Well-being Challenges Research Articles

Exploring the lived experience of performance-related health and wellbeing among flautists

IntroductionThe study has investigated the lived experience of flautists, focusing on their experiences and perceptions of performance-related physical discomfort, injury and related mental health challenges that they might have encountered in practice and performance. The aims of the research have been to provide flautists with an opportunity to reflect on any physical or psychological performance issues in their own words, and to understand the subjective meaning of these experiences.MethodsA basic qualitative approach was used for gathering data. All the fieldwork was undertaken during or immediately after the Covid-19 pandemic. Consequently, the participating flautists were deliberately selected using professional networks on the basis of their answers to a pre-interview initial questionnaire related to the characteristics of their personal backgrounds and their experiences, as well as being able to participate remotely. There have been two data collection phases. Phase 1 was a specially designed pre-interview questionnaire drawing on themes from appropriate literature. Phase 2 built on the pre-interview questionnaire responses and was designed as semi-structured interviews, undertaken on Zoom, and included a ‘River of Flute-playing Experience’ activity during the interview. The ‘River of Experience’ method is an autobiographical research tool in which participants were asked to annotate key biographical experiences and challenges at various points along their drawing of a meandering river. The combined data analyses drew on thematic analysis.ResultsThe eight participants reported a personal history of performance-related health and wellbeing challenges that they had faced at some point in their lives. The findings reveal that flautists encounter health-related challenges associated with their practice and performances, and the data suggest that they each require an understanding of likely performance-related health challenges and supportive resources to assist them in managing these challenges.DiscussionThe participants’ diverse experiences highlight the importance of managing health and the value of supportive social connections. They cope with health challenges by integrating passion, resilience, and adaptability into their lives, finding ways to grow and continue to thrive in their flute-playing journey. The study underscores the need for comprehensive health education and support resources for flautists, emphasising the significance of resilience and adaptability in fostering health, wellbeing, and success.

Occupational health and well-being challenges and opportunities in theory and practice

Occupational health and well-being challenges and opportunities in theory and practice

Exploring early- and mid-career academic work wellbeing challenges through a diversity and inclusion lens

BackgroundEarly- to mid-career academics (EMCAs) represent a core component of the Australian higher education workforce. These academics experience major challenges to their wellbeing, driving a strong desire to leave academia.ObjectivesDetermine (1) EMCA awareness of, and engagement with, previous University- and Faculty-level diversity and inclusion events/initiatives and (2) opportunities and solutions to address previously reported diversity and inclusion issues experienced in the workplace.Methods114 EMCAs in medicine, dentistry and health sciences completed an electronic cross-sectional survey. The survey contained a list of University- and Faculty-provided diversity and inclusion initiatives and sought respondent ratings of interest, awareness (knowing/hearing about) and engagement (attending/applying/participating). Two in-person focus groups comprising participants who opted in during the survey or who responded to broader advertising were conducted. Both groups explored opportunities and solutions to address diversity and inclusion issues reported in an earlier organisation-wide survey.ResultsWhilst early- and mid-career academics reported high interest in diversity and inclusion events, they also reported limited awareness and engagement with these events, feeling unsupported to engage or perceiving consequences for workload. Focus groups identified five themes related to opportunities and solutions to address diversity and inclusion issues experienced in the workplace (1) enhanced relational support for career progression, (2) clear and transparent processes for efficient working, (3) reducing structural barriers to create opportunity, (4) improved financial renumeration, and (5) improved transitions and pathways.ConclusionEarly- and mid-career academics often felt unable to engage with activities outside of their immediate work responsibilities, such as events about diversity and inclusion, due to feelings of high workload. A systems approach to deploying targeted strategies to address these wellbeing challenges is recommended to sustain and retain this critical workforce.

Associations between the Number of Children, Depressive Symptoms, and Cognition in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Evidence from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study.

Background: China's rapidly aging population presents challenges for cognitive health and mental well-being among the older adults. This study examines how the number of children affects cognitive function in middle-aged and older adults and whether depressive symptoms mediate this relationship. Methods: This study analyzed data from waves 1 to 5 (2011-2020) of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), involving 5932 participants aged 45 and older. Participants were grouped by the number of children: childless, only child and multiple children. We used Logarithmic Generalized Linear Models (LGLMs) to explore the relationships among the number of children, depressive symptoms, and cognitive function. Indirect effect coefficients and 95% bias-corrected and accelerated confidence intervals (BCaCI) were estimated using Simultaneous Equation Models (SEM) with three-stage least squares (3SLS) and the bootstrap method to assess the mediating effect of depressive symptoms. Results: In middle-aged and older adults, a negative association was observed between the number of children and overall cognitive functioning (all p < 0.01). This association remained significant even after adjusting for covariates in groups with three (β = -0.023, p < 0.05) and four or more children (β = -0.043, p < 0.001). Conversely, the positive association between the number of children and depression also persisted after adjusting for covariates, although it weakened as the number of children increased (all p < 0.01). Depressive symptoms consistently correlated negatively with overall cognitive function (p < 0.001) and partially mediated the relationship between the number of children and cognitive function (pMe = 20.36%, p < 0.05). The proportion of the mediating effect attributed to depression was more pronounced in middle-aged and older adults who had experienced the loss of children (pMe = 24.31%) or had two children (pMe = 25.39%), with stronger mediating effects observed in males (pMe = 48.84%) and urban residents (pMe = 64.58%). Conclusions: The findings indicate that depressive symptoms partially mediate the relationship between the number of children and cognitive function in middle-aged and older adults in China. These results highlight the significance of considering mental health factors when studying cognitive function in this demographic. Notably, in families without children and those with two children, depressive symptoms play a crucial role in explaining the decline in cognitive function.

The momentary relationship between physical activity behaviour and mental well-being of vocational education and training students

Background and aimsVocational education and training (VET)-students often face student mental well-being (SMW) challenges. Physical activity behaviour (PAB) is positively associated with SWM, yet SMW can vary during the day. Therefore, this study aims to explore the momentary relationship between PAB ((i.e., moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), light physical activity (LPA), sedentary behaviour (SB)) and SMW (i.e., affect, self-esteem). MethodsFor 9 consecutive days, VET-students reported their SMW via experience sampling methods-prompts while their PAB was measured with thigh worn ActivPALs™. PAB data was summed in minutes spent in each PAB 30 and 60 minutes before each prompt. Data of 68 students (68% female, mean-age=18.9±4) was analysed with multilevel regression analyses. ResultsConsistently positive associations between LPA and positive affect (30min: β = 0.03, p = <.001, 60min: β = 0.03, p = <.001), and self-esteem (30min: β = 0.01, p = .047 60 min: β = 0.01, p = <.001) were found. For SB negative associations for positive affect (30 min: β = -0.04, p = <.001, 60 min: β = -0.03, p = <.001), and self-esteem (30 min: β = -0.02, p = < .001, 60 min: β = -0.01, p = < .001) were found. No associations were found between any PAB and negative affect, and for MVPA and SMW. ConclusionThe significant positive associations between LPA and SMW and the negative associations between SB and SMW suggest that increasing LPA and decreasing SB and can improve SMW in VET students.

The emotional wellbeing of students with profound intellectual disabilities and those who work with them: a relational reading

Interest in the mental health landscape of young people is widespread. This paper focuses in on the emotional wellbeing of students with profound intellectual disabilities and those who work with them in special schools. A relational reading of the situation illustrates some relationships between the two and vulnerabilities of both. The authors engage with theory: the double (and triple) empathy problem and empathy more widely, and with the concepts of affect attunement, holding and ethics of care. They interweave brief reflections on their own experiences working and researching in special schools and argue that these relationally constituted spaces present challenges for the emotional wellbeing of students and staff. The paper concludes by calling for recognition of the emotional labour involved in interacting across different ways of being and of knowing the world and for greater attention to empathising in embodied, perceptual ways to aid mutual understanding and support wellbeing.

Spatiotemporal Patterns of Land Surface Temperature, Urban Heat Island, and Potential Heat Stress Risk Areas Assessment for Tropical Inland City and Coastal City in Thailand

Global warming and rapid urban growth, compounded by the urban heat island (UHI) effect, are posing substantial challenges for urban populations and ecological well-being due to increased heat stress risks. This study aimed to analyze the spatiotemporal patterns of land surface temperature (LST), UHI, and potential heat stress risk areas (PHSRA) in two distinct cities, an inland city, Nakhon Ratchasima, and a coastal city, Si Racha, during the summer. Geoinformatics techniques and Crichton’s Risk Triangle method were employed, using updated demographic data and Sentinel-3 data from 2017 to 2022. The findings indicate that the inland city daytime average LST values were higher than in the coastal city, while the opposite was true at nighttime. Additionally, high daytime UHI patterns in the inland city were observed on the outskirts, and nighttime UHI concentrated in the urban center. The coastal city exhibited a strong daytime and nighttime UHI compared to the inland city, with daytime UHI peaking in the inner area and nighttime UHI near the coastline. The PHSRA was categorized into five risk levels (very high: &gt; 0.8, high: 0.8–0.6, moderate: 0.6–0.4, low: 0.4–0.2 and very low: ≤ 0.2). During the daytime the highest risk areas, the high and very high levels of PHSRA in the inland city (23.84%) were greater than those in the coastal city (16.46%). Conversely, at nighttime, the coastal city (16.46%) exhibited higher levels than the inland city (5.26%). In nighttime conditions, all levels of PHSRA occurred more significantly than during the daytime in these cities. Understanding the spatiotemporal variations in PHSRA is vital for pinpointing places at risk of heat stress accidents in summer. This data is a goldmine for city planners and healthcare authorities, helping them plan interventions and effective measures for the future.

The Role of Outdoor Mindfulness Intervention in Optimizing Mental Well-Being in Adolescents with Specific Learning Disabilities

Adolescents with specific learning disabilities may experience mental well-being challenges as a result of struggling academically, facing social stigma, being subjected to negative stereotypes, and experiencing heightened levels of anxiety, poor mental health, lower self-esteem, and increased stress. This study explores the potential benefits of outdoor-based mindfulness interventions as a complementary approach to remedial education, in improving mental well-being in adolescents with specific learning disabilities. This study was conducted at an institution that gives remedial education for children with specific learning disability in Thrissur, Kerala. Convenient sampling was used to select 30 students aged 13-18 years. Later, participants were randomly divided into two groups the experimental group (n=15) received outdoor mindfulness training in addition to their regular remedial education program. In contrast, the control group (n=15) received only remedial training. The study duration spanned four weeks, during which the mindfulness group participated in weekly outdoor mindfulness sessions conducted individually. They were instructed to practice mindfulness exercises daily between sessions. Both groups were assessed using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS) at the beginning (pre-intervention) and at the end (post-intervention) of the four weeks to measure changes in mental well-being. The outdoor mindfulness interventions included a range of activities, designed to optimize the level of well-being experienced by the participants in their day-to-day lives. These activities focused on enhancing the skills of mindfully listening, walking, breathing, and observing without any judgments of self and surroundings and being in the present at the moment. Results indicated significant improvements in mental well-being scores among participants in the mindfulness group compared to the control group. This underscores the potential of integrating mindfulness practices into educational settings to enhance emotional regulation and overall well-being in adolescents with specific learning disabilities, highlighting interdisciplinary opportunities across psychology, education, environmental psychology, public health, and social work to support comprehensive student development.

Climate-responsive urban planning through generative models: Sensitivity analysis of urban planning and design parameters for urban heat island in Singapore's residential settlements

The Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect exacerbates the sustainability and well-being challenges of extreme heat events. While city planning and design measures have been shown to mitigate UHI severity, the complex interaction among these measures has limited the ability of previous research to assess their impact holistically and across urban scales. To investigate the cross-scalar effectiveness of multiple UHI mitigation measures, this study applies sensitivity analysis (SA) to nine parameters in an urban generative model. Previously unstudied planning parameters, land parcel area and road network density, are included in the analysis. From the SA of 21,000 model solutions for a 100 ha case study site in Singapore, building density, podium density, and land parcel area are found to have greatest impacts on UHI. This finding supports a hypothesis that urban planning parameters have a high potential for UHI mitigation. Key findings include that a high green plot ratio (>50 %) combined with a low site coverage ratio (<50 %) permits even high-density model solutions (gross plot ratio >4) to maintain annual UHI below 0.89 °C. The conclusion discusses the implications of the findings for heat-resilient city planning and demonstrates that performance-based evaluation of generative urban models can improve upon prescriptive planning approaches.

Urban Agriculture in the Kathmandu Valley: Assessing Practices, Impacts, and Challenges for Sustainable Food Production and Well-being

Urban Agriculture in the Kathmandu Valley: Assessing Practices, Impacts, and Challenges for Sustainable Food Production and Well-being

Utility of an online well-being assessment in targeting employee well-being programmes: a cross-sectional survey study in Finland

ObjectivesOccupational health challenges are changing, emphasising the need for a more comprehensive approach. This study examines how a subjective well-being assessment can be used to identify target groups for work...

Parental Migration and the Social and Mental Well-Being Challenges among Indonesian Left-Behind Children: A Qualitative Study.

Parental labour migration, of either one or both parents, has been associated with various challenges among left-behind children (LBC). However, there is a limited understanding of the LBC's own views and experiences of social and mental well-being and how the new daily life circumstances they encounter following their parents' migration impact them. This study aimed to understand the influence of parental migration and its aftermath on the social and mental well-being of adolescents (referred to as LBC) in two rural districts in Indonesia. Employing a qualitative design, data were collected through individual in-depth interviews with LBC (n = 24) aged 14 to 18 years, recruited using the snowball sampling technique. Data were thematically analysed, guided by a qualitative data analysis framework. The findings showed that parental migration negatively impacted the social well-being of LBC. This impact was reflected in negative labelling from friends and changes in familial roles which influenced their social interactions and activities with peers. Parental migration was also associated with challenges to the mental well-being of LBC. These manifested in the LBC experiencing fractured emotional bonds, leading to negative emotions, including stress, anxiety, sadness, depression, frustration, loss of motivation, and self-imposed isolation, which were associated with their parents' migration and abrupt disruptions in parent-child communication. The transition to new life situations with caregivers after parental migration and the dynamics within the caregivers' households were additional factors that detrimentally affected their mental well-being. Unmet basic needs and educational needs due to financial hardships faced by mothers and caregivers further exacerbated mental health challenges for the children. The findings indicate the importance and improvement of policies and interventions in Indonesia (e.g., counselling services, non-cash food assistance, family hope program, direct cash assistance) that cover and address the diverse needs of mothers or caregivers and the LBC.

Investigating Health and Well-Being Challenges Faced by an Aging Workforce in the Construction and Nursing Industries: Computational Linguistic Analysis of Twitter Data.

Construction and nursing are critical industries. Although both careers involve physically and mentally demanding work, the risks to workers during the COVID-19 pandemic are not well understood. Nurses (both younger and older) are more likely to experience the ill effects of burnout and stress than construction workers, likely due to accelerated work demands and increased pressure on nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, we analyzed a large social media data set using advanced natural language processing techniques to explore indicators of the mental status of workers across both industries before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. This social media analysis aims to fill a knowledge gap by comparing the tweets of younger and older construction workers and nurses to obtain insights into any potential risks to their mental health due to work health and safety issues. We analyzed 1,505,638 tweets published on Twitter (subsequently rebranded as X) by younger and older (aged <45 vs >45 years) construction workers and nurses. The study period spanned 54 months, from January 2018 to June 2022, which equates to approximately 27 months before and 27 months after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic on March 11, 2020. The tweets were analyzed using big data analytics and computational linguistic analyses. Text analyses revealed that nurses made greater use of hashtags and keywords (both monograms and bigrams) associated with burnout, health issues, and mental health compared to construction workers. The COVID-19 pandemic had a pronounced effect on nurses' tweets, and this was especially noticeable in younger nurses. Tweets about health and well-being contained more first-person singular pronouns and affect words, and health-related tweets contained more affect words. Sentiment analyses revealed that, overall, nurses had a higher proportion of positive sentiment in their tweets than construction workers. However, this changed markedly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since early 2020, sentiment switched, and negative sentiment dominated the tweets of nurses. No such crossover was observed in the tweets of construction workers. The social media analysis revealed that younger nurses had language use patterns consistent with someone experiencing the ill effects of burnout and stress. Older construction workers had more negative sentiments than younger workers, who were more focused on communicating about social and recreational activities rather than work matters. More broadly, these findings demonstrate the utility of large data sets enabled by social media to understand the well-being of target populations, especially during times of rapid societal change.

The experiences lived by lesbian students in an underdeveloped country: a qualitative study

In today's generation, LGBTQIA+ people have been mistreated in society, particularly lesbians. Lesbians were considered to have the most minor research conducted on this issue. This study aims to know the struggles, coping mechanisms, and insights of lesbian students. The researchers used a phenomenological research design. Ten lesbian students participated in the interview, and the data were analyzed using Colaizzi's method. The result revealed the following themes: social and emotional wellbeing challenges for struggles; respect for one's identity and acknowledging one's rights for coping strategies; surrounding oneself with positivity and setting goals and encouragement for insights. Although being a lesbian has been a challenge in this society, the participants found a way to boost their confidence and be content by being who they are.

‘If you are feeling alone and you are not feeling safe, it impacts everything’: a mixed-methods exploration of international students’ accommodation, subjective wellbeing and mental health help-seeking

BackgroundThe international education sector is important not only to Australian society, but also to the national economy. There are growing concerns about the potential wellbeing challenges facing international students in their host country, owing to acculturative stress; including loneliness, isolation and experiences of racism. Risks include poor mental health and decreased likelihood to access support due to stigma, language and cultural barriers, not knowing where to seek help, and poor mental health knowledge.MethodsThis study explored students’ perceptions of their accommodation, subjective wellbeing (through the Personal Wellbeing Index, [‘PWI’]), mental health help-seeking and individual engagement with evidence-based everyday health promotion actions (informed by the ‘5 Ways to Wellbeing’ model) through an online survey (N = 375) and three online focus groups (N = 19). A mixed-methods approach using descriptive statistics, ANOVA, regression analysis and thematic analysis, were used.ResultsThe PWI of international students in the survey was observed to be substantially lower (M = 60.7) than that reported for the Australian population (M = 77.5). Accommodation impacted on wellbeing (loneliness, belonging, connectedness) in a number of different ways including through location, safety, and shared accommodation. In terms of help-seeking, international students noted a number of barriers to accessing support for mental health: cost of accessing support, language and cultural barriers, lack of information on where to find support and stigma.ConclusionsIn the discussion, implications of the findings are considered, including that more could be done to shape policy and practice in service and facility provision around wellbeing, connectedness, and help-seeking for mental health support of international students.

Contextually appropriate nurse staffing models: a realist review protocol

IntroductionDecisions about nurse staffing models are a concern for health systems globally due to workforce retention and well-being challenges. Nurse staffing models range from all Registered Nurse workforce to a...

Psychological hardiness and optimism: A study among orphans and non-orphans

The present study aims to assess the relationship between psychological hardiness and optimism among orphan and non-orphan adolescents and examines the significant differences among the orphan and non-orphan adolescents based on family setting and gender. The study was carried out, and responses were collected from 200 orphan and non-orphan population. Personal views survey III-R (PVS III-R) and Life Orientation Test-R (LOT-R) scales were used to gather the data. Correlation was employed to study the relationship between psychological hardiness and optimism. Independent sample t-test was used to assess differences within orphan and non-orphan adolescents in psychological hardiness and optimism. The result of the study showed a significant difference between orphan and non-orphan adolescents with regard to both psychological hardiness and optimism and also based on gender. The study’s findings indicated a positive correlation between the psychological hardiness and optimism among non-orphan adolescents. This is helpful in providing supportive environments including peer networks, mentorship, and counseling services, within orphanages on shaping coping mechanisms and future outlooks, with a focus on fostering resilience and optimism among children while addressing gender-specific challenges for psychological well-being.

From Food to “Detoxification”: A Framework for Understanding and Shaping Social Practices and Their Networking

Understanding how social practices, like cooking, evolve and network in our daily lives is crucial for addressing sustainability and well-being challenges. While existing research prioritizes swift and holistic transformation of the network of practices, a critical gap exists in comprehending how these networks form and how they can be analyzed in practice. This study addresses this gap by introducing a novel analytical framework. This framework, which moves beyond analyzing the ‘performative’ aspects of practices (e.g., food sharing), sheds light on how interactions with objects shape and contribute to the emergence and interconnectedness of practices. By applying this framework to the case study of note-by-note cooking, we showcase its utility in three key scenarios: Unveiling the “Why”: Analyzing how objects become “ideologically coded” within practice networks allows us to understand the underlying factors shaping them. This empowers researchers and practitioners to identify and potentially “recode” unsustainable or undesirable practices towards desired outcomes. Strategic Intervention: By strategically introducing new objects into the network, the framework provides insights into “neutralizing” the influence of undesirable practices. This targeted approach allows for more nuanced interventions within existing practice networks. Cultivating New Practices: The framework empowers researchers and practitioners to develop or “encode” alternative practices by leveraging object–practitioner interactions. This enables the creation of entirely new practices or the expansion of existing ones, fostering positive societal transformations.

Taking the plunge, juggling acts, and friendly fire

Students embarking on higher education confront many challenges. Particularly since the Covid-19 pandemic, universities have become increasingly concerned to address these challenges and to develop comprehensive strategies to nurture student wellbeing. Distance learning courses create additional pressures, however, and not only because online students tend to be older than typical undergraduate student cohorts and therefore present with an array of social and caring responsibilities at the point of enrolment. The present study’s objectives were to explore how distance learning students describe their experiences of online learning, with a particular focus on their engagement with their course, their lifestyle and wellbeing challenges, and their interactions with staff and fellow students. Developing Shinebourne and Smith’s (2010) innovative phenomenology coupled with experiential metaphor methodology, we employed a two-stage data collection methodology based on participant diaries and follow-up interviews. In Stage 1, diaries captured student experiences in real time. Diary entry data subsequently informed the schedules of the semi-structured interviews that followed in Stage 2. Metaphorical analysis provided insight into online students’ lifeworlds, in terms of the practical challenges of balancing roles with time pressures, the existential struggle of forging a new identity, and the search for meaningful interpersonal connections. Six inter-related metaphors were unearthed: ‘Plunging into the Deep’; ‘Impostor Syndrome’; ‘A Precariously Balanced Juggling Act’; ‘The Gift of Time’; ‘Hostile Territories and Friendly Fire’; and ‘House of Cards’. Confirming and extending previous work, our findings demonstrate that online distance learning is a journey of self-doubt and discovery interrupted by both traumatic and transformative moments as students strive to succeed against multiple existential threats. We recommend that universities devote resources to facilitating an understanding of online students’ unique circumstances to provide them with informed and effective wellbeing support at the start of and throughout their journeys.

Entrepreneur coaches’ flow and well-being: the role of recovery

ABSTRACT Entrepreneur coaches face increased well-being challenges due to their demanding roles. However, they also often report experiencing flow – an immersive, enjoyable state of intense focus that positively affects well-being. In this qualitative study of 20 self-employed career, executive, health, leadership, and life coaches, we aimed to understand entrepreneur coaches’ experience of flow and relationships with recovery at work. We found that recovery was important for entering flow and coaches actively scheduled recovery activities, such as regular breaks, to support recovery and to enter and sustain flow. These findings contribute to research on how the interplay between flow and recovery can contribute to the well-being and sustainable working lives of entrepreneur coaches.