Well-Being and Health

An extensive and coherent body of social and psychological research has identified social ties and supportive relationships as important predictors of well-being and quality of life. This paper examines the relationships between structural and functional indicators of supportive relations and well-being in Greece at different levels of analysis based on results from three studies: (a) the European Social Survey (Study 1); (b) a cross sectional community study in Greece (Study 2); and (c) a social interactions study in Greece and the UK using an event sampling methodology (Study 3). Structural indicators of social support and life satisfaction and happiness in the first study were moderately associated. This finding was partly supported by results from the second study which revealed connections between some structural aspects of social support and well-being (happiness, anxiety, irritability) but not others. Functional aspects of social support and psychological indicators of well-being (happiness, anxiety, mental health) at the individual (Study 2) and social interaction (Study 3) levels were not associated. Cross-cultural comparisons of structural indicators of social support in Studies 1 and 3 revealed low frequency of social interactions. Also functional aspects of social support in everyday social interactions in Greece showed significantly lower levels in comparison to the UK. These findings suggest that structural and functional aspects of social support in Greece may not have the same palliative role as usually observed in the international literature and are discussed with particular attention to the level of analysis, the method, and the aspect of well-being being assessed.

Despite the wealth of knowledge about the impact of bullying victimization, information gaps exist about how traditional and cyber bullying in early adolescence is associated with emotional wellbeing, namely, indicators of positive wellbeing. Therefore, this study investigated associations between different types of bullying victimization and positive and negative emotional wellbeing indicators, in addition to examining the prevalence of different types of bullying in conjunction with child, peer, and school factors. The study used data from an annual survey of student wellbeing conducted in South Australian schools. The sample comprised of 9019 grade 6 students aged 10–13 years (49.6% female). One-third of students experienced bullying victimization. Verbal bullying was most prevalent in this sample (24%), followed by social (21%), physical (10%), and cyberbullying (7%). Males were significantly more likely to experience physical and verbal bullying, and students living in more socioeconomically disadvantaged communities were significantly more likely to experience physical, verbal, social, and cyber bullying victimization. Additionally, all types of bullying victimization were significantly associated with lower scores on positive emotional wellbeing indicators (happiness, life satisfaction, and emotion regulation) and significantly higher scores on negative indicators (sadness and worries), all with small effect sizes after accounting for child-, peer-, and school-level factors. This research suggests that bullying is associated with both positive and negative aspects of emotional wellbeing, and both aspects of wellbeing are crucial to consider when developing school-based interventions.

Although socioeconomic status (SES) has been associated with a myriad of physical and psychological health indicators, it is arguably one of the most elusive constructs in the psychological literature. Most researchers agree that SES is complex and multidimensional; however, the majority of empirical studies that focus on SES do not measure (or attempt to measure) multiple components of the construct, instead focusing on one or two indicators of SES, most commonly household income and/or levels of education. This paper explores relationships among indicators of SES, disadvantage, and psychological well-being in two independent samples of families with children with severe emotional disturbances. In addition to utilizing two common SES indicators (parental education and income), we incorporated measures reflecting resource-related challenges of living, such as adequate food and housing. Based on analyses, we argue that such variables may better capture the challenges experienced by many families than traditional SES indicators. Findings also suggest that income and education relate to different aspects of family well-being, and solely using one or both of these variables may mask relevant relationships. Moreover, assessing practical, day-to-day challenges may permit a more nuanced picture of the relationships between factors associated with SES and indicators of well-being and adjustment.

ABSTRACTIn this study we examined associations between pet ownership and presence and indicators of psychological wellbeing in older Australians, using an innovative, experience sampling methodology and a community-living sample of 68 adults, including 41 pet owners, all aged over 65 years. In response to randomized prompts the participants provided information about their location, social companions, activities, and mood state six times daily for seven consecutive days. They also completed a number of surveys measuring various aspects of wellbeing. There were no significant differences in our outcome measures between pet owners and those who did not own at least one pet, and few of our pet owners reported engaging in pet-focused human– animal activities, such as walking their dog or playing with their cat. However, frequency of pet presence during activities of daily living was associated with, and statistically predictive of, several measures of wellbeing and mood. From our results we tentatively conclude that more frequent presence of a pet, particularly a dog, may be associated with greater psychological wellbeing in this cohort. More importantly, we confirm that the intensive experience sampling methodology provides a novel means of examining human–pet interactions, enabling a closer analysis of moment-by-moment pet presence than has been possible using alternative approaches.

In a European trial in 8 countries, the subjective well-being of patients on alternative forms of treatment for insulin-dependent diabetes was compared using the 28-item WHO Well-Being Questionnaire, covering four dimensions of depression, anxiety, energy and positive well-being. The objective of the analysis reported here has been to identify the items of the WHO questionnaire which belong to an overall index of negative and positive well-being. Adult patients at 10 study centres in 8 countries who had been on insulin for at least 2 years were invited to participate in a randomised, cross-over trial to compare insulin pump treatment with injection therapy. At each phase, patients completed questions on well-being and general health. Internal validity of the well-being index was evaluated by Cronbach's alpha and Loevinger's and Mokken's homogeneity coefficients, as well as factor analysis. External validity was evaluated by comparisons with results of the general assessment questions and by the ability to discriminate between the alternative forms of treatment. 358 patients had sufficient data for analysis. Ten items were found to constitute a valid index of well-being with respect to internal and external validity. Coefficients of homogeneity were acceptable and there was evidence for both concurrent and discriminant validity. The WHO (Ten) well-being index includes negative and positive aspects of well-being in a single uni-dimensional scale. Its advantage lies in its ability to show overall change along the continuum of well-being, thus facilitating comparisons between patient groups and treatments. It is not specific to diabetes, and therefore may be useful as a disease-independent index of well-being in a broad range of health care studies.

Well-being measurement has been an intensively discussed topic in recent economic literature. It has become clear that the informational base of the System of National Accounts (SNA) is far too narrow to include many aspects of well-being. Many economists emphasise that new economic measures which are more sensitive to the social and environmental aspects of decision-making are needed (van den Bergh 2007, Stiglitz et al. 2009) in order to make social decision-making itself sensitive to such aspects. It is small wonder that we encounter a great many sustainability and well-being indicators in economic literature (Bohringer-Jochem 2007). In our paper, we establish a model for the well-being measurement of sub-regions based on contemporary welfare economics. Based on our model we operationalise and measure well-being at a sub-regional level within Hungary using statistical data. Our research shows that (1) well-being measurement at a sub-regional level reveals tendencies which are masked by traditional economic and competitiveness analysis and (2) well- being measurement has serious limitations, i.e. there is a significant measurement gap between the theoretical models of well-being and their operationalisation based on statistical data sets. 58 JUDIT GEBERT – GYORGY MALOVICS – ZSUZSA FASKERTI

Wellbeing is an important aspect of mental health that is moderately heritable. Specific wellbeing-related variants have been identified via GWAS meta-analysis of individual questionnaire items. However, a multi-item within-subject index score has potential to capture greater heritability, enabling improved delineation of genetic and phenotypic relationships across traits and exposures that are not possible on aggregate-data. This research employed data from the UK Biobank resource, and a wellbeing index score was derived from indices of happiness and satisfaction with family/friendship/finances/health, using principal component analysis. GWAS was performed in Caucasian participants (N = 129,237) using the derived wellbeing index, followed by polygenic profiling (independent sample; N = 23,703). The wellbeing index, its subcomponents, and negative indicators of mental health were compared via phenotypic and genetic correlations, and relationships with psychiatric disorders examined. Lastly, the impact of childhood maltreatment on wellbeing was investigated. Five independent genome-wide significant loci for wellbeing were identified. The wellbeing index had SNP-heritability of ~8.6%, and stronger phenotypic and genetic correlations with its subcomponents (0.55–0.77) than mental health phenotypes (−0.21 to −0.39). The wellbeing score was lower in participants reporting various psychiatric disorders compared to the total sample. Childhood maltreatment exposure was also associated with reduced wellbeing, and a moderate genetic correlation (rg = ~−0.56) suggests an overlap in heritability of maltreatment with wellbeing. Thus, wellbeing is negatively associated with both psychiatric disorders and childhood maltreatment. Although notable limitations, biases and assumptions are discussed, this within-cohort study aids the delineation of relationships between a quantitative wellbeing index and indices of mental health and early maltreatment.

This study explores the effect of providing regular help with personal care to a resident or non-resident parent or parent-in-law on different aspects of psychological well-being. We use cross-sectional data from the Norwegian Life Course, Ageing and Generation (LOGG) study (N ~ 15,000, age 18–79) and two-wave panel data from the Norwegian study on Life course, Ageing and Generation (NorLAG) (N ~ 3,000, age 40–79). We separate outcomes into cognitive well-being (life satisfaction, partnership satisfaction, self-esteem), affective well-being (happiness, positive and negative affect, depression, loneliness) and sense of mastery. Caregiver status is largely unrelated to these aspects of well-being, both in cross-section and longitudinally. One notable exception is that caring for a resident (but not a non-resident) parent relates to lower affective well-being among women, also longitudinally. This effect is more marked among unpartnered and lower educated women. In addition, caring for a non-resident parent is associated with a positive change in sense of mastery among women. The results reviewed and presented indicate that caregiving has less detrimental effects in the Nordic countries than in other countries, highlighting the role of social policies and care systems in shaping the impact of caregiving on well-being.

The COVID‐19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the mental health and wellbeing of the world's population, with particularly negative effects on vulnerable populations, including autistic people. Although some consensus regarding specific impact on aspects of wellbeing and mental health in autism is starting to emerge, it is unclear whether the pandemic has increased suicide risk. The goals of this study were to examine (a) potential associations between COVID‐19 impact and depression, personal wellbeing, and suicide risk factors in Australian autistic adults and (b) age and gender effects. The COVID‐19 Impact Scale (CIS), Personal Wellbeing Index, Patient Health Questionnaire, and the Suicide Behavior Questionnaire, Revised (SBQ‐R), were administered to 111 autistic adults aged 20 to 71 years during the second wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic in Australia. COVID‐19 impact showed small associations with poorer personal wellbeing (r = −0.224, p = 0.023, [−0.409, −0.016]) and higher depressive symptoms (r = 0.268, p = 0.006, [0.056, 0.445]) and was not associated with the SBQ‐R suicide risk score (r = 0.081, p = 0.418, [−0.118, 0.264). No significant effects were identified for age. Although model results were similar for women and men, the strength of the associations between personal wellbeing and depression (z = −2.16, p = 0.015), and depression and SBQ‐R suicide risk (z = 1.961, p = 0.025), were stronger in women than in men. Qualitative analysis of an open response question from the CIS suggested that the pandemic had both positive and negative impacts on participants. The COVID‐19 pandemic has had a large impact on the mental health and wellbeing of the world's population, particularly vulnerable populations such as autistic people. It is not known if these impacts on mental health and wellbeing have increased suicide risk. Our findings suggest that the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic may be associated with poorer wellbeing and higher depression, but is not associated with suicide risk. Overall, autistic people reported both positive and negative impacts of the pandemic on their lives.

The present longitudinal study explored the development of personal well-being in university students over 4 years. Personal well-being was indexed by multiple indicators including life satisfaction, positive youth development qualities, and university engagement. A sample of 434 students enrolled in the new 4-year undergraduate program in one university in Hong Kong was successfully followed up for 4 years since they started their university study in 2012–2013 academic year. Students completed an online survey on a yearly basis and four waves of data were collected. Results revealed significant changes in most well-being indicators over time with three main observations. First, students’ life satisfaction remained at a stable level during 4 years. Second, most students’ self-reported positive youth development competencies followed a U-shaped developmental trajectory, which was characterised by a dip in the second year and a continuous rebound in the third year and fourth year. Third, students’ university engagement in different aspects showed significant increments in the third and fourth year of university study. The findings underscore the disparate developmental patterns of different aspects of student well-being during university study. This suggests that there is a need to take into account students’ developmental characteristics and related challenges in different stages of university life when develop and implement programs in university to promote student well-being.

Concerned significant others (CSOs) can experience gambling-related harm, impacting their health and wellbeing. However, this harm varies depending on the type and closeness of the relationship with the person who gambles. We sought to determine the type and closeness of relationships that are more likely to experience harm from another person's gambling, and examine which aspects of health and wellbeing are related to this harm. We examined survey data from 1,131 Australian adults who identified as being close to someone experiencing a gambling problem. The survey included information on relationship closeness, gambling-related harm (GHS-20-AO), and abroad range of health and wellbeing measures; including the Personal Wellbeing Index (PWI), the 12-item Short Form Survey (SF-12), and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule Short Form (PANAS-SF). CSOs in relationships where finances and responsibilities are shared were more likely to be harmed by another person's gambling problem, particularly partners (current and ex) and family members. This harm was most strongly associated with high levels of distress and negative emotions, impacting the CSO's ability to function properly at work or perform other responsibilities. Support and treatment services for CSOs should consider addressing the psychological distress and negative emotions commonly experienced by CSOs.

Biodiversity underpins the resilience of the ecosystems on which humanity depends. Loss of biodiversity is occurring at an unprecedented rate, driven by over-exploitation of productive ecosystems and other factors. This threatens vital ecosystem services, including food production, fresh water, nutrient cycling, waste processing, fuel and fiber, flood and storm protection, and climate stability (Vitousek et al., 1997). The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) is intended to provide a knowledge base for sustaining ecological systems, while providing for human needs. This ambitious goal has an implicit emphasis on ecological management, while recognizing that social and ecological systems are inextricably linked. The scope of public health policy in relation to ecological sustainability is difficult to define. How, then, does human health feature in the MA? To understand the potential health impacts of ecosystem change, two aspects need to be considered: the current vulnerability of the population under consideration and its future adaptive capacity (Fig. 1). These two are closely related, since vulnerable populations are less able to plan and implement adaptive responses. Vulnerability and adaptive capacity are also tied to the other aspects of well-being (material minimum, freedom and choice, good social relations, and security). The links between ecosystem change and human health—and the limits to human adaptive capacity—are seen most clearly among impoverished communities, which lack the ‘‘buffers’’ that the rich can afford. Poor communities are also the most obviously directly dependent upon productive ecosystems. Material lack is a strong determinant of health as well as other aspects of well-being. Both at the country level and within countries, poorer communities are usually less healthy than richer ones (though with some notable exceptions). At the global level, poorer countries are still battling hazards such as lack of clean water and sanitation, which contribute considerably to their burden of disease. Published online: May 3, 2004 The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of the World Health Organization. Correspondence to: Simon Hales, e-mail: simon.hales@anu.edu.au EcoHealth 1, 124–128, 2004 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-004-0085-7

This paper suggests a new and comprehensive approach to the assessment of the material well-being at the individual level by constructing a multidimensional index. Using this approach, material well-being is understood as a generic notion that covers a number of different domains, whereas the concept of domain is used to distinguish between different aspects of people’s resources, including income security, basic needs, durables, housing and subjective material well-being. Each dimension is measured independently, using the best indicators available, to generate a score or domain index for each aspect of material well-being. The procedure of re-weighting the indicators within the separate domains enables us to account for the disparity in resources and consumer preferences across different population subgroups. The final domain scores, combined with explicit weighting, are then used to generate a summary material well-being index. The domain indices and the summary material well-being index are validated by exploring their relationships to key socio-economic attributes, which were previously shown to be strongly associated with individual material well-being. The results showed that the summary indices of material well-being are characterized by greater differentiation in relation to such measures, as occupational class and judgments of satisfaction with one’s life. This allows us to conclude that our summary indices capture the latent concept of material well-being better than any of our domain indices used separately. Although the index is constructed using the Russian Gender and Generation Survey data for 2007, the methodological approach that we applied can be easily replicated in other surveys which contain information on several aspects of material well-being.

This cross-sectional study explored the role of religious resources in long-term adjustment to breast cancer. A sample of 32 survivors was assessed on indexes of religious resources (e.g., God image), nonreligious resources (e.g., optimism), and emotional and spiritual well-being. Results indicated that both relationship with God, or God image, and religious coping behavior were related to the survivors' well-being. However, the relationship of these resources with well-being and other nonreligious resources was complex. Different types of relationship with God (e.g., presence) and religious coping behavior (e.g., religious discontent) demonstrated different associations with aspects of emotional well-being and nonreligious resources (e.g., optimism). For example, women who had a sense of a benevolent God experienced less psychological distress in their current life situation. Finally, religious resources, in general, added to the prediction of emotional well-being for the long-term survivors beyond the contribution of nonreligious resources.

Mindfulness has been widely recognized for its positive impact on various aspects of psychological well-being. Prior research has investigated the role of mindfulness in enhancing hope and life satisfaction as separate constructs. However, limited attention has been given to the simultaneous influence of mindfulness on both hope and life satisfaction and the underlying mechanisms that may explain these relationships. This study examines the role of dispositional mindfulness in fostering hope and life satisfaction concurrently and explores the potential mediating role of meaning in life in this relationship. A total of 1,766 Chinese college students from Shandong Xiehe University participated in the study. Participants completed the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) to assess dispositional mindfulness, the Adult Hope Scale (AHS) to measure hope, the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) to evaluate life satisfaction, and the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ) to assess their perceived meaning in life. Statistical analyses, including mediation analysis, were conducted to explore the relationships among these variables. The findings indicated that meaning in life partially mediated the relationship between dispositional mindfulness and both hope and life satisfaction. Specifically, higher levels of dispositional mindfulness were associated with greater hope and life satisfaction, and this relationship was partially explained by increased perceptions of meaning in life. These results underscore the critical role of meaning in life as a mediator in the positive effects of mindfulness on psychological well-being. The findings suggest that interventions aimed at enhancing mindfulness may benefit from incorporating strategies to foster meaning in life, thereby amplifying their impact on hope and life satisfaction. This study advances our understanding of the mechanisms linking mindfulness to key indicators of psychological well-being and highlights the integrative role of meaning in life in these processes.