Development of a Web-Based School Support System Within the AVATAR Project for Psychosocial Well-being in Adolescents: Pilot Feasibility Study

Background Health and well-being promotions are key points of educational programs for adolescents within schools. There are several health education programs mainly based on lifestyle habit changes; however, social and emotional dimensions should be considered within these educational strategies. Objective This study aimed to (1) develop a new web-based school support system to assess and analyze individual, classroom, and scholastic institute data on lifestyle habits, social context, emotional status, and scholastic performance; (2) create a web tool for managing the well-being of adolescents through a dynamic and personalized interface that provides immediate feedback that allows the school to monitor progress; and (3) evaluate, in a pilot study, the feasibility of this web-based school support system in order to build health programs that are specific to the needs of the studied population. Methods The AVATAR (a new purpose for the promotion and evaluation of health and well-being among healthy teenagers) method consists of integrating the information coming from different questionnaires. In particular, to allow planning didactic and educational actions based on the results obtained, the AVATAR approach allows subdivision of the results of the different observed variables and the 4 components into the following 3 percentile categories: modify, improve, and maintain. The AVATAR web platform was designed to collect data on lifestyle, emotional status, and social context from junior high schools in terms of the fundamental aspects of adolescent daily life, with free use by the scholastic community (scholars, teachers, and parents). In this pilot/feasibility study, data from 331 students were acquired between 2018 and 2019 at the beginning of the scholastic year (pre) and at the end following the school-based program (post). Results Preliminary results showed that after school planning and specific program implementation, defined after AVATAR feedback, students reported better well-being perception characterized by higher perception in psychological well-being (P=.001), mood (P=.001), self-perception (P=.006), and autonomy (P=.001), and an increase in the perception of financial resources (P=.001), which helped in developing healthy lifestyle habits (P=.007). In the social context assessment, students reported stronger relationships with family (P=.02) and peers (P=.001), and a lower perception of bullying (P=.001). Conclusions The AVATAR web-based platform is a feasible and flexible tool for the health and well-being management of adolescents from epidemiological, preventive, and educational points of view. In particular, it can be used to (1) promote information campaigns aimed at modifying risk behaviors in the student population, (2) sensitize students and put them at the center of their growth path, (3) inform institutions about the health and well-being of the school population, (4) ensure health programs are acceptable and feasible to users before launching on a large scale, and (5) improve the relationship of users (school) and educational agencies with research groups.

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Development of a Web-Based School Support System Within the AVATAR Project for Psychosocial Well-being in Adolescents: Pilot Feasibility Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.24840 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Francesca Mastorci ◽

Paolo Piaggi ◽

Gabriele Trivellini ◽

Cristina Doveri ◽

Anselmo Casu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Context ◽

Feasibility Study ◽

Support System ◽

Well Being ◽

School Support ◽

Health Programs ◽

Emotional Status ◽

Web Based ◽

Pilot Feasibility Study ◽

Health And Well Being

BACKGROUND Health and well-being promotions are key points of educational programs for adolescents within schools. There are several health education programs mainly based on lifestyle habit changes; however, social and emotional dimensions should be considered within these educational strategies. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to (1) develop a new web-based school support system to assess and analyze individual, classroom, and scholastic institute data on lifestyle habits, social context, emotional status, and scholastic performance; (2) create a web tool for managing the well-being of adolescents through a dynamic and personalized interface that provides immediate feedback that allows the school to monitor progress; and (3) evaluate, in a pilot study, the feasibility of this web-based school support system in order to build health programs that are specific to the needs of the studied population. METHODS The AVATAR (a new purpose for the promotion and evaluation of health and well-being among healthy teenagers) method consists of integrating the information coming from different questionnaires. In particular, to allow planning didactic and educational actions based on the results obtained, the AVATAR approach allows subdivision of the results of the different observed variables and the 4 components into the following 3 percentile categories: modify, improve, and maintain. The AVATAR web platform was designed to collect data on lifestyle, emotional status, and social context from junior high schools in terms of the fundamental aspects of adolescent daily life, with free use by the scholastic community (scholars, teachers, and parents). In this pilot/feasibility study, data from 331 students were acquired between 2018 and 2019 at the beginning of the scholastic year (pre) and at the end following the school-based program (post). RESULTS Preliminary results showed that after school planning and specific program implementation, defined after AVATAR feedback, students reported better well-being perception characterized by higher perception in psychological well-being (P=.001), mood (P=.001), self-perception (P=.006), and autonomy (P=.001), and an increase in the perception of financial resources (P=.001), which helped in developing healthy lifestyle habits (P=.007). In the social context assessment, students reported stronger relationships with family (P=.02) and peers (P=.001), and a lower perception of bullying (P=.001). CONCLUSIONS The AVATAR web-based platform is a feasible and flexible tool for the health and well-being management of adolescents from epidemiological, preventive, and educational points of view. In particular, it can be used to (1) promote information campaigns aimed at modifying risk behaviors in the student population, (2) sensitize students and put them at the center of their growth path, (3) inform institutions about the health and well-being of the school population, (4) ensure health programs are acceptable and feasible to users before launching on a large scale, and (5) improve the relationship of users (school) and educational agencies with research groups.

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SOCIAL NETWORKS, HEALTH, AND WELL-BEING AMONG PEOPLE LIVING WITH DEMENTIA

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.277 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S71-S71

Author(s):

Eleanor S McConnell ◽

Kirsten Corazzini ◽

T Robert Konrad

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Social Networks ◽

Well Being ◽

Sensor Technology ◽

Web Based ◽

Use Of Technology ◽

Care Partners ◽

The Impact ◽

The Relationship ◽

Health And Well Being

Abstract Although the impact of dementia on the health and well-being of those living with Alzheimer’s Disease and related Disorders (ADRD) and their care partners has been widely studied, less attention has been paid to how the disease impacts individuals within the context of their larger social networks. This symposium presents findings from a series of integrated studies aimed at strengthening measurement of health and well-being among older adults with living with dementia and well-being among members of their social networks. Findings will be presented from five studies: (1) a scoping review of social network measurement in older adults in chronic illness, including dementia, that emphasizes the use of technology in measuring older adults’ social networks; (2) a simulation study to evaluate the feasibility and reliability of sensor technology to measure social interaction among a person living with dementia and others in their immediate surroundings; (3) development of a web-based application that allows older adults to map and activate their social networks; (4) a qualitative analysis of interviews from persons living with dementia, their unpaid caregivers, and paid caregivers from an adult day health program concerning well-being focused outcomes; and (5) a mixed methods analysis of the feasibility of using both traditional and novel measures of health and well-being deployed among networks of people living with dementia. Emerging technologies for measuring social networks health and well-being hold promise for advancing the study of the relationship-based nature of care for people living with dementia.

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Moderated Online Social Therapy: Viewpoint on the Ethics and Design Principles of a Web-Based Therapy System (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.14866 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Simon D'Alfonso ◽

Jessica Phillips ◽

Lee Valentine ◽

John Gleeson ◽

Mario Alvarez-Jimenez

Keyword(s):

Social Networking Sites ◽

Well Being ◽

Web Based ◽

Strategic Design ◽

Holistic Concept ◽

Ethical Design ◽

Research Questions ◽

The Impact ◽

Health And Well Being ◽

Made In

UNSTRUCTURED The modern omnipresence of social media and social networking sites (SNSs) brings with it a range of important research questions. One of these concerns the impact of SNS use on mental health and well-being, a question that has been pursued in depth by scholars in the psychological sciences and the field of human-computer interaction. Despite this attention, the design choices made in the development of SNSs and the notion of well-being employed to evaluate such systems require further scrutiny. In this viewpoint paper, we examine the strategic design choices made in our development of an enclosed SNS for young people experiencing mental ill-health in terms of ethical and persuasive design and in terms of how it fosters well-being. In doing so, we critique the understanding of well-being that is used in much of the existing literature to make claims about the impact of a given technology on well-being. We also demonstrate how the holistic concept of eudaimonic well-being and ethical design of SNSs can complement one another.

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Authors’ Response to Peer Reviews of “A Local Community-Based Social Network for Mental Health and Well-being (Quokka): Exploratory Feasibility Study” (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.33199 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Cynthia Shih ◽

Ruhi Pudipeddi ◽

Arany Uthayakumar ◽

Peter Washington

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Network ◽

Peer Review ◽

Feasibility Study ◽

Local Community ◽

Well Being ◽

Community Based ◽

Peer Reviews ◽

Health And Well Being

UNSTRUCTURED These are authors' responses to peer review of ms#24972.

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Peer Review of “A Local Community-Based Social Network for Mental Health and Well-being (Quokka): Exploratory Feasibility Study” (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.33931 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Hamed Mehdizadeh

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Network ◽

Peer Review ◽

Feasibility Study ◽

Local Community ◽

Well Being ◽

Community Based ◽

Health And Well Being

UNSTRUCTURED This is a peer review report for ms#24972.

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Peer Review of “A Local Community-Based Social Network for Mental Health and Well-being (Quokka): Exploratory Feasibility Study” (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.33925 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Maria da Graça Campos Pimentel

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Network ◽

Peer Review ◽

Feasibility Study ◽

Local Community ◽

Well Being ◽

Community Based ◽

Health And Well Being

UNSTRUCTURED This is a peer review report for ms#24972.

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Engaging Aging Individuals in the Design of Technologies and Services to Support Health and Well-Being: Constructivist Grounded Theory Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.12393 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Vikki Du Preez ◽

Retha De La Harpe

Keyword(s):

Grounded Theory ◽

Social Services ◽

Design Theory ◽

Research Participant ◽

Aging Population ◽

Well Being ◽

Constructivist Grounded Theory ◽

Scientific Software ◽

Web Based ◽

Health And Well Being

BACKGROUND Changes noted within the aging population are physical, cognitive, as well as emotional. Social isolation and loneliness are also serious problems that the aging population may encounter. As technology and apps become more accessible, many basic services, such as those offered by social services, well-being organizations, and health care institutions, have invested in the development of supportive devices, services, and Web-based interactions. Despite the perceived benefits that these devices and services offer, many aging individuals choose not to engage, or engage in a limited manner. To explore this phenomenon, we developed a theory to describe the condition for engagement. OBJECTIVE The main objective of this study was to understand the perceptions of an aging South African population regarding Web-based services and technologies that could support aging in place (AiP). Although the concept of AiP speaks to a great number of everyday activities, this paper explores aspects of health and well-being as being central to AiP. METHODS The study used a grounded theory (GT) methodology, relying on an iterative and simultaneous process of data collection, coding, category development, and data comparisons. Data were collected through qualitative methods, including interviews (13 participants aged between 64 and 85 years), 2 participatory workshops (15 participants), and observations. The study focused on Charmaz’s approach to constructivist GT, which puts forward the premise that theory or knowledge cannot take shape in a purely objective manner. Instead, theory is constructed through the interaction of the researcher and research participant. Coding and data analysis were supported with ATLAS.ti (ATLAS.ti Scientific Software Development GmbH). RESULTS The study resulted in a substantive theory exploring the process of interaction and engaging factors through user insights and experiences. The emerging design theory, Ageing User Decision-Driven Engagement (AUDDE), explored the elements that support engagement with technology and supportive apps, which could offer access to required health and wellness services. CONCLUSIONS In AUDDE, the perceived value of the interaction is a crucial catalyst for engagement. Aging users continuously make meaning of their experiences, which affects their current and future actions.

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Well-Being Perception During COVID-19 Pandemic in Healthy Adolescents: Evidence From the Avatar Study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-155879/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Francesca Mastorci ◽

Luca Bastiani ◽

Gabriele Trivellini ◽

Cristina Doveri ◽

Anselmo Casu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Context ◽

Social Contact ◽

Risk Behaviour ◽

Well Being ◽

Mental Skills ◽

Emotional Status ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Lifestyle Habits ◽

Adolescent Students ◽

Environmental Deprivation

Abstract Background COVID-19 pandemic provided an extraordinary and naturalistic context to observe young people’s psychosocial profile and to study how a condition of environmental deprivation and lack of direct social contact, affect the well-being and health status of adolescents. The current study explored whether the COVID-19 outbreak changes, in the short term, the acute well-being perception in adolescents, as measured by a Personalised Well-being Index (PWBI) and the four components affecting health (i.e. lifestyle habits, social context, emotional status, mental skills), in a sample of early adolescent students. Methods Data were collected in 1019 adolescents (boys 48.3%, mean age 12.53 ± 1.25), at the beginning of school year (Baseline Condition, BC) as part of the AVATAR project and during the Italian lockdown phase (LP) using online questionnaire. Results During COVID-19 quarantine, adolescents showed a lower PWBI (p = 0.000) as compared to the baseline conditions. Considering the four health-related well-being components, lifestyle habits (p = 0.000), social context (p = 0.000), and emotional status (p = 0.000), showed significantly lower values during lockdown phase than baseline ones. However, mental skills, in LP, displayed a significant increase as compared to pre-COVID conditions (p = 0.000). Conclusions In this study, we have provided data on the personalised well-being index and the different components affecting health in adolescents during the COVID-19 lockdown, showing a general decreased in well-being perception, expressed in the lifestyle habits, social, and emotional components, demonstrating detrimental effects in the first phase of quarantine on adolescents’psychosocial profile. Our result shed new light on adolescence as a crucial period of risk behaviour, especially when social support is lacking.

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