scholarly journals How Does Being Solo in Nature Affect Well-Being? Evidence from Norway, Germany and New Zealand

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (15) ◽  
pp. 7897
Author(s):  
Evi Petersen ◽  
Annette Bischoff ◽  
Gunnar Liedtke ◽  
Andrew J. Martin
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Outdoor Education ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Well Being ◽  
National Sample ◽  
Gender And Age ◽  
Health Initiatives ◽  
Perception Of Time ◽  
Prior Experiences

Background: Solo—being intentionally solitary in nature—is receiving growing attention as a valuable outdoor education program component. Its practice and history have been researched in the context of experiential learning, but few studies have explicitly examined how solo experiences can affect dimensions of well-being. This study investigated a broad range of well-being pathways provided by being solo, based on data from Norway, Germany, and New Zealand. Methods: Using qualitative content analysis (QCA), the solo debrief responses of 40 participants (26 females, age: 19–64 years) were analysed, applying the PERMA-V framework (emotions, engagement, relationship, meaning, achievement, and vitality). Variations in the reports were explored as a function of the national sample, gender, age, prior solo experiences and expectations. Results: The study suggests that hedonic and eudemonic well-being pathways, represented by the six PERMA-V pillars, interrelate strongly. The experience of a range of positive emotions and connecting process during solo highlights two of the most frequent findings related to well-being pathways. The secondary findings suggest minor variations in the well-being pathways for the different national samples, gender and age. Expectations and prior experiences with solo were identified as context factors with minor impact. Further, the data-driven analysis identified specific physical activities, landscape features, sense-activation, perception of time and ‘good’ weather as relevant to the specific experience. Conclusions: Solo experiences provide for well-being-related pathways in a multitude of ways, which highlights the well-being potential of solo implementation across practical fields beyond outdoor education, such as wilderness therapy, and environmental and planetary health initiatives. Future studies should continue to explore solo’s well-being potential in different settings, especially in the context of non-Western samples.

scholarly journals The Influence of Gender and Age on the Outcomes of and Adherence to a Digital Interdisciplinary Mental Health Promotion Intervention in an Australasian Nonclinical Setting: Cohort Study (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geraldine Przybylko ◽  
Darren Morton ◽  
Jason Morton ◽  
Melanie Renfrew
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mental Health Promotion ◽  
Satisfaction With Life Scale ◽  
Gender And Age ◽  
Clinical Trials Registry ◽  
Health And Well Being

BACKGROUND The global prevalence of mental health disorders is at a crisis point, particularly in the wake of COVID-19, prompting calls for the development of digital interdisciplinary mental health promotion interventions (MHPIs) for nonclinical cohorts. However, the influence of gender and age on the outcomes of and adherence to MHPIs is not well understood. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine the influence of gender and age on the outcomes of and adherence to a 10-week digital interdisciplinary MHPI that integrates strategies from positive psychology and lifestyle medicine and utilizes persuasive systems design (PSD) principles in a nonclinical setting. METHODS This study involved 488 participants who completed the digital interdisciplinary MHPI. Participants completed a pre and postintervention questionnaire that used: (1) the “mental health” and “vitality” subscales from the Short Form 36 (SF-36) Health Survey; (2) the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21); and (3) Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWL). Adherence to the digital interdisciplinary MHPI was measured by the number of educational videos the participants viewed and the extent to which they engaged in experiential challenge activities offered as part of the program. RESULTS On average, the participants (N=488; mean age 47.1 years, SD 14.1; 77.5% women) demonstrated statistically significant improvements in all mental health and well-being outcome measures, and a significant gender and age interaction was observed. Women tended to experience greater improvements than men in the mental health and well-being measures, and older men experienced greater improvements than younger men in the mental health and vitality subscales. Multiple analysis of variance results of the adherence measures indicated a significant difference for age but not gender. No statistically significant interaction between gender and age was observed for adherence measures. CONCLUSIONS Digital interdisciplinary MHPIs that utilize PSD principles can improve the mental health and well-being of nonclinical cohorts, regardless of gender or age. Hence, there may be a benefit in utilizing PSD principles to develop universal MHPIs such as that employed in this study, which can be used across gender and age groups. Future research should examine which PSD principles optimize universal digital interdisciplinary MHPIs. CLINICALTRIAL Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12619000993190; http://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=377889 and Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12619001009101; http://www.anzctr.org.au/ACTRN12619001009101.aspx

scholarly journals The Influence of Gender and Age on the Outcomes of and Adherence to a Digital Interdisciplinary Mental Health Promotion Intervention in an Australasian Nonclinical Setting: Cohort Study

10.2196/29866 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. e29866
Author(s):  
Geraldine Przybylko ◽  
Darren Morton ◽  
Jason Morton ◽  
Melanie Renfrew
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mental Health Promotion ◽  
Trial Registration ◽  
Gender And Age ◽  
Clinical Trials Registry ◽  
Health And Well Being

Background The global prevalence of mental health disorders is at a crisis point, particularly in the wake of COVID-19, prompting calls for the development of digital interdisciplinary mental health promotion interventions (MHPIs) for nonclinical cohorts. However, the influence of gender and age on the outcomes of and adherence to MHPIs is not well understood. Objective The aim of this study was to determine the influence of gender and age on the outcomes of and adherence to a 10-week digital interdisciplinary MHPI that integrates strategies from positive psychology and lifestyle medicine and utilizes persuasive systems design (PSD) principles in a nonclinical setting. Methods This study involved 488 participants who completed the digital interdisciplinary MHPI. Participants completed a pre and postintervention questionnaire that used: (1) the “mental health” and “vitality” subscales from the Short Form 36 (SF-36) Health Survey; (2) the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21); and (3) Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWL). Adherence to the digital interdisciplinary MHPI was measured by the number of educational videos the participants viewed and the extent to which they engaged in experiential challenge activities offered as part of the program. Results On average, the participants (N=488; mean age 47.1 years, SD 14.1; 77.5% women) demonstrated statistically significant improvements in all mental health and well-being outcome measures, and a significant gender and age interaction was observed. Women tended to experience greater improvements than men in the mental health and well-being measures, and older men experienced greater improvements than younger men in the mental health and vitality subscales. Multiple analysis of variance results of the adherence measures indicated a significant difference for age but not gender. No statistically significant interaction between gender and age was observed for adherence measures. Conclusions Digital interdisciplinary MHPIs that utilize PSD principles can improve the mental health and well-being of nonclinical cohorts, regardless of gender or age. Hence, there may be a benefit in utilizing PSD principles to develop universal MHPIs such as that employed in this study, which can be used across gender and age groups. Future research should examine which PSD principles optimize universal digital interdisciplinary MHPIs. Trial Registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12619000993190; http://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=377889 and Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12619001009101; http://www.anzctr.org.au/ACTRN12619001009101.aspx

Asexual Identity in a New Zealand National Sample: Demographics, Well-Being, and Health

2017 ◽  
Vol 46 (8) ◽  
pp. 2417-2427 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lara M. Greaves ◽  
Fiona Kate Barlow ◽  
Yanshu Huang ◽  
Samantha Stronge ◽  
Gloria Fraser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Well Being ◽  
National Sample

scholarly journals Reasons for and Scenarios Associated With Failure to Cease Smoking: Results From a Qualitative Study Among Smokers Who Had Unsuccessfully Attempted to Quit

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Buczkowski ◽  
Magdalena Dachtera-Frackiewicz ◽  
Dorota Luszkiewicz ◽  
Katarzyna Klucz ◽  
Jolanta Sawicka-Powierza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Smoking Relapse ◽  
Quit Smoking ◽  
Social Events ◽  
Frequent Relapse

Abstract Background: Most smokers attempt to quit smoking, but few are successful. Data regarding the reasons for this relapse and the course of the relapse process may be helpful for determining efficient methods of smoking cessation. This study aimed to identify the causes of and scenarios associated with smoking relapse after effective smoking cessation. Methods: We conducted 20 semi-structured interviews with smokers who had previously unsuccessfully attempted to quit. The data underwent qualitative content analysis. Results: Three major themes were identified: Reasons for smoking relapse; Smoking relapse scenarios; and Perception of the influence of personal environments, including family and physicians, on refraining from smoking after cessation. The first theme comprised the following subthemes: insufficient willpower and self-discipline, contact with smokers, exposure to stressful situations, lack of family support, weight gain, and insufficient improvement in one’s mental and physical well-being. The second theme contained enjoyable social events, professional life, critical events, and encouragement to smoke from family members. The respondents frequently emphasized the large role of interaction with other smokers. Conclusions: The predominant factors underlying smoking relapse include insufficient willpower and self-discipline and exposure to stress. The most frequent relapse scenario concerned experiencing negative or positive emotions when interacting with other smokers.

scholarly journals 502 - Diagnosis of dementia and post-diagnostic support – voice of people with dementia living in Poland

2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. 56-56
Author(s):  
M. Maćkowiak ◽  
M Ciułkowicz ◽  
M. Duda-Sikuła ◽  
D. Szcześniak ◽  
J. Rymaszewska
Keyword(s):  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Diagnostic Process ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Dementia Diagnosis ◽  
Optimal Care ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Diagnosis Of Dementia ◽  
Diagnostic Support

Background:The existing guidelines for the process of dementia diagnosis and treatment does not necessarily translate into optimal care and support for people with dementia. Such situation can have significant consequences. Misunderstanding of the new life situation as well as the negative perception of the diagnostic process itself are intensified by the limited options of post-diagnostic support. Especially in Poland, where the national dementia strategy has still not been implemented, experiences of people undergoing diagnosis and seeking support should be heard. By giving voice to people with dementia we can value their personal experiences, which due to the existing stigma, may often be overlooked and neglected.Objective:The aim of the study is to examine factors (conditions, barriers, facilitators) to receiving a dementia diagnosis and post-diagnostic support from the perspective of people with dementia living in Poland. The research was conducted as part of the JPND project COGNISANCE.Methods:Ten people with dementia diagnosed within last 24 months were interviewed with the use of selected projective techniques (word associations and third person expressive technique). An inductive qualitative content analysis approach has been implemented to analyse the obtained data.Results:Analysis revealed diverse categories encompassing broad spectrum of conditions, barriers and facilitators to receive a diagnosis and post-diagnostic support. People with dementia were prone to feeling positive emotions despite negative initial reactions during the diagnosis. Positive adaptation to the dementia were highly dependent on the empathetic attitude of the doctor and supportive family. Main needs were related to maintaining the independence, staying active, healthy and being socially connected. Interpersonal factors ensured sense of security and stability crucial for the well-being.Conclusions:Presented results provide important insight into the current experiences of people with dementia and represent guidelines for care providers and policy makers in introducing the optimal solutions in dementia support.

Residents’ Cognitive Appraisals, Emotions, and Coping Strategies at Local Dark Tourism Sites

2021 ◽  
pp. 004728752110047
Author(s):  
Evan J. Jordan ◽  
Girish Prayag
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Cognitive Appraisals ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Emotional Experiences ◽  
Dark Tourism ◽  
Tourism Attractions ◽  
And Coping ◽  
Depth Interviews

While tourist emotions elicited at dark tourism sites are well understood, little is known about residents’ experiences at local dark tourism sites. This study explores residents’ emotional experiences at dark tourism sites, the cognitive appraisals of their experiences and emotions, and the coping strategies they deploy to address them. In-depth interviews with 37 residents of Christchurch, New Zealand (site of the Canterbury earthquakes), reveal that residents cognitively appraised their experience at local dark tourism sites on important facets such as centrality and controllability. Visits to local dark tourism sites embodied memories of the disaster that elicit more negative (e.g., sadness) than positive emotions (e.g., gratefulness). Residents coped through seeking comfort from others or positive reappraisal of the experience. Furthermore, visits to dark tourism sites are in and of themselves a coping strategy for residents postdisaster. Implications for the development of dark tourism attractions and support for resident well-being are offered.

Differences in the Way to Conceive Happiness Relate to Different Reactions to Negative Events

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giulia Fuochi ◽  
Chiara A. Veneziani ◽  
Alberto Voci
Keyword(s):  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Satisfaction With Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Protective Role ◽  
Stressful Events ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Negative Events ◽  
Orientations To Happiness ◽  
Specific Reactions ◽  
The Way

Abstract. This paper aimed to assess whether differences in the way to conceive happiness, measured by the Orientations to Happiness measure, were associated with specific reactions to negative events. We hypothesized that among orientations to pleasure (portraying hedonism), to meaning (representing a eudaimonic approach to life), and to engagement (derived from the experience of flow), orientation to meaning would have displayed a stronger protective role against recent negative and potentially stressful events. After providing a validation of the Italian version of the Orientations to Happiness measure (Study 1), we performed regression analyses of the three orientations on positive and negative emotions linked to a self-relevant negative event (Study 2), and moderation analyses assessing the interactive effects of orientations to happiness and stressful events on well-being indicators (Study 3). Our findings supported the hypotheses. In Study 2, meaning was associated with positive emotions characterized by a lower activation (contentment and interest) compared to the positive emotions associated with pleasure (amusement, eagerness, and happiness). In Study 3, only meaning buffered the effect of recent potentially stressful events on satisfaction with life and positive affect. Results suggest that orientation to meaning might help individuals to better react to negative events.

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