scholarly journals Adaptation to the Uncertainty of the Environment: Resources of Big Cities Residents

2019 ◽  
pp. 124-130
Author(s):  
Alla Mozgovaya ◽  
Elena Shlykova

The methodological basis of the article lies in the adoption of the position that at the present stage of development of social systems, the uncertainty of social processes loses the quality of emergency and becomes an integral property of everyday life. In this context, studies of the specifics of adaptation of citizens to environmental conditions are of particular relevance. Adaptation is interpreted as the interaction of the individual with the macro-and micro-environment to achieve comfortable well-being, security and stability of external factors as conditions for the implementation of certain personal goals, life strategy in general. The purpose of the analysis undertaken in the article is to identify the type of urban settlements on the basis of the all-Russian monitoring data, the population of which is most vulnerable in situations of social transformations in modern Russia. The analysis is based on the conclusions of previous developments of the authors that one of the most important factors of successful adaptation of the population to social transformations are the resources that are available to different categories of the population. The article reveals the type of urban settlements, the inhabitants of which are characterized by a specific assessment of the quality of the environment and life satisfaction. Residents of cities with a population of 100 thousand to 250 thousand people ("big cities"), unlike other urban settlements, think the microenvironment rather psychologically negative and consider mesic environment – crisis-ridden, with a tendency to increase tension and negative changes and these residents are characterized by a low level of life satisfaction. All this indicates a low level of adaptation of the population of cities of this type to the conditions of uncertainty caused by the crisis. The comparative assessment of material resources of adaptation of the population of these and all other urban settlements showed, first of all, that, that observed in large cities, the average values of indicators of actual material status and its subjective estimates indicate a specific status of material adaptation resources of respondents from this target group, which can be characterized as "once nothing has changed, then it will not change further". Secondly, material adaptation resources are not the key factors determining the lower level of adaptation to the uncertainty of the environment of residents of large cities in comparison with other urban settlements. Apparently, resources of non-material, ideological nature have a more significant differentiating value.

Author(s):  
Anna Lipert ◽  
Remigiusz Kozłowski ◽  
Dariusz Timler ◽  
Michał Marczak ◽  
Kamila Musiał ◽  
...  

Background: The coronavirus pandemic and the government restrictions significantly disturbed the daily functioning of people, thereby influencing healthy behaviors, such as physical activity—the core indicator of well-being. This study evaluates the associations between physical activity (PA), the level of stress and quality of sleep during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Methods: An online survey was distributed during the governmental lockdown in April 2020 and included measures for assessing physical activity, stress and sleep. The surveyed participants included all adults aged 18 years and over. The final data were collected from the 1959 respondents using: International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Findings: Almost half of the respondents indicated a low level of PA, performing only 60 min of PA daily. Most of the participants reported a moderate or high level of stress (57% and 29%, respectively) and 64% of them reported poor quality of sleep. People with low levels of stress performed on average 85.1 min/day of walking (WPA), 40.9 min/day of moderate PA (MPA) or 52.6 min/day of vigorous PA (VPA). People with good quality of sleep performed 82.9 min/day of WPA, 43.6 min/day MPA and 40.5 min/day VPA. Interpretation: The results from the study indicate that the volume of daily PA may be a predictor of the level of stress and sleep quality in adults during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. To retain a low level of stress and good quality of sleep, a lifestyle that allows to achieve a moderate level of physical activity should be maintained. The optimal daily dose of PA is at least 70 min per day, involving different intensities.


2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosalba Hernandez ◽  
Sarah M. Bassett ◽  
Seth W. Boughton ◽  
Stephanie A. Schuette ◽  
Eva W. Shiu ◽  
...  

A paradigm shift in public health and medicine has broadened the field from a singular focus on the ill effects of negative states and psychopathology to an expanded view that examines protective psychological assets that may promote improved physical health and longevity. We summarize recent evidence of the link between psychological well-being (including positive affect, optimism, life meaning and purpose, and life satisfaction) and physical health, with particular attention to outcomes of mortality and chronic disease incidence and progression. Within this evolving discipline there remain controversies and lessons to be learned. We discuss measurement-related challenges, concerns about the quality of the evidence, and other shortcomings in the field, along with a brief discussion of hypothesized biobehavioral mechanisms involved. Finally, we suggest next steps to move the field forward.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-30
Author(s):  
Ewa Polak

The article presents problems related to life quality, life satisfaction and sense of happiness, their determinants, methods of measurement and dependence on the level of wealth and other conditions. Life quality is an abstract blurred term which depends on numerous factors. There is not any single, comprehensive definition, measure or cause of such phenomena as life quality, economic well-being or sense of happiness. Their evaluation depends on economic, political, cultural and social conditions and also on individual features, expectations and attitudes. More and more often, next to hard economic coefficients, social indicators are applied, and synthetic measures of the level of life quality or social and economic well-being are developed. The level of social development is strongly affected by the quality of human capital. The article presents an attempt at matching parameters and indicators which characterise various aspects of life quality and applying them for the development of synthetic measures of life quality in its different aspects. It is also aimed at comparing them with the current results obtained by research studies in this field. The aim of the article is to provide an assessment of diversification in the levels of living conditions observed in some selected countries – its size, specificity and cause-effect relations with the use of the listed parameters and measures. The research on life quality should be applied to the assessment of the efficiency of social and economic policy which has been currently implemented.


2019 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob A. De Coning ◽  
Sebastiaan Rothmann ◽  
Marius W. Stander

Orientation: Research regarding subjective well-being (including life satisfaction and domain-specific satisfaction) is necessary, given the effects thereof on health, work performance, social relationships and ethical behaviour of employees.Research purpose: This study aimed to investigate the relationships among life satisfaction, job satisfaction and wage satisfaction, as well as how these relationships related to gross wage category in a South African sample.Motivation for the study: While research has shown that wage level and wage satisfaction are positively associated with both job and life satisfaction, the question arises whether wage level and satisfaction would compensate for the negative effect of a dissatisfying job on life satisfaction.Research approach/design and method: A cross-sectional design was used. A non-probability convenience sample (N = 763) in the form of the WageIndicator data set was obtained. Hierarchical log-linear analyses and cross-tabulations were carried out to determine the relationships that existed among the constructs.Main findings: Although job satisfaction and wage satisfaction were strongly related at a low level of wage satisfaction, fewer people were satisfied with their jobs at a high level of wage satisfaction level. Moreover, while job and life satisfaction were strongly related at a low level of job satisfaction level, relatively fewer people were satisfied with their lives at a high level of job satisfaction level. Wage dissatisfaction was associated with dissatisfaction with life but was more strongly associated with life satisfaction at a high level of wage satisfaction. Wage category and wage satisfaction did not interact with the job satisfaction level in affecting life satisfaction.Practical/managerial implications: Managers should attend to the perceptions of wage dissatisfaction at low wage and wage satisfaction levels. Such dissatisfaction may have a negative impact on the job and life satisfaction of employees and result in detrimental effects on employees and organisations.Contribution/value-add: This study contributes to scientific knowledge regarding the relationships between wage, wage satisfaction, job dissatisfaction and life satisfaction.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S524-S525
Author(s):  
Nadia Firdauysa ◽  
Jyoti Bhatta ◽  
Alex J Bishop ◽  
Tanya Finchum ◽  
James Grice

Abstract Data from N = 111 centenarians (M = 100.88; SD = 1.48) residing in Oklahoma was used to examine patterns in the relationship between the God oriented vs. non-God oriented longevity secrets and subjective well-being. Observational Oriented Modeling (OOM) was then used to conduct an ordinal analysis using concatenated ordering to produce degree of fitness between data and underlying patterns in life satisfaction and purpose-in-life across three time points. OOM is a data analysis method used to evaluate fitness of proposed patterns to data called PCC. Results indicated that centenarians maintaining a God-oriented longevity secret fit a decreased pattern in life satisfaction (PCC = 25.00, c-value = .09); whereas centenarians not maintaining a God-oriented longevity secret fit the same pattern (PCC = 49.18, c-value = .06). Meanwhile, centenarians having a God-oriented longevity secret fit a decreased pattern of purpose-in-life (PCC = 71.43, c-value =.12); whereas centenarians having a non-God oriented longevity secret fit the same pattern (PCC = 53.45, c-value = .28). In comparison to centenarians who acknowledged something other than God as the secret to their longevity, those who cite God as the reason for longevity tend to proportionately maintain a more satisfying view of life, yet experience a deteriorating sense of purpose over time. Results indicate that longevity secrets reflect divergent patterns in subjective well-being among persons living beyond 100 years. This has implications relative to how geriatric practitioners design interventions, services, or programs to enhance quality-of-life for long-lived adults.


2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 757-771 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maaike Jappens ◽  
Jan Van Bavel

Abstract Grandparents are often considered as providing important resources in times of family crisis. Little is known, however, about the influence of grandparents on the well-being of grandchildren after parental divorce. This article investigates the association between the quality of relationships with grandparents and grandchildren’s subjective well-being. Using data from the study ‘Divorce in Flanders’, the authors compare 567 grandchildren with divorced and 238 with married parents regarding four indicators of subjective well-being (life satisfaction, self-esteem, mastery, and depressive feelings) and also examine variation within the group with divorced parents. Results show that the strength of grandchild–grandparent relationships is positively associated with grandchildren’s subjective well-being and that having a very good relationship with a grandparent matters even more for grandchildren whose parents have divorced. Moreover, grandchildren who experience frequent conflicts between divorced parents seem to benefit most from close grandparent relationships.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
I Grabovac ◽  
L Smith ◽  
D T McDermott ◽  
S Stefanac ◽  
L Yang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) older people are an under-represented population in research, with limited research noting more depression, loneliness, rejection, overall poorer health and well-being outcomes. Our study compared well-being, defined as quality of life (QOL), life satisfaction, sexual satisfaction, and depression, among LGB people with their heterosexual peers’. Methods Cross-sectional data from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging, collected 2012-2013. A total of 5691 participants were included in the analysis, with 326 (5.7%) self-identifying as LGB. We used CASP-19 questionnaire for well-being; the Satisfaction with Life Scale for life satisfaction; and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for depressive symptoms. The question “During the past three months, how satisfied have you been with your overall sex life?” was used for sexual satisfaction. T-test and chi-square tests were used for differences in sociodemographic characteristics between LGB and heterosexual participants. Regression models were used to test associations between sexual orientation and well-being outcomes. Results LGB participants reported significantly lower mean quality of life and life satisfaction, and had significantly lower odds of reporting satisfaction with their overall sex life and higher odds of reporting depressive symptoms in unadjusted models. After adjustment for sociodemographic and health-related covariates, there remained significant differences between groups in mean QOL scores (B= -0.96, 95% [CI] -1.87 to -0.06) and odds of sexual satisfaction (OR = 0.56, 95% CI 0.38-0.82). Conclusions LGB older people report lower quality of life and lower sexual satisfaction than their heterosexual counterparts, possibly associated with experiencing lifelong social discrimination. Main message: Older lesbian, gay and bisexual people in England report significantly lower QOL and sexual satisfaction in comparison to heterosexual counterparts.


2000 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 279-295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Virgil H. Adams ◽  
James S. Jackson

This study examined age differences between 1979–80 and 1992 in the quality of life of African Americans using panel data from the National Survey of Black Americans. Of particular interest was the role of the hope dimension of personal efficacy in accounting for variance in general well-being, beyond that contributed by social demographic and economic indicators. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that hope and family satisfaction in 1980 consistently accounted for significant amounts of variance in general life satisfaction in the 1992 fourth wave of data among all three cohorts. For older respondents, increased frequency of contact with friends and family help were the most important contributors to high satisfaction. Across waves in all age cohorts family satisfaction and contact with friends were most important in contributing to life satisfaction. Implications for further research on well-being among African Americans were discussed.


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