Substance of psychological immunity to improve subjective vitality among psychologists for special needs

The relative contribution of subjective vitality in predicting psychological flow among female university students

This study aimed to assess the predictive effect of selected study environment factors on the satisfaction of students’ basic needs and subjective vitality. Due to its links with motivation and well-being indicators, subjective vitality is an essential phenomenon among students. Previous studies reveal the importance of basic psychological needs for vitality. Still, from a practical point of view, it is crucial to indicate specific factors that help students to satisfy these needs. Students spend most of their time in the environment of a higher education institution, within its community; therefore, it is natural that the social study environment can strongly determine their well-being.One hundred and seventy-five adult students participated in the study. The participants completed a questionnaire of scales assessing subjective vitality, satisfaction of basic needs, and 4 study environment factors, specifically, autonomy-supportive learning climate, opportunities for development, feedback, and a sense of belonging. Multiple linear regression and mediation analyses were used for data processing.The results have revealed that all the selected study environment factors were associated with higher subjective vitality, whereas the strongest predictor of vitality was the sense of belonging. Mediation analysis showed that basic psychological needs explain the effect of the study environment factors on vitality.The results have revealed the importance of the study environment in the extent to which students feel alive and provided practical insights on the ways how to strengthen student vitality.

The study aims to examine university students' rumination, cognitive defusion, and subjective vitality levels according to their depression levels. The study group consists of 846 students from two different universities. The data in this study was gathered by the Lovibond Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale, Ruminative Response Scale, Drexel Defusion Scale, and Subjective Vitality Scale. To reveal the relationship between variables in the data, the Pearson moment correlation coefficient was calculated. To determine if the rumination, cognitive defusion, and subjective vitality levels change in accordance with the depressive symptoms of the participants, ANOVA analysis was implemented, and to determine if there is a difference between the groups, Tukey was calculated among post hoc tests. The Jamovi (2019) program was used for the analysis of the data. As a result of this study, it was concluded that depression is negatively related to cognitive defusion and subject vitality, positively related to rumination. As the depression levels of individuals increase, their rumination level increases, their cognitive defusion levels decrease, and their subjective vitality levels decrease. At the same time, there was a negative relationship between rumination, cognitive defusion, and subjective vitality. There was a positive relationship between cognitive defusion and subjective vitality. The findings demonstrate that depression plays a critical role in shaping mental health dynamics among university students, offering novel insights into the interactions between depression, rumination, cognitive defusion, and subjective vitality.

IntroductionThe pandemic shifted communication and meeting styles from physical to virtual environments, leading to a new type of burnout known as “Zoom fatigue.” The transition to virtual classrooms particularly affected children and adolescents in critical developmental stages. In Türkiye, educational activities were conducted online for three semesters during the pandemic. Although many studies have examined Zoom fatigue during this time, research addressing its long-term post-pandemic effects remains limited. This study investigated the effects of Zoom fatigue on university students in Türkiye following the period of intensive online education. Specifically, it tested the mediating role of interaction anxiety in the relationship between Zoom fatigue and subjective vitality.MethodsThe sample consisted of 351 university students aged 18 to 22 who were enrolled in face-to-face education at Mugla Sitki Kocman University in Türkiye. A two-wave longitudinal cross-lagged model with a six-month interval was used. Data were analyzed using SPSS Statistics 26 and AMOS Graphics.ResultsResults showed that Zoom fatigue significantly increased interaction anxiety, which in turn negatively affected subjective vitality. The main effect on subjective vitality stemmed from Zoom fatigue, while interaction anxiety played a partial but weakly significant mediating role. Despite the time elapsed since the pandemic, the psychological effects of Zoom fatigue remain evident among university students who experienced remote education during high school and have taken all but two of their courses face-to-face since their first year. Findings suggest that online learning experiences during the pandemic may have lasting effects on students’ subjective vitality, even though current educational conditions are predominantly face-to-face.ConclusionZoom fatigue can be explained not only by current frequency of use but also by the cumulative impact of past stress-laden online experiences. From a developmental psychology perspective, online learning processes may become a long-term source of cumulative stress for young individuals. Recognizing the psychological burdens brought by digitalization requires supporting young people not only academically but also in terms of their inner energy and well-being. Strategies developed in this context can contribute to creating a more sustainable digital learning environment at both individual and institutional levels.

The relevance of the research stems from the need to identify factors influencing the emotional well-being of teachers and to develop effective strategies for enhancing their personal resources to maintain mental health, prevent professional burnout, and ensure a high-quality educational process in today’s digital world. The research aims to identify, through a theoretical analysis, the most significant psychological factors that determine teachers’ emotional well-being in a digital learning environment. Methods (tools): the study employs an analysis of scientific literature alongside the presentation and synthesis of findings from the author’s empirical research. Results: key challenges impacting teachers’ emotional well-being in the context of digital education transformation were identified, including information overload, evolving teacher roles, and reduced interpersonal communication. Teachers’ emotional well-being is characterized primarily by their ability to cultivate and sustain a positive personal attitude, which supports effective teaching in digital settings. The research highlights professional burnout as a prominent indicator of emotional distress among educators teaching digitally. Main conclusions: the study identified three significant psychological factors of teachers’ emotional well-being in the digital educational context: emotional intelligence (the ability to recognize and regulate one’s own emotions and those of others), subjective vitality (the sense of vital energy), and tolerance for uncertainty (resistance in unpredictable situations). The importance of adopting an integrated approach to strengthening teachers’ emotional well-being is emphasized. This approach combines the activation of teachers’ personal resources with institutional support through professional development in digital technologies and the implementation of psychological assistance programs. Practical significance: the research results provide a foundation for designing educational programs aimed at enhancing psychological factors of emotional well-being to better support teachers in digital educational environments.

Background: College students often experience heightened stress and mental health challenges. Previous research has suggested that physical activity and music can independently enhance subjective vitality (e.g. psychological well-being) and self-esteem. The purpose of this study was to determine to what extent music impacts college students’ subjective vitality and self-esteem while exercising in a gym or outside through the lens of Self-Determination Theory (SDT). Methods: A quantitative, observational, cross-sectional survey was conducted to investigate the impact of music on college students’ subjective vitality and self-esteem while exercising either in a gym or outdoors. A total of 200 college students completed an online survey measuring constructs related to SDT, self-esteem, and subjective vitality. The proposed model tested seven hypotheses regarding direct and indirect relationships between SDT variables, self-esteem, and subjective vitality. Results: The model explained 56.8% of the variation in self-esteem and 56.2% in subjective vitality. Autonomy and competence demonstrated significant direct effects on subjective vitality and indirect effects mediated by self-esteem. Relatedness influenced subjective vitality indirectly through self-esteem. Significant differences were found between gym and outdoor exercisers, with gym users reporting higher self-esteem and subjective vitality scores. No significant differences were identified between genders. Conclusion: Music positively influences college students’ self-esteem and subjective vitality as psychological well-being during exercise, supporting the application of SDT in this context. Enhancing these psychological outcomes through music-assisted exercise routines may contribute to students’ mental and physical health, academic performance, and personal development. Keywords: students, music, exercise, self-esteem, subjective vitality, Self-Determination Theory

This study investigated whether extending a previously tested minimal-dose 4-week, 5-min daily home-based eccentric exercise program to 8weeks would lead to continued improvements in physical fitness, health markers, and mental well-being in sedentary individuals, and whether it could promote sustained exercise habits up to 12 months post-intervention. Ten sedentary participants (54 ± 9y) completed an 8-week daily home-based exercise program involving four bodyweight-based exercises (chair squats, wall push-ups, chair-reclines, and heel drops) and their progressed variations. Outcome measures were collected at baseline and 4 and 8weeks, including isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP), handgrip strength (HG), push-ups, sit-ups, sit-and-reach (S&R), body composition, blood markers, and mental well-being (SF-36 and Subjective Vitality Scales [SVS]). Exercise adherence was calculated from daily exercise logs. Physical activity engagement was assessed via follow-up surveys at 1, 3, and 12 months post-intervention. Adherence remained high (weeks 1-4: 94 ± 11%; weeks 5-8: 93 ± 11%). IMTP (7.3 ± 12.2%), push-ups (19.5 ± 18.2%), sit-ups (28.5 ± 44.8%), and S&R (7.6 ± 13.6%) further improved (p < 0.05) in weeks 5-8 but gains were attenuated relative to weeks 1-4. No significant changes were observed in HG, body composition, or blood markers. SF-36 improved (31.9 ± 56.3%, p < 0.05) during weeks 1-4 only. At 12-month follow-up, 90% of participants reported ongoing physical activity. Extending a low-dose, home-based exercise program to 8weeks led to continued, though attenuated, improvements in physical fitness, with mental well-being benefits emerging early. High adherence and sustained activity at follow-up suggest this minimal-dose intervention may support lasting exercise behavior change in sedentary adults.

ObjectiveTo explore subjective vitality and mental health among individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) in South Korea; specifically the relationship between subjective vitality and mental health and their associations with SCI-related factors, including health conditions, activity, environmental, and personal factors.MethodsThis cross-sectional study utilized data from the International Spinal Cord Injury Community Survey conducted in South Korea between March and October 2017. Data from 688 community-dwelling individuals with SCI were included in this study. Correlation and multiple regression analyses were conducted to investigate the relationships between vitality, mental health, and their associated factors.ResultsA strong positive correlation was identified between subjective vitality and mental health (r=0.78, p<0.001). In multiple regression analyses, common factors significantly associated with both domains included sleep problems, healthcare-related activities, financial burden, self-efficacy, and belongingness. Bowel problems were associated only with subjective vitality, while pressure injury and perceived social attitudes were associated only with mental health.ConclusionThese findings highlight the importance of comprehensive approaches that address secondary health complications, promote healthcare education, and alleviate financial burdens to enhance both subjective vitality and mental health in individuals with SCI. Additionally, psychological interventions that foster belongingness and strengthen self-efficacy may further contribute to psychological well-being following SCI. Further research is needed to validate these associations and evaluate the long-term effects of such multidimensional strategies on subjective vitality and overall quality of life following SCI.

The article presents a theoretical analysis of the phenomenon of personal alienation in elderly people and explores the potential of creative activity as a means of its psychological overcoming. The relevance of the study is determined by the growing demographic trend of population aging and the accompanying psychosocial problems associated with isolation, loss of social roles, and reduced sense of self-value in later life. Personal alienation in old age is interpreted as a complex psychological state characterized by decreased self-acceptance, emotional detachment, and weakening of interpersonal relationships. Based on an interdisciplinary review of philosophical, sociological, and psychological literature, the author identifies the main determinants of this phenomenon, including social exclusion, cognitive decline, and existential crisis associated with awareness of life finitude. The article substantiates that creative activity—both individual and collective—acts as a compensatory and adaptive resource capable of restoring the integrity of the self and reinforcing subjective vitality. The mechanisms of this influence are analyzed through the concepts of self-actualization (A. Maslow), individuation (C. Jung), and existential creativity (E. Fromm). Participation in creative processes (art therapy, music, literature, handicrafts) promotes the reestablishment of social connections, emotional expressiveness, and a renewed sense of purpose. The author emphasizes that creativity enables elderly individuals to re-symbolize their life experience, integrate past and present, and transform passive aging into active self-realization. The paper concludes that the use of creative activity in gerontopsychological practice should be considered not only as a recreational or therapeutic method, but also as a form of existential support that helps overcome alienation, preserve identity, and maintain mental well-being in late adulthood. The theoretical analysis provides a basis for further empirical research aimed at developing comprehensive psycho-social programs fostering creative self-expression among the elderly.

Background/Objectives: Adolescence is a critical developmental phase marked by rapid cognitive, emotional, and social changes that influence how individuals experience psychological energy and exhaustion. Self-Determination Theory recently proposed a dual-process model, based on two distinct, yet related, constructs: Subjective Vitality, associated with well-being and positive health outcomes, and Subjective Depletion, associated with illbeing and negative emotions. Since, to date, no study has investigated vitality and depletion during adolescence, this study aims to validate the Subjective Vitality/Depletion Scale (SVDS) in a large sample of adolescents. Methods: A total of 1111 Italian adolescents (Mage = 14.49, SDage = 1.49; 48% females) completed the SVDS and other validated self-report measures. Specifically, the psychometric properties of the SVDS across biological sex and age groups and latent mean differences across these groups were assessed. Results: Findings supported the dimensionality of the SVDS with two correlated factors, and its construct validity through associations with positive and negative affect and basic psychological needs satisfaction. Full invariance for the SVDS was achieved across biological sex and age groups. Latent mean analyses indicated that males reported higher levels of vitality compared to females (Cohen’s d = 0.46), with no significant differences for depletion; older adolescents reported lower levels of vitality (d = −0.23) and higher levels of depletion (d = 0.20) compared to younger adolescents. Conclusions: These findings support the SVDS as a valid and reliable instrument for assessing energy-related experiences in adolescence. The results suggest meaningful sex differences and a potential developmental trend of declining subjective energy from early to later adolescence.

Sleep is a significant factor influencing both physical and mental health. It supports thinking, emotional regulation, and vitality. However, insomnia is still a common problem, often linked to complex factors like psychological vulnerability and early life experiences. Early childhood experiences have an impact on all aspects of individuals' lives. In particular, early childhood experiences influence individuals' mental and physical health throughout life. Therefore, it is imperative to examine the impact of early childhood experiences on insomnia, with particular attention to the mediating roles of psychological vulnerability and subjective vitality. Data were collected from a sample of 1014 Turkish adults, including 776 females and 238 males, with a mean age of 32.35years (SD = 8.73) ranging from 18 to 61years. According to structural equation modeling, psychological vulnerability and subjective vitality fully mediated between positive childhood experiences and insomnia. In other words, positive early childhood experiences reduce the level of psychological vulnerability; this increase in subjective vitality helps reduce the level of insomnia. Consequently, it is recommended to focus on reducing psychological vulnerability, enhancing subjective vitality and emphasize the significance of positive early childhood experiences for individual-focused and protective interventions targeting insomnia. The results of this research are expected to contribute to a better understanding of the effects of positive childhood experiences on insomnia.

ObjectiveSuicide among elderly women has increasingly been recognized as a significant public health concern, necessitating the development of innovative, evidence-based interventions tailored to this vulnerable population. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of gamified group-based physical activity in a virtual reality (VR) environment for enhancing psychological resilience and reducing suicidal ideation among elderly women.MethodsA randomized controlled trial (RCT) design with convenience sampling was adopted for this study. A total of 120 elderly women with clinically confirmed suicidal ideation were recruited through purposive announcements at senior care facilities in Beijing, China, and were then randomly allocated into experimental (n = 60) and control (n = 60) groups using a computer-generated randomization schedule. Data were collected using two validated questionnaires: the Subjective Vitality Scale and the Life Hope Questionnaire. The normality of data distribution was assessed using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, and the homogeneity of variances across groups was evaluated via Levene’s test. To control for baseline differences and assess the impact of the intervention, data were analyzed using analysis of covariance.ResultsThe findings revealed statistically significant improvements in both subjective vitality and life hope scores among participants in the experimental group compared to those in the control group (p < 0.01). The effect size for hopefulness was η2 = 0.29, and the effect size for mental vitality was η2 = 0.21.ConclusionThese findings highlight that gamified VR-based group exercise is a promising non-pharmacological approach for improving psychological well-being and mitigating suicide risk in elderly women. By combining immersive technology, social engagement, and motivational components, such interventions offer an effective, engaging, and scalable strategy to address mental health challenges in aging populations.

ABSTRACT Tourism serves as a vital approach for promoting active aging. In recent years, virtual tourism has emerged as a promising alternative to traditional travel, offering the elderly new opportunities to enhance their mental health and well‐being. Grounded in self‐determination theory, this study explores how elderly tourists' motivations—specifically autonomy (convenience, usability), relatedness (cultural exploration, interpersonal seeking), and competence (continuous learning, ego‐enhancement)—influence virtual tourism involvement, destination psychological ownership (DPO), and subjective vitality. Survey data from 364 participants aged 60 and above across multiple countries were analyzed using AMOS and SPSS. The results reveal that all six motivations positively predict virtual tourism involvement. DPO mediates the relationship between involvement and subjective vitality, whereas fear of missing out moderates the link between involvement and DPO. This study deepens the understanding of elderly tourists' psychology in virtual tourism, offering insights for designing age‐friendly virtual experiences that promote well‐being and engagement among them.

Motivation, movement, and vitality: Self-determination theory and its organismic perspective on physical activity as part of human flourishing.

Self-control duration and implicit willpower assumptions in the cognitive association between self-control and decreased vitality.

Research suggests that perfectionistic concerns are associated with lower levels of well-being while perfectionistic strivings are associated with higher levels of well-being. While characteristics such as unrealistic expectations and a fear of failure help to explain why perfectionistic concerns are associated with lower levels of well-being, it remains unclear why perfectionistic strivings are associated with higher levels of well-being. To address this issue, the present research utilised a cross-sectional design and an opportunity sample of undergraduate psychology students (N = 218; mean age = 18.7years; 34 male, 209 female, 1 non-binary, 1 gender-neutral, 2 missing) to investigate the possibility that eudaimonic motives mediate the relationships between the two forms of perfectionism and both hedonic (positive affect, life satisfaction) and eudaimonic (meaning in life, subjective vitality) forms of well-being. The results showed that eudaimonic motives fully mediated the positive relationships between perfectionistic strivings and positive affect, meaning in life, and subjective vitality. Eudaimonic motives also fully mediated the negative relationship between perfectionistic concerns and meaning in life, and partially mediated the negative relationships between perfectionistic concerns and both positive affect and subjective vitality. These findings suggest that eudaimonic motives play an important role in explaining why some forms of perfectionism are beneficial to well-being while other forms of perfectionism are harmful to well-being.

Objectives: This cross-sectional, descriptive correlational research investigated the relationship between stress, academic motivation, and subjective vitality among nursing students. Methods: Participants were recruited through a non-probability purposive sampling approach. An anonymous online survey was conducted with 188 first- to fourth-year study nursing students, assessing their perceived academic stress using the Perceptions of Academic Stress Scale, academic motivation using the Student Academic Motivation Scale (SAMS-21), and subjective vitality using the Subjective Vitality Scale. Descriptive statistics, bivariate correlational analysis, and multivariate analysis were employed in this study. Results: The results indicate that students experience moderate stress levels during exam sessions, with higher stress associated with workload and examinations. Academic motivation was characterized by high extrinsic motivation, which identified regulation and intrinsic motivation to know. A significant difference in a form of extrinsic motivation-introjected regulation-was found between student groups, with a tendency for this motivation to decrease over the years of study. No statistically significant relationship was found between students' academic stress and subjective vitality. Conclusions: Academic stress related to workload and exams is determined by both demographic factors, such as age and year of study, and psychological factors, including academic self-perception and amotivation, which highlight the multifaceted nature of the stress experienced by nursing students. Students' subjective vitality is related to intrinsic motivation-to know and achieve-and to all extrinsic motivation. External forms of regulation, especially introjected regulation, are significantly related to students' subjective vitality.

ObjectiveThe objective of this study is to investigate the acute effects of a five-minute virtual reality (VR) nature microbreak on autonomic function and mood in healthcare workers (HCWs).MethodsSeventeen HCWs from an orthopedic outpatient clinic (mean ± SD age, 30.9 ± 7.9 years) completed a single-group crossover pilot study. Participants performed (i) a VR-guided paced breathing session displaying 360° natural scenery (VR condition) and (ii) an eyes-closed (EC) paced breathing session using an eye mask (EC condition) on separate days, at least 24 hours apart, during the same time slot (15:00-16:00). Breathing tempo was fixed at six breaths · min⁻¹ (four-second inhalation and six-second exhalation) using an auditory metronome. Five-minute photoplethysmographic heart rate variability (lnRMSSD, lnHF, lnTP, and lnLF/HF) and the short form of the Two-Dimensional Mood Scale (TDMS ST: Vitality, Stability, Pleasure, and Arousal) were recorded pre- and post-intervention. Post-pre differences were compared between conditions using paired t-tests. Effect sizes are expressed as Hedges’ g or Wilcoxon’s r.ResultsVR produced small, nonsignificant increases in autonomic indices (HF 0.17 ± 0.67 vs -0.05 ± 0.71 log ms²; t(16) = 1.35, p = 0.20, g = 0.31). Significant improvements were observed in the following TDMS subscales: Vitality (0.88 ± 3.22 vs -1.88 ± 3.98; p = 0.015, g = 0.63), Stability (4.53 ± 3.59 vs 2.12 ± 1.83; p = 0.025, g = 0.57), and Pleasure (5.41 ± 5.11 vs 0.24 ± 3.65; p = 0.005, g = 0.75). Arousal showed no significant difference (Z = -0.20, p = 0.84, r = 0.05).ConclusionsA brief VR nature microbreak with paced breathing elicited medium-to-large improvements in subjective vitality, stability, and pleasure compared to conventional EC breathing, while producing only small, nonsignificant enhancements in parasympathetic HRV. VR microbreaks represent a feasible, low-cost, low-time intervention to boost immediate well-being in HCWs; however, larger and longer-term trials are warranted to confirm their physiological benefits and sustainability.

Changes in cardiorespiratory fitness, cardiovascular risk factors and patient reported outcomes in long-term breast cancer survivors after 5 months of aerobic exercise: a randomized controlled trial