International Journal of Wellbeing (IJW)
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Cold water immersion: Exploring the effects on well-being – scoping review
Get PDFBackground. As the prevalence of mental health disorders continues to rise, there is a growing need for effective and accessible holistic approaches to promote well-being. Cold-water immersion (CWI) has gained popularity in recent years due to its potential health benefits. This scoping review aimed to investigate the qualitative benefits of CWI through the experiences of healthy individuals. Methods. A systematic search of seven databases was conducted and included both peer-reviewed and grey literature from the following databases: PubMed, Embase, Psychinfo, SPORTDiscus, Proquest Health and Medical, Proquest Dissertation and Theses Global, and CINAHL. Quantitative studies examining CWI and its effects on well-being, along with the CWI parameters were included to complement the qualitative findings. A qualitative content analysis was conducted through an inductive approach. Results. In the initial search, 419 records were identified, out of which 13 studies were selected for inclusion in this review. A total of 34 unique codes were derived and grouped into eight content categories. Four overarching themes related to the CWI experiences were revealed: 1) physical and psychological health benefits, 2) connection to nature, 3) sense of connectedness, 4) personal growth. Conclusion. The experiences individuals gain from CWI are profound and can exert both direct and indirect influences on the promotion of well-being. However, further research is needed to establish the specific parameters that promote well-being through CWI
Understanding wellbeing from the perspective of youth with chronic conditions: A group concept mapping approach
Get PDFPromoting wellbeing for youth is a global health priority and young people with chronic conditions demonstrate disproportionately low wellbeing compared to their peers. However, wellbeing is variably defined, and little is understood as to what wellbeing means for this population. The aim of this study was to develop a conceptualisation of wellbeing that is rooted in the perspectives of young people with chronic conditions. Group concept mapping, a structured, mixed method, and participatory based technique, was conducted with 11 participants aged 16-25 with various health conditions. Youth advisors were involved from the initial planning of the research to the final interpretation of the data. In a series of focus groups, participants generated statements that encapsulated their sense of wellbeing. From the generated ideas, a refined list of 62 statements was finalised in consultation with a youth advisory group. Participants then individually sorted the 62 statements into groups that made sense to them; individual data were combined, then analysed using multidimensional scaling to create a visual map of the ideas. Hierarchical cluster analysis was used to group the mapped ideas into clusters, resulting in seven ‘domains’ of wellbeing: (1) ‘Embodying authentic self’; (2) ‘Being a young person’; (3) ‘Abilities and capacities’; (4) ‘Self-understanding and nurturing’; (5) ‘Hopeful future outlook’; (6) ‘Supportive systems and communities’; and (7) ‘Emotional support and validation’. These findings demonstrate the importance of considering inter-personal, intra-personal, and systemic factors in understanding wellbeing for youth with chronic conditions. The high level of participation throughout the research process allowed us to develop a concept of wellbeing that is nuanced and highly specific to this unique group. Implications for measurement, intervention and healthcare delivery for youth with chronic conditions are discussed
Connecting with nature: Reciprocity as central to identity and wellbeing
Get PDFConnection with nature is a fundamental human need with implications on wellbeing. However, people are increasingly distanced from nature with reduced opportunities for place-based practices, which are vital expressions of nature-centric identities and for living a good, fulfilling life. Drawing on past work on social identity theory, we propose that relational values and place-based practices are fundamental to the relationship between nature-based identities and wellbeing. We also discuss how many Indigenous communities demonstrate the importance of this relationship, with nature-kinship and place-based practices playing a vital role in the promotion of social and environmental wellbeing. As such, the negative consequences of ecological degradation on wellbeing are especially alarming amongst Indigenous communities, for whom nature is a fundamental part of their identity, but with ramifications also on broader populations. In this conceptual review, we briefly touch on nature connectedness and its relationship to values and wellbeing, before centering place as vital to value expression. We further propose that efforts to reverse cultural and ecological degradation must begin by supporting communities to enact nature-based values and practices, particularly for those Indigenous peoples who are most affected. We provide recommendations for future research into efforts to facilitate reciprocal reconnection between humanity and nature with the aim of understanding and supporting both environmental and human wellbeing
The mediating effect of positive and negative religious coping, compassion and resilience on the relationship between negative life events and wellbeing among women in Kenya, the Philippines, Nicaragua and Spain
Get PDFThe current study explores the mediating effect of positive and negative religious coping on the relationship between negative life events and wellbeing, via its link with compassion and resilience among women who are involved in women’s empowerment programs run by a US faith-based non-profit humanitarian and disaster relief organisation, Convoy of Hope. The sample includes women from four countries (N = 1041), Kenya, the Philippines, Nicaragua and Spain, who took part in a digital survey. A mediation analysis was used, and the results revealed a full mediation effect, so that the number of negative life events was linked to wellbeing via an increase in both positive and negative religious coping strategies, compassion and then resilience. It also revealed other mediation paths via religious coping and resilience. Positive religious coping was linked to higher resilience and then higher wellbeing, whereas negative religious coping was linked to lower resilience and then lower wellbeing. The results highlight the role of compassion in adaptive religious coping and delineate the overall benefits of religious coping in the context of adversity
Teacher readiness for health promotion: A survey of Australian pre-service teachers’ knowledge, attitudes and skills
Get PDFWhole-school approaches to health promotion such as Health-promoting Schools (HPS) recognise the importance of health and wellbeing for student learning and educational outcomes, as well as schools as settings that support health and wellbeing. A myriad of teacher actions contribute to student health and wellbeing including creating positive social-emotional environments, modelling healthy behaviours, identifying concerning behaviours, and encouraging students and their families to access health services. In the absence of research on teacher trainees, we set out to explore pre-service teachers’ knowledge, skills and attitudes towards whole-school approaches to health and wellbeing by inviting students enrolled in postgraduate education training at an Australian university to complete an online survey which was designed to measure knowledge, skills and attitudes about HPS. Responses were obtained from 178 participants (20% response rate). Participants were relatively knowledgeable about HPS but less aware of the requirements to implement and sustain whole-school approaches. While participants generally agreed that teachers’ actions are important in promoting the health of school communities, this was not universally supported. During placements, participants reported high rates of engaging in health-related activities but had differing understanding of their roles in supporting student health and wellbeing. In conclusion, while participants had reasonable theoretical knowledge about whole-school approaches for promoting health, they were less confident about their skills to apply this to teaching practice. Many expressed the need for more practical experiences beyond coursework and others wanted more explicit focus on health promotion in their studies, suggesting greater focus on health promotion is warranted in pre-service and early teacher education
How wellbeing literacy reflects and supports wellbeing practices in early education: A directed qualitative content analysis of teacher practices
Get PDFAt the same time as positive psychology and wellbeing science has grown and expanded through cross disciplinary research and dialogue, the field of early education globally has increased its focus on wellbeing outcomes for children. How new concepts and theories from wellbeing science, such as wellbeing literacy, can be applied to early childhood education to underpin wellbeing pedagogy and practices, and support children’s wellbeing, is relevant and timely. Through an online survey and directed content data analysis, this qualitative study sought the perspectives of early childhood teachers about how they promote children’s wellbeing communication. Furthermore to understand how teachers’ practices compare to the wellbeing literacy capability model. Findings from 76 teachers from Victoria, Australia yielded rich data about ways wellbeing words, topic areas and concepts are taught, practice examples of expressive and receptive wellbeing language, how these align to wellbeing literacy and why this is important to teachers. An intentionality for child wellbeing and children’s capability for effective wellbeing communication, along with other pedagogies in addition to the wellbeing literacy model emerged. These findings indicate wellbeing literacy and the 5-component model align with existing wellbeing pedagogy. Additionally, how wellbeing literacy can expand early education’s singular and traditional view of literacy towards a contemporary, socio-cultural conception. Findings from this study begin to address the paucity of research and literature about wellbeing literacy in the context of childhood and early education. Understanding how a literacy of wellbeing may be applied to pedagogy and practice in ECEC and authentically facilitated by teachers, is novel in both education and wellbeing fields and can enhance both educational and wellbeing outcomes for young children and pedagogical avenues for educators
Reconnecting our communities: Social flourishing on the far side of “our epidemic of loneliness and isolation”
Get PDFIn 2023, then-US Surgeon General (SG) Vivek Murthy published a public health advisory, which describes “our epidemic of loneliness and isolation,” details the public health burden posed by these trends, and highlights some strategies for ameliorating it. SG Murthy’s report offers a thorough symptomology of the current crisis, and proposes six “pillars” to structure public-health responses to it, each of which is reasonable and important in its own right. As helpful as these are, there are arguably additional key causes of loneliness and social isolation that merit further attention, including median wage stagnation; the decline of childhood free play and independence; and the growing isolation of America’s elderly as households shrink. Moreover, some of the epidemic’s most damaging aspects, such as the decline of marriage and religious participation, likewise merit more detailed attention than they receive in the Advisory. The report’s six pillars could thus also be supplemented with several other urgently needed approaches as well, including reviving widely shared economic prosperity; restoring some of children’s lost independence; encouraging multi-generational households; and exploring public policy levers for promoting marriage and religious participation. Our aim in this review is to call attention to some of what is underemphasized in the SG’s report, in the hope of building on his important Advisory to develop a yet more comprehensive account of the drivers of the decline of belonging in contemporary America, and of a path back toward a richly connected society
A scoping review of factors associated with Australian university student wellbeing
Get PDFUniversities have a social obligation to support student wellbeing. Given that university experiences differ across countries, synthesising student wellbeing research within specific national contexts can assist policy makers in identifying research most relevant to local students. A scoping review was conducted to (i) map the factors associated with Australian university student wellbeing, (ii) identify knowledge gaps, and (iii) assess the response rates reported in this literature. 160 studies were included in the review. Associations were reported between wellbeing and 242 different factors. Factors were thematically grouped into psychological, social, demographic, university-specific, lifestyle, aversive life-events, and work-related/financial categories. Several knowledge gaps were identified. These included: Inconsistent wellbeing measurement, non-representative sampling, limited understanding of university-specific factors, limited research identifying at-risk student groups, and absence of interventional studies addressing features of university environments or experiences. Excluding whole-of-university studies, the average response rate was 37.7%, although response rates were lower in online surveys (24.8%) and in studies recruiting whole-of-university samples (5.6%). In-class surveys received the highest response rates (57.3%). Further research is needed to address knowledge gaps identified in this review
Mental fortitude in everyday life: Associations between beneficial and harmful sisu, sisu-related states and affects, measured by ESM
Get PDFThis study explores how the Finnish concept of "sisu," denoting perseverance and inner strength in the face of adversity, manifests in the daily states. Moreover, the associations between beneficial and harmful sisu and positive and negative affectivity, which have implications for well-being and personality, were examined. Data was collected from 82 knowledge workers in four Finnish organizations, utilizing the Sisu Scale to assess beneficial and harmful sisu. Participants evaluated their sisu-related states and affectivity daily for three weeks using a mobile application. Multilevel modeling was employed to analyze the associations between sisu traits, sisu-related states, and affects, controlling for age and sex. Results indicate that high beneficial sisu is associated with increased determination, feelings of control, and positive affect. On the other hand, harmful sisu is linked to accepting overly challenging tasks, getting stuck on unproductive activities, and persisting in mundane tasks. High harmful sisu is also associated with decreased satisfaction and feelings of control. The findings illustrate how sisu manifests in everyday life, and indicate the significance of affective states in the expression of mental fortitude. It also seems that sisu plays a role in facing everyday challenges despite its traditional association with major adversities in the Finnish language. Further research is required to explore sisu-situation interactions and the role of negative affectivity in sisu
Dialogues on happiness with the Guarani Mbyá in South America and the limits of the science of well-being
Get PDFEngaging with indigenous peoples challenges the assumptions deeply embedded in traditional scientific approaches. This paper critiques the science of well-being’s (WBSci) large-scale measurement instruments considering teko porã, an expression from the Guarani Mbyá people that loosely translates to happiness and encompasses the discussion about the best way to live. Over two years, our research employed a triangulation method involving a literature review, participation in the Indigenous Support Network at the University of São Paulo, and four interviews with Guarani Mbyá leaders. We uncovered three key aspects of teko porã: (1) its variability, (2) its reliance on immaterial/spiritual elements, and (3) its communal rather than individual focus. These findings reveal the limitations of WBSci’s individual-centric measurement instruments, which rely heavily on personal experiences, self-reports, and cognitive life evaluations. We propose four parameters for a more inclusive happiness/well-being assessment framework to address these shortcomings. First, defining the spatial and social perimeter to which the idea of happiness will be defined and to which it will refer. Second, understanding the roles of those within these boundaries in the assessment. Third, allowing community members to set the assessment’s purpose. Fourth, periodically revisiting both the happiness construct and its evaluation process. These parameters advocate for a participatory assessment of happiness tailored to a specific community, highlighting the insufficiency of many WBSci methodologies in capturing the full spectrum of human ontologies and epistemologies. In conclusion, it is essential to recognize the limitations of traditional WBSci approaches focused on universal characteristics of happiness and integrate new theoretical perspectives and actors into the debate. Such dialogue is timely and necessary for the maturing of the field