scholarly journals Enhancing Meaning in Life and Psychological Well-Being Among a European Cohort of Young Adults via a Gratitude Intervention

2022 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia Czyżowska ◽  
Ewa Gurba
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
General Health ◽  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Gratitude Intervention ◽  
Experimental Group

Background: Strengthening the sense of meaning in life and psychological well-being brings benefits for mental health. The group particularly vulnerable to mental problems are young adults, therefore the aim of our research was to explore how a gratitude intervention will affect the sense of meaning in life, psychological well-being, general health and perceived stress among them. The research also took into account the issue of expressing gratitude.Method: The study involved 80 young adults (58 women and 22 men) who were randomly assigned to the experimental group that filled out the specially prepared diaries for a week (participants were asked to list three things for which they feel grateful, to whom they are grateful and if and how they expressed their gratitude) or the control group. Participants completed the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ), the General Health Questionnaire – 28 (GHQ-28), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and the Ryff Scales of Psychological Well-Being (PWBS) twice (before and after intervention).Results: In the experimental group significant increases were observed in three areas of psychological well-being: environmental mastery, relationships with others and purpose in life. The significant decrease was also noted in anxiety/insomnia and depression symptoms as well as in perceived stress. There were no differences in the level of meaning in life. There was a positive relationship between expressing gratitude and meaning in life and psychological well-being.Conclusion: Proposed gratitude intervention has the potential to enhance psychological well-being among young adults, however, it may not be effective in enhancing meaning in life.

scholarly journals Does Reflection on Everyday Events Enhance Meaning in Life and Well-Being among Emerging Adults? Self-Efficacy as Mediator between Meaning in Life and Well-Being

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (18) ◽  
pp. 9714
Author(s):  
Natalia Czyżowska ◽  
Ewa Gurba
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Control Group Design ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Meaning In Life Questionnaire ◽  
Experimental Group

In recent years, the issue of the meaning in life has aroused particularly great interest in researchers considering the question of whether and how, using simple interventions, outside the therapeutic office, the sense of meaning in life and well-being can be strengthened. The aim of this study was to explore whether interventions based on reflection on everyday, stressful situations can contribute to fostering the sense of meaning in life and psychological well-being among emerging adults. Additionally, we aimed to explore relationships between the above-mentioned constructs and self-efficacy. The research focuses on emerging adults, who, as statistics show, are the most vulnerable among all adults to various mental problems. A pretest–posttest control group design was used. The study involved 80 emerging adults (56 women and 24 men) who were randomly assigned to the experimental group, which completed specially prepared diaries for a week, or the control group. Participants completed the Meaning in Life Questionnaire, the Generalised Self-Efficacy Scale, and the Ryff Scales of Psychological Well-Being twice. In the experimental group, significant differences were noted between pretest and posttest in psychological well-being, especially in the area of relationships with others (Mpretest = 59.3; Mposttest = 65.07; t(39) = −11.40; p = 0.001) and purpose in life (Mpretest = 54.85; Mposttest = 58.21; t(39) = −3.15; p = 0.003), as well as self-efficacy (Mpretest = 28.06; Mposttest = 29.60; t(39) = −2.82; p = 0.007). There were no differences in the level of meaning in life. The analysis carried out showed that self-efficacy mediates the relationship between presence of meaning in life and psychological well-being (the Aroian test: z = 4.48; SE = 0.11; p = 0.0007).

scholarly journals Use of the Chatbot “Vivibot” to Deliver Positive Psychology Skills and Promote Well-Being Among Young People After Cancer Treatment: Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial

10.2196/15018 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (10) ◽  
pp. e15018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Greer ◽  
Danielle Ramo ◽  
Yin-Juei Chang ◽  
Michael Fu ◽  
Judith Moskowitz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Positive Psychology ◽  
Cancer Treatment ◽  
Negative Emotion ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Feasibility Trial ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Experimental Group

Background Positive psychology interventions show promise for reducing psychosocial distress associated with health adversity and have the potential to be widely disseminated to young adults through technology. Objective This pilot randomized controlled trial examined the feasibility of delivering positive psychology skills via the Vivibot chatbot and its effects on key psychosocial well-being outcomes in young adults treated for cancer. Methods Young adults (age 18-29 years) were recruited within 5 years of completing active cancer treatment by using the Vivibot chatbot on Facebook messenger. Participants were randomized to either immediate access to Vivibot content (experimental group) or access to only daily emotion ratings and access to full chatbot content after 4 weeks (control). Created using a human-centered design process with young adults treated for cancer, Vivibot content includes 4 weeks of positive psychology skills, daily emotion ratings, video, and other material produced by survivors, and periodic feedback check-ins. All participants were assessed for psychosocial well-being via online surveys at baseline and weeks 2, 4, and 8. Analyses examined chatbot engagement and open-ended feedback on likability and perceived helpfulness and compared experimental and control groups with regard to anxiety and depression symptoms and positive and negative emotion changes between baseline and 4 weeks. To verify the main effects, follow-up analyses compared changes in the main outcomes between 4 and 8 weeks in the control group once participants had access to all chatbot content. Results Data from 45 young adults (36 women; mean age: 25 [SD 2.9]; experimental group: n=25; control group: n=20) were analyzed. Participants in the experimental group spent an average of 74 minutes across an average of 12 active sessions chatting with Vivibot and rated their experience as helpful (mean 2.0/3, SD 0.72) and would recommend it to a friend (mean 6.9/10; SD 2.6). Open-ended feedback noted its nonjudgmental nature as a particular benefit of the chatbot. After 4 weeks, participants in the experimental group reported an average reduction in anxiety of 2.58 standardized t-score units, while the control group reported an increase in anxiety of 0.7 units. A mixed-effects models revealed a trend-level (P=.09) interaction between group and time, with an effect size of 0.41. Those in the experimental group also experienced greater reductions in anxiety when they engaged in more sessions (z=–1.9, P=.06). There were no significant (or trend level) effects by group on changes in depression, positive emotion, or negative emotion. Conclusions The chatbot format provides a useful and acceptable way of delivering positive psychology skills to young adults who have undergone cancer treatment and supports anxiety reduction. Further analysis with a larger sample size is required to confirm this pattern.

The Effectiveness of a Meaning-Centered Psychoeducational Group Intervention for Chinese College Students

2015 ◽  
Vol 43 (5) ◽  
pp. 741-756 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mingming Cheng ◽  
Leslie Hasche ◽  
Haitao Huang ◽  
Xiqing Susan Su
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Group Intervention ◽  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Chinese College Students ◽  
Psychoeducational Group

Using a sample of 66 Chinese college students, we measured the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of a meaning-centered psychoeducational group intervention in increasing the level of their psychological well-being. The students were assigned to either a control or an intervention group, and those in the intervention group attended 9 weekly meaning-centered psychoeducational sessions. All participants completed baseline, posttest, and 3-month follow-up tests to compare the level of psychological well-being of the intervention and control groups. With the exception of the life enjoyment dimension in the Chinese Sources of Meaning in Life Scale (CSMLS), the scores of the intervention group differed significantly from the control group between the baseline and the posttest, and for the subscales of depression and sense of adequacy (General Health Questionnaire), search for meaning (Meaning in Life Questionnaire), and the dimensions of social concern, personal growth, and harmonious relationships (CSMLS), the scores at the follow-up test time indicated the effectiveness of the group intervention. These findings highlight the effectiveness of a meaning-centered group intervention in improving college students' psychological well-being and positive perception of meaning in life.

scholarly journals AB0889-HPR PERCEIVED SATISFACTION WITH CHRONIC PAIN CARE IN GERMAN PATIENTS WITH FIBROMYALGIA (FM)

2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1467.3-1468
Author(s):  
M. Offenbächer ◽  
L. Toussaint ◽  
J. Hirsch ◽  
M. Weigl ◽  
N. Kohls ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Chronic Pain ◽  
General Health ◽  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Chronically Ill ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Satisfaction With Care ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Perceived Satisfaction ◽  
Pain Care

Background:In chronic pain care a multidimensional perspective with attention to patients’ cognitions, emotions, and their ability to cope is needed (1). Previous studies are also pointing to the role of experiencing meaningfulness in life in the adjustment to disability.Therefore care should additionally focus on the existential domain of patients’ lives to live up to a holistic care approach (2). However, there are only a few studies on how FM patients are satisfied with practitioners’ attention to multiple aspects of life with a chronic pain condition.Objectives:To assess perceived satisfaction with chronic pain care and its associations with health variables in a cohort of patients with FM.Methods:We invited 18 FM self-help groups in Germany to participate anonymously in our survey and sent them in total 192 paper-and-pencil surveys. Sociodemographics, disease related variables (e.g. pain, general health) and psychological variables [e.g. depression, anxiety, hope, stress] were assessed with standardized instruments, including 5 items (answer format 1=very unsatisfied – 10=very satisfied) assessing subjective satisfaction with medical care in different domains with the following questions: How satisfied are you with the attention of your treatment team/physician at home for physiological aspects of your pain (Physio)/ the consequences of the pain on your physical functioning (Physical)/ on your psychological well-being (Mental)/ on your social life (Social)/ on your meaning in life (Meaning).Results:In total 162 FM patients participated (=84% response rate). Their mean age was 58 years (SD=10), 84% (N=135) were female. Highest level of education was: Elementary School 29%, Junior High School 35%, High School 15%, College 12%, and other 10%. Duration of chronic pain was 18.2 years (SD=12.0). The satisfaction with care scale showed good internal consistency and measured one factor. The means of the subscale were: Physio 5.7 (SD=2.5)/ Physical 5.5 (SD=2.5)/ Mental 5.5 (SD=2.6)/ Social 5.0 (SD=2.5)/ Meaning 5.3 (SD=2.6). Correlations of the subscales are depicted in Table 1. There were no associations between pain variables and satisfaction with care, but satisfaction with care was associated with mental health, but not physical health, outcomes.Table 1.Correlations of satisfaction of care with different health variables. Subscales physiological and physical aspects and HADS-anxiety were not significantly correlated. *<.05; **<.01; ns=not significant.PhysioPhysicalMentalSocialMeaningHADS-depression-.10 (ns)-.12 (ns)-.19*-.16*-.14 (ns)General Health .02 (ns) .14 (ns) .13 (ns) .18* .12 (ns)Stress-.15 (ns)-.14 (ns)-.17*-.17*-.13 (ns)Hope .18 (ns) .18 (ns) .26** .26* .22*Conclusion:In this cohort of German FM patients the average satisfaction with care overall, as well as the specific aspects of care, was only moderate. Interestingly we found associations between satisfaction with care in mental, social and meaning in life aspects with psychological well-being pointing to the fact that care for chronic pain patients should also include those aspects in addition to just addressing biomedical aspects.References:[1]Flor H and Turk D. Chronic pain: an integrated approach. Seattle, WA: IASP Press, 2011.[2]Dezutter J, Casalin S, Wacholtz A, et al. Meaning in life: An important factor for the psychological well-being of chronically ill patients? Rehabilitat Psychol 2013; 58:334–341.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

scholarly journals Use of the Chatbot “Vivibot” to Deliver Positive Psychology Skills and Promote Well-Being Among Young People After Cancer Treatment: Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Greer ◽  
Danielle Ramo ◽  
Yin-Juei Chang ◽  
Michael Fu ◽  
Judith Moskowitz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Positive Psychology ◽  
Cancer Treatment ◽  
Negative Emotion ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Feasibility Trial ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Experimental Group

BACKGROUND Positive psychology interventions show promise for reducing psychosocial distress associated with health adversity and have the potential to be widely disseminated to young adults through technology. OBJECTIVE This pilot randomized controlled trial examined the feasibility of delivering positive psychology skills via the <italic>Vivibot</italic> chatbot and its effects on key psychosocial well-being outcomes in young adults treated for cancer. METHODS Young adults (age 18-29 years) were recruited within 5 years of completing active cancer treatment by using the <italic>Vivibot</italic> chatbot on Facebook messenger. Participants were randomized to either immediate access to <italic>Vivibot</italic> content (experimental group) or access to only daily emotion ratings and access to full chatbot content after 4 weeks (control). Created using a human-centered design process with young adults treated for cancer, <italic>Vivibot</italic> content includes 4 weeks of positive psychology skills, daily emotion ratings, video, and other material produced by survivors, and periodic feedback check-ins. All participants were assessed for psychosocial well-being via online surveys at baseline and weeks 2, 4, and 8. Analyses examined chatbot engagement and open-ended feedback on likability and perceived helpfulness and compared experimental and control groups with regard to anxiety and depression symptoms and positive and negative emotion changes between baseline and 4 weeks. To verify the main effects, follow-up analyses compared changes in the main outcomes between 4 and 8 weeks in the control group once participants had access to all chatbot content. RESULTS Data from 45 young adults (36 women; mean age: 25 [SD 2.9]; experimental group: n=25; control group: n=20) were analyzed. Participants in the experimental group spent an average of 74 minutes across an average of 12 active sessions chatting with <italic>Vivibot</italic> and rated their experience as helpful (mean 2.0/3, SD 0.72) and would recommend it to a friend (mean 6.9/10; SD 2.6). Open-ended feedback noted its nonjudgmental nature as a particular benefit of the chatbot. After 4 weeks, participants in the experimental group reported an average reduction in anxiety of 2.58 standardized t-score units, while the control group reported an increase in anxiety of 0.7 units. A mixed-effects models revealed a trend-level (<italic>P</italic>=.09) interaction between group and time, with an effect size of 0.41. Those in the experimental group also experienced greater reductions in anxiety when they engaged in more sessions (z=–1.9, <italic>P</italic>=.06). There were no significant (or trend level) effects by group on changes in depression, positive emotion, or negative emotion. CONCLUSIONS The chatbot format provides a useful and acceptable way of delivering positive psychology skills to young adults who have undergone cancer treatment and supports anxiety reduction. Further analysis with a larger sample size is required to confirm this pattern.

Subjective, neuropsychological, and neural markers of memory in older adults

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Julia L. Sheffler ◽  
Melissa A. Meynadasy ◽  
Diamond T. Taylor ◽  
Dimitris N. Kiosses ◽  
Greg Hajcak
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Psychosocial Functioning ◽  
Verbal Learning ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Event Related Potential ◽  
P300 Amplitude ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Psychological Well Being

ABSTRACT Objectives: To investigate the relationship between the P300 event-related potential, neuropsychological measures of memory, subjective memory complaints (SMCs), and indicators of psychosocial functioning. Design, setting, and participants: In this cross-sectional study of 79 community-based older adults, aged 60–75 years, participants completed online surveys and in-person neuropsychological and electroencephalogram (EEG) assessments. Measurements: Measures included: the Change subscale of the Metamemory in Adulthood Questionnaire, NIH Toolbox Emotions battery (Perceived Stress and Psychological Well-Being), Geriatric Depression Scale, Geriatric Anxiety Scale, electrocortical measures (EEG), California Verbal Learning Test, 3rd Edition, and diagnostic ratings for mild and major neurocognitive disorders based on full neuropsychological battery, clinical interview, and two-clinician consensus. Results: P300 amplitude was associated with long-delay verbal memory recall and diagnostic rating. SMCs were not associated with objective memory or diagnostic rating. SMCs were associated with higher perceived stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms and lower psychological well-being. Conclusions: Neural indicators such as the P300 may be useful for early detection of cognitive impairment. SMCs were not a reliable indicator of early memory impairment in relation to neuropsychological or neural indicators, but may be a useful indicator of unreported stress and mood symptoms in clinical settings.

scholarly journals Meaning of Life and Well-Being: Preliminary Results of the Successful Aging Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 112-112
Author(s):  
Zvi Gellis ◽  
Kim McClive-Reed ◽  
Bonnie Kenaley ◽  
Eunhae Kim
Keyword(s):  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Successful Aging ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Presence Of Meaning ◽  
Aging Study ◽  
Proxy Measure ◽  
Health And Well Being

Abstract Meaning in life for older persons has become a focal research point, with findings that a greater sense of meaning is associated with better outcomes on a range of health and well-being factors. Our study examined relationships between scores on several personality scales, including the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (Steger et al., 2009) and the WHO-5 Well-Being Index, a proxy measure of mood/depression. Community-dwelling members (N=535) of Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes aged 50 and up (mean age 71.4, SD = 6.93) at 3 U.S. sites completed surveys. Higher wellness levels were significantly correlated with increased resilience, optimism, life satisfaction, and presence of meaning in life, while lower levels were associated with greater searching for meaning in life. A multivariate linear regression model (F = 55.597, df = 4, p = .000, R = .566, R2 = .320) showed that wellness scores increased with higher scores in optimism (ß = .348, p =.000), resilience (ß = .183, p = .000), and presence of meaning in life (ß = .106, p = .019). However, searching for meaning in life significantly predicted decreases in wellness scores (ß = -.084, p=.019). These results support those of previous studies, suggesting that for older persons, an ongoing search for meaning in life is linked to negative outcomes than a perception of existing meaning in life. A variety of available interventions aimed at increasing meaning and purpose in life (Guerrero-Torelles et al., 2017) may contribute to better health and well-being in older adults.

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