The Significance of Time, Place and Traumatic Experience on at-Risk Youths’ View of their Well-Being: A Preliminary Study

Abstract This preliminary study explores the perspectives of at-risk youths from different cultural backgrounds on their well-being. We propose that youths’ “well-being awareness” – i.e. what sources of well-being adolescents spontaneously become aware of when they are asked about – is strongly related to their socio-cultural context, their life experiences, and the time when they reflect about it. This study focused on the meaning of well-being sources, which were constructed by youths from different cultural backgrounds who faced different traumatic life experiences. We developed and applied a theoretical framework to understand youths’ well-being awareness. Focus group discussions were analyzed of 48 male youths aged 12–18 years. They either faced the Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004 (11 boys from South India), or severe intra-familial conflicts (17 European boys), or were unaccompanied minor refugees (20 boys of Asian and African origin). Youths were asked what makes them happy and sad and about their coping strategies, only followed by questions for clarification. First, the data were analyzed inductively based on grounded theory. Second, the gained well-being descriptions were deductively allocated to the most basic elements of human well-being according to White (2008): material, subjective and relational dimension. Through this allocation process the influence of the socio-cultural context (place), life-experience, and time on the meaning of well-being of each youth group became clear. Well-being should be viewed as a process: on the one hand youths conceptions of well-being are deeply rooted in their culture of origin, on the other hand the importance of well-being and its indicators change depending on youths’ traumatic experience and the time of asking about it.

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Dialogical Integration of Life Experiences and Successful Aging

The International Journal of Aging and Human Development ◽

10.1177/0091415020917685 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 009141502091768

Author(s):

Miroslav Filip ◽

Iva Poláčková Šolcová ◽

Marie Kovářová ◽

Kateřina Lukavská ◽

Jan Hofer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Successful Aging ◽

Life Experience ◽

Life Story ◽

Life Experiences ◽

Well Being ◽

Hypothetical Model ◽

Low Level ◽

Complete Integration ◽

Life Story Interviews ◽

Partial Integration

This article examines the hypothesis that the dialogical integration of life experiences is related to successful aging. Life story interviews with 93 older Czech adults were sorted into categories characterized by specific patterns of life experience integration: (i) without dialogical processes, (ii) with differentiated I-positions, (iii) with dialogical relationships, (iv) partially integrated, and (v) completely integrated. The results indicated that the categories were ordered, yielding low-level correlations with scales of successful aging in predicted directions. A comparison of the categories revealed that they were related to successful aging in a cumulative way, starting with the most essential indicator (lower scores of rumination) in the participants who had developed at least dialogical relationships, continuing to higher well-being linked with partial integration, and ending with an advanced indicator (optimism toward future) linked with complete integration. These relationships were summarized in a hypothetical model that is open to further examination.

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Moving Toward and Through Trauma: Participant Experiences of Multi-Modal Motion-Assisted Memory Desensitization and Reconsolidation (3MDR)

Frontiers in Psychiatry ◽

10.3389/fpsyt.2021.779829 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Tristin Hamilton ◽

Lisa Burback ◽

Lorraine Smith-MacDonald ◽

Chelsea Jones ◽

Matthew R. G. Brown ◽

...

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Qualitative Data ◽

Well Being ◽

Traumatic Experience ◽

Post Intervention ◽

Military Members ◽

Trial Testing ◽

Canadian Military ◽

Perceived Outcomes

Introduction: Military members and Veterans are at risk of developing combat-related, treatment-resistant posttraumatic stress disorder (TR-PTSD) and moral injury (MI). Conventional trauma-focused therapies (TFTs) have shown limited success. Novel interventions including Multi-modal Motion-assisted Memory Desensitization and Reconsolidation therapy (3MDR) may prove successful in treating TR-PTSD.Objective: To qualitatively study the experiences of Canadian military members and Veterans with TR-PTSD who received the 3MDR intervention.Methods: This study explored qualitative data from a larger mixed-method waitlist control trial testing the efficacy of 3MDR in military members and veterans. Qualitative data were recorded and collected from 3MDR sessions, session debriefings and follow-up interviews up to 6 months post-intervention; the data were then thematically analyzed.Results: Three themes emerged from the data: (1) the participants' experiences with 3MDR; (2) perceived outcomes of 3MDR; and (3) keys to successful 3MDR treatment. Participants expressed that 3MDR provided an immersive environment, active engagement and empowerment. The role of the therapist as a coach and “fireteam partner” supports the participants' control over their therapy. The multi-modal nature of 3MDR, combining treadmill-walking toward self-selected trauma imagery with components of multiple conventional TFTs, was key to helping participants engage with and attribute new meaning to the memory of the traumatic experience.Discussion: Preliminary thematic analysis of participant experiences of 3MDR indicate that 3MDR has potential as an effective intervention for combat-related TR-PTSD, with significant functional, well-being and relational improvements reported post-intervention.Conclusion: Military members and Veterans are at risk of developing TR-PTSD, with worse outcomes than in civilians. Further research is needed into 3MDR and its use with other trauma-affected populations.

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Positive Psychology Within a Cultural Context

The Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology ◽

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195187243.013.0006 ◽

2009 ◽

pp. 48-58 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Jennifer Teramoto Pedrotti ◽

Lisa M. Edwards ◽

Shane J. Lopez

Keyword(s):

Positive Psychology ◽

Cultural Context ◽

Personal Characteristics ◽

Psychological Theory ◽

Well Being ◽

Cultural Backgrounds ◽

Multiple Contexts ◽

History Of ◽

Diverse Groups ◽

Cultural Rules

As our capacity for communication with nations across the globe increases through the advances of technology, our interactions with others with different worldviews also become more frequent. This exposure to diversity on so many levels requires a better understanding of the multiple contexts in which people from different cultural backgrounds live and the strengths they possess that help them experience well-being. In order to define the characteristics that may be viewed as strengths in different groups, we must make efforts to remember that cultural rules and norms often dictate what can be called a strength versus a weakness. It is imperative that we are able to recognize that strengths may look very different in different contexts and that these diverse manifestations may come from a variety of worldviews. More work must be done in order to develop a better understanding of the way that cultural context plays a role in the operationalization, manifestation, and measurement of strengths in diverse groups. The following chapter provides a history of the connections between culture and positive psychology and discusses current issues regarding the link between cultural context and various personal characteristics. Examples from culturally sensitive positive psychological theory and research are also given in order to illustrate how researchers are better exploring positive psychology within a cultural context.

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Personality and Psychological Well-Being in Emerging Adulthood

10.1093/oso/9780199934263.003.0010 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Michael W. Pratt ◽

M. Kyle Matsuba

Keyword(s):

Emerging Adulthood ◽

Transition To Adulthood ◽

Life Story ◽

Life Experiences ◽

Personality Development ◽

Well Being ◽

Traumatic Experience ◽

African Child ◽

Positive Adaptation

Chapter 10 reviews the literature on personality development and adjustment during the transition to adulthood, using the McAdams and Pals model. The authors especially draw on the growing literature on the life story and positive adaptation by contemporary narrative researchers. Certain styles or qualities, such as optimistic and redemptive themes, may be important resources in helping young adults cope with difficult issues in their lives. The authors then describe some of their own research evidence on narratives of life experiences and adjustment in the Futures Study. The chapter ends with a case study of Ishmael Beah, who, during his emerging adulthood, wrote a book on his life as an African child soldier and described the difficult process of redemptive change and recovery from this traumatic experience.

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Awareness of musicians on ear protection and tinnitus: A preliminary study

Audiology Research ◽

10.4081/audiores.2018.198 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Tychicus Dinakaran ◽

Ruth Deborah D. ◽

Chitra RejoyThadathil

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Hearing Loss ◽

Well Being ◽

Threshold Shift ◽

Temporary Threshold Shift ◽

Practice Session ◽

Before And After ◽

Protection Devices ◽

Preliminary Study ◽

Extended Exposure

Music induced hearing loss (MIHL) is linked to chronic, extended exposure, and progress at a rate proportionate to exposure conditions. The aim was to document hearing deterioration; awareness of ear protection devices (EPDs); presence of tinnitus, measurement of temporary threshold shift. Thirty-four musicians filled a questionnaire regarding: years of experience, instrument/splayed, hours of music exposure per week with/without amplification, through earphones and speakers, use of EPDs and tinnitus. Hearing screening in five subjects was done before and after one hour and ten minutes of practice session. Among the participants, 8.8% reported hearing deterioration subjectively and 38.2% reported unilateral intermittent tinnitus, 79.4% lacked awareness about EPDs and 21.6 % were aware but never used them. Mean for temporary threshold shift at 500 Hz and 1 KHz was 5dB HL and 10dBHL at 2 KHz. Musicians are at risk for hearing problems, but the awareness on auditory damage is limited, hence conservative measures must be taken for their well being.

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Positive Psychology within a Cultural Context

The Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology, 3rd Edition ◽

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199396511.013.4 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Jennifer Teramoto Pedrotti ◽

Lisa M. Edwards ◽

Shane J. Lopez

Keyword(s):

Positive Psychology ◽

Cultural Values ◽

Cultural Context ◽

Personal Characteristics ◽

Psychological Theory ◽

Well Being ◽

Cultural Backgrounds ◽

Multiple Contexts ◽

History Of ◽

Diverse Groups

As our workforce, neighborhoods, and country overall becomes more diverse, our interactions with others with different worldviews also becomes more frequent. This exposure to diversity on so many levels requires a better understanding of the multiple contexts in which people from different cultural backgrounds live and the strengths they possess that help them experience well-being. In order to define the characteristics that may be viewed as strengths in different groups, we must make efforts to remember that cultural values and norms often dictate what can be called a strength versus a weakness. It is imperative that we recognize that strengths may look very different in different contexts and that these diverse manifestations may come from a variety of worldviews. More work must be done to develop a better understanding of the way that cultural context plays a role in the operationalization, manifestation, and measurement of strengths in diverse groups. The following chapter provides a history of the connections between culture and positive psychology and discusses current issues regarding the link between cultural context and various personal characteristics. Examples from culturally sensitive positive psychological theory and research are also given in order to illustrate how researchers are better exploring positive psychology within a cultural context.

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