Adjusting to working away and as an expatriate: learnings on what organisations can do to promote the mental health and well-being of workers and their families

2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 440
Author(s):  
Melanie L. Freeman
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Work Performance ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Psychosocial Risks ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Building Capability ◽  
The Military ◽  
Health And Well Being

Adjusting to frequent separations and reunions can put pressure on the relationships and families of those who work away. Although the work context is different, there are similar effects and challenges for workers, families and organisations across the military, expatriate and fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) research domains. Mental health, work performance, job satisfaction, relationships and parenting are all negatively affected by the extended periods of deployment or posting and the regular and ongoing shorter periods of FIFO work. At the individual level, personality dimensions (emotional stability, sociability, openness to new experiences), locus of control, intelligence, self-sufficiency and cultural intelligence have been shown to significantly affect these impacts and provide organisations with starting points for both the screening of candidates for roles and coaching them to better adjust and cope cross-culturally. The recruitment and onboarding processes should be underpinned by the principles of managing expectations and building capability, and this means that realistic and relevant information should focus on the realities of the work, the work environment and host country. The onboarding process that seeks to socialise the worker into the organisation and the culture should assume the worker will take at least 6 months to settle into the role. Predeparture training should engage with the worker and their families to ensure the development of coping skills and practical strategies for managing communication, parenting and relationships. Effectively managing the psychosocial risks faced by workers across these domains will improve the mental health and well-being of workers and their families.

Intraindividual Variability in Lifespan Developmental Methodology

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric S. Cerino ◽  
Karen Hooker
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Change ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Intraindividual Variability ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Temporal Frame ◽  
Methodological Approaches ◽  
Developmental Domains ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Health And Well Being

Intraindividual variability (IIV) refers to short-term fluctuations that may be more rapid, and are often conceptualized as more reversible, than developmental change that unfolds over a longer period of time, such as years. As a feature of longitudinal data collected on micro timescales (i.e., seconds, minutes, days, or weeks), IIV can describe people, contexts, or general processes characterizing human development. In contrast to approaches that pool information across individuals and assess interindividual variability in a population (i.e., between-person variability), IIV is the focus of person-centered studies addressing how and when individuals change over time (i.e., within-person variability). Developmental psychologists interested in change and how and when it occurs, have devised research methods designed to examine intraindividual change (IIC) and interindividual differences in IIC. Dispersion, variability, inconsistency, time-structured IIV, and net IIV are distinct operationalizations of IIV that, depending on the number of measures, occasions, and time of measurement, reflect unique information about IIV in lifespan developmental domains of interest. Microlongitudinal and measurement-burst designs are two methodological approaches with intensive repeated measurement that provide a means by which various operationalizations of IIV can be accurately observed over an appropriate temporal frame to garner clearer understanding of the dynamic phenomenon under investigation. When methodological approaches are theoretically informed and the temporal frame and number of assessments align with the dynamic lifespan developmental phenomenon of interest, researchers gain greater precision in their observations of within-person variability and the extent to which these meaningful short-term fluctuations influence important domains of health and well-being. With technological advancements fueling enhanced methodologies and analytic approaches, IIV research will continue to be at the vanguard of pioneering designs for elucidating developmental change at the individual level and scaling it up to generalize to populations of interest.

scholarly journals Process and Effects Evaluation of a Digital Mental Health Intervention Targeted at Improving Occupational Well-Being: Lessons From an Intervention Study With Failed Adoption

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. e13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salla Muuraiskangas ◽  
Marja Harjumaa ◽  
Kirsikka Kaipainen ◽  
Miikka Ermes
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Work Engagement ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mental Health Intervention ◽  
Human Resource Managers ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Intervention Process ◽  
Digital Interventions ◽  
Resource Managers ◽  
The Individual

Background Digital interventions have the potential to serve as cost-effective ways to manage occupational stress and well-being. However, little is known about the adoption of individual-level digital interventions at organizations. Objectives The aim of this paper is to study the effects of an unguided digital mental health intervention in occupational well-being and the factors that influence the adoption of the intervention. Methods The intervention was based on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and its aim was to teach skills for stress management and mental well-being. It was delivered via a mobile and a Web-based app that were offered to employees of two information and communication technology (ICT) companies. The primary outcome measures were perceived stress and work engagement, measured by a 1-item stress questionnaire (Stress) and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES-9). The intervention process was evaluated regarding the change mechanisms and intervention stages using mixed methods. The initial interviews were conducted face-to-face with human resource managers (n=2) of both companies in August 2013. The participants were recruited via information sessions and email invitations. The intervention period took place between November 2013 and March 2014. The participants were asked to complete online questionnaires at baseline, two months, and four months after the baseline measurement. The final phone interviews for the volunteer participants (n=17) and the human resource managers (n=2) were conducted in April to May 2014, five months after the baseline. Results Of all the employees, only 27 (8.1%, 27/332) took the app into use, with a mean use of 4.8 (SD 4.7) different days. In the beginning, well-being was on good level in both companies and no significant changes in well-being were observed. The activities of the intervention process failed to integrate the intervention into everyday activities at the workplace. Those who took the app into use experienced many benefits such as relief in stressful situations. The app was perceived as a toolkit for personal well-being that gives concrete instructions on how mindfulness can be practiced. However, many barriers to participate in the intervention were identified at the individual level, such as lack of time, lack of perceived need, and lack of perceived benefits. Conclusions The findings suggest that neither the setting nor the approach used in this study were successful in adopting new digital interventions at the target organizations. Barriers were faced at both the organizational as well as the individual level. At the organizational level, top management needs to be involved in the intervention planning for fitting into the organization policies, the existing technology infrastructure, and also targeting the organizational goals. At the individual level, concretizing the benefits of the preventive intervention and arranging time for app use at the workplace are likely to increase adoption.

scholarly journals The Effect of Music on Brain Activity an Emotional State

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 19
Author(s):  
Joana Cunha ◽  
Paulo Veloso Gomes ◽  
António Marques ◽  
Javier Pereira
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Emotional State ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Emotional Component ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Health And Well Being

This study explores the potential of music as a therapy element in digital therapy programs to improve mental health and well-being. Music induces an emotional component in the individual that translates into changes in their brain activity, which can be monitored through electroencephalography. A scoping review was conducted to identify the most recent relevant publications related to the effect of music on brain activity and emotional state in digital therapy programs. From 585 identified publications, six relevant publications were selected that meet all the requirements defined in the study.

scholarly journals A Cross-Sectional Survey on the Impact of Irrelevant Speech Noise on Annoyance, Mental Health and Well-being, Performance and Occupants’ Behavior in Shared and Open-Plan Offices

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonja Di Blasio ◽  
Louena Shtrepi ◽  
Giuseppina Puglisi ◽  
Arianna Astolfi
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Work Performance ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Irrelevant Speech ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Noise Annoyance ◽  
Open Plan ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Health And Well Being

This cross-sectional survey has compared subjective outcomes obtained from workers in shared (2–5 occupants) and open-plan (+5 occupants) offices, related to irrelevant speech, which is the noise that is generated from conversations between colleagues, telephone calls and laughter. Answers from 1078 subjects (55% in shared offices and 45% in open-plan offices) have shown that irrelevant speech increases noise annoyance, decreases work performance, and increases symptoms related to mental health and well-being more in open-plan than in shared offices. Workers often use headphones with music to contrast irrelevant speech in open-plan offices, while they take a break, change their working space, close the door or work from home in shared offices. Being female, when there are more than 20 occupants, and working in southern cities without acoustic treatments in the office, make it more likely for the occupants to be annoyed by irrelevant speech noise in open-plan offices. While, working in southern cities and with acoustic treatments in the office makes it more likely that noise annoyance will be reported in shared offices. Finally, more than 70% of the interviewed in open-plan offices were willing to reduce their voice volumes when advised by a noise monitoring system with a lighting feedback.

The performance of the K6 and K10 screening scales for psychological distress in the Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Well-Being

2003 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 357-362 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. A. FURUKAWA ◽  
R. C. KESSLER ◽  
T. SLADE ◽  
G. ANDREWS
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Anxiety Disorders ◽  
National Survey ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Mood And Anxiety Disorders ◽  
Dsm Iv ◽  
Health And Well Being ◽  
Better Than

Background. Two new screening scales for psychological distress, the K6 and K10, have been developed but their relative efficiency has not been evaluated in comparison with existing scales.Method. The Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Well-Being, a nationally representative household survey, administered the WHO Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) to assess 30-day DSM-IV disorders. The K6 and K10 were also administered along with the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), the current de facto standard of mental health screening. Performance of the three screening scales in detecting CIDI/DSM-IV mood and anxiety disorders was assessed by calculating the areas under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs). Stratum-Specific Likelihood Ratios (SSLRs) were computed to help produce individual-level predicted probabilities of being a case from screening scale scores in other samples.Results. The K10 was marginally better than the K6 in screening for CIDI/DSM-IV mood and anxiety disorders (K10 AUC: 0·90, 95%CI: 0·89–0·91 versus K6 AUC: 0·89, 95%CI: 0·88–0·90), while both were significantly better than the GHQ-12 (AUC: 0·80, 95%CI: 0·78–0·82). The SSLRs of the K10 and K6 were more informative in ruling in or out the target disorders than those of the GHQ-12 at both ends of the population spectrum. The K6 was more robust than the K10 to subsample variation.Conclusions. While the K10 might outperform the K6 in screening for severe disorders, the K6 is preferred in screening for any DSM-IV mood or anxiety disorder because of its brevity and consistency across subsamples. Precision of individual-level prediction is greatly improved by using polychotomous rather than dichotomous classification.

scholarly journals MODERN TENDENCIES OF STUDYING SUBJECTIVE WELL-BEING OF PERSONALITY IN ADOLESCENT AND YOUTH

2019 ◽  
pp. 103-106
Author(s):  
Аnna Khaleeva
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Emotional Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Modern World ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Health And Well Being

The article defines terms on mental health and emotional well-being of adolescents and adolescents, and outlines major trends in mental health and emotional well-being of young people over the past decades. The aim of the article is to highlight and establish the importance of emotional and subjective well-being in adolescence and youth, to identify their further influence on the formation of the personality and its full life. Adolescence is seen as a critical period of development with long-term effects on the health and well-being of the individual. It is stated that the central factor in the health and well-being of adolescents is the interaction of young people with their environment, with people and attitudes in their daily lives. The most important determinants of adolescents' health are in their environment, as well as the choices and opportunities for improving the health or adverse behaviors of today's society. Factors that influence on the subjective and emotional well-being (sleep deprivation, increased stress, social relationships, the impact of violence) have been taken into account. The components and characteristics that support emotional and subjective well-being are identified, such as: self-esteem, motivation, stability, self-efficacy, hope and optimism, while high levels of anxiety, depression and stress can interfere with emotional health and well-being. In determining the factors that affect the emotional and subjective well-being of adolescents and youths, it is important to take into account the multidimensional nature of well-being and what sources and factors form it. The main sources affecting the sense of self and overall well-being of a person in adolescence and youth are family, community, peers, school environment and teachers. The modern world and the environment of human development are constantly changing, which has a significant impact on the well-being of the individual and its further development. Such changes are important elements for the continued successful interaction of adolescents and young people and their integration in society.

A Wellness First Approach: A Lens for Improving Mental Health and Well-Being

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-54
Author(s):  
Crystal L. Brandow ◽  
Jasmin S. Brandow ◽  
Cathy Cave
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Structural Violence ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Ecological Approach ◽  
Toxic Stress ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Treatment Practices ◽  
Health And Well Being

This article introduces a Wellness First Approach to addressing adverse community experiences and encouraging community healing and resilience. Structural violence and traumatic conditions can contribute to poor mental health outcomes for communities.However, communities have the capacity to amplify protective factors to mitigate the negative effects of adverse community experiences, toxic stress, and trauma. The authors offer that a better understanding of these experiences can transform the ways mental health is approached. Rather than predominantly focus on prevention and treatment practices on an individual level, there is a need to engage in prevention and healing through an ecological approach that includes whole communities. Recommendations of frameworks for mental health and well-being promotion that are aligned with a Wellness First Approach are provided.

scholarly journals Mental health and well-being of LGBT+ Veterans dismissed from the British Armed Forces before January 2000

2021 ◽  
pp. e20210032
Author(s):  
Caroline Paige ◽  
Christina Dodds ◽  
Craig Jones
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Support Services ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Military Family ◽  
Hard Times ◽  
Recovery Pathways ◽  
The Military ◽  
Health And Well Being

Lay Summary Between 1955 and January 2000, the U.K. Armed Forces and Ministry of Defence enforced a ban on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and related (LGBT+) service, dismissing or forcing the immediate retirement of thousands of personnel because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. They fell on hard times and were left isolated and unsupported by the nation they had proudly stood to defend. Although more than 21 years has elapsed since the ban was lifted, little academic literature has explored the ban’s impact on the mental health and well-being of the United Kingdom’s LGBT+ Veteran community. Anecdotal evidence suggests many still endure consequential hardship and mental health struggles and remain isolated from the military family and traditional support services. Fighting With Pride, an LGBT+ military charity launched in January 2020, and Northumbria University’s Veterans and Military Families Research Hub joined in partnership to remedy this by determining mental health and well-being impacts and consequences and identifying recovery pathways. Lived experience narratives must be used to help build support ahead of the publication of any formal findings. Research-based evidence is vital in helping to develop recovery and support policy and in further shaping support services to develop the best possible impact-related outcomes.

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