scholarly journals A Qualitative Exploration of Individual Differences in Wellbeing for Highly Sensitive Individuals

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Becky Black ◽  
Margaret L. Kern
Keyword(s):  
Social Norms ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Negative Emotion ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Self Awareness ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Lay Conceptions ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Qualitative Exploration

Cultures explicitly and implicitly create and reinforce social norms and expectations, which impact upon how individuals make sense of and experience their place within that culture. Substantial differences in research findings across a range of behavioral and cognitive indices can be seen between what have been called ‘Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic (WEIRD)’ societies, and non-WEIRD cultures. Indeed, lay conceptions and social norms around wellbeing tend to emphasize social outgoingness and high-arousal positive emotions, with introversion and negative emotion looked down upon or even pathologized. However, this extravert-centric conception of wellbeing does not fit many individuals who live within WEIRD societies, and studies find that this mismatch can have detrimental effects on their wellbeing. There is a need to better understand how happiness is created and experienced by the large number of people for whom wellbeing manifests in alternative ways. This study investigated one such manifestation – the personality trait of Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) – qualitatively investigating how sensitive individuals experience and cultivate wellbeing within a WEIRD society. Twelve adults participated in semi-structured interviews. Findings suggest that highly sensitive individuals perceive that wellbeing arises from harmony across multiple dimensions. Interviewees emphasized the value of low-intensity positive emotion, self-awareness, self-acceptance, positive social relationships balanced by times of solitude, connecting with nature, contemplative practices, emotional self-regulation, practicing self-compassion, having a sense of meaning, and hope/optimism. Barriers of wellbeing included physical health issues and challenges with saying no to others. This study provides a richer idiographic representation of SPS wellbeing, highlighting diverse pathways which can lead to wellbeing for individuals for whom wellbeing manifests in ways that contradict the broader social narratives in which they reside.

“Making It Okay”: Professionals in High-stress Environments Construct Their Understanding of the Impact of a Yoga-based Retreat Designed to Build Resilience

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tegan Jemma Reeves ◽  
Natalie L. Dyer ◽  
Sara Borden ◽  
Jeffery A. Dusek ◽  
Sat Bir Singh Khalsa
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Health ◽  
High Stress ◽  
Self Awareness ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Behavioral Skills ◽  
Program Impact ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
Qualitative Exploration ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background: While there is growing evidence for resilience building programs, to date research has not explored how professionals construct their understanding of program impact. Methods: Using a qualitative exploration of reflections on a yoga-based retreat at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, nested in a larger study, the current inquiry aims to explore long-term perceptions of an occupation-oriented program designed to improve resilience. Called RISE (resilience, integration, self-awareness, engagement), the immersion program was a 5-day professional development for professionals in high-stress jobs. Through a grounded constructivist lens, inductive coding and iterative thematic analysis was employedResults: Semi-structured interviews of 17 adult professionals who attended RISE, conducted 3 months after completion of the program, illustrated two integrated perceptions woven through five themes. Persistent threads of experiential learning and sense of permission provided structure for themes found. Five interrelated themes related to psychological health and workplace dynamics were: (1) use of acquired behavioral skills and practices; (2) lived mindfulness; (3) resilience to stress and emotion regulation (4) self-care and self-compassion, and (5) sharing with others. Conclusion: Findings provide meaningful interpretation of previously reported program efficacy by contextualizing perceived benefits within participants constructed understanding of change. Specifically, environmental, social, and experiential considerations have suggested implications for resilience building programs.

scholarly journals Self-regulatory Solitude: A Qualitative Exploration of Solitude in Indian Youth

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aishwarya Iyer ◽  
Tanushree V L ◽  
Sucheta Chakravarty
Keyword(s):  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Subjective Experience ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Social Avoidance ◽  
Affective States ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Affective Outcomes ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Qualitative Exploration

Solitude has often been confused with co-existing affective states of 'loneliness' and 'aloneness' (Long et al., 2003). A growing body of literature (Nguyen et al., 2018) has quantitatively explored existing drives, affective outcomes and determinants of experience of solitude. Despite extensive research, a comprehensive conceptualization of solitude is yet to be achieved. Therefore, the current study qualitatively explores the subjective definition of solitude, individual experiences and the purposes behind seeking solitude through 10 semi-structured interviews with Bangalore you (24-28 years). Through thematic analysis, the study found that participants differed (social avoidance, self-regulation, productivity) in their purpose behind seeking solitude and the solitary activities that they engaged in. The role of space and agency in the experience of solitude was also highlighted. The study discusses the subjective experience of solitude in relation to existing literature and holds important implications regarding the use of solitude as a tool for affective self-regulation

The Influence of a Self-Compassion Training Program on Romantic Relationship Conflict: An Exploratory Multiple-Case Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 315-333
Author(s):  
Brittany N. Budzan ◽  
K. Jessica Van Vliet
Keyword(s):  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Romantic Relationship ◽  
Multiple Case Study ◽  
Western World ◽  
Self Awareness ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Relationship Strength ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
Multiple Case

Separation and divorce are common occurrences in the Western world. Given that a transition out of a marriage can increase psychological distress in the members of the couple as well as in their children, preventive interventions are crucial for avoiding serious ruptures and for increasing relationship strength and resilience. A potential option for clinicians is to use interventions designed to increase self-compassion. This multiple-case study explored the influence of a self-compassion intervention on conflict within romantic relationships. Three women completed a self-compassion training CD, six sets of online questions, and two semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis was used to construct detailed accounts of each participant’s experience. Participants perceived that self-compassion helped them to de-escalate conflict, increase self-awareness and self-acceptance, and facilitate perspective taking. This study may help inform future relationship interventions.

scholarly journals Analysis of the Resilience Process Experienced by People Living with Visual Impairment

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
In Ok Sim
Keyword(s):  
Visual Impairment ◽  
Positive Reinforcement ◽  
Life Experiences ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Family Education ◽  
Positive Thinking ◽  
Self Awareness ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Self Disclosure ◽  
Resilience Process

There is a lack of research based on in-depth theoretical and scientific knowledge to understand the visually impaired, and there has been little effort in the application of strategies for early intervention to minimize risk these people might encounter during development.. This study used semi-structured interviews from eight persons with visual impairments who had various experiences with resiliency. Three resilience processes based on life experiences were identified: 1) Experience and Adaptation: “self-awareness of disability” and “adaptation disability and the environment”; 2) Facing the Circumstances: “the exposure to concealment and abuse,” “the suppression of potential,” “denial and abandonment by family,” “poverty and disability,” “exchange and self-regulation,” and “social integration” themes; and 3) the Positive Reinforcement: “self-disclosure and jump-starting life,” “maintenance of a positive thinking,” and “socioeconomic independence.” These findings expand the understanding of the factors common to the resilience process experienced by individuals with visual impairment and highlight the importance of psychological support, family, education, and social support.

Motivation Across the Language-learning Career: A Double Case Study

Relay Journal ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 374-384
Author(s):  
Henry Foster
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Possible Selves ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Self Awareness ◽  
Contextual Influences ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Learner Motivation ◽  
Interpretive Analysis ◽  
Trends Over Time

Motivation is a dynamic variable that changes temporally and in response to a myriad of factors internal and external to the learner. Qualitative, self-narrative data can provide insight into learner motivation and the contextual influences that act upon it. The present study investigates the motivational trends over time of two EFL learners, with a focus on the roles of possible selves. Data derived from language learning histories and semi-structured interviews was subjected to thematic and interpretive analysis. Findings indicate the importance to learner motivation of factors beyond the classroom and the teacher’s reach, emphasizing the need to foster learner autonomy, self-regulation and self-awareness.

scholarly journals How Do French Parents Determine Portion Sizes for Their Pre-Schooler? A Qualitative Exploration of the Parent–Child Division of Responsibility and Influencing Factors

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 2769
Author(s):  
Kaat Philippe ◽  
Sylvie Issanchou ◽  
Anaïs Roger ◽  
Valérie Feyen ◽  
Sandrine Monnery-Patris
Keyword(s):  
Influencing Factors ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Food Preferences ◽  
Food Culture ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Portion Sizes ◽  
Search For Information ◽  
Qualitative Exploration

Large portion sizes can make children overeat, alter their self-regulation abilities and induce weight gain. However, little is known about how parents determine portion sizes for their children. Using semi-structured interviews with 5 fathers and 32 mothers of pre-schoolers, this study examined French parents’ food portioning practices. The division of responsibility between parent and child in deciding portion sizes was explored, as well as the influencing factors and possible sources of information. Parents described a wide range of practices. For most, determining portion sizes is an intuitive action that depends on habits and mainly arises from experiences with feeding their child and his/her appetitive traits. Few parents grant autonomy to their child for portioning and serving food, especially for the first serving. Many influencing factors were identified, including child-related (e.g., appetite, food preferences), parent-related (e.g., avoiding food waste), and external factors (e.g., influence of siblings, French food culture). Most parents do not search for information/recommendations to guide their practices. Stimulating optimal self-regulation of eating in children is important and parents can play a crucial role in this. This study identified barriers and facilitators to guide parents in providing appropriate portion sizes and help include children in this decision process.

scholarly journals A Narrative Inquiry of an Indonesian Prospective Teacher’s Teaching Experiences: Probing Language Teaching Awareness

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 2114-2131
Author(s):  
Zehan Agustia Ainussamsi ◽  
Arini Nurul Hidayati ◽  
Dede Pertamana ◽  
Fuad Abdullah
Keyword(s):  
Narrative Inquiry ◽  
Student Teachers ◽  
Junior High School ◽  
Teaching Practice ◽  
English Education ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Self Awareness ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Development Of Language

This narrative inquiry aims at exploring the development of language teaching awareness experienced by a prospective teacher during teaching practicum. In this respect, the study provided insight for student-teachers to have a better understanding of their language teaching practice under certain kinds of circumstances. The participant of this study was a student-teacher majoring in English Education Department at Siliwangi University, Indonesia. She had already conducted a teaching practice in one junior high school in Tasikmalaya, West Java, within 2 months of teaching. The collected data from personal diaries written during the period of teaching, semi-structured interviews, and open-ended questionnaires were being processed qualitatively. The findings reported four primary themes emerging throughout the scrutiny of the development in language teaching awareness, namely (1) the dynamic feeling towards the language teaching practice, (2) the adaptability towards the language teaching activities in certain kinds of circumstance, (3) the ability to adjust with diverse teaching circumstances, (4) realization of the pedagogical implication of teaching beliefs and practices. Briefly stated, language teaching awareness explored through self-awareness can promote self-reflection, self-regulation, and self-evaluation.   

scholarly journals Integrating Mindfulness and Connection Practices into Preservice Teacher Education Results in Durable Automatic Race Bias Reductions

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew James Hirshberg ◽  
Lisa Flook ◽  
Robert Enright ◽  
Richard J Davidson
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Preservice Teachers ◽  
Preservice Teacher ◽  
Preservice Teacher Education ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
White Child ◽  
Self Awareness ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Race Bias ◽  
Race Preference

AbstractAutomatic race bias, the tendency to more quickly associate positive attributes with White compared to Black faces, reflects enculturation processes linked to inequitable teaching behaviors. In sample of undergraduate preservice teachers (N = 88), we examined whether a novel mindfulness and connection practice intervention partially integrated into undergraduate teacher education would result in reduced automatic race bias favoring White faces. Without including explicit anti-bias content, random assignment to the intervention predicted significantly reduced race preference for White child faces immediately after the intervention. These significant reductions persisted at the 6-month follow-up – the most durable adult reductions in automatic race bias reported to date outside of children. Data from semi-structured interviews indicated that the intervention enhanced self-awareness and self-regulation while reducing automatic responding. These qualities are instrumental to adaptive teaching and putative mechanisms for reducing automatic race bias. The potential value of integrating mindfulness and connection practices into undergraduate preservice teacher education is discussed.

Parasympathetic Concomitants of Habitual, Spontaneous, and Instructed Emotional Suppression

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 78-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asmir Gračanin ◽  
Igor Kardum ◽  
Jasna Hudek-Knežević
Keyword(s):  
Negative Emotion ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Experimental Manipulation ◽  
Task Demands ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Integration Model ◽  
Sinus Arrhythmia ◽  
Emotional Suppression ◽  
Emotion Experience ◽  
Similar Relation

Abstract. The neurovisceral integration model proposes that different forms of self-regulation, including the emotional suppression, are characterized by the activation of neural network whose workings are also reflected in respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA). However, most of the previous studies failed to observe theoretically expected increases in RSA during emotional suppression. Even when such effects were observed, it was not clear whether they resulted from specific task demands, a decrease in muscle activity, or they were the consequence of more specific self-control processes. We investigated the relation between habitual or trait-like suppression, spontaneous, and instructed suppression with changes in RSA during negative emotion experience. A modest positive correlation between spontaneous situational and habitual suppression was observed across two experimental tasks. Furthermore, the results showed greater RSA increase among participants who experienced higher negative affect (NA) increase and reported higher spontaneous suppression than among those with higher NA increase and lower spontaneous suppression. Importantly, this effect was independent from the habitual suppression and observable facial expressions. The results of the additional task based on experimental manipulation, rather than spontaneous use of situational suppression, indicated a similar relation between suppression and RSA. Our results consistently demonstrate that emotional suppression, especially its self-regulation component, is followed by the increase in parasympathetic activity.

Mentalizing Imagery Therapy mobile application for family dementia caregivers: feasibility and effects on mood and caregiving

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abu Sikder ◽  
Francis Yang ◽  
Rhiana Schafer ◽  
Glenna A. Dowling ◽  
Lara Traeger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Mobile Application ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Pilot Trial ◽  
Depression Symptom ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Physical Strain ◽  
Dementia Caregivers ◽  
Loved One ◽  
People With Dementia

Objectives: Due to psychological and physical strain, family caregivers of patients with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias are at high risk for depression and stress related disorders. We investigated the feasibility of a mobile application (App) intervention delivering Mentalizing Imagery Therapy (MIT), which incorporates guided imagery and mindfulness, to facilitate self-regulation and increase perspective on the mental life of self and others. Method: A 4-week pilot trial of an MIT App for family caregivers of people with dementia was conducted to assess feasibility of use, mood and depression symptom benefit, and relationship changes. Semi-structured interviews were conducted at the study’s conclusion to characterize participants’ perceived benefits. Results: 80% of 21 consented participants downloaded the App, utilized it at least once, and were further analyzed. Of these participants, average usage of audio recordings was 14 ± 10 (SD) days out of 28 possible, and 29 ± 28 individual sessions. Acute improvement in mood from before to after completion of exercises was uniformly observed (p < .001), and after four weeks there was a significant increase in positive affect and a reduction in negative affect. Participants with severe levels of depression (n=3) at baseline exhibited an improvement in symptoms at 4 weeks averaging 30% (p < .05). Semi-structured interviews revealed an increase in the ability to remain “centered" despite caregiving challenges, take the perspective of the loved one, and positively reframe the caregiver experience.Conclusion: App delivery of MIT is feasible for family dementia caregivers. Results showed moderate to high usage of the app for a majority of the users, and promising improvements in mood and depression. These data provide justification for larger, controlled trials.

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