scholarly journals A Cultural Perspective on Functional Limitations and Well-Being

2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (9) ◽  
pp. 1378-1391 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeong Ha Choi ◽  
Yuri Miyamoto ◽  
Carol D. Ryff

Functional limitations—difficulty in carrying out activities of daily living—have been linked to poorer well-being in Western cultures. This might be partly due to the lower personal control associated with functional limitations. However, compared with the West, in Asian cultural contexts (e.g., Japan) where agency and control are based less predominantly on individual attributes, the link between functional limitations and well-being may be weaker. Using cross-sectional probability samples from the United States and Japan (Study 1), functional limitations were associated with lower well-being in both cultures, though the association was weaker in Japan than in the United States and personal control played a mediating role. Furthermore, analyses of longitudinal data (Study 2) showed the cross-cultural patterns generally consistent with the cross-sectional analyses of Study 1, though the cultural moderation was found for fewer well-being measures. Such findings enrich our understanding of how health status and well-being are related across cultures.

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rocío Calvo ◽  
Dawn C. Carr ◽  
Christina Matz-Costa

Objective: To investigate disparities in life satisfaction among older Hispanic immigrants in the United States relative to their native-born Hispanic and non-Hispanic White counterparts, and to identify factors associated with such disparities. Method: Cross-sectional data from 9,798 individuals age 60 and above from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) were used to estimate ordinary least squares (OLS) regression models. Results: Hispanic immigrants reported the highest levels of life satisfaction of all groups. Wealthier older adults, who were socially engaged, had social support, and experienced fewer functional limitations and lower exposure to discrimination, were more satisfied with their lives in the overall sample. Interaction effects revealed that although education was associated with greater life satisfaction only among non-Hispanic Whites, co-residing with children was associated with greater life satisfaction only among Hispanics. Discussion: Although older Hispanic immigrants had the least amount of socioeconomic resources of all groups in our study, they were the most satisfied with their lives. Possible explanations and directions for future research are discussed.


Author(s):  
Anne S. Marsh ◽  
Deborah C. Hayes ◽  
Patrice N. Klein ◽  
Nicole Zimmerman ◽  
Alison Dalsimer ◽  
...  

AbstractInvasive species have a major effect on many sectors of the U.S. economy and on the well-being of its citizens. Their presence impacts animal and human health, military readiness, urban vegetation and infrastructure, water, energy and transportations systems, and indigenous peoples in the United States (Table 9.1). They alter bio-physical systems and cultural practices and require significant public and private expenditure for control. This chapter provides examples of the impacts to human systems and explains mechanisms of invasive species’ establishment and spread within sectors of the U.S. economy. The chapter is not intended to be comprehensive but rather to provide insight into the range and severity of impacts. Examples provide context for ongoing Federal programs and initiatives and support State and private efforts to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive species and eradicate and control established invasive species.


Author(s):  
Lauren Thomaier ◽  
Deanna Teoh ◽  
Patricia Jewett ◽  
Heather Beckwith ◽  
Helen Parsons ◽  
...  

AbstractIntroductionCancer care is significantly impacted by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Our objective was to evaluate the effect of the pandemic on the emotional well-being of oncology providers across the United States and explore factors associated with anxiety and depression symptoms.Methods and MaterialsA cross-sectional survey was administered to United States cancer-care physicians recruited over a two-week period (3/27/2020 – 4/10/2020) using snowball-convenience sampling through social media. Symptoms of anxiety and depression were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-4).ResultsOf 486 participants, 374 (77.0%) completed the PHQ-4: mean age 45.7±9.6 years; 63.2% female; all oncologic specialties were represented. The rates of anxiety and depression symptoms were 62.0% and 23.5%, respectively. Demographic factors associated with anxiety included female sex, younger age, and less time in clinical practice. Perception of inadequate PPE (68.6% vs. 57.4%, p=0.03) and practicing in a state with more COVID-19 cases (65.8% vs. 51.1%, p=0.01) were associated with anxiety symptoms. Factors significantly associated with both anxiety and depression included: degree to which COVID-19 has interfered with the ability to provide treatment to cancer patients and concern that patients will not receive the level of care needed for non-COVID-19 illness (all p-values <0.01).ConclusionThe prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms among oncology physicians in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic is high. Our findings highlight factors associated with and sources of psychological distress to be addressed to protect the well-being of oncology physicians.


2012 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 205-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Crowe ◽  
Vaishali V. Raval ◽  
Shwetang S. Trivedi ◽  
Suchi S. Daga ◽  
Pratiksha H. Raval

Emotional expression and experience are dynamic processes that vary within and between individuals of different cultural groups ( Kitayama, Mesquita, & Karasawa, 2006 ). The present study sought to compare self-reports of processes related to emotion communication and control in India and the United States. A total of 268 participants (United States: n = 160 and India: n = 108) completed a self-report measure depicting hypothetical vignettes and a series of questions assessing likely emotions elicited, likelihood of expression, motives guiding expression and control, and method of expression. Results showed that US participants primarily reported more self-focused emotions (i.e., happiness) and self- and other-focused motives for expressing or controlling felt emotion, while Indian participants primarily reported emotions that focused on others’ well-being as well as other- and relationship-focused motives. US participants more commonly reported direct verbal communication of the emotion, while Indian participants more frequently reported implicit and contextual methods of communication.


1983 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 235-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen D. Krasner

What do Third World countries want? More wealth. How can they get it? By adopting more economically rational policies. What should the North do? Facilitate these policies. How should the North approach global negotiations? With cautious optimism. What is the long term prognosis for North–South relations? Hopeful, at least if economic development occurs. This is the common wisdom about relations between industrialized and developing areas in the United States and much of the rest of the North, Within this fold there are intense debates among adherents of conventional liberal, reformist liberal, and interdependence viewpoints. But the emphasis on economics at the expense of politics, on material well-being as opposed to power and control, pervades all of these orientations.


2011 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terry V Shaw

• Summary: Social work has developed to meet the needs of an industrializing society. As environmental concerns have increased, national, and international social work organizations have called on social workers to incorporate issues of the environment into their professional practice. Although there is a small body of literature related to social work and the environment, the profession has not fully embraced the need to incorporate these issues into social work education or practice. This cross-sectional survey in the United States of a random sample of National Association of Social Workers (NASW) members ( n = 373) was designed to gauge the environmental knowledge and attitudes of social work professionals. • Findings: Though social work shares many of the same underlying tenets of groups interested in environmental justice, results suggest that social workers as a profession are no more, nor less, environmentally friendly than the general population. • Applications: By failing to incorporate ecological issues facing the United States and abroad, our current social policies are at best not sustainable, and at worst dangerous for our continued social well-being. Social workers can play a leading role through an understanding of the interrelationship that exists between people and the environment, the integration of environmental issues into their social work practice, and advocating for vulnerable populations.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ariel S. Winn ◽  
Matthew D. Weaver ◽  
Katherine A. O’Donnell ◽  
Jason P. Sullivan ◽  
Rebecca Robbins ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in disruptions to medical school training and the transition to residency for new post-graduate year 1 resident-physicians (PGY1s). Therefore, the aim of this study was to understand the perspectives of United States PGY1s regarding the impact of the pandemic on these experiences. Our secondary aims were to understand how desire to practice medicine was impacted by the pandemic and whether PGY1s felt that they were able to meaningfully contribute to the COVID-19 response as students. Method We conducted a national, cross-sectional study of PGY1s who had recently graduated from medical school in 2020. A survey was distributed to PGY1s from across specialties, in programs distributed throughout the United States. It included questions about medical school training during the pandemic, impact on graduation timing and transition to internship, concerns about caring for patients with COVID-19, desire to practice medicine, and ability to meaningfully contribute to the pandemic. Findings are presented using descriptive statistics and univariate logistic regression models. Results 1980 PGY1s consented to participate, 1463 completed the survey (74%), and 713 met criteria for this analysis. 77% of PGY1s reported that the pandemic adversely affected their connection with their medical school communities, and 58% reported that the pandemic impeded their preparation for intern year. 4% of PGY1s reported graduating medical school and practicing as an intern earlier than their expected graduation date. While the majority of PGY1s did not have a change in desire to practice medicine, PGY1s with concerns regarding personal health or medical conditions (OR 4.92 [95% CI 3.20–7.55] p < 0.0001), the health or medical conditions of others in the home (OR 4.41 [2.87–6.77], p < 0.0001]), and PGY1s with children (OR 2.37 [1.23–4.58], p < 0.0001) were more likely to report a decreased desire. Conclusions The COVID pandemic disrupted the social connectedness and educational experiences of a majority of PGY1 residents in a sample of trainees in United States training programs. Those with health concerns and children had particularly challenging experiences. As the current and subsequent classes of PGY1s affected by COVID-19 proceed in their training, ongoing attention should be focused on their training needs, competencies, and well-being.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S797-S798
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Rickenbach ◽  
Elizabeth H Rickenbach ◽  
Chih-Chien Huang ◽  
Jessica Y Allen ◽  
Kelly E Cichy

Abstract Cross-sectional studies reveal the health burden of grandparent caregiving. Still, longitudinal, research is needed to understand how grandparent caregiving compromises grandparents’ long-term health. Using three waves of data from the Midlife in the United States Study (MIDUS), we examined sociodemographic factors, health and well-being outcomes between caregiving (CG) and non-caregiving (NCG) grandparents. By wave 3, 12.8% (n = 234) were CG. CG were younger, more likely female, and had lower income and education. MANCOVA adjusted for age, gender, education, and number of children revealed CG reported poorer physical and emotional well-being (e.g. higher depression, anxiety, lower life satisfaction, greater morbidity); CG were consistently less healthy than NCG across all three waves. Lower income and less healthy older adults are more likely to become grandparents, and they remain less healthy over time. Policies and resources to assist grandparents, particularly low-income and vulnerable older adults who are caring for grandchildren, are needed.


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