Applied psychology. Health and well-being最新文献

This study examined whether adopting growth mindsets regarding mental health is associated with decreased levels of self-stigma and, consequently, increased levels of well-being among individuals with mental disorders. A total of 235 individuals with mental disorders provided questionnaire data at two time points (i.e., T1 and T2) over the course of one year. Path analyses revealed that growth mindsets at T1 were linked to lower self-stigma and, in turn, better well-being at T2, as indicated by higher levels of positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment. Bootstrap analyses further showed that growth mindsets had indirect effects on promoting well-being through self-stigma reduction. Theoretically, our findings illustrate the beneficial effects of growth mindsets in alleviating self-stigma and enhancing well-being among individuals with mental disorders. The longitudinal nature of these effects underscores that early adoption of growth mindsets can have lasting positive impacts. Practically, our results suggest that fostering growth-oriented beliefs about mental health can effectively reduce self-stigma and promote well-being. Mental health organizations should offer evidence-based interventions and create systemic environments that nurture growth mindsets among individuals with mental disorders.

Brain volume is closely linked to cognitive function, and its reduction is a key biomarker for neurodegenerative disease risk. Despite extensive research, uncertainties remain regarding the overall effects and optimal prescriptions of physical exercise on brain volume, as well as whether these changes translate into cognitive improvements. This preregistered systematic review and multilevel meta-analysis synthesized data from 59 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 5099 participants. Physical exercise had a significant effect on brain volume (Hedges' g = 0.10), though the majority of effect sizes did not reach the minimal clinically important difference (MCID). Improvements that reached the MCID were observed among subgroups meeting World Health Organization (WHO) physical activity guidelines—particularly those practicing mind–body exercises, following “weekend warrior” patterns, or assessed at follow-up. Meta-regression revealed a significant association between exercise-induced brain volume changes and cognitive improvements (β = 0.20). These findings offer evidence-based guidance for optimizing interventions aimed at improving brain and cognitive health.

Patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis often exhibit a low level of positive affect and poor mental health, which can adversely affect their physical health and well-being. This cluster-randomized controlled trial aimed to implement a 4-week PERMA-based positive psychology intervention tailored for patients undergoing hemodialysis and evaluate its efficacy on improving positive affect, negative affect, depressive symptoms, post-traumatic growth, and self-management. From September 2023 to January 2024, a total of 80 patients were recruited and randomly assigned to either the control group or the intervention group. The control group received usual psychological nursing care along with health messages. The intervention group, in addition, received a 4-week positive psychology intervention that consisted of weekly 30-minute bedside interviews, supplemented by home exercises. Outcome variables were assessed pre-intervention, post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up. The results revealed that the 4-week PERMA-based positive psychology intervention significantly improved positive affect among patients undergoing hemodialysis. Compared to the control group, the intervention group showed better dietary management and more active participation in physical and psychosocial activities. However, no significant intervention effects were observed for negative affect, depressive symptoms, or post-traumatic growth. Further research is recommended to investigate the potential benefits of a longer intervention duration for patients experiencing clinical psychological symptoms.

Chronic low back pain (cLBP) is a highly prevalent and disabling health condition. Identifying risk factors and resources for low back pain (LBP) and back health in everyday life is crucial for its prevention and management. This study examined moment-to-moment fluctuations in pain intensity and perceived back health and their associations with fear of movement, pain self-efficacy, and leisure-time physical activity in individuals with (n = 128) and without (n = 94) cLBP. Data were collected five times per day for 14 days (n_measurements = 13,292). Participants with cLBP reported experiencing LBP in 45% of all measurements, with a mean intensity of 3.16 (range: 1–9), whereas participants without cLBP reported LBP in 6.9% of measurements (M_intensity = 2.38). Multilevel analyses including participants with and without cLBP showed that greater momentary fear of movement, lower momentary pain self-efficacy, and higher momentary levels of leisure-time physical activity were associated with higher pain intensity (β = .05, p = .042, β = −.15, p < .001, and β = .04, p = .001). Greater momentary fear of movement and lower momentary pain self-efficacy were associated with poorer back health (β = −.07, p = .004 and β = .16, p < .001). The observed within-person associations highlight the potential for ecological momentary interventions targeting modifiable psychological factors related to cLBP in daily life, particularly pain self-efficacy.

Natural sounds have shown potential for emotion regulation, with birdsong often identified as a salient and meaningful element. This study investigated the psychophysiological effects of birdsong on sadness, using audio-guided mindful breathing as an active control among participants with and without depressive symptoms. The study included 187 participants (M_age = 21.47, 66.3% female), categorized into 4 groups based on depression levels (depressed, non-depressed) and intervention type (birdsong, mindful breathing). Emotional responses were assessed after each phase (baseline, sadness induction, and birdsong/mindful breathing intervention). Heart rate variability (HRV) indices were used to measure physiological changes. Results show that (1) each stage elicited the target emotions, with hit rates exceeding 75%; (2) sadness induction was effective; (3) both birdsong and mindful breathing interventions effectively reduced sadness, as evidenced by the reversal of sadness effects in both groups; (4) subtle differences in the effects of birdsong and mindful breathing were observed in valence and short-term fluctuations in HRV; (5) no other significant differences were found between the groups. The findings indicate that birdsong has been shown to alleviate sadness similarly to mindful breathing. Although mindful breathing was more effective in enhancing valence, birdsong offered greater benefits for physiological recovery in depressed individuals.

This study tested the dyadic effects of self-expansion from partners (relational self-expansion, RSE) and others (personal self-expansion, PSE) on their relational well-being (RWB, e.g., marital satisfaction) and personal well-being (PWB, e.g., life satisfaction) one year later among 289 Chinese newlyweds. Self-expansion and well-being were measured using self-reported scales. Actor-partner interdependence Models (APIM) and dyadic response surface analyses (DRSA) were adopted to examine the dyadic effects of RSE and PSE on RWB and PWB. The results of the APIM supported the positive actor effect of RSE on RWB and PWB one year later for both husbands and wives, as well as a positive partner effect of wives' RSE on husbands' RWB. Furthermore, the results from DRSA supported that both partners were satisfied with their relationships and personal lives when they scored high on RSE or increased in it over time. For PSE, both partners' increase in it was associated with their high PWB, and congruent changes between partners were associated with higher levels of later RWB for both partners.

Despite significant health risks associated with high body weight and poor diet, little is known about the prevalence and targets of weight-loss and dietary intentions. This information could, however, help tailor behaviour change interventions. Therefore, the present study described weight-loss and dietary intentions and their co-occurrence in a representative sample (N = 1,510; 50.40% women; M_age = 48.55, SD_age = 16.68; M_BMI = 26.89, SD_BMI = 5.92) from Germany (n = 1,006) and Austria (n = 504). Weight-loss (57%) and dietary avoidance intentions (i.e., intention to eat less of certain foods; 59%) were more prevalent than dietary approach intentions (i.e., intention to eat more of certain foods; 34%). A discrepancy between weight-loss intention and indication (i.e., meeting BMI criteria for weight-loss recommendation: BMI ≥ 25) was found for 27% of individuals. Most common target foods were ‘snacks high in sugar, fat, and/or salt’ (24%), ‘meat’ (12%) and ‘sugar/foods high in sugar’ (11%) for avoidance and ‘fruits and vegetables’ (27%) and ‘protein/foods high in protein’ (3%) for approach intentions. These findings indicate that individuals might benefit from enhanced awareness of body weight recommendations and a less avoidance-centered perspective on eating, as approach strategies might be more effective in changing behaviour.

Self-control (SC) is a robust predictor of subjective well-being (SWB), and a positive linear relationship between them is often taken as the default assumption. However, some perspectives suggest that excessive SC may diminish SWB, implying an inverted U-shaped relationship. This study examined this inverted U-shaped hypothesis among Chinese adolescents, who are raised in a culture emphasizing moderation. We analyzed five samples (total N = 25,936), including four cross-sectional samples, two of which were nationally representative, and a three-wave longitudinal sample collected over two years. Participants ranged from middle school to university students, with SC assessed via self- and parent-report, and SWB through multiple indicators including positive and negative affect, life satisfaction, and one-item happiness assessment. Quadratic regression analyses and Simonsohn's two-lines test found no inverted U-shaped relationship between SC and SWB in five samples. Instead, SC consistently correlated positively with SWB across samples, regardless of measurement methods or whether data were cross-sectional or longitudinal. These findings reinforce the notion that higher SC contributes to greater SWB, with no indication of an inverted U-shape in Chinese culture. Encouraging the development of SC in adolescents might be a beneficial approach to enhancing long-term well-being, without concerns about unintended negative consequences.

Burnout and perceived work ability (PWA) are critical factors influencing teachers' professional well-being and effectiveness. The potential bidirectional relationship between these constructs remains underexplored, particularly in primary and lower secondary school teachers. This study examines the reciprocal relationship between burnout and PWA among teachers over time, using the job demands-resources (JD-R) model and the conservation of resources (COR) theory. A two-wave longitudinal study was conducted among 853 Czech primary and lower secondary school teachers. Data were collected via web-based questionnaires at two time points. Bayesian cross-lagged panel modeling (CLPM) was applied to analyze the bidirectional effects of burnout and PWA while controlling demographic variables. Burnout significantly predicted lower PWA, supporting the JD-R model's health impairment process. Contrary to expectations, higher PWA was associated with increased burnout, suggesting that PWA may not function as a protective factor in the teaching context, but rather as a risk factor increasing vulnerability to strain. Post hoc analyses indicated that burnout's detrimental influence on PWA emerged through several coherent facet-to-facet pathways, while in the reverse direction, only higher PWA in the teaching organization predicted later physical exhaustion. The study clarifies the directionality of associations between burnout and PWA, contributing to theory development and offering implications for interventions.

Family, peers, and teachers are significant influences in the lives of most individuals. This study examines the differential associations of adversity childhood experiences from family, peers, and teachers with complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) symptoms and posttraumatic growth (PTG) in Chinese adolescents and emerging adults. This study involved a total of 5,477 adolescents and 3,995 emerging adults in China, surveyed on two occasions. Participants completed questionnaires assessing family adversity, peer victimization, and teacher maltreatment at T1, as well as CPTSD symptoms and PTG at T2. Four distinct profiles were identified among adolescents: “low risk,” “family adversity,” “peer adversity,” and “multiple adversities,” while four profiles emerged among emerging adults: “low risk,” “family adversity,” “teacher-peer adversity,” and “multiple adversities.” Both adolescents and emerging adults in the “low risk” group reported the lowest levels of CPTSD symptoms and the highest levels of PTG. Conversely, among adolescents, the “multiple adversities” and “peer adversity” groups showed the highest CPTSD symptoms, while the “family adversity” group reported the lowest PTG. Among emerging adults, the “multiple adversities” had the highest CPTSD symptoms, and both “multiple adversities” and “family adversity” groups showed the lowest PTG. The study highlights the differential impact of distinct adversity childhood experience sources on CPTSD symptoms and PTG in Chinese adolescents and emerging adults.