scholarly journals Are the psychological benefits of choral singing unique to choirs? A comparison of six activity groups

2020 ◽  
pp. 030573562094001
Author(s):  
Adam J Lonsdale ◽  
Evelyn R Day

This study compared the psychological well-being of choral singers to those who took part in five other activities: solo singers, band/orchestra members, solo musicians, team sport players, and solo sport players. These comparison groups were chosen because they each share (or lack) three key features of choral singing: (a) singing, (b) the production of music, and (c) membership of a social group or team. A total of 194 participants completed an online questionnaire to assess their well-being and the extent to which their chosen activity satisfies their psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Analysis indicated that participants who sang in a choir reported similar levels of psychological well-being, happiness, anxiety, depression, and self-esteem to those who took part in the other five leisure activities. Significant differences were found on measures of autonomy and relatedness, but participants in all six groups also reported experiencing similar levels of competence when engaged in their chosen leisure activity. These findings suggest choral singing may not be uniquely beneficial, and any leisure activity that offers opportunities for improvement, mastery of a new skill, or a sense of accomplishment might have a positive effect on our psychological well-being.

Author(s):  
Minmin Tang ◽  
Dahua Wang ◽  
Alain Guerrien

Based on the perspective of self-determination theory (SDT) and the cross-cultural, the aim of the present study was to explore the effect of “freedom of choice” on the well-being of institution-dwelling older adults (elderly residences and nursing homes), in particular during leisure activities. Participants ( NChina = 67, Mage = 80.55 years; NFrance = 90, Mage = 82.19 years) were randomly assigned to the “elderly-choice” group or “staff choice” group to participate in a puzzle game. Consistent with SDT, results showed that basic psychological needs satisfaction (autonomy, competence, relatedness) was positively associated with elderly well-being. However, our findings did not demonstrate the importance of freedom of choice for promoting such well-being in the context of leisure activities for either culture; this may be related to the recompense of close relationships or else the particularity of the elderly population. Interestingly, competence satisfaction was observed to act as a complete mediating variable between task performance and well-being only in the French population.


Author(s):  
Cecile J. Proctor ◽  
◽  
Danie A. Beaulieu ◽  
Anthony J. Reiman ◽  
Lisa A. Best ◽  
...  

"It is now recognized that the ""cancer experience"" extends beyond diagnosis, treatment, and end-of-life care. Relative to individuals who have not faced a cancer diagnosis, cancer survivors report increased mental health concerns and lowered physical and psychological well-being (Langeveld et al., 2004). Health-related quality of life encompasses overall physical (e.g., energy, fatigue, pain, etc.) and psychological functioning (e.g., emotional well-being, etc.), as well as general health perceptions (Hays & Morales, 2001). Nayak and colleagues (2017) reported that 82.3% of cancer patients had below-average quality of life scores, with the lowest scores found in the general, physical, and psychological well-being domains. Research suggests that various positive lifestyle variables, including social connectedness, leisure activity, and mindfulness practices are associated with increased quality of life in cancer patients (Courtens et al., 1996; Fangel et al., 2013; Garland et al., 2017). In this study, 350 cancer survivors completed an online questionnaire package that included a detailed demographic questionnaire with medical and online support and leisure activity questions. Additional measures were included to assess quality of life (QLQ-C30; Aaronson et al., 1993), social connectedness (Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults, SELSA-S; DiTommaso et al., 2004), and mindfulness (Adolescent and Adult Mindfulness Scale, AAMS; Droutman et al., 2018). Results show that increased QOL is predicted by increased medical support, lower family loneliness, self-acceptance, and engaging in a variety of leisure activities. Encouraging family support, including the patient in the decision-making process, encouraging a variety of physically possible leisure activities, and normalizing negative emotions surrounding diagnosis and disease symptoms are all ways that overall QoL can be improved."


GeroPsych ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ljiljana Kaliterna Lipovčan ◽  
Tihana Brkljačić ◽  
Zvjezdana Prizmić Larsen ◽  
Andreja Brajša-Žganec ◽  
Renata Franc

Abstract. Research shows that engagement in leisure activities promotes well-being among older adults. The objective of the current study was to examine the relationship between subjective well-being (flourishing) and leisure activities (total number of different activities in the previous year) in a sample of older adults in Croatia, thereby considering the variables of sex, marital status, financial status, and self-perceived health. The differences in the examined variables between the groups of older adults who reported to be engaged in new activities with those who did not were also examined. The sample of N = 169 older adults aged 60 years and above was drawn from a convenience sample of adult internet users in Croatia. Participants reported their self-perceived health and the number of leisure activities they engaged in over the previous year as well as completing the Flourishing Scale. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that older adults who were engaged in more various leisure activities, who perceived better financial status, and who were married reported higher levels of flourishing. A comparison of the two groups of older adults with and without engagement in leisure activities showed that those engaged in at least one leisure activity were more likely to be women, reported higher levels of flourishing, and perceived their own financial status as better. This study indicated that engaging in leisure activities in later life might provide beneficial effects for the well-being of older adults.


2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 299-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy L. Morgan ◽  
David A. Tobar ◽  
Lauren Snyder

Purpose:To determine whether individuals participating in a program designed to accumulate 10,000 steps/ day demonstrate health, fitness and psychological benefits.Methods:Sedentary individuals (22 F, 7 M; age 59.8 ± 5.78 yr) were randomly assigned into a walking (W, n = 14) or control (C, n = 15) group. Following baseline assessment, the W group was given a daily plan to reach 10,000 steps/day within 3 weeks and asked to maintain this level for 12 weeks; the C group was asked to maintain their current activity. Participants were evaluated for cardiovascular endurance, resting and postexercise HR, functional ability, cholesterol, psychological well-being, and exercise self-efficacy before and following the 15-week program.Results:Significant changes over time were noted between groups (G×T; P < .05) with the W group demonstrating improvements in postexercise HR (−6.51%), total cholesterol (TC: −7.74%), and personal growth (2.53%). While not statistically significant, the W group also demonstrated improvements in 6 min walk distance (2.32%), total/HDL ratio (−10.09%), 8 foot up-and-go time (−3.35%), chair stands (6.17%), flexibility (128%), and environmental mastery (4.54%).Conclusion:A 15-week program aimed at accumulating 10,000 steps/day improves cardiovascular performance and personal growth and also positively influences many variables that are indicators of health, fitness and psychological well-being.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 23-30
Author(s):  
Judithya Anggita Savitri

This study aimed to find out the impact of Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) FoMO on psychological well-being especially for social media users at the age of emerging adulthood. This study used a quantitative correlational research. The research was conducted through online questionnaire invloving 400 people obtained through accidental sampling method. The data collected using a fear of missing out (FoMO) scale and a psychological well-being scale that had been modified from Przybylski's FoMO scale and Ryff's Psychological well-being scale. The FoMO scale consists of 15 items with good reliability estimation (α = 0.849) and the psychological well-being scale consists of 45 items with also a good reliability estimation (α = 0.941). The data was analyzed using the simple linear regression. The anlysis revealed that FoMO was able to predict psychological well-being (F=43,753; p=0,000 < α 0,05). FoMO can predict psychological well-being with a contribution value of 9,99%. The regression equation line obtained was Y = 154,264 – 0,633X. Further discussion regarding the impact of fear of missing out on psychological well-being among emerging adulthood aged social media users were elaborated.


Author(s):  
Carla Moleiro ◽  
Nuno Pinto

<p><br />This paper presents research on the enforcement and impact of the first legal gender recognition legislation in Portugal (Law no.7/2011). The study describes how the administrative process created by the law functioned during its initial 5-year period, and identifies challenges and processes of resistance to this legal innovation. Simultaneously, it seeks to assess the impact of the law on the social and psychological well-being of trans people, including in their access to vital spheres of social life such as education and employment. The research employs a mixed-methods approach and a multi-informant methodology: an online questionnaire was completed by 68 trans and non-binary people, and semi-structured in-depth interviews were carried out with various selected stakeholders: representatives of trans and LGBTIQ+ organisations (n=5), health professionals identified as experts in the topic and as gatekeepers in legal gender recognition processes (n=12), and trans people (n=6). Results show, on the one hand, the significant positive impact that legal gender recognition has on the psychological well-being and social welfare of the participants. On the other hand, results also show several challenges and forms of resistance to the implementation of the law, in particular those challenges resulting from the fact that legal gender recognition depended on a clinical diagnosis and the provision of a clinical report.</p>


2021 ◽  
pp. 016502542110390
Author(s):  
Tim D. Windsor ◽  
Mandy J. Abbott ◽  
Monica Cations ◽  
Alexis J. Howard ◽  
Bethany Wilton-Harding

People reflect on their own aging, and this subjective awareness has an influence on developmental outcomes. Scholars have recently operationalized subjective aging in terms of awareness of age-related change (AARC), which captures awareness of both gains and losses. We examined associations of AARC-gains and AARC-losses with physical functioning, subjective well-being, and engagement with life (enjoyable activities and sense of purpose). Importantly, we extended previous research by not only assessing main effects of gains and losses but also testing their interaction. We hypothesized that awareness of losses would be more weakly negatively associated with health and well-being among those who possessed higher awareness of gains. A total of 399 older participants aged 65 to 91 (235 women and 164 men) were recruited via Prime Panels crowd-sourcing platform to complete an online questionnaire. Greater AARC-losses was associated with poorer health, lower subjective well-being, and lower sense of purpose. AARC-gains was associated with better outcomes in general, and moderated associations of AARC-losses with physical functioning, subjective well-being, and sense of purpose (but not engagement in leisure activities). Consistent with predictions, moderation effects showed that negative associations of AARC-losses with the outcomes were weaker among those who reported higher AARC-gains. Results provided some support for a role of AARC-gains in buffering negative effects of AARC-losses on developmental outcomes.


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