The increasing educational divide in the life course development of subjective wellbeing across cohorts

Labour market, health, and wellbeing research provide evidence of increasing educational inequality as individuals age, representing a pattern consistent with the mechanism of cumulative (dis)advantage. However, individual life courses are embedded in cohort contexts that might alter life course differentiation processes. Thus, this study analyses cohort variations in education-specific life course patterns of subjective wellbeing (i.e. life, health and income satisfaction). Drawing upon prior work and theoretical considerations from life course theories, this study expects to find increasing educational life course inequality in younger cohorts. The empirical analysis relies on German Socio-Economic Panel data (1984–2016, v33). The results obtained from cohort-averaged random effects growth curve models confirm the cumulative (dis)advantage mechanism for educational life course inequality in subjective wellbeing. Furthermore, the results reveal substantial cohort variation in life course inequality patterns: regarding life and income satisfaction, the results indicate that the cumulative (dis)advantage mechanism does not apply to the youngest cohorts (individuals born between 1970 and 1985) under study. In contrast, the health satisfaction results suggest that educational life course inequality follows the predictions of the cumulative (dis)advantage mechanism only for individuals born after 1959. While the life course trajectories of highly educated individuals change only slightly across cohorts, the subjective wellbeing trajectories of low-educated individuals start to decline at earlier life course stages in younger cohorts, leading to increasing life course inequality over time. Thus, the overall findings of this study contribute to our understanding of whether predictions derived from sociological middle range theories are universal across societal contexts.

A Dyadic Latent Profile Analysis of Older Couples’ Psychological, Relational, and Physical Health

The present study explored the heterogeneity of older couples’ psychological, relational, and physical health using a sample of 535 couples above the age of 62. A dyadic latent profile analysis was conducted to identify and predict unique clusters of couples’ relative psychological (depressive symptoms and daily hassles), relational (problematic affective communication and marital satisfaction), and physical health (number of health problems and self-reported health satisfaction). Predictors of class membership included relationship length, age, income, and hours worked outside the home. Results revealed 4 distinct classes: Happy & Healthy Together (63.5%), Individually & Relationally Strained (14.7%), Relationally Happy with Strained Wives (12.3%), and Relationally Happy with Strained Husbands (9.3%). Typology descriptions and predictors of class membership will be discussed. These findings highlight that health promotion efforts should be tailored to the specific psychological, relational, and physical health concerns of both partners rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

The Implications of Being “In it Together”: Relationship Satisfaction and Joint Health Behaviors Predict Better Health and Stronger Concordance Between Partners

Background Extensive evidence shows that satisfying marriages boost physical health and longevity. A separate literature reveals strong concordance in couples’ health, but the relationship processes that contribute to health concordance remain poorly understood. Purpose The current study examined whether relationship satisfaction and joint health behaviors—the extent to which couples eat, sleep, and exercise together—are associated simultaneously with better health and greater health similarity between partners. Methods Heterogeneous variance multilevel models were applied to data from 234 married couples (Mage = 46, Range = 20–84) reporting on their relationship satisfaction, joint health behaviors, and four health indicators—health satisfaction, depressive symptoms, comorbidities, and medication use. Results More satisfied couples engaged in more joint health behaviors than less satisfied counterparts. When joint health behaviors and relationship satisfaction were examined as separate fixed effects, both predicted greater health satisfaction and fewer depressive symptoms. More joint health behaviors were also associated with less medication use. When both were modeled together, only relationship satisfaction predicted depressive symptoms. By contrast, in random effects, joint health behaviors predicted greater similarity in health satisfaction, depressive symptoms, and comorbidities. Relationship satisfaction only predicted more similar depressive symptoms. Conclusions Although more satisfied couples engaged in more joint health behaviors. relationship satisfaction and joint health behaviors uniquely predicted couples’ health quality and concordance, suggesting that distinct mechanisms may drive better health and stronger health resemblance.

The impact of healthy workplaces on employee satisfaction, productivity and costs

Purpose This paper aims to explore the added value of healthy workplaces for employees and organizations, in particular regarding employee satisfaction, labour productivity and facility cost. Design/methodology/approach The paper is based on a narrative review of journal papers and other sources covering the fields of building research, corporate real estate management, facilities management, environmental psychology and ergonomics. Findings The review supports the assumption of positive impacts of appropriate building characteristics on health, satisfaction and productivity. Correlations between these impacts are still underexposed. Data on cost and economic benefits of healthy workplace characteristics is limited, and mainly regard reduced sickness absence. The discussed papers indicate that investing in healthy work environments is cost-effective. Originality/value The findings contribute to a better understanding of the complex relationships between physical characteristics of the environment and health, satisfaction, productivity and costs. These insights can be used to assess work environments on these topics, and to identify appropriate interventions in value-adding management of buildings and facilities.

Mindfulness and self-compassion mediate increased psychological wellbeing in penitentiary officers with a mental training based on mindfulness, ethics and compassion.

Numerous studies alarm about stressfulness of penitentiary working environment and consequent mental health issues. To aid this problem an integrated mindfulness, ethics and compassion training program was implemented. Its efficacy on the well-being improvement was measured by four markers: general health, satisfaction with life, affect (both positive and negative) and anxiety. Additionally, a mediating role of mindfulness and self-compassion was explored. The results revealed that after the course participant’s anxiety and negative affect decreased, while positive affect and satisfaction with life increased. These improvements in wellbeing were mediated by both mindfulness and self-compassion.

Domain-specific life satisfaction among older adults with and without children: The role of intergenerational contact

Background Life satisfaction is associated with many important health outcomes among older adults and is an indicator of successful ageing. The present study aims to replicate earlier findings regarding relationships between satisfaction with various life domains and life satisfaction in older adults. The study furthermore explores how parental status is associated with satisfaction with different life domains and how two types of intergenerational contact (contact with own children; post-retirement work in childcare) relate to life satisfaction. Methods Participants were 1978 older adults, aged 65–75 year (51.7% female), who live in Bremen and took part in the OUTDOOR ACTIVE study. 82.6% of the participants had one or more children. All participants completed a questionnaire, which among others comprised items assessing life satisfaction as well as satisfaction with six different life domains (satisfaction with living situation, financial situation, leisure time, health, family, neighbors and friends). Results LS is significantly related to all of the investigated life domains, independent of sex and age. For the participants with children, life satisfaction had the highest association with satisfaction with family (β: 0.202; 95%CI: 0.170–0.235), followed by satisfaction with neighbors and friends (β: 0.151; 95%CI: 0.111–0.191), and health satisfaction (β: 0.148; 95%CI: 0.120–0.176). In comparison to that, participants without children had the highest association between life satisfaction and satisfaction with health (β: 0.193; 95%CI: 0.135–0.252), followed by satisfaction with family (β: 0.175; 95%CI: 0.114–0.236) and satisfaction with neighbors and friends (β: 0.154; 95%CI: 0.077–0.232). In participants with children, there was a non-significant negative association between life satisfaction and work in childcare (β: -0.031; 95%CI: -0.178–0.116), while life satisfaction was statistically significantly positively associated to work in childcare in participants without own children (β: 0.681; 95%CI: 0.075–1.288). Conclusions The results suggest that the domain-specific approach to life satisfaction can elucidate differences in the correlates of life satisfaction and well-being between older adults with and without children. They further suggest that the benefits of working with children for life satisfaction may be more pronounced in older adults without children than older adults with children.

Psychological Study of the Quality of Life of Lung Cancer Patients Receiving Immunotherapy

The article discusses the results of a psychological study of the quality of life of 28 lung cancer patients who receiving immunotherapy. The quality of life was assessed independently by the patients using the DemboRubinstein questionnaire. Before the start of immunotherapy, patients remained dissatisfied with their health, appearance, sexual relations, and mood. A repeated study showed that these spheres of life were significantly improved in all the subjects, and health satisfaction increased by more than 1.5 times compared with the initial one. In the course of immunotherapy, a significant increase in the scales of social functioning is noted: communication with others, opportunities for leisure and recreation. A repeated study showed that there were twice as many patients who returned to professional activity (32.1% versus 17.9% of the primary).

Ethnic Identity Buffers the Effect of Discrimination on Family, Life, and Health Satisfaction for Pacific Peoples in New Zealand

Introduction: The effect of discrimination on health and wellbeing varies. Mixed findings show that greater ethnic identity can make one more susceptible to the harmful effects of discrimination, or that ethnic identity can protect one against discrimination. This study tests how ethnic identity moderates the relationship between ethnic discrimination and a range of wellbeing measures for Pacific peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand. Methods: Two independent studies, The Pacific Identity and Wellbeing Study (N = 752) and the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study (N = 472), surveyed Pacific peoples in New Zealand across measures of ethnic identity, perceived discrimination, family satisfaction, life satisfaction, and health satisfaction. Findings: Moderated regression analyses for both studies showed a significant identity x discrimination interaction. Across all analyses, for those with lower ethnic identity scores, there was a significant negative relationship between discrimination and the health and wellbeing measures. For those with higher ethnic identity scores, there was no significant relationship between discrimination and wellbeing measures. Conclusions: These results suggest that higher scores of Pacific ethnic identity buffer the negative effects of discrimination on satisfaction with family, life, and health. These findings offer support for the protective properties of Pacific ethnic identities. As such, initiatives that seek to bolster Pacific ethnic identities and culture will support a multifaceted approach for enhancing Pacific health and psychological wellbeing.