimating equation analysis, we compared the 2020 and 2021 responses and examined their associations with corporate governance rankings. ResultsTelework adoption increased significantly from 2020 to 2021, with 68% of companies reporting new work modes. The mentioning of government guidelines also increased to 67% by 2021. Companies with higher governance rankings were more likely to adopt online occupational health measures, including occupational health services (RR = 2.03; 95% CI = 1.41–2.94; p < 0.001) and mental health promotion activities (RR = 2.01; 95% CI = 1.06–3.82; p = 0.032), than those with low rankings. Although on-site and online occupational health services increased, home workspace assessments did not. ConclusionOur findings highlight significant upward trends in the disclosure of telework measures following the issuance of government guidelines. Corporate governance is significantly associated with the implementation of occupational health measures. Amid the evolution of teleworking, both government guidelines and corporate governance have become essential for shaping work arrangements and ensuring workforce well-being.

Evaluation of healthcare-related factors influencing mental health of Taiwanese citizens among different age groups

The issue of mental health has gained heightened recognition as a significant public health concern due to its potential to significantly impact various aspects of individuals’ lives. Numerous factors may influence mental health, and this study seeks to investigate and compare potential healthcare-related factors that affect the mental health of Taiwanese individuals across different age groups. Data for this study were taken from the Taiwan Social Change Survey (TSCS), conducted in 2021. Descriptive statistics were calculated to compare the three age groups. Then, multiple regression models were constructed with mental health conditions as the dependent variable and demographics and other key healthcare-related components as independent variables, respectively. Results showed that, among the three age groups, the middle-aged adults had the highest BMI, and the older adults had significantly better mental health. As compared with the other age groups, the older adults had significantly better perceptions of fair distribution of healthcare resources, and their trust in the healthcare system was the highest. With regard to searching for online healthcare information, the frequency reported by the older adults was the lowest. The regression model showed that, religious belief, trust in the healthcare system and searching for online healthcare information were significantly associated with mental health of middle-aged adults. In the younger group, searching for online healthcare information was significantly negatively associated with mental health. The study’s findings provide insight into how to provide Taiwanese citizens of different age groups with proper and targeted mental health promotion activities.

Progress in Investigating the Current Mental Health Status Among Caregivers for Surgical Oncology Patients

This article aims to discuss the current state and research progress concerning the mental health of caregivers for surgical oncology patients. The goal is to offer insights that can serve as a reference for further enhancements in caregivers’ mental well-being. This article conducts a comprehensive review and analysis of recent studies on the mental health of caregivers for patients undergoing oncologic surgery. These studies reveal that caregivers commonly grapple with mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and stress. These problems are closely linked to the stress of the patient’s condition and treatment, the caregiver’s own mental strain, and a lack of social support. In addition, the mental health status of caregivers significantly influences the patient’s treatment and recovery process. Implementing various interventions, such as mental health education, services, the establishment of mental health support teams, and engagement in mental health promotion activities, can contribute to the improvement of caregivers’ mental well-being. This, in turn, has the potential to enhance treatment outcomes and the overall quality of life for patients.

Wellbeing-responsive community: a growth target for intentional mental health promotion.

With mental illness remaining a significant burden of disease, there is an ongoing need for community-based health promotion, prevention, and responses (or "mental health promotion activities"). The health promotion, community development, and positive psychology literature identifies significant heterogeneity in the design and delivery of these activities. This variability spans: (1) individual vs. group outcomes, (2) psychological vs. sociological determinants of change, (3) promoting wellbeing vs. reducing mental health symptoms, and (4) the degree activities are contextualized vs. standardized in design and delivery. Mental health promotion activities do not easily accomplish this level of complexity within design and implementation. This has led to the emergence of the complexity-informed health promotion literature and the need for innovative tools, methods, and theories to drive this endeavor. This article directly responds to this call. It introduces "wellbeing-responsive community": a vision and outcome hierarchy (or growth target) for intentionally delivered mental health promotion. The construct enables the design and implementation of interventions that intentionally respond to complexity and contextualization through the drivers of co-creation, intentionality, and local empowerment. It represents a community (support team, programme, agency, network, school, or region) that has the shared language, knowledge, methods, and skills to work together in shared intent. In other words, to integrate best-practice science with their local knowledge systems and existing strengths, and intentionally co-create and deliver contextualized wellbeing solutions at both the individual and community levels that span the "system" (e.g., whole-of-community) to the "moment" (e.g., intentional support and care). Co-creation, as applied through a transdisciplinary lens, is emerging as an evidence-based method to respond to complexity. This article describes the rationale and evidence underpinning the conceptualization of a wellbeing-responsive community through the integration of three key disciplines: (1) positive psychology, (2) ecological or systems approaches, and (3) intentional practice (implementation science). A definitional, contextual, and applied overview of the wellbeing-responsive community is provided, including a hierarchy of outcomes and associated definitions. Its purported application across education, mental health, community service, and organizational settings is discussed, including its potential role in making complexity-informed health promotion practical for all knowledge users.

COVID-19-Evidence of the Impact of Literacy and Salutogenic Behaviours in Positive Mental Health: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Positive mental health is defined as the ability to perceive and interpret the context of a situation and to adapt to it whenever necessary. Considering the pandemic situation, identifying the factors that may have the greatest impact on quality of life and consequently, on positive mental health is paramount. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of health literacy on the adoption of behaviours that promote positive mental health during COVID-19. A descriptive, cross-sectional and correlational study was conducted on a sample of 770 patients using a questionnaire for sociodemographic characterization, the Positive Mental Health Questionnaire and the Mental Health Knowledge Questionnaire. Concerning health-promoting behaviours, those who sleep enough hours, exercise regularly, eat healthy and are more aware of mental health promotion activities, or have greater mental health literacy, have higher positive mental health scores. Thus, having more knowledge of mental health and adopting health-promoting behaviours improve positive mental health.

Transition practices of college students with a mental health disorder

ObjectiveTo explore transition practices, mental health promotion, and psychological health among college students with a mental health disorder. Participantsdata were collected from college students attending a southwestern university. Methodsa web-based survey of transition practices, mental health promotion activities, and psychological health (i.e., self-efficacy, life satisfaction, and loneliness). A semi-structured interview was offered to all participants. ResultsA total of 140 participants (M age = 20.67 [SD=1.88]) completed the survey and N=29 (M age = 20.24 [SD=1.84] completed a semi-structured interview. When preparing for the transition into college, participants frequently considered geographical distance from home, living in a dormitory setting, and the student orientation/integration process. After entering a university, the student counseling center was accessed by 20.2% while only 6.4% filed for 504 accommodations. All participants considered having a close friend as important for mental health promotion. ConclusionsA formal process of transition planning as it related to optimizing mental health was not consistently undertaken. Proactive transition interventions for college-bound students with a mental health disorder are needed and could include planning for ways to become involved in campus life and filing 504 accommodations to support academic success.

Sexual risk behaviour among school-going adolescents in Sierra Leone and Liberia: a secondary analysis of the 2017 Global school-based student health surveys

BackgroundSierra Leone and Liberia have experienced civil wars and, recently, Ebola outbreaks that led to profound economic hardship, psychopathologies and family disruptions. These factors are associated with sexual risk behaviours among youths. However, there is very little information on sexual risk behaviour among Sierra Leonean and Liberian school-going adolescents. The present study assessed the prevalence and determinants of sexual risk behaviours among school-going adolescents (10–19 years) in Sierra Leone and Liberia. MethodWe used publicly available nationally representative cross-sectional datasets of the 2017 Sierra Leone and Liberia Global school health survey. The sample consisted of 2798 and 2744 school-going adolescents from Sierra Leone and Liberia, respectively. Complex sample descriptive and regression analysis was used to analyse our data.ResultsThe majority of adolescents in the two countries were involved in multiple sexual risk behaviour (80.2%), with a higher prevalence observed in Sierra Leone (85.2%) than in Liberia (75.3%). Liberian adolescents showed lesser odds of indulging in multiple sexual risk behaviours than their Sierra Leonean counterparts (AOR = 0.572; 95%CI: 0.345–0.946). Male, compared to females, were more likely to engage in multiple sexual risk behaviour (AOR = 2.310;95%CI:1.543–3.458), with a similar pattern observed in both countries. Alcohol use was associated with multiple sexual risk behaviour (AOR = 3.064; 95%CI: 2.137–4.392). Also, in Sierra Leone and Liberia, adolescents with one and two or more forms of psychological distress were more likely to have ever had sex than those who did not show any form of psychological distress. Missing class/school was associated with multiple sexual risk behaviour (AOR = 1.655; 95%CI:1.133–2.418). Peer support was only found to be a protective factor against no condom use among Liberian adolescents (AOR = 0.608; 95%CI: 0.435–0.850). Less parental support was only associated with ever had sex among adolescents in Sierra Leone (AOR = 2.027; 95%CI: 1.322–3.107) but not in Liberia (AOR = 1.034; 95%CI: 0.650–1.644).ConclusionOur study found a high sexual risk behaviour among school-going adolescents in Sierra Leone and Liberia. Our finding highlights the need to strengthen sexual and reproductive health education in schools and communities that incorporate mental health promotion activities tailored to this group.

Self-reported adaptability among postgraduate dental learners and their instructors: Accelerated change induced by COVID-19.

It is forecasted that the skills and competencies necessary for post-pandemic success in higher education need to be founded upon adaptability, coping, and Self- Regulated Learning (SRL). It is worth investigating how stakeholders perceived their adaptability and coping with the accelerated change accompanying Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19). Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to assess the self-reported adaptability of postgraduate dental learners and their instructors in the context of abrupt transition to distance learning induced by the pandemic. This study utilized a convergent mixed methods study design. The quantitative and qualitative data were concurrently collected from instructors and learners, using a tailor-made survey of items measured with a Likert-type scale, complemented with open-ended questions. The collected datasets were independently analyzed. Descriptive and inferential analysis were conducted using the quantitative data. Qualitatively, the researchers underwent a multi-staged thematic analysis. The generated information was then integrated using a joint model analysis. The percentage of the total average of self-reported adaptability for both groups of stakeholders was 81.15%. The instructors, with a mean of satisfaction of 17.94 (±1.76), rated their adaptability significantly higher than the learners, with a mean of satisfaction of 15.66 (±2.77) (p = 0.002). The thematic analysis resulted in two interrelated themes: Self and Environment. Within the Self theme, three subthemes surfaced: Cognitions, Emotions, and Behaviors. As for the Environment theme, it encapsulated two subthemes: Enablers and Impediments. The stakeholders perceived themselves to have adapted well to the transition, and SRL appeared as a cornerstone in the adaptation to the accelerated change accompanying COVID-19. There appeared to be an interplay between the cognitions, emotions, and behaviors on the level of the self as part of the adaptation process. Also, building upon existent models of SRL, this study uncovered that the stakeholders considered the environment to play a crucial role in their adaptation process. This highlights the importance of developing a climate that remains, despite external pressures, conducive to attaining learning and teaching goals. It is also crucial for university-level mental health promotion activities to proactively foster, among learners and instructors, adaptability, building ‘academic resilience’.

The Magnitude of Common Mental Disorders and Associated Factors Among Cancer Patients at Black Lion Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Cross- Sectional Study.

BackgroundCommon mental disorders (CMD) are the most usual reactions following cancer diagnosis causing significant psychological sufferings. Even though research-based evidence is necessary for mental health promotion and intervention activities, there is a scarcity of evidence in Ethiopia to assist policy makers’ efforts in reforming mental health care particularly that of cancer patients.ObjectiveThe main objective of this research is to assess the magnitude of common mental disorders and associated factors among cancer patients who have a follow-up treatment at Black Lion Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.MethodInstitutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from August 1 to September 30, 2020. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select 396 study participants. A Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) and interviewer-administered structured questionnaire were employed to collect data. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals was used to report the findings.ResultA total of 396(230 men and 160 women) participants took part in the study. The overall magnitude of CMD among cancer patients was found to be 70.3%, of which the rate was 73.5% among women and 67.8% among men, in the last 4 weeks. Being women (AOR = 1.74; 95%CI: 1.00, 3.02), unemployed (AOR = 3.035, 95% CI: 1.37, 6.72), average monthly income of less than 1600 Ethiopian Birr (AOR = 2.838; 95%CI: 1.58, 5.08), being on cancer treatment for more than 5 years (AOR = 2.653, 95% CI: 1.39, 5.03), poor social support (AOR = 3.618, 95% CI: 1.33, 9.80), and current use of substances (AOR = 6.852; 95% CI: 2.038, 23.034) were the factors significantly associated with CMD.Conclusion and recommendationCommon mental disorders are one of the major health concerns among cancer patients. Common mental disorders were found to be more common in females and among current users of a psychoactive substance. Therefore, cancer patients need special attention of not only physicians but also that of mental health professionals for possible detection and early treatment of mental disorders. Rendering social and economic support may reduce the negative effects of the illness.

Review of Mental Health Consequences of the Great East Japan Earthquake through Long-Term Epidemiological Studies: The Shichigahama Health Promotion Project

After the Great East Japan Earthquake, Tohoku University began to provide mental health services during the acute phase of the disaster in cooperation with Shichigahama Town, one of the municipalities located in the coastal area of the Miyagi Prefecture that was severely damaged by the earthquake and tsunami; it continued to be providing long-term mental health activities, incorporating annual surveys for affected residents in the town for 10 years. Ten years of combination of surveys and outreach activities first depicted detailed longitudinal alterations in the mental health conditions of communities affected by a catastrophe. While posttraumatic stress reaction had recovered year by year after the year following the Great East Japan Earthquake, recovery from psychological distress retreated between 2014 and 2017, probably due to the relocation from temporal to eternal housing conditions. The annual cycles of assessment and provision of mental health support and promotion activities continued for 10 years can be an initial model for evidence-based, long-term post-disaster mental health and psychosocial support for the affected communities. Data regarding subsequent disasters should be collected in comparable ways, in order to improve the accuracy and usefulness of the accumulated data for planning and providing evidence-based post-disaster mental health and psychosocial support.

Gender differences in mental health, academic life satisfaction and psychological vulnerability in a sample of college freshmen: a cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT Gender differences among undergraduates are mainly found in the prevalence of common mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, somatic complaints, and sexual violence. However, there is a lack of information in the literature about gender differences in academic life satisfaction and psychological vulnerability among freshmen. Thus, this study aimed to identify gender differences in demographics, mental health, academic life satisfaction, and psychological vulnerability of freshmen. A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 560 Portuguese freshmen. An online survey was used to collect data in all 29 Lisbon District colleges. Data were collected through a demographic and academic data questionnaire, the Mental Health Inventory (MHI-38), the Academic Life Satisfaction Scale (ALLS), the Psychological Vulnerability Scale (PVS), and a question to assess students’ perception of their vulnerability. We found significant gender-related differences (p < .05) in all subscales of MHI-38, the ALLS-Personal Satisfaction subscale, and the self-perception of vulnerability. Overall, freshmen women presented worse scores in all subscales of MHI-38, in ALLS-Personal Satisfaction subscale, and a higher self-perception of vulnerability. These findings emphasize the need to design and implement mental health promotion activities, mainly focused on the needs of freshmen women, in colleges.

The Difficulties and Mental Health Intervention Need of Doctors and Nurses in Biological Emergencies: A Qualitative Study

When a biological public health event breaks out, due to the characteristics of their work, doctors and nurses must face risks directly when the situation is unknown. Their difficulties and psychological pressure are unimaginable. However, few studies have investigated the difficulties encountered by those doctors and nurses and their requirements for psychological interventions. This study aimed to explore the difficulties and psychological intervention needs of doctors and nurses during the new biological public health events in China in 2019. We carried out a qualitative study using a phenomenological approach. We used convenience sampling to identify participants who provided direct care and treatment for patients with biological events such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). They participated in semi-structured, in-depth face-to-face interviews. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed using Colaizzi's seven-step method. Analysis of this study was divided into the difficulties encountered by doctors and nurses and their mental health need. The difficulties encountered by doctors and nurses included four themes: being worried about the impact on others, lack of knowledge and skills, difficult patients, being socially isolated, and the feeling of uncertainty. The mental health need was summarized into two parts, needs expressed by doctors and nurses and needs observed by researchers. Doctors and nurses mostly did not feel that they needed any psychological support, but the researchers noticed several signs of stress or potential mental health problems among interviewees. Doctors and nurses faced significant complex and multidimensional difficulties. Many denied needing psychological support, even though the researchers noted signs that it might be helpful. Interventions and support strategies that involve mental health promotion activities should consider individual needs related to doctors and nurses' situation.

Workplace mental health promotion in a large state organization: Perceived needs, expected effects, neglected side effects

Background: Work ability and mental health in the workplace is increasingly promoted in terms of workplace health management. In order to select suitable interventions at work in a concrete context, employees and managers of a large state organization (science and development sector) were asked about perceived needs, desired effects and possible side effects of health promotion interventions. Methods: 13 semi-structured interviews with managers and five focus group interviews with employees (N = 20) were conducted in autumn 2020 by a behavior therapist in training. The evaluation was carried out by a qualitative content analysis of the interview transcripts according to a deductive procedure and was checked by two independent raters. Results: Most frequently, need was expressed for individual case counselling by a health expert due to the diversity of work-related problems. Managers would like to see more health-related leadership training, and a review of the various communication channels of their organization. Expected positive effects are increased self-efficacy, higher person-job-fits and reduced absenteeism. Side effects were mentioned, such as confusion of health management activities with therapy, or sensitization effects when speaking too much about mental health in mentally healthy teams. Lack of competence with the topic of mental health was mentioned as a reason for non-participation in mental health promotion activities. Conclusions: The role of managers in relation to mental health needs to be more defined. Side effects related to mental health activities should be considered in evaluations. Selection of health interventions should depend on the concrete needs of the organization.

Factors associated with depressive symptoms among the elderly in China: structural equation model.

To establish a structural equation model for exploring the direct and indirect relationships of depressive symptoms and their associated factors among the Chinese elderly population. A cross-sectional research. The 2015 data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) were adopted. CHARLS is an ongoing longitudinal study assessing the social, economic, and health status of nationally representative samples of middle-aged and elderly Chinese residents. A total of 5791 participants aged 60 years and above were included. Depressive symptoms were used as the study outcome. Sociodemographic characteristics, poor health status, unhealthy habits, and sleep duration were used as predictors. Confirmatory factor analysis was first conducted to test the latent variables. Structural equation model was then utilized to examine the associations among latent variables and depressive symptoms. The mean age of the participants was 68.82 ± 6.86 years, with 55.53% being males. The total prevalence of depressive symptoms was 37.52%. The model paths indicated that sociodemographic characteristics, poor health status, unhealthy habits, and sleep duration were directly associated with depressive symptoms, and the effects were 0.281, 0.509, -0.067, and -0.162, respectively. Sociodemographic characteristics, unhealthy habits, and sleep duration were indirectly associated with depressive symptoms, mediating by poor health status. Their effects on poor health status were -0.093, 0.180, and -0.279, respectively. All paths of the model were significant (P < 0.001). The model could explain 40.9% of the variance in the depressive symptoms of the Chinese elderly population. Depressive symptoms were significantly associated with sociodemographic characteristics, poor health status, unhealthy habits, and sleep duration among Chinese elderly population. The dominant predictor of depressive symptoms was poor health status. Targeting these results might be helpful in rationally allocating health resources during screening or other mental health promotion activities for the elderly.

Community Perception and Attitude towards people with Depression among Adults Residing in Arba Minch Health and Demographic Surveillance Site (AM-HDSS), Southern Ethiopia.

Negative perception and attitude of community prevents many people with depression and their caregivers from seeking help and receiving adequate treatment due to fear of social reaction and may try to hide the illness. The reasons for negative attitudes are not consistent across communities or cultures. Therefore, understanding the level of community perception and attitude towards people with depression is important to develop an intervention to reduce the impact of mental illness. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 617 randomly selected adults. The data was collected using structured, pre-tested, and interviewer-administered questionnaires. Descriptive statistics like frequency, mean, and median were performed. Bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the factors that affect the community attitude towards people with depression. Of the study population, 325(52.7%) had a good perception and 246(39.9%) had a positive attitude towards people with depression. The majority of study participants frequently identified as the perceived cause of depression was substance misuse, loss of loved one, and conflict within a family. In addition, psychosocial treatment was the most preferred treatment for people with depression in the study area. Marital status and educational status were significantly associated with the community attitude towards people with depression. Giving special attention to people with substance misuse, loss of loved one, and conflict within a family is very vital for the prevention of depression. In addition, future mental health promotion activities should focus on cause and common manifestation of depression to improve the attitude toward people with depression.

Post-Secondary Stress and Mental Well-Being: A Scoping Review of the Academic Literature

Post-secondary students have been identified as an at-risk population for chronic stress and poor mental health. We conducted a scoping review of the academic literature surrounding student stress and mental well-being as the first phase of research in the development of Canada’s National Standard for the Psychological Health and Safety of Post-Secondary Students. Major thematic findings included student stress, resilience through effective coping and help-seeking, and programs or strategies to improve campus mental health. Recommendations include a call for increased mental health promotion and mental illness prevention activities that are sensitive to diverse cultures, ethnicities, religions, and sexualities.

STRENGTHENING MENTAL HEALTH CARE IN AFRO-DESCENDANT SEXUAL AND GENDER MINORITIES THROUGH MEDITATION: AN EXPERIENCE REPORT

Introduction: Belonging to sexual and gender minorities and being afro-descendent brings an intense burden to these individuals, because of the stigma strongly present in society. Therefore, it is necessary to practice activities that provide the well-being and quality of life, such as meditation. Objective: To report the experience of the extension project “The influence of the practice of meditation focusing on breathing in the signs and symptoms of anxiety in the afro-descendant LGBT population”, which was part of the “Nucleus of African-Brazilian Studies” of the University Federal de Alagoas. Methodology: This is a descriptive study, of the type of experience report. This extension project began in June 2018 and lasted until September 2019. The scholarship and collaborators were responsible for mediating the meditation meetings, which took place from Tuesday to Friday, both in the nursing school, as well as in the University Residence of the Federal University of Alagoas. Each participant was invited to attend a weekly meeting of meditation practice with focus on breathing, with three meditation blocks lasting 10min each, totaling 30min per meeting. In addition to the weekly meetings at the university, the participant received a meditation diary so that he could meditate daily at home, write down the difficulties encountered and the feelings experienced during the practice, in order to bring better results with the meditation routine. The research was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Alagoas. Results: According to the records of the meditation practices made by the participants in the meditation diary, it was observed that, initially, they had a lot of difficulty in keeping the attention in breathing and other thoughts ended gaining space. However, with the course of the practices and the implementation of the meditative routine, there were feelings of lightness, tension relief, sleep improvement, concentration and anxiety. This is confirmed through the following reports of feelings experienced during the practices: “I felt good, with a certain peace, I felt grateful for feeling good”, “I felt calm, my bad feelings were mitigated”, “I felt calm and with less tension”, “Calmed me down and allowed me to have a peaceful sleep”, “disconnected me from my problems for a moment”, “renewed my energies of the week, to keep me calm and understanding”, “I went out with a peace and without haste, taking advantage of every detail of everything”. Conclusions: In this sense, mental health promotion activities such as meditation are essential, in order to contribute positively to the improvement of mental health and the quality of life of this population, considering the uniqueness of each one and stimulating the humanized self-care. It is a lightweight technology that does not demand high costs and can be used by any health professional.

Happiness or hopelessness in late life: A cluster RCT of the 3L-Mind-Training programme among the institutionalized older people.

To explore the effectiveness of a new mental health promotion activities programme by including the criterion variables of happiness and depressive mood. A single-blinded, clustered, randomized and controlled trial. A list consisting of the names of elderly residents was provided by the senior social worker at a geriatric institution. The participants recruited for the study were living on one of four different floors that had separate and non-interfering spaces and having comparable disabilities. The researchers randomly assigned residents on two floors as members of the intervention group; the other residents were considered the control group. The intervention groups attended 6weeks of the 3L-Mind-Training programme, whereas the control group only engaged in regular health promotion activities. The mini version of the Chinese Happiness Inventory was adapted to measure happiness. The Geriatric Depression Scale short-form was used to measure depression in older people. A generalized estimating equation was used to analyse the short-term and durative effects. The 126 residents included in the study were 65-97years old, and 90% of the residents relied on wheelchairs. The intervention activities give significant immediate and durative effects both on subjective well-being enhancement and depressive mood relief. When evaluating the overall intervention activity, 93.8% of the aged residents indicated that this programme was helpful and allowed them to view life events positively. A well-planned mind-training programme could help elderly people reform their viewpoint and create a more fun and happy experience of ageing. Data were obtained from the project, initiated in 2014, which was funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology in Taiwan and was approved by the Institutional Review Board in Chung Shan Medical University (No. CS15009). The trial registration number of the study was No. ChiCTR1900021811.

Validation of the Children's Intrinsic Needs Satisfaction Scale among Canadian youth: psychometric properties, criterion-related validity and multitrait multimethod confirmatory factor analysis.

Based on self-determination theory, the Children's Intrinsic Needs Satisfaction Scale (CINSS) measures autonomy, competence and relatedness at school, home and with peers. The factor structure and criterion-related validity of the CINSS in the Canadian youth population are tested using data from the Canadian Student Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey (CSTADS). Data from the 2014/2015 CSTADS were analyzed for evidence of convergent and discriminant validity and for method variance. A multitrait multimethod (MTMM) confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to account for the conceptual structure of the measure. Criterion-related validity was demonstrated through correlations between related constructs, prosocial behaviours and behavioural problems, and the CINSS subscale scores. Mean differences on CINSS subscale scores between those who reported and did not report being bullied or bullying others were also examined. Correlation analyses demonstrated that, in general, correlations were higher between concept/context item pairs and lowest between items measuring different concepts and contexts. Cronbach's alpha for concept and context subscales were high: α = 0.77 for autonomy, α = 0.85 for competence and α = 0.79 for relatedness. A MTMM CFA demonstrated that the model fit the data well, with no modifications. Criterion-related validity was demonstrated through correlations between CINSS subscales and related concepts or mean differences on CINSS subscales between groups. The CINSS demonstrates good internal consistency, factorial validity and criterion-related validity in this sample of Canadian students. The measurement of positive mental health among Canadian youth is central to surveillance efforts which will help inform mental health promotion activities across Canada.