scholarly journals Benefit-finding buffers the effects of quarantine on older adults’ mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 722-722
Author(s):  
Fan Zhang ◽  
Sheung-Tak Cheng

Abstract Objective Older adults’ health and well-being may suffer due to prolonged social isolation leading to loneliness and increased stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. The current study aimed to address the role of benefit-finding, defined as the capacity to derive meaning and positive aspects from stressful situations, in older adults’ adaptation to the effects of quarantine. Methods 421 participants aged 50 or above in China participated in an online survey to study the effects of quarantine on loneliness, stress, anxiety, depression and life satisfaction, and the moderating role of benefit-finding. Results The results showed that quarantine was basically unrelated to any outcome. Further analysis showed, however, that the effect of quarantine varied by levels of benefit-finding. Only people with lower benefit-finding reported a higher level of loneliness, perceived stress, anxiety and depression, but no relationships were found at higher benefit-finding. Conclusions The findings extended our understanding of the role of benefit-finding in buffering the negative impact of adversity on older people. By mitigating the effects of prolonged social isolation, benefit-finding served as a protective factor in older people’s adaptation to the sequelae of this pandemic.

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheng-Wei Lin ◽  
Yuan-Hung Liu ◽  
Eugenia Y. Huang

PurposeThis study empirically verified employee engagement (EE) as an outcome of organizational communication and confirmed that the formation of EE is strengthened when smartphone use (SU) is at a higher level.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative approach was used in this research, whereby 408 valid samples were collected with an online survey. The hypotheses of direct effects were tested using the structural equation modeling (SEM) procedure, and the moderating effects were tested using the unconstrained product indicator method and the PROCESS macro.FindingsThe results showed that EE was significantly influenced by person–organizationvalue fit (POVF), transformational leadership (TFL) and job autonomy (JA), and the effects of POVF and TFL were moderated significantly by SU. Although the influence of social support (SS) on EE was insignificant in the full model, SU moderated the effect of SS. The evidence also showed that work–family conflict (WFC) had no negative impact on EE.Research limitations/implicationsThe participants of this study were restricted to a local area.Practical implicationsOrganizations should develop job designs via two-way communication to bring up EE and SU can facilitate the process.Originality/valuePrevious research has identified EE as an outcome of organizational communication, but this concept has not yet been empirically verified. This research provides evidence to verify the above-mentioned concept and additionally confirms the moderating role of SU.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Birthe Macdonald ◽  
Gizem Hülür

Abstract Background and Objectives The current COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing measures are an extreme stressor that might result in negative emotional experiences and feelings of loneliness. However, it is possible that social relationships might have a protective effect. In the present study, we examine how the COVID-19 pandemic affected older adults’ well-being and loneliness, and the role of structural and functional characteristics of social relationships. Research Design and Methods We use data from 99 older adults in Switzerland who participated (a) in a three-week micro-longitudinal study on social relationships and well-being in 2019 and (b) in a weekly online survey during four weeks of the COVID-19 lockdown. Results Our findings show that the global pandemic had substantial adverse effects on older adults’ emotional well-being and loneliness. In addition, aspects of social relationships were related to loneliness both before and during the pandemic. Only one functional feature of social relationships (satisfaction with communication during the pandemic) buffered adverse effects of the major stressful event. Discussion and Implications Although the social distancing measures during COVID-19 presented a major stressor for older adults’ well-being and loneliness, being able to maintain social communication to a satisfactory level during that time reduced this effect. Therefore, enabling older adults to stay in touch with their social circle based on their personal preferences might reduce the impact that any future lockdown might have on their well-being.


2021 ◽  
pp. 47-63
Author(s):  
Mara Morelli ◽  
Elena Cattelino ◽  
Roberto Baiocco ◽  
Emiddia Longobardi ◽  
Carmen Trumello ◽  
...  

On March 9th, 2020 Italy went into lockdown due to the spread of COVID-19 pandemic. Several studies showed how the pandemic had a negative impact on children's psychologi-cal well-being. The present research studied how parents can promote their children's psy-chological well-being, in order to understand how to help parents in managing this unprec-edented situation. A total of 277 parents of children aged 6 to 13 years old completed an online survey. MANCOVA analyses showed that children with more anxiety and depres-sion, more lability/negativity and less emotional regulation had parents with more psycho-logical distress, less regulatory emotional self-efficacy, and less parenting self-efficacy (all p .01). Parents were important protective factor for their children's mental health during the lockdown.


Author(s):  
Colleen Bernstein ◽  
Leanne Trimm

Orientation: Workplace bullying has deleterious effects on individual well-being and various organisational outcomes. Different coping styles may moderate the relationship between workplace bullying and individual and organisational outcomes.Research purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the moderating role of four coping styles – seeking help, assertiveness, avoidance and doing nothing – in the relationship between workplace bullying and individual and organisational outcomes.Motivation for the study: There is a lack of South African research exploring the moderating role of different coping styles in the relationship between workplace bullying and individual and organisational outcomes.Research design, approach and method: The study used a cross-sectional design, quantitative approach and a convenience sampling method. One hundred white-collar respondents from a construction organisation in South Africa participated in this research. Moderated multiple regression (MMR) was used to analyse the data.Main findings: Results of the MMR indicated a direct negative impact of workplace bullying on psychological well-being, self-esteem, job satisfaction and intention to leave. Seeking help and assertiveness moderated the relationship between bullying and psychological well-being. Avoidance and doing nothing also moderated the relationship between bullying and psychological well-being but in a counterintuitive manner, exacerbating the negative impact of bullying on psychological well-being. Similarly, avoidance exacerbated the negative impact of bullying on self-esteem. Direct effects were also found for the coping strategy of seeking help on psychological well-being and for avoidance on job satisfaction. However, while seeking help improved psychological well-being, avoidance had a negative impact on job satisfaction.Practical/managerial implications: Different coping strategies may have different effects. Some may be productive in terms of leading to improved outcomes, while others may not. These findings have particular relevance for human resource departments and practitioners.Contribution/value-add: The findings of this research contribute to the limited body of South African research investigating different types of coping in moderating the bullying–well-being relationship.


2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 5
Author(s):  
Chloe Lau Lau ◽  
Anita Feher ◽  
Claire Anne Wilson ◽  
Sarah E. Babcock ◽  
Donald H. Saklofske

While presence of meaning in life (i.e., presence) is associated with a plethora of desirable qualities (e.g., greater well-being, longevity, positive affect), search for meaning is associated with psychological distress (e.g., reports of conflict, rumination, depression; Boyle, Barnes, Buchman, & Bennett, 2009). Individuals with higher resiliency, defined as a multifaceted competency in adapting and recovering from adversity, could potentially mitigate the distress associated with search, and thus, achieve greater satisfaction with life (SWL). The present study examined the moderating role of meaning in life between resiliency (i.e., sense of mastery and sense of relatedness) and SWL in a sample of Canadian university students (N=289). Hierarchical regression analyses showed that there was a positive association between resiliency and SWL and this association was stronger at higher levels compared to lower levels of search for meaning. These results suggest that individuals searching for meaning with high levels of mastery have the greatest SWL, while their counterparts with low mastery have the lowest SWL. Similar moderating effects of search were found with the positive association between sense of relatedness and SWL. Overall, findings suggest that protective factors in resiliency may buffer against the potential negative impact of search. 


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 485-485
Author(s):  
Kent Jason Cheng ◽  
Darcy McMaughan ◽  
Matthew Smith

Abstract Limitations on activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) can be deleterious to an older person’s life satisfaction and overall feelings of wellbeing. This study explored the possible mediating role of optimism on relationship between changes in ADL/IADL and life satisfaction over time. Using 2006-2016 data from the Health and Retirement Study (n=11,869), growth curve modelling was used to account for intra-individual and inter-individual changes in life satisfaction trajectories. All models controlled for age, sex, marital status, years of education, self-rated health, labor force status, log of household income, and attrition. In the baseline model without optimism and with all controls, coefficients for ADL (Beta=-0.13, P<0.01) and IADL (Beta=-0.12, P<0.01) were negatively significantly associated with life satisfaction. When optimism was introduced to the model, coefficients for both ADL and IADL increased by 0.01 and remained statistically significant, which suggests some mediating effects. When interaction terms between ADL/IADL and optimism were introduced, coefficients for ADL and IADL became statistically insignificant. However, the interaction between ADL and optimism (Beta=-0.02, P<0.05) was negatively significantly associated with life satisfaction. Findings suggest that optimism may protect against the negative impact of ADL/ IADL on life satisfaction. While changes in physical functioning and mobility may influence mental health status (e.g., depression, feelings of isolation), such consequences are not inevitable. Efforts are needed to highlight the positive aspects of aging and opportunities for life enrichment to increase morale and optimism among older adults.


2020 ◽  
pp. 016402752095363
Author(s):  
Harris Hyun-soo Kim ◽  
Jong Hyun Jung

Research shows that ageism (systemic discrimination against people because of their age) significantly undermines physical and psychological wellbeing, particularly among older adults. Our aim is to contribute to the literature by investigating whether this negative association varies across national religious context. We estimate multilevel models by drawing on a subset of data (ages 55 and above) from the fourth round of the European Social Survey (2008/2009). We find that ageism is negatively related to measures of wellbeing (happiness, life satisfaction, self-rated health). More importantly, the relationship is less pronounced in countries with higher levels of religiosity. These findings suggest that the country’s religious environment serves as a buffer against deleterious health consequences of ageism for the older population. Our study thus provides additional evidence on ageism as a critical risk factor and sheds novel light on the moderating role of country-level religiosity as a protective factor.


Author(s):  
Lilian Dias Bernardo ◽  
Claudia Reinoso Araújo de Carvalho

Abstract Objective: to understand the role of cultural engagement in the lives of older adults. Method: an integrative literature review of publications from 2014 and 2019 in English, Portuguese, and Spanish was conducted. The Scopus, Web of Science, MEDLINE/PubMed, CINAHL, PsycNET®, LILACS, SciELO Citation Index and Science Direct databases were used as sources of information. The descriptors “aged” and the related term “cultural engagement” in the three idioms were used in the search, together with the Boolean operators “AND” or “ OR”. A total of 12 articles that met the inclusion criteria were found. These were categorized based on the theme. No Brazilian studies were found. Results: the panorama found revealed that older adults are more interested in receptive cultural activities, such as going to museums, exhibitions and the theater, as these enrich and add greater social value to their lives. Cultural engagement was associated with a reduction in the incidence of neuropsychiatric disorders (dementia and depression), as well as reducing the incidence of episodes of violence. Participation in cultural activities also constituted a protective factor for cognitive abilities and for the reduction of chronic pain. There is also evidence that associates cultural engagement with a better perception of quality of life and greater well-being, happiness and positive affect, as well as the reduction of negative affect. Conclusion: engaging in cultural activities is a way of understanding and respecting cultural diversity, salvaging social identities, and enjoying and providing experiences of great social value, with beneficial impacts in the lives of older adults.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lujun Su ◽  
Jin Cheng ◽  
Scott Swanson

Purpose In an adventure tourism context (i.e. sky diving, bungee jumping) the effect of the absence or presence of a travel companion; companion relative ability (i.e. perception of a companion’s possessed resources useful for the achievement of travel goals); and tourist gender on the impact of companion relative ability on tourists’ satisfaction and subjective well-being is examined. This paper aims to investigate the mediating role of satisfaction that combines companion relative ability, tourist gender, tourist satisfaction and subjective well-being. Design/methodology/approach This research uses three situational experiments. A one-factor between-subjects experimental design was used for Study 1. Studies 2 and 3 used a one-factor between-subjects and a 2 × 3 factorial between-subjects design. Participants included tourists visiting a national park in China assigned to scenarios using an anonymous intercept approach and an online survey. Findings Having a companion with greater/comparable relative ability produces a greater effect on tourist satisfaction and subjective well-being than having a companion with lower relative ability. Furthermore, the perceived relative ability of a travel companion results in a stronger positive effect on tourist satisfaction and subjective well-being for female tourists. Meanwhile, satisfaction fully mediates the impact of the interaction between companion relative ability and tourist gender on subjective well-being. Originality/value The current research validates the companion effect on adventure tourists’ satisfaction and subjective well-being. An additional contribution is an investigation into the effect of companion relative ability. The study is the only one the authors are aware of that examines the moderating role of tourist gender on the effect of companion relative ability on tourist satisfaction and subjective well-being and identifies the mechanism that combines companion relative ability, tourist gender, tourist satisfaction and subjective well-being.


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