Quality of life and mental health among Thai older workers in community enterprises

Purpose An aging society is a growing global reality resulting in an increasing number of older workers, especially in community enterprises. It is important to understand factors that influence the mental health and quality of life (QOL) of these older workers. The purpose of this paper is to explore the influence of personal, work, and mental health factors on the QOL among older workers in community enterprises. Design/methodology/approach This cross-sectional study examined the mental health and QOL of 387 older workers from three industries: food production, handicraft, and farm-related work. These participants formed a representative sample of the 19,200 members of the 1,184 groups in the community enterprise sector in Nakhon Ratchasima province. Stratified random sampling technique was used. Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Analysis was used to examine the factors associated with QOL. A multiple regression statistical model was used to examine the QOL predicting factors. Findings The response rate for this study was 93.25 percent. The majority of participants were female (73.4 percent). The majority of older workers were educated to primary school educational level (81.4 percent). The ratio of workers within each project included farm-related work (36.7 percent), handicraft (37.7 percent) and food production (25.6 percent). Most older workers (90.2 percent) had normal mental health based on their GHQ screening. The overall QOL average score was 88.43 (SD 10.43). The results suggested that the QOL is related to age, income, somatic symptoms, anxiety and insomnia, social dysfunction, severe depression, and mental health problems. Additionally, multiple regression analysis indicated social dysfunction and income were significant predictors for the QOL of older workers with R2=0.118, F=15.53 (p<0.001). Originality/value With the results showing associations between personal factors and work factors relating to QOL, it is important for health professionals to pay attention to older workers’ work environments, financial issues, and mental health.

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The impact of resiliency on mental health and quality of life among older adults in Thailand

Journal of Health Research ◽

10.1108/jhr-02-2021-0099 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Paul Ratanasiripong ◽

Nop Ratanasiripong ◽

Monpanee Khamwong ◽

Sarinya Jingmark ◽

Ploenpit Thaniwattananon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Mental Health ◽

Social Support ◽

Older Adults ◽

Multiple Regression ◽

Wellness Program ◽

Hierarchical Multiple Regression ◽

Content Type ◽

The Impact

PurposeThe aim of this study was to examine the impact of resiliency and associated factors on the mental health and quality of life among older adults in Thailand.Design/methodology/approachThis cross-sectional study was conducted with 1,800 older adults (M = 69.3, SD = 7.2) from nine provinces across all regions of Thailand. Each participant completed an anonymous paper-based survey that included demographic data, work activities, health behaviors, social support, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS) and World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment for Older Adults (WHOQOL-OLD).FindingsThrough hierarchical multiple regression, resiliency, social support, exercise and work hours per week were found to be significant predictors of mental health: depression (F (6, 520) = 19.38, p < 0.001, adjusted R2 = 0.17); anxiety (F (6, 520) = 18.64, p < 0.001, adjusted R2 = 0.17); stress (F (6, 521) = 12.91, p < .001, adjusted R2 = 0.12). Five predictors of quality of life were identified through hierarchical multiple regression: resiliency, social support, exercise, age and family economic status. These predictors explained 35% of the variance, F (5, 1655) = 178.44, p < 0.001, adjusted R2 = 0.35.Originality/valueBased on the results of this study, a comprehensive Wellness Program was designed to improve the mental health and quality of life of older adults in Thailand. This Wellness Program included five components: Volunteer Program, Resiliency Building Program, Social Support Program, Exercise Program, and Financial Education Program.

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Investigating professional quality of life in nursing staff working in Adolescent Psychiatric Intensive Care Units (PICUs)

The Journal of Mental Health Training Education and Practice ◽

10.1108/jmhtep-04-2018-0023 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 59-71 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Celeste Foster

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Mental Health ◽

Nursing Staff ◽

Professional Quality Of Life ◽

Mental Health Nursing ◽

Content Type ◽

Benchmark Data ◽

Professional Quality ◽

Health Nursing

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate professional quality of life of mental health nursing staff working within an adolescent psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU) setting. Professional quality of life is important, as there is a correlation between staff wellbeing and the quality of healthcare services delivered, particularly within mental health settings. Mental health nursing staff in adolescent PICU services deal with a wide range of physically and emotionally demanding challenges when providing care, yet the potential impact of this demanding work upon staff in this context has not been explored. Design/methodology/approach The study used a longitudinal non-experimental design with a purposive sample. Quantitative data were collected from a total of 17 registered mental health nurses and healthcare assistants (HCAs) working in an adolescent PICU in the North of England. Repeated measures were administered at three consecutive intervals, three months apart, using a validated self-report measure, the Professional Quality of Life Scale V (ProQOL V, Stamm, 2010). Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical analysis using benchmark data from the ProQOL V instrument for comparison. Findings Analysis of results compared to ProQOL V benchmark data showed significantly higher than expected levels of compassion satisfaction, and lower than expected levels of burnout and secondary traumatic stress for adolescent PICU nursing staff within the study. There were no significant differences between qualified nurses and HCAs. Potential explanations and practice implications of these findings are discussed. Originality/value This is the first published study to investigate professional quality of life within the mental health nursing population working in adolescent PICU, providing empirical insights into a previously unexplored mental health context.

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A co-produced self-management programme improves psychosocial outcomes for people living with depression

Mental Health Review Journal ◽

10.1108/mhrj-05-2014-0017 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 20 (4) ◽

pp. 242-255 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Andy Turner ◽

Alba X. Realpe ◽

Louise M. Wallace ◽

Joanna Kosmala-Anderson

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Mental Health ◽

Health Status ◽

Management Programme ◽

Self Management ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Management Skills ◽

Content Type

Purpose – There is growing interest in self-management support for people living with mental health problems. The purpose of this paper is to describe the evaluation of a co-designed and co-delivered self-management programme (SMP) for people living with depression delivered as part of large scale National Health Service quality improvement programme, which was grounded in the principles of co-production. The authors investigated whether participants became more activated, were less psychologically distressed enjoyed better health status, and quality of life, and improved their self-management skills after attending the seven-week SMP. Design/methodology/approach – The authors conducted a longitudinal study of 114 people living with depression who attended the SMP. Participants completed self-reported measures before attending the SMP and at six months follow up. Findings – Patient activation significantly improved six months after the SMP (baseline M=49.6, SD=12.3, follow up M=57.2, SD=15.0, t(113)=4.83, p < 0.001; d=0.61). Participants’ experience of depression symptoms as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 significantly reduced (baseline M=15.5, SD=6.8, follow up M=10.6, SD=6.9, t(106)=7.22, p < 0.001, d=−0.72). Participants’ anxiety and depression as measured by the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale also decreased significantly (baseline anxiety: M=13.1, SD=4.2, follow up M=10.2, SD=4.4, t(79)=6.29, p < 0.001, d=−0.69); (baseline depression: M=10.3, SD=4.6, follow up M=7.7, SD=4.5, t(79)=5.32, p < 0.001, d=−0.56). The authors also observed significant improvement in participants’ health status (baseline M=0.5, SD=0.3, follow up M=0.6, SD=0.3, t(97)=−3.86, p < 0.001, d=0.33), and health-related quality of life (baseline M=45.4, SD=20.5, follow up M=60.8, SD=22.8, t(91)=−2.71, p=0.008, d=0.75). About 35 per cent of participant showed substantial improvements of self-management skills. Originality/value – The co-produced depression SMP is innovative in a UK mental health setting. Improvements in activation, depression, anxiety, quality of life and self-management skills suggest that the SMP could make a useful contribution to the recovery services in mental health.

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Measuring the quality of life of incarcerated individuals

International Journal of Prisoner Health ◽

10.1108/ijph-02-2018-0005 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 1-13 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Ashley Elizabeth Muller ◽

Anne Bukten

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Mental Health ◽

Strongly Correlated ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Exercise Frequency ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Content Type ◽

Incarcerated Populations ◽

Incarcerated Population

Purpose Measuring quality of life (QoL) under incarceration can be used to track successful rehabilitation and risk of re-offending. However, few studies have measured QoL among general incarcerated populations, and it is important to use psychometrically strong measures that pose minimal burdens to respondents and administrators. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach The aim of this analysis was to explore the utility of a short generic tool measuring overall QoL, the QOL5, in an incarcerated population. The authors drew data from the Norwegian Offender Mental Health and Addiction Study, a cross-sectional survey of 1,499 individuals from Norwegian prisons. Findings Factor analysis suggested a unidimensional structure that explained 53.2 percent of variance in QoL scores. Intrascale correlations were high and internal consistency was acceptable (α=0.764). The QOL5 was strongly correlated with mental health, moderately correlated with exercise frequency and weakly correlated with ward security. Practical implications The QOL5 is a short measure that presents minimal burden to respondents and administrators. The authors recommend its further use in incarcerated populations to measure overall QoL as well as cross-cultural adaptation and validation in more languages. Originality/value In this analysis of the largest published sample to date of incarcerated individuals and their QoL, the QOL5 appears to be an acceptable and valid measure of overall QoL.

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Resilience after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill

Disaster Prevention and Management An International Journal ◽

10.1108/dpm-02-2017-0046 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 26 (5) ◽

pp. 597-610 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Stacy Buckingham-Howes ◽

Poorna Sreekumar ◽

Glenn Morris ◽

Lynn M. Grattan

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Mental Health ◽

Oil Spill ◽

Deepwater Horizon ◽

Mood Disturbance ◽

World Health ◽

Early Assessment ◽

Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill ◽

Content Type

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which self-reported resilience was associated with mental health outcomes four years after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill (DWHOS). Design/methodology/approach Participants included 179 men and women randomly selected from two Northeast Gulf Coast communities as part of a larger, prospective study of behavioral health post oil spill. The majority of the participants were Caucasian (70.8 percent), female (61.5 percent), had a high school education or lower (75.3 percent), and ranged in age from 18 to greater than 60 years old. Participants completed a measure of resilience (Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, CD-RISC) 2.5 years post oil spill and measures of overall mood disturbance (Profile of Mood States), depression (Beck Depression Inventory), quality of life (World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF Scale) 4.5 years post oil spill. Findings Based upon linear regression analyses, elevated self-reported resilience significantly predicted lower scores on mood disturbance (b=−0.63, p<0.01) and depressive symptoms (b=−0.14, p<0.05) and higher scores on psychological (b=0.08, p<0.01) and overall health quality of life (b=0.08, p<0.01). Factor analysis of the CD-RISC identified three factors (hardiness, adaptability, optimism). Each factor predicted some, but not all, of the outcomes with optimism being the least predictive of mental health. Originality/value Self-reported resilience two years after the DWHOS was a useful predictor of mental health outcome four years post-spill. Early assessment may facilitate the identification of individuals at risk of longer-term mental health problems for public health prevention or mental health intervention efforts.

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Is exercise helpful for women aged 50 and over with mental health problems and what are the barriers to exercise?

Quality in Ageing and Older Adults ◽

10.1108/qaoa-08-2016-0031 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

pp. 93-103

Author(s):

Anthea Tinker ◽

Elodie Haines ◽

Laura Molloy ◽

Imogen Monks ◽

Evelina Russell ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Mental Health ◽

Older Women ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Health Problems ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Content Type ◽

Barriers To Exercise ◽

Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of exercise on the mental health problems of older women. Design/methodology/approach The paper is based on information from academic literature, government publications and publications from other relevant bodies. It is a scoping study and is not a systematic review because of the constraints of the resources. Findings There is growing evidence about the value of exercise for the mental health of older women but few evaluated examples of how this can be achieved. Research limitations/implications There is a gap in the literature about this topic with few evaluated examples of how more older women can be encouraged to take more exercise. Practical implications Policy makers, practitioners and older people themselves would gain from a greater emphasis on exercise as a means of improving quality of life and for reducing healthcare budgets through fewer referrals to services. Social implications Greater emphasis on exercise for older women would increase their quality of life through a reduction in mental health problems. Originality/value There is limited research which links mental health, exercise and older women, especially regarding the barriers to exercise that older women with diagnosed mental health problems may face.

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