Negative Well-being Outcomes Research Articles

Building Resilience in Medical Students: "Strengthening You to Strengthen Them".

Medical students, like many health professional students, are at risk for burnout and other negative well-being outcomes. Research suggests that building resilience may help to mitigate these risks. A multi-disciplinary team developed, delivered, and evaluated a training on building resilience for medical students entitled, "Resilience for Health Providers - Strengthening You to Strengthen Them." The training program provided parallel learning intended to teach medical students how to apply protective factors to both themselves and their patients. The research team proposed that training medical students to understand mechanisms that support resilience such as motivation and self-efficacy may increase the development of resilience as part of their medical training. Through parallel learning, students can also learn how to apply these mechanisms to their patients. The evaluation of the training's effectiveness consisted of pre- and post-tests. Medical students' resilience was measured using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10), a tested and validated scale. Findings indicated that post-test scores increased in each domain from pre-test. Participants reported enhanced skill building for both their own resilience and that of patients after the training. Results from the CD-RISC-10 scale showed that the medical students rated slightly lower than the mean identified by the CD-RISC-10 creators. The results from this initial study to strengthen health professionals' self-reported resilience showed that the training improved medical students' self-reported resilience and their confidence in assisting houseless participants to improve their understanding of building their own self-resilience.

Restorative and regenerative green spaces for vulnerable communities in social housing: The impact of a community greening program

Vulnerable communities represent the most at-risk populations facing inequities and negative health, economic and social wellbeing outcomes. Community gardening has emerged globally as a community-based remedy to reduce these inequities and enhance wellbeing. This paper examines the psychological, socio-cultural and health impact of social housing design that includes access to, and engagement with green spaces. The project was multi-disciplinary and used mixed-method research to examine the impact of community gardening for people in social housing. Two interrelated studies were conducted; study 1 involved 33 social housing gardeners in a pre-post program survey. Statistically significant improvements were found in participants' satisfaction with personal wellbeing, health, and community connectedness; as well as increased gardening skills, positive social experiences, and time spent in nature. Study 2 involved 34 semi-structured interviews conducted with program facilitators and partner organisation staff. Results uncovered that participant's engagement with gardening was restorative and regenerative. Four salient themes emerged from our mixed methods study: 1) connection to self; 2) connection to others, 3) connection to place; and 4) connection to purpose. The findings showcase some of the key principles of a successful social and nature prescription intervention for vulnerable people. Community gardening was shown to amplify civic pride and bolster community resilience. Our research suggests the broad impact of community gardening on participant outcomes for vulnerable populations and enhances the capacity of practitioners to translate research into policy and practice for sustainable, restorative residential communities.

Investigating the impact of COVID-19 on international student wellbeing in Australia.

International students are at a heightened risk of experiencing negative health and wellbeing outcomes, which was further exacerbated during the COVID-19 lockdowns. This research sought to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health and wellbeing of international students in Australia. Thirty-one international students participated in qualitative in-depth interviews between March and April 2022 to explore their experiences of health and wellbeing during 2020-2021 while they lived and studied in Australia. Interviews were coded and analysed thematically using NVivo software. Findings highlight the impact of the pandemic on international students' mental, social and financial wellbeing, including worry about loved ones, social isolation, financial and employment insecurity and challenges related to online learning. The pandemic exacerbated and brought more attention to existing issues and placed students in unequal positions in relation to domestic students and each other. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased students' vulnerability to poor mental health and to a range of social and financial issues. SO WHAT?: The findings of this study highlight the need for support strategies to improve international students' mental health and social wellbeing outcomes in Australia.

Unacceptable Experiences Whilst Attending University and Their Association With Student Mental Health, Well-Being and Academic Outcomes

Introduction: Unacceptable experiences (UEs) are commonly reported by undergraduate students. However, their prevalence and impact have not been rigorously studied. Objectives: To (1) estimate the prevalence of UEs, (2) identify high-risk subgroups, and (3) examine associations with mental health and academic outcomes among undergraduate students attending Queen's University. Methods: Data from the 2021/2022-2023/2024 cycles of the U-Flourish Student Well-Being Survey were collected at the beginning and completion of each academic year. Validated symptom measures included the GAD-7 (anxiety), PHQ-9 (depression), C-SSRS (suicidal thoughts and behaviours), and WEMWBS-7 (well-being). Self-reported UEs included: sexual violence or harassment, physical assault, bullying, hate crimes, and discrimination. Multivariable regression examined associations between UEs and student mental health, and grade-point average (GPA) from linked university data. Results: One-third (28.9%) of students (n=797/2,757) reported an unacceptable experience over the academic year. Sexual violence or harassment and discrimination (15%) were most frequently reported, followed by bullying/harassment (11%), hate crimes (4.6%) and physical assault (3.3%). UEs were highest in students who identified as non-binary gender (49%), 2SLGBTQIA+ sexuality (39%) or had a history of mental illness (41%). These UEs increased the risk of reporting clinically significant anxiety and depressive symptoms by 5-18% and 11-40%, respectively, and Students reporting UEs were also more likely (2-59%) to report having suicidal thoughts and behaviours over the academic year, particularly those who experienced sexual violence (RR:1.59; 95% CI:1.10-2.23). There was evidence that sexual violence, bullying, and hate crimes were associated with lower GPAs among first-year students. Conclusion: UEs are common among undergraduate students and are associated with significant negative mental health and well-being outcomes. Further research is needed to better understand the nature of these UEs and the mechanisms by which they impact student mental health and academic performance. This information is pivotal to develop evidence-informed prevention and early intervention initiatives.

Improving sleep health in paramedics through an app-based intervention: a randomised waitlist control pilot trial

BackgroundDue to work commitments, shiftworkers often obtain inadequate sleep, consequently experiencing negative health, wellbeing, and safety outcomes. Given shiftworkers may have limited control over their work commitments, lifestyle and environmental factors within their control may present an intervention opportunity. However, such interventions require tailoring to ensure applicability for this sleep-vulnerable population.MethodsA randomised waitlist control pilot trial investigated the effectiveness of mobile health application Sleepfit, which delivered a tailored sleep health intervention aimed at improving sleep health and sleep hygiene outcomes amongst paramedic shiftworkers. Outcome measures of self-reported sleep health (sleep need, duration, and quality, fatigue, Insomnia Severity Index, Fatigue Severity Scale, and Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores) and sleep hygiene (Sleep Hygiene Index score) were collected at baseline, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up.ResultsFifty-eight paramedics (aged 33.4 ± 8.0 years; 50% male) were recruited, and trialed Sleepfit for a 14-day intervention period between August 2021–January 2022. For all participants, there was a significant reduction in Insomnia Severity Index and Sleep Hygiene index scores after intervention engagement. Regression models demonstrated no significant intervention effect on sleep health or sleep hygiene outcomes (intervention versus waitlist control group). A high study drop-out rate (91.4%) prevented assessment of outcomes at 3-month follow-up.ConclusionsPilot trial findings demonstrate that Sleepfit may elicit improvements in sleep health and sleep hygiene outcomes amongst paramedic shiftworkers. However, low enrolment and retention means that findings should be interpreted with caution, further highlighting potential engagement challenges, especially among paramedics who are particularly in need of support for improved sleep.Trial registrationProspectively registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry 24/01/2020 (reference no. ACTRN12620000059965).

A structural equation model of the impacts of nurses' psychological safety and psychological contract breach.

To investigate the effects of psychological contract breach and psychological safety on health and well-being outcomes among nurses. A cross-sectional study. Data were gathered from members of the Finnish social and healthcare workers' trade union (n = 4575) in February 2023. This study focused on data from 3260 nurses. Structural equation modelling was employed to firstly explain burnout and work engagement and subsequently health and well-being outcomes in relation to perceived psychological contract breach and psychological safety. Younger male nurses, those with lower-level university degrees, and nurses employed in public hospitals reported experiencing more psychological contract breaches. Conversely, older nurses and those working in private organizations perceived a higher level of psychological safety. Psychological contract breaches were associated with increased burnout and reduced work engagement, while psychological safety contributed to lower burnout and higher work engagement. Moreover, burnout was linked to health problems and diminished mental well-being, whereas increased work engagement led to fewer health problems and improved mental well-being. The final model demonstrated excellent fit. Breaches in the psychological contract, followed by distrust, and anger significantly burden nurses, detrimentally affecting their well-being at work. Psychologically safe working environments, consequently, improve nurses' well-being at work and should be promoted within work teams. Nursing managers could receive training to understand the consequences of, and practices for supporting, a beneficial psychological work climate. The study examined psychological burden and resource factors at work, finding that psychological contract breaches increased burden and led to negative well-being outcomes. In contrast, psychological safety emerged as a positive resource for health and well-being. These results offer benefits for nurses, managers and organizations. The study was reported following the Strengthening of the reporting of observational studies in epidemiology guidelines. No patient or public contribution.

Altered States of Consciousness are Prevalent and Insufficiently Supported Clinically: A Population Survey

ObjectivesAdoption of potentially consciousness-altering practices may be leading to a rise in emergent phenomena (EP): sudden unusual mental or somatic experiences often interpreted as spiritual, mystical, energetic, or magical in nature. It is unclear how frequently these altered states of consciousness occur and what the clinical implications may be. Anecdotal accounts and prior literature suggest that EP may be common, under-reported, and followed by either positive or negative changes to well-being. We sought to supplement prior evidence on the prevalence and effects of EP among general populations with large-scale quantitative measurements.MethodWe measured the prevalence of EP, while not on mind-altering substances, through completion of online surveys by representative samples from three international communities (n = 3135). The communities sampled were UK Qualtrics online panelists, US-based MTurk workers, and the readers of a popular rationalist blog. Samples were broadly representative of underlying populations.ResultsForty-five percent of participants reported experiencing non-pharmacologically induced EP at least once in their lives, including derealization (17%), unitive experiences (15%), ecstatic thrills (15%), vivid perceptions (11%), changes in perceived size (10%), bodily heat or electricity (9%), out-of-body experiences (8%), and perception of non-physical lights (5%). Respondents reported a mix of positive and negative well-being outcomes following EP, with 13% claiming moderate or greater suffering and 1.1% claiming life-threatening suffering. Of those who experienced suffering, 63% did not seek help.ConclusionsEP are widespread among the studied populations with potential for both positive and negative outcomes, the latter of which do not appear to be adequately addressed through recourse to clinical practice.

Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence, Self-Compassion and Wellbeing in Ambulance Staff

Objective
 Ambulance staff are at increased risk of negative wellbeing outcomes, though there is a lack of research into their wellbeing. This study aims to explore the relationship between emotional intelligence and self-compassion, two factors related to positive wellbeing in other populations, and the professional quality of life and psychological wellbeing of ambulance staff.
 Methods
 A within-participants cross-sectional survey was completed with UK ambulance staff. Data were collected via an anonymous online survey on participants’ demographics, emotional intelligence, self-compassion (separated into the subscales of self-coldness and self-kindness), compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction, and psychological wellbeing. The relationships between variables were first explored using Pearson’s r correlational analyses. Then three hierarchical multiple regressions were used to explore what predicted the outcome variables of compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction and psychological wellbeing.
 Results
 146 ambulance staff completed the survey. Emotional intelligence and self-kindness correlated negatively with compassion fatigue, while self-coldness correlated positively with compassion fatigue; emotional intelligence and self-kindness correlated positively with both compassion satisfaction and psychological wellbeing, and self-coldness correlated negatively with compassion satisfaction and psychological wellbeing. In hierarchical multiple regression analyses, compassion fatigue was significantly predicted by greater self-coldness and years of experience; compassion satisfaction was predicted by greater emotional intelligence and fewer years of experience; and psychological wellbeing was predicted by greater emotional intelligence and lower self-coldness.
 Conclusions
 The findings indicated that emotional intelligence and self-coldness can predict aspects of professional and psychological wellbeing in ambulance staff. Self-kindness does not predict wellbeing in models with age, years of experience, emotional intelligence, and self-coldness. This suggests that enhancing emotional intelligence and reducing self-coldness could be targets in interventions to support ambulance staff wellbeing.

Enabling successful change in a high-demand working environment: a case study in a health care organization

PurposeThe anticipation of organizational change and the transition process often creates uncertainty for employees and can lead to stress and anxiety. It is therefore essential for all organizations, especially those that operate in high-demand working environments, to support the well-being of staff throughout the change process.Design/methodology/approachResearch on how employees respond to the organizational change of relocating to a new work space is limited. To fill this gap in the research, we present a case study examining the well-being of clinical and health care employees before and after a disruptive change: relocation in workplace facilities. In addition, factors that enabled successful change in this high-stress, high-demand working environment were investigated. Interviews were conducted with 20 participants before the relocation and 11 participants after relocation. Following an inductive approach, data were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify key themes.FindingsOur findings suggest that a supportive team, inclusive leadership and a psychologically safe environment, may buffer negative employee well-being outcomes during disruptive organizational change.Originality/valueThis research contributes to the literature on successful organizational change in health care by highlighting the resources which support well-being throughout the change process and enabling the successful transition to a new facility.

Registered Nurses' Well-Being, Michigan, 2022.

Objectives. To examine nurses' well-being and identify individual and workplace factors associated with adverse outcomes. Methods. We administered an e-mail survey to registered nurses in Michigan in March 2022. Outcomes included the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory-Exhaustion scale, self-harm thoughts (yes/no), and overall wellness on a 0 to 10 visual analog scale. Covariates included practice environment, psychological safety, workplace abuse, staffing adequacy, stress coping strategies, and demographics. We examined associations between covariates and exhaustion, thoughts of self-harm (both via logistic regression), and overall wellness (via linear regression). Results. Among surveyed nurses, 93.63% reported significant exhaustion, 9.88% reported self-harm thoughts, and the mean (SD) overall wellness score was 6.2 (2.3). Factors associated with exhaustion included inadequate staffing, lower psychological safety, and younger age. Factors associated with self-harm thoughts included recent workplace physical abuse and younger age. Factors associated with higher wellness scores included employer support, favorable practice environments, higher job satisfaction, and positive coping strategies. Conclusions. Negative well-being outcomes were prevalent among registered nurses and were associated with correctable workplace deficits. Nurses' well-being is a national public health problem that warrants comprehensive interventions at individual, workplace, and community levels. (Am J Public Health. 2024;114(S2):S180-S188. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2023.307376).

Burnout, Help Seeking, and Perceptions of Psychological Safety and Stigma Among National Collegiate Athletic Association Coaches

Sport coaches face unique work-related demands that, over time, can lead to negative well-being outcomes, such as burnout. The link between burnout and mental health is supported in the literature, and public stigma around mental health has been identified as a prominent barrier to seeking help. The aim of this study was to investigate how burnout and help-seeking attitudes of National Collegiate Athletic Association coaches are impacted by psychological safety and public stigma associated with seeking help. A sample of 187 National Collegiate Athletic Association coaches participated in a cross-sectional online survey and reported sociodemographic and job-related characteristics, public stigma, self and team psychological safety, burnout, and attitudes toward help seeking. Regression-based mediation analyses revealed that greater psychological safety predicted lower levels of exhaustion and disengagement as well as more positive help-seeking attitudes. In addition, public stigma partially mediated the influence of psychological safety on exhaustion and disengagement and fully mediated the relationship between psychological safety and help-seeking attitudes. No differences in exhaustion, disengagement, and help-seeking attitudes among National Collegiate Athletic Association coaches across Divisions I, II, and III were observed. Findings lend support for intervention development to increase psychological safety as a burnout management strategy as well as to reduce public stigma associated with help seeking.

Household debt and children’s psychological well-being in China: The mediating role of parent–child relations

BackgroundHousehold debt is a psychological stressor for those who take the debt on, but it remains unclear whether and how this money-related stressor influences children’s psychological well-being. AimsThe study investigated the association of household debt with children’s psychological well-being and further explored the mediating role of parent–child relations. MethodsData were obtained from two waves (2016 and 2018) of the China Family Panel Studies, with a sample of 1,828 children included. The Center for Epidemiological Studies of Depression Scale was applied to measure psychological well-being. Household debt was assessed by absolute and relative amounts of total debt, mortgage debt, and non-mortgage debt. We used positive and negative parent–child interaction to measure parent–child relations. The characteristics of children, parents, and households were included as covariates. ResultsHousehold debt, especially mortgage debt, was positively associated with psychological illnesses among children, and the link was substantially explained by parent–child relations. ConclusionHousehold debt exerted detrimental effects on children’s psychological well-being by jeopardizing parent–child relations in China. Strategies that address the need of vulnerable children are required to reduce the potentially negative psychological well-being outcomes of household debt.

CARE TRAJECTORIES AND WELLBEING OUTCOMES OF OLDER CARERS

Abstract The UN Decade of Healthy Ageing states that family carers should not be held responsible for care. Yet families continue to provide the majority of care to members with long term health problems and disabilities. Their contributions to the economy remain unrecognized; their costs noted but relegated to private family matters. The purpose of this presentation is to determine wellbeing outcomes of older Canadians with diverse life course trajectories of care. Data are from the 2018 Statistics Canada nationally representative survey on caregiving. Sample for this study is ≈3000 people 65+ with one or more care episodes across their life course. Based on earlier conceptual and empirical work, we recreated 5 care trajectories. Wellbeing was measured based on material, relational and subjective domains. We conducted multivariate analyses (OLS, logistic and ordered logistic regressions) appropriate to the nature of the dependent variable) to assess whether care trajectory type predicted later life wellbeing. Results show significant differences in wellbeing among trajectory types. Serial carers had longest years of care and most care episodes. They experienced the most negative wellbeing outcomes compared to carers with other trajectory types in material wellbeing (poorer physical and mental health, lower employment income), and subjective wellbeing (higher stress). There were no significant differences across care trajectory types in relational wellbeing (loneliness). We discuss the place of public policy in addressing patterns of cumulative disadvantage in life courses of family care; and call for the development of indicators of wellbeing domains that best reflect these outcomes.

Compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction in pediatric and neonatal care nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden

PurposeQuality of care and the mental and physical health of nurses are interlinked. The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed an extremely high burden on health care. This study aimed to: 1) describe professional quality of life of registered nurses (RN) working in the pediatric and neonatal care units during the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden, 2) compare professional quality of life between RNs with and without a Master's degree in specialist nursing pediatric care (MSc), and 3) compare differences in professional quality of life associated with the nursing experience (years). Design and methodsThis study adopted a cross-sectional survey design. The PROQoL®-5-questionnaire was administered as a web survey to 160 RNs at four pediatric wards and two neonatal units of two hospitals in Sweden. ResultsSeventy-one RNs responded to the survey. Overall, they reported a sufficient professional quality of life. RNs with an MSc suffered significantly lower secondary traumatic stress levels. Experienced RNs reported significantly higher compassion satisfaction and lower occupational burnout. ConclusionHigher education and longer experience are beneficial for nurses' professional quality of life when working in pediatric care units. Practical implicationsResults from this study highlights the importance of offering RN education in pediatric care at master level and supporting novice nurses, to prevent negative professional well-being outcomes in pediatric care, because the health of nurses is of utterly importance when crisis such as a pandemic hits the world. The findings also suggest that the conditions for professional quality of life could improve through activities such as self-care, time for reflection, better working hours, competence-adjusted salary, and educational opportunities.

Meaning in Life and Loneliness as Mediators between COVID-19 Anxiety and Life Satisfaction in the Post-Pandemic among the General Population in Turkey: A Serial Mediation Model.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted global society, leading to negative well-being and mental health outcomes. However, little is known about how COVID-19-related anxiety affects life satisfaction through psychological factors. This study examined the mediating roles of meaning in life and loneliness in the relationship between COVID-19 anxiety and life satisfaction in 333 Turkish general population (59.2% females; Mage = 33.9 ± 7.8). Participants completed measures of COVID-19 anxiety, life satisfaction, meaning in life, and loneliness. The results showed that COVID-19 anxiety predicted meaning in life, loneliness, and life satisfaction. Meaning in life predicted loneliness and life satisfaction, while loneliness predicted life satisfaction. Serial mediation analysis revealed that COVID-19 anxiety predicts life satisfaction through meaning in life and loneliness, even after controlling for age and gender. These findings contribute to our understanding of the underlying mechanisms between COVID-19 anxiety and life satisfaction, with implications for future research and practice.

The relationship between early adolescent cyberbullying victimization and later emotional wellbeing and academic achievement

AbstractThis study addresses a knowledge gap in the literature about early adolescent cyberbullying victimization and the related positive and negative emotional wellbeing and academic achievement outcomes experienced over time. The study examines 9139 South Australian students (aged 10–13 years) who reported on cyberbullying status in Grade 6, and explores the relationship with emotional wellbeing and academic achievement outcomes measured in Grade 7 and Grade 9, while accounting for range of child, peer, school, and community covariates. Using mixed effects modeling, the results show that cyberbullying victimization is associated with significantly lower levels of happiness, life satisfaction, and higher levels of sadness, and worries over the shorter term (Grade 7), and significantly lower levels of reading and numeracy sustained across the longer term (Grades 7 and 9), compared to non‐victimization. The results indicate that early adolescent cyberbullying may be associated with poor emotional wellbeing and academic achievement as one progresses through formal school and highlights the importance of considering the outcomes of bullying victimization beyond the immediate instance.

General Mental Health, Loneliness, and Life Satisfaction in the Context of COVID-19 Policies: A 2-Year Cohort Study in the Netherlands, April 2020-January 2022.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has affected mental health, understanding who has been affected most and why is incomplete. We sought to understand changes in mental health in the context of transmission numbers and pandemic (social) restrictions and whether changes in mental health varied among population groups. We analyzed data from 92 062 people (aged ≥16 years and able to read Dutch) who participated in the Corona Behavioral Unit cohort study at the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, the Netherlands, from April 17, 2020, through January 25, 2022. Participants self-reported mental well-being through multiple rounds of surveys. We used a multivariable linear mixed-effects model to analyze loneliness, general mental health, and life satisfaction. As strictness of pandemic prevention measures and social restrictions increased, people's feelings of loneliness increased and mental health and life satisfaction decreased. As restrictions were relaxed, loneliness decreased and general mental health improved. Younger people (aged 16-24 y) versus older people (aged ≥40 y), people with low (vs high) education levels, and people living alone (vs living together) were more likely to have negative well-being outcomes. We observed that trajectories over time differed considerably only by age, with participants aged 16-24 years affected substantially more than participants aged ≥40 years by pandemic social restrictions. These patterns were consistent across multiple waves of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our findings suggest that the social restrictions imposed by the Dutch government during the study period were associated with reduced mental well-being, especially among younger people. However, people appeared resilient as they recovered during periods when restrictions were relaxed. Monitoring and supporting well-being, in particular to reduce loneliness, may help younger people during periods of intense social restrictions.

A Narrative Thematic Analysis of the perceived psychological distress and health outcomes in Indian adults during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic

COVID-19 represents a severe, novel, and harmful disease that posed worldwide new challenges to the well-being of people and culminated in negative life outcomes. The current study explored the perceived psychological distress and consequent health outcomes caused by COVID-19. The Narrative Thematic Analysis design was employed. Eighteen participants comprising 12 males and 6 females responded about their experiences of the recent outbreak of COVID-19. The data were collected through a telephonic semi-structured interview which was analyzed through the Thematic Analysis Method. Four themes were generated: maladaptive psychological outcomes of COVID-19, perceived poor social support, increased religious practices, and the development of physical health symptoms. Extreme anxiety, panic experiences, insecurity, helplessness, hyper-vigilance, and negative attributions represented the psychological distress, while decreased social interactions and imposed social distancing characterized the perceived social support. Increased reliance on myths, divine interpretations, and faith in God showed religious practices. Decreased hunger, insomnia, headache, breathing problems, and palpitation were some ill-health outcomes. The pandemic shaped the nature and extent of perceived psychological distress, social support, and religious practices. The first two may have caused negative health and well-being outcomes while the religious practicesmaintained equilibrium among the rest three. Immediate trans-disciplinary efforts for the effective prevention, treatment, and promotion of the affected people are recommended. Positive health practices embedded in different socio-cultural systems may also be explored to help people facing the negative consequences of the recent and future pandemics. The implications and limitations of the study have been discussed.

Conceptualizing and Measuring Social Media Use in Health and Well-being Studies: Systematic Review.

Despite an increasing number of studies revealing both the benefits and harms of social media use on well-being, there is heterogeneity and a lack of consensus on how social media use is conceptualized, defined, and measured. Additionally, little is known whether existing literature focuses on ill-being or well-being outcomes and whether studies use theories. The main objective of this review was to examine (1) how social media use has been conceptualized and measured, (2) what health and well-being outcomes have been focused on, and (3) whether studies used theories. Studies were located through a comprehensive search strategy involving 4 steps. First, keyword searches were conducted on 6 major databases: PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Embase, ProQuest, and Annual Reviews. Second, a search was conducted on Google Scholar using the same sets of search terms, and the first 100 results were examined. Third, the reference sections of reviews identified in the first 2 rounds of searches were examined, and finally, the reference lists of the final set of papers included in the review were searched. Through a multistage screening, papers that met our inclusion criteria were analyzed. The review included a total of 233 papers published between 2007 and 2020 in 51 different countries. While 66 (28%) of the studies investigated the effects of the problematic use or addiction of social media on health and well-being, 167 (72%) studied the effects of social media use as a "normal" behavior. Most of the studies used measures assessing the time users spend using social media. Most of the studies that examined the effects of problematic social media use or addiction used addiction scales. Most studies examined the association of social media use with mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, self-esteem, and loneliness. While there are a considerable number of studies investigating physical health outcomes such as self-rated health, sleep, and sitting time or lack of physical activity, relatively a small number of studies examined social, psychological, and emotional well-being. Most of the studies 183 (79%) did not use any theory. Most studies conceptualized social media use as a "normal" behavior and mostly used time-spent measures, whereas a considerable number of studies conceptualized social media use as an addiction and used various addiction measures. The studies disproportionately focused on investigating the associations of social media use with negative health and well-being outcomes. The findings suggest the need for going beyond time spent to more sophisticated measurement approaches that consider the multiplicity of activities that users perform on social media platforms and the need for more theory-based studies on the association of social media use with not only negative well-being or "ill-being" but also with positive health and well-being outcomes.

Older adult communication types and emotional well-being outcomes during COVID-19 pandemic

Background:The rationale for the present study is a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, as there are fewer opportunities available for older adults to engage in face-to-face interaction and social activities, which may result in changes in the communication methods with their social contacts. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between methods of social connectedness and emotional well-being outcomes among older adults at the start of the pandemic.Methods:Two thousand five hundred and fifty-eight older adults Medicare beneficiaries (65 + years of age) in the National Health and Aging Trends Study at wave 10 (June 2020 to January 2021) were selected for cross-sectional analysis. Participants were measured on brief questionnaires regarding forms of communication with family and friends before and during the pandemic. Emotional well-being outcomes were measured on single items of sadness/depressed and loneliness; as well as a 6-item Likert scale of anxiety during the pandemic. Paired sample t-tests were utilized to examine the forms of communication between before and during pandemic. Hierarchical regressions were conducted to assess the relationship between forms of communication and emotional well-being outcomes.Results:We found that there were overall decreases in communication frequency during pandemic. Findings from regression analyses indicated information communication technology (ICT) are associated with negative emotional well-being outcomes, whereas in-person social contact are associated with lower levels of negative affect.Conclusion:These findings suggest utilizing higher levels of ICT has negative implications for older adults’ emotional well-being, contrasting with the positive implication of in-person contacts. These findings highlight the role of ICT in emotional well-being among older adults during pandemic.