Applied Research in Quality of Life最新文献

Background

Providing the necessary supportive environment is important for promoting healthy ageing and ensuring the well-being of older adults. However, whether social support could buffer the detrimental effect of reversible cognitive frailty (RCF) on health outcomes among older adults has not been empirically examined.

Objective

To examine the moderating effect of three dimensions of social support on the relationship between RCF and health outcomes, including functional ability (FA) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study with 1171 community-dwelling older adults. Social support was assessed using the Social Support Rating Scale. RCF was identified by the Frailty Phenotype and simplified subjective cognitive decline questionnaire. As for FA, the Katz index and the Lawton Scale were used to measure activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental ADL (IADL), respectively. HRQoL was measured by the Short Form Health Survey. Hierarchical linear regression analysis was implemented to test the moderating effects.

Results

Support utilization buffered the effect of RCF on IADL ability while subjective support buffered the effect of RCF on physical HRQoL. However, objective support had no significant moderating effect on the relationship between RCF and any health outcomes.

Conclusion

The moderating effect of social support on the relationship between RCF and health outcomes varies by support types and by specific health outcomes. Effective interventions should target the perception and utilization of available support among older adults with RCF to maintain their functional independence and HRQoL.

Numerous research studies have reported that COVID-19 adversely affects individual mental well-being, but studies on the effect of the pandemic on family well-being have been sparse. Given that happiness is an essential determinant of quality of life, we examined the predictors of family happiness during COVID-19 in this study based on a convenience sampling of 2,971 Hong Kong residents between April 2021 and March 2022. Results showed that those between 35 and 54 years were happier than those between 19 and 34. Family happiness correlated with age, individual happiness, family solidarity, family resources, family mental health, and the COVID-19 impact. Individual happiness and family factors also consistently predicted family happiness regardless of the severity of the pandemic. Findings suggest that individual happiness and several family factors shape family happiness. Fostering supportive measures and care within families is essential to improve family happiness.

This study examines the complex relationships between characteristics of living environments and subjective well-being (SWB) across urban and rural areas in Europe. Utilizing comprehensive data from the EU-SILC survey, it applies regression models and structural equation modelling to examine both direct and indirect effects of living environment characteristics, while controlling for regional and socio-demographic factors. The results reveal clear regional patterns: respondents in Northern and Western Europe generally report higher SWB in rural areas, while the reverse is true in post-communist European countries. Southern Europe shows mixed results. Despite offering better access to amenities, urban living is linked to higher levels of pollution, noise, and crime, which negatively impact SWB. These contrasting effects highlight the “urban paradox” in which urban advantages are offset by disadvantages, resulting in highly variable overall outcomes. The study concludes that binary urban–rural classifications oversimplify quality of life assessments, and advocates for a nuanced framework that recognizes regional specificities. Enhancing green spaces and further strengthening access to services are identified as key strategies for boosting SWB in urban environments.

Character strengths, individual differences in positive, morally valued human characteristics, are a core concept in positive psychology and positive organizational behavior. The application of character strengths through “strengths use” at work is associated with a variety of positive outcomes, including higher levels of work performance and employee wellbeing. To address fragmentation in this literature, we conducted a meta-analysis of relations between strengths use and these outcomes. Consistent with pre-registered hypotheses, we find positive associations between strengths use and work performance (ρ = .421) and worker wellbeing (ρ = .621). However, contrary to the premise of “strengths overuse,” we did not find evidence for non-linearity in these associations. We also explore demographic and methodological moderators of these relations and present an accounting of additional relations between strengths use at work and a broader network of more specific performance- and wellbeing-related constructs, associated strengths-use constructs, job characteristics, dispositional and attitudinal constructs, and demographic characteristics.

One unintended consequence of the widespread use of the Internet is the emergence of cyberbullying among children, which threatens their social and behavioral development. Recently, researchers have reported a positive relationship between cyber-victimization and cyberbullying in primary school children. While moral disengagement and normative beliefs about aggression predict cyberbullying, it is not clear whether they mediate the association between cyber-victimization and cyberbullying. To address this research gap, we performed a cross-sectional study with a sample of 1,252 children (56.8% boys; mean age = 9.38) from 16 primary schools in Hong Kong, China. Results of structural equation modeling analyses demonstrated that moral disengagement and normative beliefs about aggression served as mediators in the association between cyber-victimization and cyberbullying. Cyber-victimization increased engagement in cyberbullying through higher moral disengagement and stronger normative beliefs about aggression. Gender differences also played a significant role, with cyber-victimized boys more likely to engage in online bullying activities. Overall, the findings contribute to our understanding the development of cyberbullying in children in a non-Western setting. These findings also have implications for developing and implementing intervention programs aimed at protecting children from cyberbullying. Limitations of the study are discussed.

Teacher Educators (TE) are a specific category of Higher Education (HE) academics whose primary responsibility is the preparation of Pre-Service Teachers (PSTs) for the Early Childhood, Primary, Secondary, and Further Education and Training contexts. TEs navigate this important, multifaceted role in addition to growing work pressures and decreased resource allocations. Though these stressors often lead to burnout, negatively impacting TEs’ wellbeing, productivity, and career satisfaction, many persevere in this career despite these challenging experiences. This qualitative study employs the popular PERMA model (Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment) to explore the protective factors that support TEs’ mental health, wellbeing, and resilience. Reflexive Thematic Analysis (RTA) was applied to a combination of open-ended survey responses (n = 154) and semi-structured interview (n = 14) data from Higher Education TEs in Ireland and the United Kingdom (UK). Participants reported that excessive relational demands and the undervaluation and under-recognition of accomplishments in promotion systems challenged their wellbeing. However, findings highlight how positive emotions, vocational workflow, social support, a sense of meaning/purpose, and professional accomplishment can support thriving in the workplace. Our sample further benefitted from general wellbeing practices (diet, exercise, mindfulness), professional collegiality, and boundary setting, which help maintain work–life balance. These findings suggest that HE institutions might consider PERMA-informed initiatives – such as wellbeing programmes, formal recognition of diverse work achievements, and flexible workload policies – to mitigate workplace stress and promote TE resilience. Promoting these factors may improve quality of life outcomes for TEs and enhance outcomes within initial teacher education.

The well-being effects of artisanal food production activities remain understudied despite growing interest in the relation between well-being and food. A study was therefore designed to investigate the impact of taking part in a sourdough bread-making workshop on mood status, the hypothesis being that the rich multisensory stimulation involved might contribute positively to enhancing participants’ emotional states. A total of three sourdough making workshops (N = 52 participants) were conducted in Berlin, each lasting 2–2.5 h. The participants mixed ingredients, kneaded and shaped the dough, and tasted freshly-baked bread samples. Mood assessments were collected at four time points during the course of each workshop. The results demonstrated significant improvements in several self-reported mood states measures, including increased relaxation, reduced stress and nervousness, and an enhanced feeling of being connected to nature. The multisensory experiences of the sourdough making process, particularly the olfactory, auditory, and visual aspects, were identified as key contributors to these effects. More specifically, the aroma from sourdough ingredients, the sound of mixing, and the sight of sourdough slices were found to be especially effective in inducing positive emotional states. The results of this study therefore contribute new empirical evidence supporting the potential of artisanal bread making as a eudaimonic activity, offering insights into the relationship between sensory-rich food preparation and psychological well-being. These findings have implications for understanding the therapeutic potential of culinary activities in promoting positive mental health outcomes.

Attitudes toward retirement refer to individuals’ thoughts about their life in retirement, and how it is or will be during retirement. Previous research examined the effects of a single dimension of intergenerational relationships on attitude toward retirement, while the impacts of multidimensional intergenerational relationships remain underexplored. This study examines the relationship between multidimensional intergenerational relationships and attitudes toward retirement with a person-centered approach. Data were from 776 Chinese adults aged 50 and older. Intergenerational relationships were measured using the Intergenerational Relationship Quality Scale for Aging Chinese Parents (IRQS-AP). Attitudes toward retirement were measured by the Attitudes toward Retirement Scale. Latent profile analysis was used to identify the typologies of intergenerational relationships. The association between intergenerational relationship typologies and attitudes toward retirement were examined using OLS regression. Four intergenerational types were identified: tight–knit, distant–harmonious, ambivalent, and detached–conflicted. Middle-aged and older adults who were distant–harmonious, tight–knit, and ambivalent were associated with a more positive attitude toward retirement than those who were detached–conflicted. The protective effects were more evident in families with a single son. Cultivating harmonious and intimate intergenerational relationships could improve attitudes toward retirement. Intervention programs could be developed to reduce gender preference gaps in aged care and deliver adequate care services for one-child families.

This research explored the impact of financial stress, psychological factors, and financial knowledge/education on life satisfaction using a cross-sectional analysis of data from 2019 to 2023. Data from a national online survey in the U.S. indicate a nuanced relationship where the physiological and relational components of financial stress, alongside higher self-esteem and financial education, contribute positively to life satisfaction. In contrast, a higher level of objective financial knowledge is negatively associated with life satisfaction. These findings suggest a nuanced interplay of psychological characteristics with life satisfaction in the face of global disruptions such as COVID-19.

Trust is integral to the successful execution of social interactions and market transactions. This study investigates the role of the clan system in shaping trust formation. In the context of China, the results show that the clan system significantly attenuates generalized trust. One additional genealogy per million people leads to a 4.03% decrease in individuals’ generalized trust. The clan system serves as a united force in individuals’ particularized trust toward clan members and serves as a splitting force in their particularized trust toward outsiders. These findings address the strong vitality of the clan system and its significant impact on modern Chinese society.