Significant Predictors Of Well-being Research Articles

ASSESSING GRIT AND WELL-BEING OF MALAYSIAN ESL TEACHERS

Purpose – Seligman’s well-being theory of PERMA has been proven fruitful in defining various well-being constructs across different fields of study. With a growing interest in teacher psychology research abroad, PERMA has been unveiled as a rewarding prospect for the well-being of second language (L2) teachers. Nonetheless, the contribution of PERMA to the well-being and grit of L2 teachers in Malaysia remains unclear. Thus, this study (1) examined the influence of PERMA on the well-being and grit of Malaysian teachers of English as a second language (ESL); and (2) analyzed the mediating impact of positive emotion in the relationship between grit and well-being. Methodology – A priori power analysis was conducted to identify the sample size for this study. Hence, a convenience sample of 91 primary ESL teachers from Kuala Lumpur participated in this cross-sectional study. Data obtained were analyzed via multiple regression and mediation analysis using SPSS v20. The analysis of the indirect effects of the mediation model was complemented with a bootstrap procedure based on Hayes’s PROCESS Macro. Findings – The regression analysis confirmed the significant impact of PERMA on both well-being and grit. Analysis of the regression coefficients (β) displayed that engagement and accomplishment influenced significant changes in grit. Engagement was also a significant predictor of well-being. The mediation model portrayed positive emotion as a partial mediator in the association between grit and well-being. Significance – The meaningful interaction of PERMA with well-being and grit may not only encourage ESL teachers to flourish, correspondingly, it may elevate the well-being of learners in L2 classrooms.

Predicting Big Five Model Personality Traits in Recent Social Context

The theory of the five great factors of personality (Big Five theory) is currently considered to be the best at explaining the most individual variability in terms of personality factors between subjects. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between the Big Five personality traits and the recent social context, and to determine whether social support can act as a moderating factor in the process. While previous research has established that personality traits are significant predictors of well-being, the extent to which the big five personality traits influence social well-being remains unknown. This research paper employs a qualitative method based on a deductive research approach, as the author used deductive logic to predict the big five model personality traits in a recent social context. Five personality traits were found to be significantly related to the overall social context and social support functions as a determinant in the relationships between extraversion/agreeableness/conscientiousness/neuroticism/openness and social context. Numerous studies now concur, and there is a high degree of consensus in the literature regarding the Big Five theory as a useful theory for identifying and describing the major general factors of personality.

University Student Well-Being During COVID-19: The Role of Psychological Capital and Coping Strategies

This study examined the relationships between psychological capital (PsyCap), coping strategies, and well-being among 609 university students using self-report measures. Results revealed that well-being was significantly lower during COVID-19 compared to before the onset of the pandemic. Multiple linear regression analyses indicated that PsyCap predicted well-being, and structural equation modeling demonstrated the mediating role of coping strategies between PsyCap and well-being. Prior to COVID-19, the PsyCap dimensions of optimism and self-efficacy were significant predictors of well-being. During the pandemic, optimism, hope, and resiliency have been significant predictors of well-being. Adaptive coping strategies were also conducive to well-being. Implications and recommendations for psychoeducation and counseling interventions to promote PsyCap and adaptive coping strategies in university students are presented.

Student Affairs Professionals, Well-Being, and Work Quality

Little is known about student affairs professionals’ well-being. A hierarchical regression analysis of responses from 2,414 participants revealed a robust relationship between work quality variables and these professionals’ well-being score. Work-life balance was not a significant predictor of well-being for these respondents. Recommendations for practice are offered.

Home and the extended-self: Exploring associations between clutter and wellbeing

Research on clutter in non-clinical populations is scarce. Existing research typically examines clutter's negative effect on quality of life. Assertions from self-help books and lifestyle media that living with less clutter has beneficial health and psychological outcomes have received limited scientific attention. This study aimed to address a significant gap in the literature by exploring the associations between home self-extension variables (subjective clutter, objective clutter, home self-expression and declutter habit) and wellbeing (measured through the PERMA model).A general population sample of 1111 adults (mostly women) participated in this cross-sectional correlational study. Correlation and regression results revealed that home self-extension variables, particularly subjective clutter and psychological home, account for substantial variance of wellbeing. The subjective-objective nature of clutter is discussed and a refined definition of clutter embracing its subjective nature is proposed. We conclude that home self-extension, and clutter in particular, are significant predictors of wellbeing.

Personality, Attachment, and Well-Being in Adolescents: The Independent Effect of Attachment After Controlling for Personality

Although there is evidence that parental attachment and personality interact during development and exert mutual influences on one another, studies describing how parental attachment and personality dimensions interact in predicting well-being are scarce. Studies that help clarify the shared and unique variance on well-being explained by these two constructs are required, and as such, the objective of the present study was to describe the relationships between personality, attachment, and well-being. A total of 336 adolescents participated in this study (M age = 15 years; SD = 1.73). Participants completed self-report measures of personality, attachment, and well-being. The present study expands current knowledge in three ways. First, attachment dimensions of communication, trust, and involvement were significant predictors of well-being, even after controlling for age, gender, and personality dimensions. Second, age and gender moderate the associations between parental attachment and cognitive (but not affective) well-being, reflecting the representations systems, which are culturally and socially construed underlying cognitive well-being. Third, adolescents low in self-directedness and low in persistence are more dependent on their parental attachment to have better well-being. In sum, our results support the idea that parental attachment is one of the most crucial mechanisms for the promotion of well-being as it acts as a promoter of the development of adolescent socio-cognitive processes (such as self-directedness, which development depends strongly on the parental factors) as well as a coping mechanism for those with less adaptive personality characteristics.

An Investigation Into the Relationship Between Playfulness and Well-being in Australian Adults: An Exploratory Study.

Playfulness is well researched in children; however, much less is known about its impact on the well-being of adults. To investigate the relationship between playfulness and well-being in Australian adults. Participants (N = 175) completed the Other-directed, Lighthearted, Intellectual, and Whimsical (OLIW) scale for playfulness and the Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationship, Meaning, and Accomplishment (PERMA-Profiler) scale for well-being through an online survey. Multiple regression analyses with bootstrapping were completed to investigate whether playfulness predicted well-being. Six of the eight regression models analyzed contained significant predictors of well-being in adults. Adult playfulness exhibited the most robust positive relations with positive emotion, engagement while with others and during activities, relationships, finding meaning in one's life, and overall well-being. Playfulness was significantly related to several different indicators of well-being in adults. Therefore, incorporating elements of playfulness during occupational engagement could potentially nurture an individual's well-being.

Disease progression but not physical state per se determines mental wellbeing in ALS

BackgroundStudies provide inconclusive results on the question whether loss of mental wellbeing is actually associated with decline in physical function in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The purpose of this study was to determine predictors of mental wellbeing in ALS.MethodsIn total, n = 330 ALS patients were interviewed on parameters of mental wellbeing to evaluate the patients’ capacity of psychosocial adaptation. These parameters were global and subjective quality of life (QoL), and depressiveness. A subsample of n = 82 ALS patients were interviewed again within approximately a year (mean 14.34 ± 5.53 months).ResultsBoth global and subjective QoL were stable, whereas depressiveness increased within the course of 1 year after diagnosis. Physical function decline was associated with mental wellbeing. Progression of physical disabilities and symptom duration were significant predictors of wellbeing in the sense that fast progression and short time since symptom onset (both indicating short time to adapt) were associated with low wellbeing.ConclusionsThere is evidence for subsamples in ALS with regard to mental wellbeing, which are mainly determined by clinical parameters. Those subjects being reported in the literature to present with high mental wellbeing are often long survivors. High progression rate and low physical function when attending the clinic for the first time should be red flags and need special attention in clinical counseling.

Work–Life Balance on Board Cruise Ships: A Survey on Crew Members' Well-being

The cruise industry is a still-growing tourism sector in need for many personnel. However, criticism regarding the working and living conditions on board cruise vessels is a frequently seen topic in the news as well as in research literature. The well-being of the people running the floating hotel resorts is a critical success factor for the industry. Recently, the topic of employee well-being is bonded to concepts of work–life balance. There is rarely any literature on this topic with regard to the cruise industry. This research aims at examining whether the concept of work–life balance is applicable to working and living on board, as well as finding out the extent to which the critically discussed characteristics of this unique environment relate to well-being. To meet the aim of this study an online survey was conducted. It was spread on social networks to reach former and current employees of different cruise lines and was closed with a sample of 212 respondents. The study revealed that all chosen factors, including the ones often criticized, are related to the work–life balance of crew members on board. The only factor that was not a significant predictor of well-being was the multicultural environment employees are living and working in. The overall work–life balance on board was positively rated by the survey's participants.

Fostering Bicultural Skills among East Asian American Youth: An Initial Investigation of the East West Connection Program

We examined the efficacy of the East West Connection (EWC) program for East Asian American youth (N = 51) using a quasi-experimental design. Participants were recruited from several churches. While our study showed that the participation in EWC did not significantly increase bicultural competence, the regression analyses did reveal that bicultural competence was a significant predictor of well-being. We discuss the implications of the results for future intervention development and provide recommendations for future research.

WeChat use is significantly correlated with college students' quality of friendships but not with perceived well-being

Although WeChat is currently one of the fastest growing social media in mainland China, many scholars and researchers are yet to systematically investigate the potential social and psychological consequences of the newly emerging online social network. Based on theory and previous studies, the principal purpose of this present study is to probe and understand whether and how the use of WeChat is related to individuals' friendship quality and psychological well-being. Research participants were a total of 508 college students who completed anonymous questionnaires gauging their WeChat usage behaviors, self-disclosure, friendship quality, and well-being. Using structural equation modeling, results demonstrate that the intensity of WeChat use is significantly correlated with college students' quality of friendships but not with perceived well-being. Moreover, the outcomes also reveal that students' friendship quality is a significant predictor of well-being. However, there is no relationship between online self-disclosure and friendship quality or well-being. Overall, these obtained findings of the empirical study could cast a much-needed light on the nuanced understanding of the certain social and technological affordances of WeChat and how it may ultimately impact individual's quality of life in the new media context.

The Complexities of Family Caregiving at Work: A Mixed-Methods Study.

The current project examined the impact of caregiving and caregiving-work conflict on employees' well-being. A sequential explanatory mixed-methods design (QUAN→qual) was utilized, and a total of 880 employees from a large health-care plan employer completed an online survey. Forty-five caregivers who completed the survey also participated in one of the five focus groups held 1 to 2 months later. Employed caregivers were significantly ( p < .05) more likely to indicate poorer physical and mental health than noncaregivers; among caregivers ( n = 370), caregiving-work conflict emerged as the most significant predictor of well-being and fully mediated the empirical relationship between burden and well-being. The focus group findings complemented the quantitative results; many of the challenges employed caregivers experience stem from their ability or inability to effectively balance their employment and caregiving roles. The results suggest the need to focus on caregiving-work conflict when constructing new or translating existing evidence-based caregiver interventions.

Understanding a child’s conceptualisation of well-being through an exploration of happiness: The centrality of play, people and place

ABSTRACTGiven that participation in occupation is a significant predictor of well-being, it seems plausible to argue that participation in play is imperative for child well-being, since play is a fundamental occupation in early childhood in most cultures across the world. However, play is neither included as an indicator nor as a domain in the national set of child well-being indicators in Ireland. In addition, few studies have asked children what they view as important for their own well-being. This qualitative ethnographic study explored children’s conceptualisations of happiness (as a proxy measure of well-being) amongst children living in Ireland aged 6 to 8 years. The study employed a mosaic approach and data were collected through visual, spatial, and language-based methods. Analysis resulted in three core themes with eight subthemes. The first theme describes how the children perceived their participation in pleasurable occupations as vital contributors to their overall sense of happiness (well-being), which typically involved play. The second theme describes the social and physical influences that shape participation in their valued play occupations. The third theme describes the social nature of relationships with people and animals. Children’s conceptualisation of well-being consistently related to play and playful occupation, with or without social partners. Findings illustrate the degree and complexity with which children understand the influences on their happiness (well-being) to be interrelated, highlighting an expanded view of play as a subjective aspect of childhood that is intrinsically connected to well-being and happiness. They also point to appropriate issues that should be addressed, both at a National data monitoring and policy level.

Family cohesion and flexibility in early episode psychosis.

Research suggests that family support promotes recovery and is a key component of a successful early intervention programme. However, very little is known about family functioning in families that are coping with the onset of a psychotic illness and the factors that help to foster adaptive family functioning during this challenging time. The purpose of this study was to understand the individual, caregiver and family factors that are associated with adaptive family functioning in early episode psychosis. An online survey with 107 family caregivers of an individual with early psychosis was used to examine relationships among various caregiver and family system variables such as caregiver appraisals, coping strategies, quality of life, perceived helpfulness of support systems and family functioning. Family functioning was assessed using a multi-dimensional approach and measured along dimensions of cohesion and flexibility. Family members of an individual with early psychosis reported more family difficulties across dimensions of cohesion and flexibility. Family members' cognitive appraisals about the illness, its consequences and one's caregiving role were significant predictors of wellbeing. Negative appraisals were strongly associated with lower caregiver quality of life, whereas the presence of positive coping strategies was associated with better caregiver quality of life. Finally, positive caregiver appraisals predicted adaptive family functioning. Family functioning is a complex and multi-faceted construct. The findings from this study have important implications for the field of early intervention in psychosis and could inform relevant treatment targets.

Experiential value and domain-specific innovativeness during freemium game usage: effects on child well-being

Purpose In specifically examining uses of freemium applications for children, this study aims to investigate the effects on user well-being after the experiential value by examining the influence of experiential value in terms of domain-specific innovativeness; the impact of domain-specific innovativeness in terms of child well-being; the moderating role of child socialization; and the relevance of contextual variables associated with media exposure during freemium game use. Design/methodology/approach The study is based on a survey of children who had downloaded freemium games on their smartphones. A total of 410 completed questionnaires were collected from children of 9 to 12 years of age. Confirmatory factor analyses and structural equation models were applied to examine and test the study hypotheses. Findings The results indicate that experiential value influences domain-specific innovativeness; domain-specific innovativeness is a significant predictor of well-being; parental materialism and communication with friends significantly moderates domain-specific innovativeness and well-being; and contextual variables do not influence the model. Practical implications Public policy managers should be cognizant of these results and should make every effort to prevent the identified relationships from becoming too strong, given the strong effect of domain-specific innovativeness on child well-being. Originality/value This paper contributes to the extant literature by incorporating experiential value and domain-specific innovativeness variables within a comprehensive model and by accounting for the effects of relevant contextual variables and the moderating role of child socialization.

Work-related well-being.

This study aimed to investigate the different dimensions of well-being (namely, work engagement, job satisfaction, and psychological stress) and possible predictors such as personality and perceived organizational support. A cross-sectional survey design was used, with a sample of 490 ambulance personnel in the United Kingdom. Significant correlations were found between the dimensions of job satisfaction, engagement, and stress. The results also supported a hierarchical model with job satisfaction, stress, and engagement loading onto one higher order factor of work well-being. Emotional stability and perceived organizational support were identified as significant predictors of well-being. The findings suggest the importance of measuring the work-related well-being of ambulance personnel holistically and present perceived organizational support as a possible area for interventions to improve well-being.

Promoting well-being and preventing burnout in teacher education: a pilot study of a mindfulness-based programme for pre-service teachers in Hong Kong

The stress that negatively affects teachers has been found to influence the turnover rate in the teaching profession. Recent research has shown that mindfulness-based programmes effectively promote well-being while addressing psychological distress. In this study, the authors investigated the effects of a six-week mindfulness-based programme on pre-service teachers in Hong Kong (N = 70). The authors hypothesised that a six-week mindfulness-based programme would increase mindfulness and well-being while reducing stress and symptoms of depression. Both intervention and control groups were assessed at baseline and post-intervention. A univariate analysis revealed a significant increase in mindfulness and well-being. A regression analysis indicated that mindfulness was a significant predictor of well-being, stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms. Qualitative data reflected that the mindfulness programme was beneficial to and feasible for pre-service teachers. Such a programme could be implemented in teaching education to promote well-being and stress management while preventing burnout among teaching professionals.

Predictors of Well-Being in Resident Physicians: A Descriptive and Psychometric Study.

It is important to describe the characteristics of well-being in resident physicians to develop resident wellness initiatives in postgraduate medical education. To characterize the predictors of well-being in resident physicians by assessing personal and work-related burnout, work dissatisfaction, nutritional needs while on call, and sleep needs while on call. We set up an online survey in 2012 to collect data from current residents at the University of Calgary in Canada. The WHO-Five Well-Being Index, personal and work-related subscales of the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, questions on work dissatisfaction, as well as sleep and nutrition management needs while on call, were used in the survey. Descriptive statistics, univariate analysis, and linear regression were applied to the data. The survey response rate was 45% (317 of 706) of eligible residents, with a mean age of 30.9 years (SD = 4.3). Fifty-three percent (168 of 317) of residents had a well-being score of 13 or less, indicating poor mental well-being. There were significant differences between men and women with respect to personal burnout (47.9 versus 54.2, P = .002) and work-related burnout (46.4 versus 50.4, P = .008). The only significant predictors of well-being overall were personal burnout and work dissatisfaction. Survey results suggest that a high proportion of residents at this institution have low well-being. This study did not find work-related burnout to be a significant predictor of well-being, after adjustment for other variables.

Exercício Físico Outdoor, Bem-Estar e Conectividade com a Natureza

Positive outcomes from contact with nature on well-being have been presented by restorative environments research. Additionally, studies in the area of exercise recognize the physical and psychological benefits, and more recently, those related to outdoor practice, particularly in natural environments. Present study combines these two research areas, analysing the relationship between outdoor physical exercise and well-being, verifying the role of connectedness to nature in this respect. Participants are 282 practitioners of outdoor and indoor physical exercise who, answering a questionnaire, self-reported their exercise level, exercise subjective experience, affect and connectedness to nature. Differences between the two types of indoor and outdoor physical activity are reported, highlighting the benefits of outdoor exercise practicing. Participants who combine outdoor with indoor physical activity report more positive emotions and well-being associated with exercise, and their connectedness to nature is a significant predictor of well-being. Finally, we discuss implications for promotion of healthy lifestyles.

An Exploration into the Impact of Exposure to Community Violence and Hope on Children’s Perceptions of Well-Being: A South African Perspective

The study aims to explore the relationship between exposure to community violence, hope, and well-being. More specifically, the study aims to ascertain whether hope is a stronger predictor of well-being than exposure to violence. Stratified random sampling was used to select a sample of 566 adolescents aged 14–17 years, from both high violence and low violence areas in Cape Town, South Africa. A questionnaire consisting of Snyder’s Children’s Hope Scale, the Recent Exposure to Violence Scale and the KIDSCREEN-52 was used. Data analysis techniques included descriptive statistics, correlations, and multiple regression. A positive, significant relationship was found between children’s hope and their well-being. Although exposure to community violence was found to be significantly correlated with well-being, the relationship was negligible. While exposure to community violence and hope were found to be significant predictors of well-being, hope emerged as a stronger predictor of child well-being than exposure to community violence.