scholarly journals Effects of Qigong Exercise on Physical and Psychological Health among African Americans

2020 ◽  
pp. 019394592095906
Author(s):  
Pei-Shiun Chang ◽  
Yvonne Lu ◽  
Chi Mai Nguyen ◽  
Youngnok Suh ◽  
Mary Luciani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
African Americans ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
College Level ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Physical Ability ◽  
Spiritual Well Being ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Physical And Psychological Health ◽  
And Function

Interventions are needed to address physical and psychological health in middle-aged and older African Americans (AAs). The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility and potential benefits of an eight-week Qigong exercise on physical ability and function, balance, frailty, depression and anxiety, and spiritual well-being in AAs using a single-group design. Fifteen AAs with a mean age of 64 years received Qigong exercise over 16 semi-weekly, one-hour sessions. The majority were female (93.3%) and college-level educated (53.3%). Repeat chair stands, physical function, and spiritual well-being improved significantly ( p < .05) with effect sizes ranging from .45 to .87. Over 52% of participants showed improved depression scores, fast gait speed, and standing balance. Nearly 42% demonstrated some frailty improvement over baseline. No adverse events were reported. Qigong exercise potentially improves the physical ability and function, and spiritual well-being of AAs and needs further testing in a randomized clinical trial.

scholarly journals Qigong Exercise in Frailty, Psychological Health, and Spiritual Well-Being of Middle-Aged and Older Blacks

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 178-178
Author(s):  
Pei-Shiun Chang ◽  
Yvonne Lu ◽  
Susan Ofner ◽  
Chi Nguyen
Keyword(s):  
African Americans ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Exercise Intervention ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Spiritual Well Being ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
To Receive

Abstract Interventions are needed to address the frailty and psychological health in middle-aged and older African Americans. Qigong, a traditional medicine exercise, consists of gentle body movements, breathing exercise, and meditation. The benefits of Qigong exercise have been widely reported in Asian adults but there have been no known studies testing Qigong exercise in the African American population. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the potential benefits of an 8-week Qigong exercise in physical and functional ability, balance, frailty, depression and anxiety, and spiritual well-being in community-dwelling middle-aged African Americans using a single group design. Fifteen African Americans aged 45 to 85 years were recruited to receive Qigong exercise over 16 bi-weekly, one-hour sessions. The Layers Module that unfolds the complex multidimensional benefits of Qigong exercise on physical, mental, and spiritual dimensions was used to guide the outcome measures. Data were collected at baseline and 14 days post intervention. Results showed positive trends in repeat chair stands, physical function, and spiritual well-being (p&lt;0.05) with effect sizes ranging from 0.45 to 0.87. Despite no significance, over 52% of the participants showed improved depression scores, fast gait speed, and standing balance than baseline. Nearly 42% demonstrated some levels of frailty improvement than the baseline. No adverse events related to Qigong exercise intervention was reported. Qigong exercise is a potentially promising intervention which needs further testing in a randomized clinical trial.

scholarly journals Physical and Psychological Health Outcomes of Qigong Exercise in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (02) ◽  
pp. 301-322 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pei-Shiun Chang ◽  
Tish Knobf ◽  
Byeongsang Oh ◽  
Marjorie Funk
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Chronic Illnesses ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Physical Ability ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Physical And Psychological Health

Physical limitations, depression and anxiety are prevalent among older adults. Mild to moderate exercise can promote physical and psychological health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Qigong, a type of Chinese traditional medicine exercise, has demonstrated beneficial effects on physical ability and mental health in adults with chronic conditions. The purpose of this review was to systematically assess the effects of Qigong exercise on physical and psychological health outcomes in older adults. A total of 1282 older adults aged 62 to 83 years with depressive symptoms, frailty or chronic medical illnesses were included in this review. The meta-analysis showed that Qigong exercise resulted in significantly improved physical ability compared with active control or usual care (standardized mean difference [SMD] [Formula: see text] 1.00 and 1.20, respectively). The pooled effects of studies with thrice weekly Qigong sessions had the greatest effect ([Formula: see text]) on physical ability in older adults. Lower quality studies demonstrated larger effect sizes than those of higher quality. Although Qigong exercise showed favorable effects on depression, balance and functioning, the overall effects did not reach statistical significance. No significant adverse events were reported. The findings suggest that the Qigong exercise may be an option for older adults to improve physical ability, functional ability, balance and to lessen depression and anxiety. However, the number of RCTs that enroll older adults is limited. More methodologically sound RCTs are needed to confirm the efficacy of Qigong exercise on physical and psychological health in older adults with chronic illnesses.

scholarly journals The Psychological Impact of Coronavirus Pandemic Restrictions in Italy. The Mediating Role of the Fear of COVID-19 in the Relationship between Positive and Negative Affect with Positive and Negative Outcomes

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 697-710
Author(s):  
Andrea Zammitti ◽  
Chiara Imbrogliera ◽  
Angela Russo ◽  
Rita Zarbo ◽  
Paola Magnano
Keyword(s):  
Negative Affect ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Positive And Negative Affect ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Negative Outcomes ◽  
Event Scale ◽  
Spiritual Well Being ◽  
The Relationship

Italy was quickly hit hard by the coronavirus. ‘Lockdown’ has significantly impacted the psychological health, personal wellbeing and quality of life of the people. The study aims to explore the relationship between positive and negative affect, as well as positive (spiritual well-being and flourishing) and negative outcomes (psychological distress caused by a traumatic life event in terms of perception of PTSD symptoms) on Italian adults during the lockdown period. Data was collected between April and May 2020. The participants were 281 Italian adults aged between 18 and 73 years. The survey was composed of the following measures: Flourishing Scale, Jarel Spiritual Well-Being scale, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, Impact of Event Scale—Revised, Fear of COVID-19. The mediational analysis shows that fear of COVID-19 fully mediates the relationship between negative affect and spiritual well-being and flourishing; fear of COVID-19 partially mediates the relationship between negative affect and PTSD symptoms; the positive affect shows only direct effects on positive outcomes. Therefore, fear of COVID-19 does not play any mediation role. Implications for psychological interventions and future research will be discussed.

scholarly journals Multiple Practices of Social Pedagogy: The Case of The Smile of the Child , a Non-Profit Organization Dedicated to Children’s Protection and Well-Being

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Costas Yannopoulos ◽  
Stefanos Alevizos ◽  
Marina Kavallieraki
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Health ◽  
Child Protection ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Children's Rights ◽  
Children’S Rights ◽  
Voluntary Organization ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
Social Pedagogy ◽  
Physical And Psychological Health

The Smile of the Child is a Greek non-profit, voluntary organization in the field of social pedagogy. It has been an NGO active in the field of child protection and children’s rights since 1996. It began as the dream of 10-year old Andreas Yannopoulos, who, shortly before losing his own battle for life, documented his vision in his journal. The Smile of the Child, empowered by committed employees and the support of hundreds of volunteers, provides services 24 hours a day throughout the year, including programmes for children’s welfare and protection of their physical and psychological health, as well as for the safety of thousands of children in danger in Greece.

scholarly journals Spiritual Well-Being and Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilaria Coppola ◽  
Nadia Rania ◽  
Rosa Parisi ◽  
Francesca Lagomarsino
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Family Relationships ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Great Difficulty ◽  
Coping Resources ◽  
Stress Factors ◽  
Difficult Situation ◽  
Spiritual Well Being

During the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy, people and families experienced a new and sudden situation that forced them to stay in their homes for a long period (February 25- May 26). In this context, many people found themselves in great difficulty, not only because of the fear of contagion or the economic problems deriving from the closure of production activities but also because the virus profoundly changed the way of life in society. The “Social distancing” concept became central in all personal relationships, including close family relationships. In this situation, our paper seeks to understand the role of spirituality and religiosity in reacting to this difficult situation and in particular on the physical and psychological health of the people involved. The data we present here are part of a multidisciplinary research with a quantitative theoretical framework. As the data was collected during the first Italian lockdown, a total of 1,250 adults from all over Italy participated in the on-line questionnaire. Among the main results it emerged that the participants perceived lower levels of spiritual well-being and mental health than the pre-pandemic situation with a significant gender difference; in fact, women perceived lower mental health than men. At the same time, it is evident that spirituality and religious practices are a protective factor connected not only with psychological and mental but also physical health. Finally, it appears evident that the family is a protective factor with respect to mental health, even in a period so full of stress factors, those who did not live alone and especially those who had to take care of small children reported higher perceived mental health and a greater ability to activate coping resources.

scholarly journals Physical Activity As a Fundamental Component of a Healthy Lifestyle in the Context of Social Change. Application of the “Melodance” Method

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 71-79
Author(s):  
Victoria А. Dmitrieva ◽  
◽  
Kristina S. Kharlova ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Social Change ◽  
Physical Condition ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Fundamental Component ◽  
Physical And Psychological Health ◽  
Wide Potential

Substantiates the effectiveness of using the «Melodance» technique as a means of physical activity that increases well-being, activity and mood, improves physical condition and the desire for a healthy lifestyle. The results of our own research have shown that the Melodance technique has a wide potential as a means of physical activity and strengthening the physical and psychological health of a person, as well as forming an attitude towards a healthy lifestyle. The prospects for the application of this technique are shown.

Quality of Life in Employee with Workaholism

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ozlem Koseoglu Ornek ◽  
Nurcan Kolac
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Negative Influence ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Physical And Psychological Health ◽  
Occupational Healthcare

Workaholism has been a growing issue among the labour force worldwide. However, there is no consensus between scholars about its definition yet. It might be described as “being overly concerned about work, driven by a strong and uncontrollable desire to work, and spending so much energy and effort on work that it impairs private relationships, personal hobbies/activities, and/or health”. Generally, people with specific personality traits may have an increased chance of developing workaholism. In addition, there are other factors, such as sociocultural characteristics, relationships with colleagues and significant others, and organizational culture might also play an important influence on developing workaholism. It causes many physical and psychological health problems, such as high blood pressure, anxiety, depression, and family and lifestyle dissatisfaction, and a reduction in job satisfaction, presenteeism, and motivation. Putting all of this together, it is clear that workaholism has a negative influence on employees’ quality of life and overall well-being. Therefore, this study aimed at examining a variety of approaches to define “workaholism” in related literature, defining its etiology, related factors, outcomes, prevention, and treatment. The PubMed/Medline database was also used for related studies that were published in English. “Workaholism”, “obsessive–compulsive behavior”, and “quality of health” were used as keywords. It is crucial to take action to prevent people from becoming workaholics. Early diagnoses of workaholism, using predictive factors by occupational healthcare professionals in the workplace, would help decrease its impact on workers’ health, and an effective treatment of workaholism should be applied.

Open Plan Office Design Features Affecting Staff’s Health and Well-being Status

2014 ◽  
Vol 70 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Arezou Shafaghat ◽  
Ali Keyvanfar ◽  
Hasanuddin Lamit ◽  
Seyed Ali Mousavi ◽  
Mohd Zaimi Abd Majid
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Health ◽  
Indoor Environment ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Environment Design ◽  
Effect Analysis ◽  
Office Design ◽  
Open Plan ◽  
Cause And Effect Analysis ◽  
Physical And Psychological Health ◽  
Health And Well Being

Sustainable office building indoor environment design is a challengeable issue for professionals in thermal comfort, satisfaction, health, and energy fields of research. The professionals intensively need a comprehensive list of office indoor environment design features to promote the level of performance and productivity of staff. One of the most effective factors dealing with staff performance and productivity is physical and psychological health which has not yet been investigated in depth is open-plan office design. In this regard, the current research aimed at establishing a comprehensive list of Open Plan Offices Design (OPOD) features affecting physical and psychological health and well-being of the staff at office buildings. Research methodology engaged two phases corresponding to two objectives. Phase one was to investigate OPOD features and sub-features through a critical literature review using fishbone cause-and-effect analysis technique. Phase one has clustered the OPOD features into two; positive and negative classes. The cause-and-effect analysis determined 3 positive features and 5 negative features involved in the positive and negative classes, respectively. The Efficient Workflow and Performance, Flexible Design, and Cost Efficient were identified as positive OPOD features which involves a number of sub-features. The Distraction, Decreasing Work Feedback, Job Dissatisfaction, Illness, and stress have been determined as OPOD features which impact negatively on staff’s health. The second phase conducted a content analysis on reviewed literatures to indicate the popularity of citation of each OPOD feature in previous studies. The content analysis determined in the Positive cluster, the sub-feature “Facilitate Communication”, under Efficient Workflow & Performance was investigated more than other sub-features. In addition, in the Negative cluster, the sub-feature Auditory Distraction under Distraction was highly investigated. The research asserts that undertaking the research outputs will promote performance and productivity of staff in office buildings. Architects, facility managers, design consultants, and authority may use the output as a decision support checklist for future office design and/or renovations.

scholarly journals Physical and Psychological Impact of the Phase One Lockdown for COVID-19 on Italians

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Tommasi ◽  
Francesca Toro ◽  
Simone Arnò ◽  
Angelo Carrieri ◽  
Marco Maria Conte ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Health ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Psychological Conditions ◽  
Natural Catastrophes ◽  
Physical And Psychological Health ◽  
At Home

The exceptional pandemic due to the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has obliged all Italians to stay at home. In the literature, there are evidences that traumatic global events, such as natural catastrophes and pandemic, have negative effects on the physical and psychological health of the population. We carried out a survey to analyze the physical and psychological conditions of Italians during the pandemic. Due to the severe limitations in moving during the phase one lockdown, the survey was administered by internet. Results show that Italians followed the provisions established by the Italian government to avoid contamination, but 43% of them declared to have suffered from physical symptoms, in particular migraine, sleep disorders, persistent exhaustion, and difficulty of concentration. They have great fear to be contaminated or that relatives or friends can be contaminated, and they actively take actions to avoid contamination. Participants declared that they had suffered a lot of inconveniences due to restrictions in their movements, and that their life habits were strongly changed. They spent their time at home in different activities, but their psychological well-being was strongly impaired by the lockdown. The level of anxiety tripled, in relation to the prepandemic period, and 30% of males and 41% of females declared to have severe levels of depression. Participants with high levels of optimism and hopefulness show a stronger resilience against anxiety and depression. In addition, there is a negative correlation between anxiety and depression and the five factors of personality. These results show that psychological diseases must not be neglected, and that people in lockdown do need support for their psychological health, also with the help of internet and communication technologies.

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