scholarly journals Impact of a University-Wide Interdisciplinary Mind-Body Skills Program on Student Mental and Emotional Well-Being

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 216495612097398
Author(s):  
Brenna K Novak ◽  
Anna Gebhardt ◽  
Harini Pallerla ◽  
Susan Blocksom McDonald ◽  
Aviad Haramati ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Negative Affect ◽  
Sleep Disturbance ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Public University ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Booster Sessions ◽  
The Mind

Background Positive effects of mind-body skills programs on participant well-being have been reported in health professions students. The success seen with medical students at this university led to great interest in expanding the mind-body skills program so students in other disciplines could benefit from the program. Objective The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of a 9-week mind-body skills program on the mental and emotional well-being of multidisciplinary students compared to controls. We also sought to determine if the program’s effects were sustained at 1-year follow-up. Methods A cross-sectional pre-post survey was administered online via SurveyMonkey to participants of a 9-week mind-body skills program and a control group of students from 7 colleges at a public university from 2017–2019. Students were assessed on validated measures of stress, positive/negative affect, resilience, depression, anxiety, fatigue, sleep disturbance, mindfulness, empathy, and burnout. Scores were analyzed between-groups and within-groups using bivariate and multivariate analyses. A 1-year follow-up was completed on a subset of participants and controls. Results 279 participants and 247 controls completed the pre-survey and post-survey (79% response rate; 71% female, 68% white, mean age = 25 years). Participants showed significant decreases in stress, negative affect, depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and burnout, while positive affect, resilience, mindfulness, and empathy increased significantly ( P <  .05). Only sleep disturbance showed a significant decrease in the control group. Follow-up in a subset of participants showed that only mindfulness remained elevated at 1-year ( P <  .05), whereas the significant changes in other well-being measures were not sustained. Conclusion Participation in a 9-week mind-body skills program led to significant improvement in indicators of well-being in multidisciplinary students. A pilot 1-year follow-up suggests that effects are only sustained for mindfulness, but not other parameters. Future programming should focus on implementing mind-body skills booster sessions to help sustain the well-being benefits.

scholarly journals Using Social Network Sites to Boost Savoring: Positive Effects on Positive Emotions

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (17) ◽  
pp. 6407
Author(s):  
Sen-Chi Yu ◽  
Kennon M. Sheldon ◽  
Wen-Ping Lan ◽  
Jia-Huei Chen
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Group ◽  
University Students ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Treatment Control ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Treatment Control Group

Research has demonstrated that positive interventions (PIs) can be effective in enhancing well-being. Our study used Facebook to conduct a PI based on savoring. Sixty-one university students in Taiwan were randomly assigned to undergo a three-week savoring PI, and 61 participants were assigned to a no-treatment control group. The results showed significantly enhanced positive affect in the treatment group compared to the control group, in both a post-test and a final follow-up, but no significant differences between the two groups in negative affect. The treatment group also displayed significantly lower depression in the post-test, which was not maintained at the follow-up. These results indicate that, for university students, a savoring intervention via Facebook can be an effective way of enhancing positive emotions.

Psychological Resilience Provides No Independent Protection From Suicidal Risk

Crisis ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 130-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danica W. Y. Liu ◽  
A. Kate Fairweather-Schmidt ◽  
Richard Burns ◽  
Rachel M. Roberts ◽  
Kaarin J. Anstey
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Psychological Resilience ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Life Project ◽  
Resilience Factors ◽  
First Time

Abstract. Background: Little is known about the role of resilience in the likelihood of suicidal ideation (SI) over time. Aims: We examined the association between resilience and SI in a young-adult cohort over 4 years. Our objectives were to determine whether resilience was associated with SI at follow-up or, conversely, whether SI was associated with lowered resilience at follow-up. Method: Participants were selected from the Personality and Total Health (PATH) Through Life Project from Canberra and Queanbeyan, Australia, aged 28–32 years at the first time point and 32–36 at the second. Multinomial, linear, and binary regression analyses explored the association between resilience and SI over two time points. Models were adjusted for suicidality risk factors. Results: While unadjusted analyses identified associations between resilience and SI, these effects were fully explained by the inclusion of other suicidality risk factors. Conclusion: Despite strong cross-sectional associations, resilience and SI appear to be unrelated in a longitudinal context, once risk/resilience factors are controlled for. As independent indicators of psychological well-being, suicidality and resilience are essential if current status is to be captured. However, the addition of other factors (e.g., support, mastery) makes this association tenuous. Consequently, resilience per se may not be protective of SI.

scholarly journals Performers of the night: Examining the mental health of electronic music artists

2021 ◽  
pp. 030573562097698
Author(s):  
Jolan Kegelaers ◽  
Lewie Jessen ◽  
Eline Van Audenaerde ◽  
Raôul RD Oudejans
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Sleep Disturbance ◽  
Electronic Music ◽  
Music Performance ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Music Performance Anxiety ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression ◽  
Levels Of Functioning

Despite growing popular interest for the mental health of electronic music artists, scientific research addressing this topic has remained largely absent. As such, the aim of the current study was to examine the mental health of electronic music artists, as well as a number of determinants. Using a cross-sectional quantitative design, a total of 163 electronic music artists participated in this study. In line with the two-continua model of mental health, both symptoms of depression/anxiety and well-being were adopted as indicators for mental health. Furthermore, standardized measures were used to assess potential determinants of mental health, including sleep disturbance, music performance anxiety, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, occupational stress, resilience, and social support. Results highlighted that around 30% of participants experienced symptoms of depression/anxiety. Nevertheless, the majority of these participants still demonstrated at least moderate levels of functioning and well-being. Sleep disturbance formed a significant predictor for both symptoms of depression/anxiety and well-being. Furthermore, resilience and social support were significant predictors for well-being. The results provide a first glimpse into the mental health challenges experienced by electronic music artists and support the need for increased research as well as applied initiatives directed at safeguarding their mental health.

scholarly journals Positive and Negative Affect Changes during Gender-Affirming Hormonal Treatment: Results from the European Network for the Investigation of Gender Incongruence (ENIGI)

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 296
Author(s):  
Imke Matthys ◽  
Justine Defreyne ◽  
Els Elaut ◽  
Alessandra Daphne Fisher ◽  
Baudewijntje P. C. Kreukels ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Negative Affect ◽  
Sex Steroids ◽  
Hormonal Treatment ◽  
Control Group ◽  
First Year ◽  
Positive And Negative Affect ◽  
European Network ◽  
Psychological Burden ◽  
The Impact

Improving transgender people’s quality of life (QoL) is the most important goal of gender-affirming care. Prospective changes in affect can influence QoL. We aim to assess the impact of initiating gender-affirming hormonal treatment (HT) on affect. In the European Network for the Investigation of Gender Incongruence (ENIGI) study, we prospectively collected data of 873 participants (451 transwomen (TW) and 422 transmen (TM)). At baseline, psychological questionnaires including the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) were administered. The PANAS, levels of sex steroids and physical changes were registered at each follow-up visit during a 3-year follow-up period, starting at the initiation of hormonal therapy. Data were analyzed cross-sectionally and prospectively. Over the first three months, we observed a decline in positive affect (PA) in both TM and TW. Thereafter, PA reached a steady state in TW, whereas in TM there was also a second decline at 18 months. In both TM and TW there was no persisting difference comparing baseline to the 36-months results. Concerning negative affect (NA), we observed a decline during the first year in TM, which sustained during the second year and was not different anymore at 36 months compared to baseline. In TW though, we did not find any change of NA during the entire follow-up. Even if some of these results show significant differences, they should be considered with caution, since there was no control group and the absolute differences are small. No association between affect and the level of sex steroids was observed. Baseline QoL and psychological burden are related to affect independently from gender but are not necessarily good predictors of the evolution of one’s affect during the gender-affirming process. Further research is necessary to investigate these preliminary results.

scholarly journals Short-term balance training and acute effects on postural sway in balance-deficient older adults: a randomized controlled trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Niklas Sörlén ◽  
Andreas Hult ◽  
Peter Nordström ◽  
Anna Nordström ◽  
Jonas Johansson
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Postural Sway ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Eyes Closed ◽  
Balance Exercise

Abstract Background We aimed to determine the effectiveness of 4 weeks of balance exercise compared with no intervention on objectively measured postural sway. Methods This was a single-center parallel randomized controlled, open label, trial. A six-sided dice was used for allocation at a 1:1-ratio between exercise and control. The trial was performed at a university hospital clinic in Sweden and recruited community-dwelling older adults with documented postural instability. The intervention consisted of progressively challenging balance exercise three times per week, during 4 weeks, with follow-up at week five. Main outcome measures were objective postural sway length during eyes open and eyes closed conditions. Results Sixty-five participants aged 70 years (balance exercise n = 32; no intervention n = 33) were randomized. 14 participants were excluded from analysis because of early dropout before follow-up at week five, leaving 51 (n = 22; n = 29) participants for analysis. No significant differences were detected between the groups in any of the postural sway outcomes. Within-group analyses showed significant improvements in hand grip strength for the intervention group, while Timed Up & Go improvements were comparable between groups but only statistically significant in the control group. Conclusions Performing balance exercise over a four-week intervention period did not acutely improve postural sway in balance-deficient older adults. The lower limit in duration and frequency to achieve positive effects remains unclear. Trial registration Clinical trials NCT03227666, July 24, 2017, retrospectively registered.

scholarly journals A Comparison of the Effect of Two Types of Whole Body Vibration Platforms on Fibromyalgia. A Randomized Controlled Trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 3007
Author(s):  
José Antonio Mingorance ◽  
Pedro Montoya ◽  
José García Vivas Miranda ◽  
Inmaculada Riquelme
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Motor Function ◽  
Whole Body Vibration ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Body Vibration ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Therapy Program

Whole body vibration has been proven to improve the health status of patients with fibromyalgia, providing an activation of the neuromuscular spindles, which are responsible for muscle contraction. The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of two types of whole body vibrating platforms (vertical and rotational) during a 12-week training program. Sixty fibromyalgia patients (90% were women) were randomly assigned to one of the following groups: group A (n = 20), who performed the vibration training with a vertical platform; group B (n = 20), who did rotational platform training; or a control group C (n = 20), who did not do any training. Sensitivity measures (pressure pain and vibration thresholds), quality of life (Quality of Life Index), motor function tasks (Berg Scale, six-minute walking test, isometric back muscle strength), and static and dynamic balance (Romberg test and gait analysis) were assessed before, immediately after, and three months after the therapy program. Although both types of vibration appeared to have beneficial effects with respect to the control group, the training was more effective with the rotational than with vertical platform in some parameters, such as vibration thresholds (p < 0.001), motor function tasks (p < 0.001), mediolateral sway (p < 0.001), and gait speed (p < 0.05). Nevertheless, improvements disappeared in the follow-up in both types of vibration. Our study points out greater benefits with the use of rotational rather than vertical whole body vibration. The use of the rotational modality is recommended in the standard therapy program for patients with fibromyalgia. Due to the fact that the positive effects of both types of vibration disappeared during the follow-up, continuous or intermittent use is recommended.

scholarly journals Influence on Forgiveness, Character Strengths and Satisfaction with Life of a Short Mindfulness Intervention via a Spanish Smartphone Application

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 802
Author(s):  
Juan Pablo Pizarro-Ruiz ◽  
Nuria Ordóñez-Camblor ◽  
Mario Del-Líbano ◽  
María-Camino Escolar-LLamazares
Keyword(s):  
Negative Affect ◽  
Satisfaction With Life ◽  
Character Strengths ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Smartphone Application ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Psychological Practice ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Reducing Stress ◽  
Positive Effect

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) are a recognized effective psychological practice characterized by attention control, awareness, acceptance, non-reactivity, and non-judgmental thinking obtained through the practice of meditation. They have been shown to be useful in reducing stress and enhancing well-being in different contexts. In this research, the effectiveness of an MBI was evaluated on variables that can promote successful job performance such as mindfulness trait, positive and negative affect, forgiveness, personality strengths and satisfaction with life. The intervention was carried out through a smartphone application called “Aire Fresco” (Fresh Air) during 14 days in the middle of the quarantine produced by the Covid-19 pandemic. The study sample was composed of 164 Spanish people who were distributed in two groups: control group and experimental group, which were evaluated before and after the intervention. The MANCOVA performed showed an overall positive effect of the intervention on the variables evaluated. The different ANCOVAs carried out showed that the intervention was beneficial in increasing mindfulness trait, reducing negative affect or increasing life satisfaction, among others. Our study is, as far as we know, the first to demonstrate the effectiveness of a brief intervention in mindfulness conducted using a smartphone application in Spanish.

scholarly journals SAT0547 RADIOGRAPHIC IMAGING IN ASSESSMENT OF FLUOROSCOPIC GUIDED INJECTION OF RHEUMATOID ATLANTOAXIAL JOINT INFLAMMATION

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1230.1-1231
Author(s):  
D. Fouad ◽  
S. Rashad ◽  
M. Ghaly ◽  
M. Hassanien
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Neck Pain ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Sleep Disturbance ◽  
Steroid Injection ◽  
Therapeutic Option ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Atlantoaxial Joint ◽  
Post Intervention

Background:Rheumatoid spondylitis is a feature of long-lasting Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) that is presented by neck pain, headache and sleep disturbance. Atlantoaxial joint (AAJ) is the commonest cervical spine joint that affected in patients with RA. When it is involved, it can be associated with dangerous complications. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) can be used for assessing the disease activity, the amount of cartilage destruction, associated cervical myelopathy and differentiating synovial fluid from inflammatory pannus (Taniguchi D, et al., 2008).Objectives:This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of intra-articular steroid injection of inflamed AAJ in RA patients, regarding neck pain, headache and sleep quality using pre and post-interventions MRI.Methods:A prospective case control study. Patients with inflamed AAJ were recruited. Group 1 (AAJ group, n = 30), received intraarticular AAJ steroid injection, guided by fluoroscopy and Group 2 (control group, n = 30), received systemic steroids. Both groups were assessed with: Visual Analogue scale (VAS) for nocturnal neck pain and headache. Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) was used for sleep disturbance. Pre and post contrasts enhanced MRI interventions were done for both groups during the period of follow up (three months).Results:Nocturnal neck pain, headache and sleep disturbance have significantly decreased, during follow up visits (3 months), in AAJ group in comparison to the control group. The Pre-intervention nocturnal pain score was 60.3 ±17.1 in AAJ group & 58.5 ±17.9 in control group. Pain has significantly decreased after 2weeks in AAJ group with continuous improvement till 3 months’ post-intervention 6.9 ±4.65 & 51.26 ±10.54 respectively. The pre-intervention headache was 22.68 ±16.74 in AAJ group & 45.17 ±15.83 in control group decreased to 7.54 ±5.23 & 48.52 ±11.98 respectively post intervention. The percentage of patients who had sleep disturbance at baseline was 66.7% & 73.3% in AAJ and control groups respectively which has significantly decreased to 6.7% & 43.3% after 3 months. Regarding MRI, AAJ group hada statistical significant decreasein the percentage of patients with MRI synovial enhancement, inflammatorypannus,fibrosis and bone marrow edema in comparison to control group 3 months post intervention. All post-procedural side effects resolved within thmonth without further medical intervention, and no long-term sequelae were identifiedConclusion:Fluoroscopic guided intra-articular steroid injection of inflamed atlantoaxial joints is considered a beneficial therapeutic option in rheumatoid arthritis patients regarding clinical and radiological assessments.References:[1]Taniguchi D, Tokunaga D, Hase H, et al. Evaluation of lateral instability of AAJ in RA using dynamic open-mouth view radiographs. Clin Rheumatol.2008 Jul. 27(7):851-7.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

scholarly journals Postural Responses to Sudden Horizontal Perturbations in Tai Chi Practitioners

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 2692
Author(s):  
Jernej Sever ◽  
Jan Babič ◽  
Žiga Kozinc ◽  
Nejc Šarabon
Keyword(s):  
Tai Chi ◽  
Center Of Pressure ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Vertical Movement ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Age Difference ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Postural Responses ◽  
Force Increase ◽  
Load Release

Tai Chi has been shown to elicit numerous positive effects on health and well-being. In this study, we examined reactive postural control after sudden unloading horizontal perturbations, which resembled situations encountered during Tai Chi. The study involved 20 participants, 10 in the Tai Chi group (age: 37.4 ± 7.8 years), who had been regularly training the push-hand technique for at least 7 years, and 10 in the control group, consisting of healthy adults (age: 28.8 ± 5.0). Perturbations were applied at three different positions (hips, shoulders, and arms) via the load-release paradigm. Twenty measurements were carried out for each perturbation position. We measured peak vertical and horizontal forces on the ground (expressed percentage of body mass (%BM)), peak center of pressure displacement and peak horizontal and vertical velocities at the knee, hip and shoulder joints. The Tai Chi group exhibited smaller increases in vertical ground reaction forces when perturbations were applied at the hips (11.5 ± 2.1 vs. 19.6 ± 5.5 %BW; p = 0.002) and the arms (14.1 ± 4.2 vs. 23.2 ± 8.4 %BW; p = 0.005). They also responded with higher horizontal force increase after hip perturbation (16.2 ± 3.2 vs. 13.1 ± 2.5 %BW; p < 0.001). Similar findings were found when observing various outcomes related to velocities of vertical movement. The Tai Chi group also showed lower speeds of backward movement of the knee (p = 0.005–0.009) after hip (0.49 ± 0.13 vs. 0.85 ± 0.14 m/s; p = 0.005) and arm perturbations (0.97 ± 0.18 vs. 1.71 ± 0.29 m/s; p = 0.005). Center of pressure displacements were similar between groups. Our study demonstrated that engaging in Tai Chi could be beneficial to reactive postural responses after sudden perturbations in a horizontal direction; however, future interventional studies are needed to directly confirm this. Moreover, because of the age difference between the groups, some confounding effects of age cannot be ruled out.

scholarly journals Diet quality and well-being in children and adolescents: the UP&DOWN longitudinal study

2018 ◽  
Vol 121 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Esteban-Gonzalo ◽  
Anne I. Turner ◽  
Susan J. Torres ◽  
Irene Esteban-Cornejo ◽  
José Castro-Piñero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Secondary School ◽  
Negative Affect ◽  
Primary School ◽  
Positive Affect ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Down's Syndrome ◽  
Down’S Syndrome ◽  
Well Being ◽  
School Girls

AbstractThe present study examined the association between high-quality diet (using the Mediterranean diet (MD) as an example) and well-being cross-sectionally and prospectively in Spanish children and adolescents. Participants included 533 children and 987 adolescents at baseline and 527 children and 798 adolescents at 2-year follow-up, included in the UP&DOWN study (follow-up in schoolchildren and adolescents with and without Down’s syndrome). The present study excluded participants with Down’s syndrome. Adherence to an MD was assessed using the KIDMED index. Well-being was measured using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule and the KIDSCREEN-10 questionnaire. Associations between MD adherence and well-being were assessed using multi-level, mixed-effects linear regression. At baseline, MD adherence was positively related to health-related quality of life in secondary school girls and boys (β=0·41,se0·10,P<0·001;β=0·46,se0·10,P<0·001, respectively) and to positive affect in secondary school girls and boys (β=0·16,se0·05,P=0·006;β=0·20,se0·05,P<0·001, respectively) and in primary school boys (β=0·20,se0·08,P=0·019). At 2-year follow-up, MD adherence was negatively related to negative affect in secondary school adolescent girls and boys (β=–0·15,se0·07,P=0·047;β=–0·16,se0·06,P=0·019, respectively), and MD adherence was associated with higher positive affect scores in secondary school girls (β=0·30,se0·06,P<0·001) and in primary school boys (β=0·20,se0·09,P=0·023). However, MD adherence at baseline did not predict well-being indicators at 2-year follow-up. In conclusion, higher MD adherence was found to behave as a protective factor for positive well-being in cross-sectional analysis.

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