Personal Wellbeing Index Research Articles

Coping Strategies Used by Young People with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Little is understood about how adolescents with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders attempt to cope with problems. Six males between 13- and 17-years-old with Asperger syndrome or high-functioning autism completed an adapted Adolescent Coping Scale, the Social Skills Rating System, the Personal Wellbeing Index and a semistructured interview about the ways they coped. Parental reports on an adapted Adolescent Coping Scale and the Social Skills Rating System were also collected for four participants. Social skill and subjective wellbeing measures demonstrated a sample characterised by considerable variability between normative and less than normative ranges. Adolescents reported using a range of coping strategies, however they described their coping efforts as often ineffective. Parents also perceived that their sons used several nonproductive coping strategies more frequently. The results support that coping is a relevant area for future research attention with these young people and that the assessment of coping would be useful for targeted intervention practices.

Homeorhesis and Indication of Association Between Different Types of Capital on Life Satisfaction: The Case of Greeks Under Crisis

Research on subjective well-being (SWB) for western nations has been growing for the last 30 years. So far there has not been any study of Subjective Well-Being in the case of Greece. This study is the first attempt to quantify the SWB in Greece which is in a state of deep economic and values crisis. For this purpose the Personal Well-being Index (PWI) developed by Cummins et al. (2002) and used by the International Well-being Group has been applied. Additionally this study attempts to give answers to two research questions: (i) what is the effect of economic crisis on PWI and as a consequence on the homeostasis hypothesis? (ii) is there any indication of association between different types of capital (built, natural, human, and social capital) and domains of life satisfaction? A cross-sectional survey of 1,216 participants included sociodemographic variables, questions relating to dimensions or domains of personal well-being, and questions pertaining to built, human, natural and social capital. Based on cross-sectional data, statistical analyses were performed for the whole sample and for men and women to account for gender differences. Descriptive, correlation, factor and regression statistical techniques were used. Regression models were used to determine, which types of capital variables had a statistically significant association with each domain of life satisfaction. The statistical results of this study demonstrate the reliability and validity of the Greek adaptation of the Cummins questionnaire. Significant differences are found between men and women in personal well-being index score. The results support the hypothesis that the economic crisis has an impact on personal well-being. It is, therefore, possible that such an impact affects the state of homeostasis. This suggests that other mechanisms such as homeorhesis may be applicable in explaining the behavior of the state of personal well-being index. Different types of capital and domains of life satisfaction are found to be positively related. These findings must be considered in light of cross-sectional limitations. This study evaluated the psychometric characteristics of the Greek version of the Cummins questionnaire. The PWI results are not within the range of normative data for western nations. This is an interesting and important result: it shows that the economic crisis matters significantly for personal well-being. The statistical results of this study offer an indicational support for the role of types of capital on domains of life satisfaction. Since we are using cross-sectional data, no causal inferences can be drawn.

Rasch analysis of the International Wellbeing Index in older adults

The International Wellbeing Index is a measure of general quality of life formed by two scales: the Personal Wellbeing Index (PWI) and the National Wellbeing Index (NWI). This paper studies the psychometric properties of the PWI and NWI, using Rasch analysis and classic psychometric methods. The PWI and NWI were applied to a representative sample of 1106 community-dwelling adults, aged 60 years and over, residing in Spain. Mean ± standard deviation age was 72.07 ± 7.83 years and 56.3% were women. Five PWI items (achieving in life, relationships, safety, community connectedness, and future security), and five NWI items (economic situation, state of environment, social conditions, business, and national security of the country) fitted the Rasch model. After adjusting the response scale format, satisfactory fit was obtained, with good reliability (person separation index of 0.91 for both the PSI and NWI), local independency of items, and strict unidimensionality. The measures showed adequate external construct validity with related measures. The PWI and the NWI, with fewer items and simpler response scale formats, provided valid and reliable linear measures in older adults, according to Rasch and classic psychometric analyses.

An Exploration of Quality of Life and its Predictors in Patients with Addictive Disorders: Gambling, Alcohol and Drugs

The study set out to examine Quality of Life (QoL), specifically subjective well being in three different addiction populations (260 alcohol-dependent, 282 drug-dependent, and 132 pathological gambling outpatients) at their first visit to treatment, using the Personal Well being Index (PWI). The mean PWI score for all patients was significantly below (i.e., 15 points) Asian norms. Despite reporting a greater addiction severity, alcohol patients scored significantly higher on the PWI compared with drug patients. Despite having demographic characteristics associated with higher functioning, gambling patients did not have the highest QoL; falling in between the alcohol and drug patients. Being married was the only significant predictor of normal personal wellbeing, whilst having debts, a past/current psychiatric morbidity, and a higher addiction severity significantly predicted an abnormal personal wellbeing. Treatment services should pay close attention and target the specific life domains where poor satisfaction is reported by the different addiction populations.

Filtered Life Satisfaction and Its Socioeconomic Determinants in Hong Kong

Filtering the measure of life satisfaction through the bias of social desirability and response styles would furnish an adequate analysis of socioeconomic impacts on the filtered life satisfaction. The filtering is necessary because social desirability and the response styles of acquiescence, extremity, and centrality are likely to contaminate the measure of life satisfaction. Based on survey data from 1,993 Hong Kong Chinese adults, the study applied the filtering on the Personal Wellbeing Index to obtain filtered life satisfaction. Results indicated the bias of social desirability and response styles to justify the filtering. They further manifested that socioeconomic impacts on filtered life satisfaction were somewhat different from those on unfiltered life satisfaction. Some of the impacts on unfiltered life satisfaction were attributable to the contamination of life satisfaction by social desirability. Eventually, family income per capita appeared to contribute to filtered life satisfaction; and education and receiving public benefits tended to diminish the satisfaction. The results imply that while the availability of resources explains some of the findings, it does not provide the only or dominant explanation.

General health and quality of life in patients with sexual dysfunctions.

To study the general health and quality of life in patients with sexual dysfunctions. One hundred and thirty-seven patients with diagnosis of a known sexual dysfunction (SD) were studied. A healthy group of 111 individuals matched for sex, education, and marital status were also selected as a control group. Both groups completed two questionnaires: General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28) and Personal Wellbeing Index- Adult (PWI-A). To analyze data, descriptive methods as well as student t test for independent groups were used. The mean scores for individuals suffering from SD were more than the control group in total GHQ scale and all its subscales. The mean scores in total PWI-A scale and most of its subscales for individuals suffering from SD were lower than the control group. Since the obtained t values (4.16 to 5.22) for all the comparisons done between the mean scores in GHQ for the two groups were higher than t value in the `t table` for df = 206 at α = 0.01 (2.58), differences obtained were significant. Since obtained t values (-2.03 to 4.65) for total quality of life and health, achievements, personal relationship, safety, and feeling part of community dimensions were higher than t value in the `t table` for df = 206 at α = 0.05 and α = 0.01 (1.96 and 2.58, respectively), differences obtained except for standard of living and future security were significant. Somatic, social, and mental measures for people having sexual dysfunctions (patient group) were lower than the control group.

Developing and PilotingePACT: A Flexible Psychological Treatment for Depression in People Living With Chronic Spinal Cord Injury

AbstractAccessibility, stigma and adverse effects of self-reliance can hinder the receipt of psychological treatments, especially in people living with chronic illness or disability. The aim of this study was to develop and pilot a flexible online psychological treatment using CBT and positive-psychology based techniques, for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) who also lived with depression or both depression and anxiety. A multiple case study approach provided in-principle evidence of the acceptability of the Electronic Personal Administration of Cognitive Therapy:ePACT. Three adults living with SCI completed pre- and post-intervention interviews and multiple modules ofePACT. The interviews used the Structural Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders (SCID/-N/P) for diagnosis and the standardised survey instruments: Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale — short version (DASS-21), Personal Wellbeing Index 4th edition (PWI) and the Spinal Cord Lesion Emotional Wellbeing Questionnaire (SCL EWQ v1 Australia). The results indicated that the online program was acceptable, and they all showed some improvement in symptoms. All participants indicated that they would not have sought face-to-face therapy for reasons of access and stigma. They all had a strong sense of independence and felt this would have been questioned if they sought therapy.

Alcohol's harm to others: reduced wellbeing and health status for those with heavy drinkers in their lives

The impact of alcohol on those other than the drinker is an under-researched area with important policy implications. This study is a first step in investigating relationships between exposure to heavy drinkers in respondent's lives with measures of health status and wellbeing. A cross-sectional general population survey was carried out among 3068 New Zealand residents aged 12-80 years (response rate 64%) using an in-house computer-assisted telephone interviewing system. Respondents' estimates of health status (European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions) and subjective wellbeing (Personal Wellbeing Index) were measured along with self-reports of heavy drinkers in their lives, demographic variables and own drinking. More than one in four of the sample had experienced someone they considered to be a heavy drinker in their environment in the past 12 months. An index of exposure to heavy drinkers, reflecting numbers of heavy drinkers and cohabitation, predicted lower health status and personal wellbeing while controlling for demographic variables and respondent's own drinking. Cross-sectional data from a general population sample suggest that there is a relationship between exposure to heavy drinkers and reduced personal wellbeing and poorer health status. Exposure to heavy drinkers may have negative impacts for others.

Testing the Personal Wellbeing Index on 12–16 Year-Old Adolescents in 3 Different Countries with 2 New Items

The 7-item adult version of the Personal Wellbeing scale (Cummins et al. Social Indic Res 64:159–190, 2003) was administered to two samples of adolescents aged 12–16 in Brazil (N = 1,588) and Spain (N = 2,900), and to a sample of adolescents aged 14–16 in Chile (N = 843). The results obtained were analyzed to determine its psychometric characteristics when used with adolescents in the three different countries and to check whether two additional items would improve its qualities. Results reveal that the new PWI-9 version worked well with the adolescents in the three countries, improving some of the qualities of the PWI-7. One of the added items, satisfaction with oneself, appears to be a major contributor to unique explained variance when regressed on the single-item of overall life satisfaction (OLS). The model we present using structural equations shows good fit statistics for the factor structure, with both 7 and 9 items. Separate in-country analyses demonstrate that cultural context has a strong influence on correlations and saturations between the studied variables and also on the explained variance. Probably related to this fact, the Model fit structure is good in Brazil (with a low PWI variance accounted for by its predictors) and Spain (medium), but rather modest in Chile, where data show a high proportion of the PWI variance accounted for by its predictors. However, a multi-group factor analysis among the three countries restricting saturations to 1 in each country in order to make data comparable across countries still show a good fit of the proposed model for both PWI-7 and PWI-9.

Crianças e jovens autistas: impacto na dinâmica familiar e pessoal de seus pais

CONTEXTO: O autismo é considerado uma perturbação do neurodesenvolvimento, com implicações severas no comportamento, comunicação e na interação social, tornando-se uma fonte de preocupações para os pais. OBJETIVO: Determinar as necessidades dos pais de crianças e jovens com autismo e relacionar essas necessidades com funcionalidade, estratégias de coping familiar, estado emocional e a satisfação com a vida. MÉTODOS: Um estudo correlacionado foi desenvolvido numa amostra não probabilística, de conveniência, constituída por 50 pais de crianças e jovens autistas. Os pais preencheram um questionário constituído por dados sociodemográficos, o Family Needs Survey (FNS); Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales (FACES-III), Escala de Ansiedade, Depressão e Stress (EADS), Family Crisis Oriented Personal Scales (F-COPES) e o Índice de Bem-Estar Pessoal (IBP). Para análise dos dados, recorreu-se a técnicas de estatística descritiva e inferencial. RESULTADOS: Mais informações sobre os serviços (médicos e de segurança social) de que o filho possa vir a beneficiar-se foi a necessidade mais referida pelos pais. Os pais com mais necessidades apresentaram estados afetivos mais negativos, utilizaram mais estratégias de reenquadramento e aquisição de apoio social - relações íntimas. Em média, os pais reportaram um valor de bem-estar pessoal acima da mediana, contudo inferior ao apurado para a média da população portuguesa. CONCLUSÃO: Ser pai de uma criança ou jovem com autismo representa ter necessidades insatisfeitas que podem ter implicações tanto no nível pessoal como no familiar. Sugere-se que se providenciem recursos nas vertentes social, educativa e de saúde, no sentido de criar, de forma planeada e abrangente, serviços que respondam às necessidades específicas dessas famílias.

Development and validation of the Chinese version of the Reintegration to Normal Living Index for use with stroke patients

To develop and validate a Chinese version of the Reintegration to Normal Living Index. Descriptive case-series. Seventy-five individuals with chronic stroke and 55 age-matched healthy subjects. The English version of the Reintegration to Normal Living Index was translated into Chinese using standardized procedures, and then administered to both the stroke and control groups. The same instrument was administered again to the stroke subjects 1-2 weeks later. The Chinese version of the Reintegration to Normal Living Index had good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.92) and test-retest reliability (intraclass coefficient = 0.87). The minimal detectable difference of the Index score was 14.8 (out of 100). Convergent validity of the Index was demonstrated by its significant association with Frenchay Activities Index (r = 0.439, p < 0.001) and Personal Wellbeing Index (r = 0.250, p = 0.033) scores among stroke subjects. The Reintegration to Normal Living Index score was significantly lower in the stroke group than in controls (p < 0.001), thus demonstrating discriminant validity. Factor analysis confirmed the two-factor structure of the Index, namely, daily functioning and perception of self. The Reintegration to Normal Living Index is a reliable and valid tool for assessing satisfaction with community reintegration among Chinese people with chronic stroke.

Evaluation of a Horticultural Activity Programme for Persons with Psychiatric Illness

Objective To investigate the effect of applying horticulture activity on stress, work performance and quality of life in persons with psychiatric illness. Methods This study was a single-blinded randomized controlled trial. Using convenience sampling, 24 participants with psychiatric illness were recruited to participate in a horticultural programme and were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Two participants dropped out from experimental groups after assignment. Ten participants in the experimental group attended 10 horticultural sessions within 2 weeks, while 12 participants in the control group continued to receive conventional sheltered workshop training. Participants were assessed before and after programme using Chinese version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS21) and the Personal Wellbeing Index (PWI-C), and the Work Behavior Assessment. Results There was a significant difference in change scores of the DASS21 (p=.01) between experimental and control group. There were no significant differences in change scores of the PWI-C between the two groups. Conclusion Horticultural therapy is effective in decreasing the levels of anxiety, depression and stress among participants in this pilot study, but the impact of the programme on work behavior and quality of life will need further exploration.

Evaluation of a Horticultural Activity Programme for Persons With Psychiatric Illness

Objective To investigate the effect of applying horticulture activity on stress, work performance and quality of life in persons with psychiatric illness. Methods This study was a single-blinded randomized controlled trial. Using convenience sampling, 24 participants with psychiatric illness were recruited to participate in a horticultural programme and were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Two participants dropped out from experimental groups after assignment. Ten participants in the experimental group attended 10 horticultural sessions within 2 weeks, while 12 participants in the control group continued to receive conventional sheltered workshop training. Participants were assessed before and after programme using Chinese version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS21) and the Personal Wellbeing Index (PWI-C), and the Work Behavior Assessment. Results There was a significant difference in change scores of the DASS21 (p = .01) between experimental and control group. There were no significant differences in change scores of the PWI-C between the two groups. Conclusion Horticultural therapy is effective in decreasing the levels of anxiety, depression and stress among participants in this pilot study, but the impact of the programme on work behavior and quality of life will need further exploration.

The Gap in the Subjective Wellbeing of Māori and New Zealand Europeans Widened Between 2005 and 2009

We compared the self-reported subjective wellbeing of Māori and New Zealand (NZ) Europeans in two NZ national postal samples. The first sample was collected in 2005 before the global financial crisis of 2007/2010. The second was collected in 2009 while the crisis was ongoing. Both samples contained large and arguably representative samples of the indigenous peoples of NZ, Māori (Ns = 289 and 964) as well as the now-majority group, NZ Europeans (Ns = 2,769 and 4,073). NZ Europeans’ scores on the Personal Wellbeing Index (PWI) were near-identical across the 2005 and 2009 samples. However, Māori, who were already lower than NZ Europeans on the PWI in 2005, showed a further decrease in 2009. We argue that this gap in wellbeing widened because material advantages experienced by NZ Europeans as a social group provides a systemic buffer which protects their personal wellbeing from the impact of economic privation. Māori, who had already experienced systemic disadvantage, were not privileged with this buffer, and thus, the effects of the 2007/2010 global financial crisis impacted their personal wellbeing to a greater extent.

Who are the Supporters of Croatian Membership in the European Union and NATO? Predictive Value of Personal and National Well-Being

Like many other Central and Eastern European countries Croatia has passed through substantial political changes and transition processes from state to liberal market economy in the last two decades. The next important step is accession to EU and NATO, and public opinion about joining these associations is divided. The aim of this study is to investigate the predictive value of subjective well-being measures in explaining attitudes of Croatian citizens toward accession to NATO and European Union. In particular, the prognostic utility of SWB is tested over and above usefulness of basic socio-demographic variables in explaining those political opinions. The research was conducted on a huge and representative sample (N = 4,000) of Croatian citizens in the spring of 2009. As a measure of subjective well-being, Croatian version of International Well-Being Index (IWI; Cummins in International Wellbeing Index, Version 2 [online]. Available from: http://acqol.deakin.edu.au/inter_wellbeing/Index-CoreItemsDraft2.doc, 2002) was used. IWI includes National and Personal Well-Being scales where each scale consists of several personal or national well-being domains. Socio-demographic variables used in this survey were gender, age, and level of education. Hierarchical logistic regression was applied to test the unique contribution of National and Personal well-being domains in predicting attitudes toward accession. The results show that National well-being index is useful in predicting attitudes toward accession of Croatia to EU and NATO, and has an even higher predictive value than basic socio-demographic variables. National well-being domains that significantly improve prediction were satisfaction with government and satisfaction with national economic situation. Higher satisfaction with national government is related to support of accession to both alliances, whereas higher satisfaction with national economy is associated solely with supporting the EU membership. The personal well-being index and belonging domains were not useful in this political attitude prediction. Possible theoretical explanation of observed relations between NWI and political opinion were further discussed.

A study of the impact of environmental surroundings on personal well-being in urban China using a multi-item well-being indicator

We examine the relationship between atmospheric and water pollution, traffic congestion, access to parkland and personal well-being using a survey administered across six Chinese cities in 2007. In contrast to existing studies of well-being determinants by economists which typically employ single-item indicators, we use the Personal Well-being Index (PWI). We also employ the Job Satisfaction Survey (JSS) to measure job satisfaction, which is one of the variables for which we control when examining the relationship between environmental surroundings and personal well-being. Previous research by psychologists has shown the PWI and JSS to have good psychometric properties in western and Chinese samples. A robust finding is that in cities with higher levels of atmospheric pollution and traffic congestion, respondents report lower levels of personal well-being ceteris paribus. Specifically, we find that a one standard deviation increase in suspended particles or sulphur dioxide emissions is roughly equivalent to a 12–13% reduction in average monthly income in the six cities.

The self‐reported personal wellbeing of a sample of Australian injecting drug users

To examine the self-reported personal wellbeing of a sample of Australian injecting drug users (IDU) using a standardized instrument and determine the key correlates of variations in self-reported personal wellbeing. Cross-sectional survey of 881 Australian IDU. Self-reported personal wellbeing collected using the Personal Wellbeing Index (PWI). IDU scored significantly lower than the general Australian population on the PWI and all subscales. Lower PWI scores were associated with a range of socio-demographic, drug use and other health and social characteristics. Across all PWI subscales, lower personal wellbeing scores were associated with unemployment, past 6-month mental health problems and more frequent injecting (all P < 0.05). The PWI is sufficiently sensitive to distinguish between IDU and the general population, and to identify key correlates of PWI among IDU. Some domains canvassed within the scale, such as health, standard of living and life achievements, are well within the scope of current intervention strategies, such as pharmacotherapy maintenance treatment and housing and employment support services. This suggests that the PWI could be useful in clinical settings by allowing structured identification of the areas of a person's life to be addressed as a part of a treatment regimen. In order to inform targeted prevention and intervention efforts, longitudinal studies of PWI and its correlates among IDU are required.

Assessing Psychological Well-Being in Mothers of Children with Disability: Evaluation of the Parenting Morale Index and Family Impact of Childhood Disability Scale

Objective Process model of stress and coping guided psychometric assessment of two brief measures of psychological well-being: Parenting Morale Index (PMI); Family Impact of Childhood Disability (FICD) scale. Methods Canadian mothers (N = 195) of children with disability (CWD) completed PMI, FICD, and validation measures (Brief Family Assessment Measure [FAM], Personal Well-Being Index, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, General Self-Efficacy Scale, Social Desirability Scale) via computer-assisted telephone interview. Of these, 154 completed additional validation measures (Center for Epidemiological Studies—Depression Scale, Parenting Stress Index, Family Hardiness Index, Brief FAM) 1 year later. Results Factor structures of PMI and FICD were supported; both demonstrated internal consistency, temporal stability, and convergent and discriminant validity. After 1 year, PMI and FICD jointly predicted depressive symptoms, parenting stress, family hardiness, and family adjustment. Conclusion PMI and FICD can identify mothers of CWD at risk for poor psychological well-being to increase the specificity of supports.

Selecting instruments for assessing psychological wellbeing in Afghan and Kurdish refugee groups.

BackgroundAfghan and Iraqi refugees comprise nearly half of all those currently under United Nations protection. As many of them will eventually be resettled in countries outside the region of origin, their long term health and settlement concerns are of relevance to host societies, and will be a likely focus for future research. Since Australia and New Zealand have both accepted refugees for many years and have dedicated, but different settlement and immigration policies, a study comparing the resettlement of two different refugee groups in these countries was undertaken. The purpose of this article is to describe the instrument selection for this study assessing mental health and psychological well being with Afghan and Kurdish former refugees, in particular to address linguistic considerations and translated instrument availability. A summary of instruments previously used with refugee and migrant groups from the Middle East region is presented to assist other researchers, before describing the three instruments ultimately selected for the quantitative component of our study.FindingsThe Kessler-10 Psychological Distress Scale (K10), General Perceived Self-Efficacy Scale (GPSE), and Personal Well-Being Index (PWI) all showed good reliability (Cronbach's alphas of 0.86, 0.89 and 0.83 respectively for combined language versions) and ease of use even for pre-literate participants, with the sample of 193 refugees, although some concepts in the GPSE proved problematic for a small number of respondents. Farsi was the language of choice for the majority of Afghan participants, while most of the Kurds chose to complete English versions in addition to Farsi. No one used Arabic or Turkish translations. Participants settled less than ten years were more likely to complete questionnaires in Farsi. Descriptive summary statistics are presented for each instrument with results split by gender, refugee group and language version completed.ConclusionThis paper discusses instrument selection for Farsi and Arabic speaking refugee participants from the Middle East and Afghanistan, concluding that the Kessler-10, GPSE scale and PWI were suitable for use with these groups. Suitable language translations are freely available. Our experience with these instruments may help inform other studies with these vulnerable groups.

Impact of Heavy Drinkers on Others' Health and Well-Being

Although there is a well-established quantitative literature examining the impact of alcohol consumption on the drinker, there has been much less examination of how someone's drinking affects other people. This study attempts to assess the degree to which relationships with heavy drinkers affect health and well-being. The study is based on a random telephone survey of 2,649 Australians (2,422 providing sufficient data for analysis) that asked respondents to identify people in their lives who were heavy drinkers or who sometimes drank a lot. In addition, information on respondents' well-being and health was collected using the Personal Wellbeing Index and the EuroQol Group 5-Dimension Self-Report Questionnaire score (EQ-5D) index, along with data on a range of other sociodemographic factors. Multivariate regression models were developed to determine whether living with heavy drinkers or knowing heavy drinkers outside the household were related to health and well-being once socioeconomic and demographic factors and the respondent's own drinking behavior were statistically controlled. The study finds negative effects on both health and well-being related to the number of heavy drinkers identified outside the respondent's household, whereas heavy drinkers within the household were negatively related to health but not well-being. The study suggests that other people's drinking can have substantial effects on health and well-being, providing impetus for policies that reduce heavy drinking in the population.