scholarly journals Spirituality as an Aid to Promote Health and Well-Being

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 17
Author(s):  
Salma Kaneez ◽  
Shamim A Ansari
Keyword(s):  
Protective Factor ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Religious Faith ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Holistic Health ◽  
World Health ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Individual Existence ◽  
Health Organization

Spirituality has been described as the central philosophy of life which guides peoples’ conduct and is the core of individual existence that integrates and transcends the physical, emotional, intellectual, ethical, volitional and social dimensions. World Health Organization (WHO) has included spirituality in its comprehensive definition of holistic health. It is recognized as a protective factor or resource when dealing with critical illness and disabilities. Spirituality and religious faith exert a primary preventive effect against morbidity in multiple populations, and has a positive association with psychological well-being. A growing body of research has investigated the relationship of various spiritual and religious indices to various aspects of health. Empirical studies have revealed that spirituality and religious beliefs help prevent physical and mental illness, reducing symptoms severity and relapse rate, and enhancing recovery from diverse set of ailments. Spiritual transcendence (connectedness with God) has been found to play crucial role in coping with illness. The purpose of the present article is to explore the role of spiritual and religious practices in promoting health and wellness among the people inflicted with illness. The paper also highlights implications for health practices and future research in complimentary therapies.Keywords; Spirituality, Well-Being, Coping, Holistic Health.

scholarly journals The Relation Between Official WhatsApp-Distributed COVID-19 News Exposure and Psychological Symptoms: Cross-Sectional Survey Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean C J Liu ◽  
Eddie M W Tong
Keyword(s):  
Protective Factor ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Primary Outcome Measure ◽  
World Health ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Health Organization

BACKGROUND In a global pandemic, digital technology offers innovative methods to disseminate public health messages. As an example, the messenger app WhatsApp was adopted by both the World Health Organization and government agencies to provide updates on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). During a time when rumors and excessive news threaten psychological well-being, these services allow for rapid transmission of information and may boost resilience. OBJECTIVE In this study, we sought to accomplish the following: (1) assess well-being during the pandemic; (2) replicate prior findings linking exposure to COVID-19 news with psychological distress; and (3) examine whether subscription to an official WhatsApp channel can mitigate this risk. METHODS Across 8 weeks of the COVID-19 outbreak (March 7 to April 21, 2020), we conducted a survey of 1145 adults in Singapore. As the primary outcome measure, participants completed the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). As predictor variables, participants also answered questions pertaining to the following: (1) their exposure to COVID-19 news; (2) their use of the Singapore government’s WhatsApp channel; and (3) their demographics. RESULTS Within the sample, 7.9% of participants had severe or extremely severe symptoms on at least one DASS-21 subscale. Depression scores were associated with increased time spent receiving COVID-19 updates, whereas use of the official WhatsApp channel emerged as a protective factor (<i>b</i>=–0.07, <i>t</i>[863]=–2.04, <i>P</i>=.04). Similarly, increased anxiety scores were associated with increased exposure to both updates and rumors, but this risk was mitigated by trust in the government’s WhatsApp messages (<i>b</i>=–0.05, <i>t</i>[863]=–2.13, <i>P</i>=.03). Finally, although stress symptoms increased with the amount of time spent receiving updates, these symptoms were not significantly related to WhatsApp use. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that messenger apps may be an effective medium for disseminating pandemic-related information, allowing official agencies to reach a broad sector of the population rapidly. In turn, this use may promote public well-being amid an “infodemic.” CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04305574; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04305574

Research on unhealthy food and beverages advertising targeting children: Systematic literature review and directions for future research

2021 ◽  
pp. 031289622110595
Author(s):  
Ritu Srivastava ◽  
Parul Gupta
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Systematic Literature Review ◽  
Eating Habits ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Jel Classification ◽  
World Health ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Scholarly Research ◽  
Food And Beverages ◽  
Health Organization

The rising level of childhood obesity across the globe has escalated the worries of World Health Organization (WHO), health practitioners, policymakers, and regulators. One of the most prominent factors that promote unhealthy eating habits of children is the heavy advertising of food and beverages (F&B) targeted at children. This has deepened the concerns of stakeholders about the persuasion ethics of firms aggressively promoting unhealthy foodstuff to young consumers. This article presents a systematic literature review of scholarly research on the advertising of unhealthy F&B targeted at children. A systematic review of 70 peer-reviewed articles is conducted through the theoretical lens to present their contributions. Synthesising the findings of empirical studies, the scholarly research is classified into six core research themes. We elaborate on directions for future research: Theory, Context, and Methods and distil specific research questions for future studies. JEL Classification:

scholarly journals The Holistic Health Status of Chinese Homosexual and Bisexual Adults: A Scoping Review Protocol

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chanchan Wu ◽  
Edmond Pui Hang Choi ◽  
Pui Hing Chau ◽  
Kitty Wai Ying Choi
Keyword(s):  
Health Status ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Open Science ◽  
Holistic Health ◽  
World Health ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Big Picture ◽  
And Bisexual ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract Background: There is a considerable number of homosexual and bisexual people in the Chinese population, while their health conditions have not received sufficient attention compared with general Chinese. Referring to World Health Organization (WHO)’s definition, holistic health is a comprehensive concept incorporating physical, mental, and social well-being. However, existing research seems inadequate and unbalanced on the holistic health of this population, especially many studies only focus on sexually transmitted infections (STI) and relating preventions. Apart from these, the health status of these sexual minorities from a holistic perspective remains unclear. Therefore, this scoping review aims to comprehensively examine all available literature and will be the first to map the existing evidence on the holistic health of homosexual and bisexual Chinese.Methods: This proposed scoping review has been structured according to the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) recommended framework, which was proposed by Arksey and O’Malley and further enhanced by Levac, et al. Pilot searches of PubMed in English and SinoMed in Chinese were completed to identify all relevant search terms or keywords, then a comprehensive search strategy has been carried out across all relevant databases centering on health care, psychology, nursing and social science, including both English and traditional as well as simplified Chinese electronic databases. Screening and study selection will be independently conducted by two reviewers, and consulting a third senior reviewer based on consensus needs. Data will be extracted using a structured data form referring to the Cochrane template, and a narrative synthesis of the findings will be used.Discussion: There is no systematically reviewed evidence available or underway review on the holistic health of either homosexual or bisexual Chinese, so this scoping review will serve as a most comprehensive way to map the existing evidence and draw a big picture of their health conditions. Results of this review can be used to inform scholars of existing health issues and other major needs, then to provide scientific references for the development of person-centered culturally sensitive programs with Chinese characteristics.Systematic review registration: This protocol has been registered within Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/82r7z) on April 27, 2020.

scholarly journals Considerations for assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in Australia

2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (11) ◽  
pp. 1067-1071 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric J Tan ◽  
Denny Meyer ◽  
Erica Neill ◽  
Andrea Phillipou ◽  
Wei Lin Toh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
World Health ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Future Research ◽  
First Case ◽  
Essential Services ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Impact

During this unprecedented novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, there is an urgent need for empirical data to characterise its impact on the mental health and well-being of Australians. In this viewpoint, we outline a number of considerations for research on this topic, highlighting areas necessitating special attention, consideration of particular vulnerable groups and the need for longitudinal studies to track mental health fluctuations in the general population. We conclude by introducing the COLLATE (COvid-19 and you: mentaL heaLth in AusTralia now survEy) project, outlining its aims, addressing some considerations raised herein and detailing avenues for future research. Since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on 30 January 2020 (WHO, 2020), the COVID-19 pandemic has caused major upheaval both in Australia and globally. While the search for a vaccine continues, current efforts towards tackling the virus and limiting contagion in several nations have focused on social distancing and the shutdown of non-essential services. In Australia, the first case was reported on 13 January 2020 (COVID-19 National Incident Room Surveillance Team, 2020), the first death occurred on 24 February and a spate of progressive restrictions were enforced throughout the 2 weeks leading up to 31 March 2020 (COVID-19 National Incident Room Surveillance Team, 2020a).

scholarly journals Intimate Partner Violence: A Literature Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-16
Author(s):  
Erick D.A. Yonfa ◽  
Malinda Fasol ◽  
Camila M. Cueva ◽  
Anna C. Zavgorodniaya
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Cultural Change ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
World Health ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Specific Information ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Health Organization

Background: Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a complex issue that appears to be more prevalent in developing nations. Many factors contribute to this problem. Objective: This article aimed to review and synthesize available knowledge on the subject of Intimate Partner Violence. It provides specific information that fills the knowledge gap noted in more global reports by the World Health Organization. Methods: A literature search was conducted in English and Spanish in EBSCO and Scopus and included the keywords “Intimate, Partner, Violence, IPV.” The articles included in this review cover the results of empirical studies published from 2004 to 2020. Results: The results show that IPV is associated with cultural, socioeconomic, and educational influences. Childhood experiences also appear to contribute to the development of this problem. Conclusion: Only a few studies are focusing on empirically validated interventions to solve IPV. Well-implemented cultural change strategies appear to be a solution to the problem of IPV. Future research should focus on examining the results of strategies or interventions aimed to solve the problem of IPV.

scholarly journals The Relation Between Official WhatsApp-Distributed COVID-19 News Exposure and Psychological Symptoms: Cross-Sectional Survey Study

10.2196/22142 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. e22142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean C J Liu ◽  
Eddie M W Tong
Keyword(s):  
Protective Factor ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Primary Outcome Measure ◽  
World Health ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Health Organization

Background In a global pandemic, digital technology offers innovative methods to disseminate public health messages. As an example, the messenger app WhatsApp was adopted by both the World Health Organization and government agencies to provide updates on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). During a time when rumors and excessive news threaten psychological well-being, these services allow for rapid transmission of information and may boost resilience. Objective In this study, we sought to accomplish the following: (1) assess well-being during the pandemic; (2) replicate prior findings linking exposure to COVID-19 news with psychological distress; and (3) examine whether subscription to an official WhatsApp channel can mitigate this risk. Methods Across 8 weeks of the COVID-19 outbreak (March 7 to April 21, 2020), we conducted a survey of 1145 adults in Singapore. As the primary outcome measure, participants completed the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). As predictor variables, participants also answered questions pertaining to the following: (1) their exposure to COVID-19 news; (2) their use of the Singapore government’s WhatsApp channel; and (3) their demographics. Results Within the sample, 7.9% of participants had severe or extremely severe symptoms on at least one DASS-21 subscale. Depression scores were associated with increased time spent receiving COVID-19 updates, whereas use of the official WhatsApp channel emerged as a protective factor (b=–0.07, t[863]=–2.04, P=.04). Similarly, increased anxiety scores were associated with increased exposure to both updates and rumors, but this risk was mitigated by trust in the government’s WhatsApp messages (b=–0.05, t[863]=–2.13, P=.03). Finally, although stress symptoms increased with the amount of time spent receiving updates, these symptoms were not significantly related to WhatsApp use. Conclusions Our findings suggest that messenger apps may be an effective medium for disseminating pandemic-related information, allowing official agencies to reach a broad sector of the population rapidly. In turn, this use may promote public well-being amid an “infodemic.” Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04305574; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04305574

Study the Anatomy and Physiology of Body's Urinary System and Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) for the Design an Intelligent Alarm System for Monitoring of FMS

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-81
Author(s):  
Hamidreza Shirzadfar ◽  
Narsis Gordoghli
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
International Association ◽  
Continuous Process ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Chronic Illnesses ◽  
World Health ◽  
Definitive Treatment ◽  
Psychological Consequences ◽  
Medical Problems ◽  
Health Organization

In recent years, chronic medical problems have become increasingly prevalent. Chronic ‎illnesses challenge the view of life as a regular and continuous process, a challenge that has ‎important psychological consequences. The long duration of people suffering from these ‎diseases, the long process of treatment and the fact that there is no proper and definitive ‎treatment for most of these diseases and their associated complications have made chronic ‎diseases a detrimental factor in public health. According to the World Health Organization ‎‎(2006), the prevalence of chronic and non-communicable diseases is increasing in all countries, ‎especially developing countries, so that the major challenge for the health system in the present ‎century, is not living people, but better adapted to chronic illnesses and maintaining their ‎mental and social health and well-being Ed's life-threatening chronic physical illness.‎ Chronic pain is a pain that lasts longer than usual, and according to the criteria of the ‎International Association of Pain, this time is defined as at least 3 months to 6 months. Chronic ‎pain is such that not only faced the sick person whit the pressure of the pain but also with many ‎other pressure that affect different parts of her life. Fibromyalgia is one of the most rheumatologic disorders and one of the most resistant chronic ‎pain syndromes. Fibromyalgia is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders in adults ‎and chronic pain is one of the most common complaints in this group of patients.

Exploring Antimicrobials from the Flora and Fauna of Marine: Opportunities and Limitations

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 507-514 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krishnamoorthy Venkateskumar ◽  
Subramani Parasuraman ◽  
Leow Y. Chuen ◽  
Veerasamy Ravichandran ◽  
Subramani Balamurgan
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Resistance ◽  
Bioactive Compounds ◽  
Marine Environment ◽  
World Health ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
Marine Resources ◽  
Living Space ◽  
Alternative Sources ◽  
Health Organization

About 95% of earth living space lies deep below the ocean’s surface and it harbors extraordinary diversity of marine organisms. Marine biodiversity is an exceptional reservoir of natural products, bioactive compounds, nutraceuticals and other potential compounds of commercial value. Timeline for the development of the drug from a plant, synthetic and other alternative sources is too lengthy. Exploration of the marine environment for potential bioactive compounds has gained focus and huge opportunity lies ahead for the exploration of such vast resources in the ocean. Further, the evolution of superbugs with increasing resistance to the currently available drugs is alarming and it needs coordinated efforts to resolve them. World Health Organization recommends the need and necessity to develop effective bioactive compounds to combat problems associated with antimicrobial resistance. Based on these factors, it is imperative to shift the focus towards the marine environment for potential bioactive compounds that could be utilized to tackle antimicrobial resistance. Current research trends also indicate the huge strides in research involving marine environment for drug discovery. The objective of this review article is to provide an overview of marine resources, recently reported research from marine resources, challenges, future research prospects in the marine environment.

Achieving Financial Inclusion for Persons With Disabilities: Exploring Preparedness and Accessibility of Financial Services for Persons With Disabilities in Malawi

2021 ◽  
pp. 104420732110275
Author(s):  
Alex Nester Jiya ◽  
Maxwell Peprah Opoku ◽  
William Nketsia ◽  
Joslin Alexei Dogbe ◽  
Josephine Nkrumah Adusei
Keyword(s):  
Financial Literacy ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Commercial Banks ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Living Conditions ◽  
Inclusive Development ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Persons With Disabilities

Deplorable living conditions among persons with disabilities and the need to improve their living conditions cannot be overemphasized. This has triggered international discussion on the need for deliberate social policies to bridge the poverty gap between persons with and without disabilities. In Malawi, expansion of financial services has been identified as an essential tool to accelerate economic and inclusive development. However, empirical studies are yet to explore the preparedness of financial institutions to extend their services to persons with disabilities. In this qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with managers from commercial banks in Malawi to understand their perspectives on extending financial services to persons with disabilities. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and a descriptive thematic analysis was performed. Although participants reiterated the need to provide persons with disabilities with financial services to improve their well-being, few initiatives have been undertaken to improve their participation. Particularly, participants stated that barriers, such as a lack of financial literacy and adaptive technologies, communication barriers, and high rates of unemployment, explained the reluctance of commercial banks to extend financial services to persons with disabilities. The limitations, recommendations for future research, and implications of the study for policymaking have been highlighted.

scholarly journals The Congregational Character Questionnaire: An Initial Empirical Examination of the Significance of Collective Church Character Traits

2021 ◽  
pp. 009164712110219
Author(s):  
T. Ryan Byerly ◽  
Keith J. Edwards ◽  
Peter C. Hill
Keyword(s):  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Satisfaction With Life ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Character Traits ◽  
Academic Disciplines ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Religious Congregations ◽  
Empirical Examination ◽  
Christian Churches

Researchers in several academic disciplines have begun to take an interest in group character traits, including the character traits of religious congregations. This article reports the first empirical studies of congregational virtues. The Congregational Character Questionnaire was developed for measuring 12 different virtues of Christian churches: clinging to apostolic teaching, honoring teachers, prayerfulness, hopefulness, discipleship, emotional supportiveness, material supportiveness, spiritual equality, unity, submission, peace with the world, and spreading the faith. The instrument was then used with an online sample ( N = 530) to study how congregants’ perceptions of their congregation’s virtuousness related to congregants’ evaluations of their congregation, participation in their congregation, as well as congregants’ satisfaction with life, presence of meaning in life, and religious well-being. Results indicated that congregants’ overall perceptions of congregational virtuousness were significantly positively related to all of these dependent variables. These results help to reveal the important role that congregational character may play in the experience of congregants. Directions for future research in this area are outlined.

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