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Abstract: Abstract The Short Form 36 (SF-36) Health Survey has been widely used and has proven to be a valid and reliable scale for assessing health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, research on HRQoL and validation of measurement scales in Mexico for its use with older persons is still incipient. The objective of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of SF-36 in a sample of 1,915 community-dwelling Mexicans 60 years and older, from two Mexican cities. Item mean scores were lowest in the dimensions of General Health (58.6), Social Functioning (58.9) Role Physical (66.5) and Vitality (67.8), and the highest mean scores were obtained in the Role Emotional (82.2), Mental Health (76.9), Bodily Pain (72.2) and Physical Functioning (70.3). The SF-36 showed appropriate internal consistency, construct validity, and factor structure. Reliability results showed a Cronbach’s alpha with coefficient for all subscales between 0.79 and 0.87 indicating good reliability. Exploratory factor analysis showed six factors, different from its original structure. The Social functioning subscale presented the least acceptable results, which may reflect different understandings in the Mexican older population. The SF-36 showed good discrimination between groups of individuals with and without chronic diseases, and high correlation between depressive symptoms, economic situation, and social support. Results show that the SF-36 is adequate for use in Mexican older persons. In future studies, health outcomes for this population group in Mexico may be consistently assessed using the SF-36. PubDate: 2023-11-28
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Abstract: Abstract This study examines the impact that institutional quality exerts on the quality of life. Using the 2-step system Generalized Method of Moments technique on panel data covering 2006 through 2018 on 47 African countries, the empirical results indicate that institutional quality, proxied by Political Stability and Absence of Violence, Voice and Accountability, and Control of Corruption have a positive impact on the quality of life. While real income, CO2 emissions, internet, education and globalization were found to exert a statistically significant positive impact, government health expenditure, unemployment, urbanization and unemployment negatively affected the quality of life within the period under study. The paper recommends an improvement in the institutional environment. PubDate: 2023-11-27
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Abstract: Abstract The widespread international concern over the low average wellbeing of university students shows no sign of abating. Neglected in the debate is a recognition that wellbeing itself is multidimensional and not all components respond in the same way to external and internal pressures. We draw on a large sample survey of first year students who enrolled in a New Zealand university in 2019 and measure their wellbeing using the WHO-5 measuring instrument. Instead of modelling the index itself we address its five individual components. We apply the marginal (population-averages) model using the generalised estimating equation (GEE) method. As well as confirming earlier findings that students with poorer physical health and lower financial capacity experience lower levels of wellbeing, we document their uneven influence on the relative frequency with which the five individual components are experienced: being cheerful, calm, active, fresh and interested over the previous two teaching weeks. PubDate: 2023-11-24
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Abstract: Abstract The positive association between financial capability and financial wellbeing is well-established in the literature. However, research is limited in examining the association from a long-term perspective with multi-year national data. This study attempted to fill this gap and examined the association between financial capability and financial wellbeing using pooled cross-sectional data from all five waves of National Financial Capability Studies (NFCS) conducted between 2009 and 2021, covering periods both before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Financial capability was assessed using both a financial capability index and a set of financial capability components. Descriptive statistics revealed that financial wellbeing, as measured by financial satisfaction, showed an upward trend from 2009 to 2021. The financial capability index also exhibited an upward trend, with a dip in 2015. Four financial capability components showed different trends over the 12-year period. The results of multiple regression analyses conducted on the pooled sample and yearly samples indicated that, overall, the financial capability index was positively associated with financial wellbeing. Specifically, financial capability components, including subjective financial knowledge, desirable financial behavior, and perceived financial capability, were positively related to financial wellbeing. However, objective financial knowledge was negatively associated with financial wellbeing, consistent with findings from previous studies. The results suggested that the potential positive effects of the financial capability index on financial wellbeing increased over the survey years, primarily driven by the effects of subjective financial knowledge. PubDate: 2023-11-16
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Abstract: Abstract The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) has led many companies to embrace AI-oriented changes; leaders’ AI-oriented change behaviors have therefore become increasingly prevalent in contemporary organizations. However, knowledge on the effects of such behavior remains limited. Additionally, literature on change-oriented behavior (e.g., taking charge, change-oriented citizenship) has uniformly demonstrated that it is beneficial for employees, teams, and organizations. We challenge this consensus by revealing that leaders’ AI-oriented change behavior has mixed effects on employee outcomes. In Study 1, we developed a scale for leaders’ AI-oriented change behavior and assessed its psychometric properties using samples from the United States. In Study 2, we tested our full model with a three-wave, multi-source field study in China. The results show that leaders’ AI-oriented change behavior is positively associated with employee performance orientation, in turn increasing both employee job performance and unethical behaviors. Furthermore, employee trait competitiveness moderates the positive effect of leaders’ AI-oriented change behavior on employee job performance and unethical behavior via employee performance orientation. By revealing the perils and benefits of leaders’ AI-oriented change behavior, our research contributes to the literature on change-oriented behavior and performance orientation. PubDate: 2023-11-14
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Abstract: Purpose The purpose was to examine the association between demographic variables, psychosocial health, quality of life, and happiness in the context of COVID. The hypothesis was that psychosocial health variables have mediating roles between demographic variables and experienced quality of life (QoL) and happiness. Methods Cross-sectional surveys were conducted across four countries: Norway, USA, UK, and Australia among 1649 individuals. Multiple regression analysis identified those variables that made independent statistically contributions onto the QoL and happiness outcome variables, and the analysis of psychological distress, fatigue and loneliness as mediational variables was performed. Results Not having a spouse/ partner was associated with poorer QoL, and older age was associated with lower happiness. The psychosocial health variables made the highest variance in QoL (R2 change = 0.51) and happiness (R2 change = 0.46) and poorer psychosocial health had a mediating role between civil status and QoL (p < 0.001) and between age and happiness outcomes (p < 0.001). Conclusion Psychosocial health is of considerable importance in individuals in the time of COVID-19. PubDate: 2023-11-14
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Abstract: Abstract This study investigates the impact of coresidence on the life satisfaction of unmarried adult children and their parents in Taiwan. Prior research on this subject has mostly focused on societies where coresidence is not customary, which limits the generalizability of the findings to societies where it is normative, such as Taiwan. Using data from the Panel Study of Family Dynamics, this study addresses two main questions: 1) how does life satisfaction differ for unmarried adult children and their parents under various coresidential patterns, and 2) how do transitions in and from coresidence impact their life satisfaction' The results show that stable coresidents had similar life satisfaction to stable noncoresidents over time. Transitions in and from coresidence decreased the life satisfaction of adult children. Overall, parents’ life satisfaction was not significantly influenced by their adult children’s coresidential patterns. These findings contribute to the limited research on coresidence between unmarried adults and their parents in societies where it is normative and highlight the importance of considering cultural context when studying family dynamics and wellbeing. PubDate: 2023-11-13
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Abstract: Abstract Data from the General Social Survey are used to examine the political polarization in the United States, by examining presidential periods from 1972 to 2018. Our findings indicate that there has been an increased correlation between party identification and ideological identification, resulting in a steady shift towards the extremes. Furthermore, we explore how subjective wellbeing plays a role in driving this polarization. American politics is polarized between happy conservative Republicans and unhappy liberal Democrats. Oscillating in the “happiness gap” between these extremes are median voters whose happiness, low on average, falls the longer in power the party of the opposing ideology. It is the rise and fall of median voters’ unhappiness that drives the regime change between the two major political parties in the United States. PubDate: 2023-11-13
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Abstract: Abstract Well-Being, as a mutidimensional concept, has progressively become an essential measure to categorize territories and to evaluate and communicate on their economic, social and environmental performance. Especially, subjective measures are gaining increasing attention for policy makers. In this context, the spatial dimension of the concept of Subjective Well-Being (SWB) has not been sufficiently explored and remains a major challenge for researchers. This paper is an attempt to detect and explain spatial differentiations in the assessment of SWB. To this end, we propose an innovative clustering method (ClustGeo) adapted to the multidimensional analysis of SWB. The approach enables us to establish classes of perceived quality of life, and to highlight spatial patterns of the linkages between the structuring dimensions of SWB. It is applied empirically, using data on specific life domains, as perceived by the inhabitants of coastal municipalities in south-western France. The results highlight the spatial heterogeneity among individuals in relation to their perception of quality of life. Involving the spatial component in the measurement enables us to detect and identify local trends. The clustering builds a clear distinction of classes even on similar perimeters while identifying local particularities, thus showing that the variability of data is not necessarily and/or solely driven by geographic location. The possibilities offered by ClustGeo pave the way for further statistical developments in the combination of different types of data. PubDate: 2023-11-13
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Abstract: Abstract This study examines the consequences of the pandemic on subjective well-being. First, we investigate to what extent regional and temporal differences in COVID-19 restrictions can explain individuals’ life satisfaction in Germany. Second, we examine to what extent “subjective” evaluations of the pandemic are related to life satisfaction. Third, we examine whether these relationships vary with gender, parenthood, and partnership status, or whether relationships changed regarding specific sub-populations (i.e., mothers, fathers, childless women/ men). Merging representative survey data from the German Family Demography Panel Study (FReDA) and contextual data on COVID-19 restrictions (i.e., the stringency index), we analyze a sample of 32,258 individuals living in Germany in their regional settings on the NUTS-3 level during the “second lockdown” in spring 2021. Furthermore, we use the FReDA field period between April and June 2021 to assess temporal variations in COVID-19 restrictions and their association with life satisfaction. To answer our research questions, we compare aggregated means and use variance decomposition and multivariate regression models. Our results show strong regional and temporal differences in COVID-19 restrictions, but neither temporal nor regional differences in “subjective” perceived pandemic burden or in life satisfaction at the aggregated level. At the individual level, we find substantive negative associations between perceived pandemic burden and life satisfaction, which are particularly strong among mothers. Our study shows that individuals’ negative perceptions of the pandemic are an important correlate to life satisfaction, whereas regional differences or temporal changes in COVID-19 restrictions appear to be irrelevant for the period under investigation. PubDate: 2023-11-13
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Abstract: Abstract In recent years, Service-Learning (SL) has become a popular pedagogy in higher education, especially in Asian societies such as Hong Kong. However, although prior studies have generally showed positive effects of SL for service providers (university students in particular), there is limited evidence of the benefits of SL for the service recipients. Additionally, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some SL programs have shifted from a traditional in-person mode to an online mode, thereby creating the need to evaluate e-Service Learning (e-SL) projects. In this study, we evaluated changes among 422 primary school students as service recipients (50.6% male; 49.4% female; Mage = 11.53) joining an e-SL program conducted in mainland China by 85 undergraduate students from a public university in Hong Kong. Using a single-group pretest and posttest design with data collected before and after the e-SL program, which focused on leadership and personal development outcomes, we found that the service recipients showed significant improvements in positive youth development (PYD) attributes, leadership qualities, psychological well-being, and academic performance. We also found gender differences in most of the developmental outcomes, with male participants showing more positive improvements than female participants. These pioneering findings underscore the effectiveness of e-SL program in terms of promoting the holistic development of service recipients. This study also reveals gender differences in the benefits derived from e-SL programs. PubDate: 2023-11-10
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Abstract: Abstract There is a vast literature focusing on students’ learning and academic achievement. However, less research has been conducted to explore factors that contribute to student well-being. Rooted in the ecological framework, this study aimed to compare the relative importance of the individual-, microsystem-, and mesosystem-level factors in predicting students’ subjective and eudaimonic well-being. Hong Kong data from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2018 involving 6,037 students were analyzed. Machine learning (i.e., random forest algorithm) was used to identify the most powerful predictors of well-being. This was then followed by hierarchical linear modelling to examine the parameter estimates and account for the nested structure of the data. Results showed that four variables were the most important predictors of subjective well-being: students’ sense of belonging to the school, parents’ emotional support, resilience, and general fear of failure. For eudaimonic well-being, resilience, mastery goal orientation, and work mastery were the most important predictors. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. PubDate: 2023-11-10
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Abstract: Abstract While many strengths intervention designs have been described in the literature and used by practitioners, only few have been validated. The purpose of this study was, first, to empirically evaluate the impact of a daily strengths alignment intervention on PERMA wellbeing and, second, to compare its effectiveness with a classic ‘Using Strengths in a New Way’ intervention. The results of this random-assignment study suggest that, while daily strengths alignment has a positive effect on wellbeing and all PERMA elements, it is particularly effective in fostering strengths use. This study contributes to the existing positive psychology literature by validating a new strengths intervention, replicating an existing one and comparing their effects. As a result, it provides a suitable tool for practitioners working with clients specifically towards increasing well-being through fostering their strengths use. PubDate: 2023-11-09
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Abstract: Abstract This research adopts a person-centered approach towards well-being, examining the heterogeneity in well-being profiles by simultaneously considering the longitudinal trajectories and multivariate compositions of well-being. Specifically, we measured subjective well-being (positive affect, negative affect, and satisfaction with life or SWL), vitality, and peace of mind (PoM) among 1050 Chinese college students, across six time points over their freshmen year. At the first time point, we also measured three sets of predictor variables: self-determination (“what” and why” of goal pursuit), basic psychological needs (autonomy, relatedness, competence, and inner compass), and positive individual differences (optimism, hope, grit, meaning, autonomous functioning, and personal growth initiative). Results from parallel-process latent class growth models supported five distinct profiles: Profile 1 Flourishing has high and improving levels of almost all well-being indicators; Profile 2 Moderate-converging has moderate levels of all well-being indicators, and a trend for satisfaction with life and vitality to converge towards the midpoint; Profile 3 Devoid is stably low on all well-being indicators; Profile 4 PoM-dominant is characterized by high levels of peace of mind; Profile 5 SWL-low features high well-being except for relatively low satisfaction with life. Multivariate logistic regression showed that predictors from all three sets had unique effects in predicting membership in well-being profiles. These results are among the first to uncover the longitudinal multivariate profiles of general well-being and the associated predictors. We also provide implications for differential interventions to improve well-being in student subpopulations, in contrast to the “one-size-fits-all” approach in traditional variable-centered research. PubDate: 2023-11-07
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Abstract: Abstract In this study, we evaluate whether the association between three types of social isolation (SI) and mental well-being (MWB) is mediated by loneliness. We include a pooled sample (N = 8,525) of people aged 65 or older, participating in the 2016 European Quality of Life Survey (EQLS). MWB is assessed with the World Health Organization Well-Being Index (WHO-5), and SI is operationalised as living alone, having no or little contact with family members, or having no or little contact with friends and neighbours. We assess a full mediation model with loneliness as a mediator between each type of SI and MWB, which we compare with a partial mediation model and control for age, gender, urbanity, and subjective income. Estimates for the full mediation model indicate that each type of SI is associated with enhanced loneliness, which in turn is negatively associated with MWB. In addition, the total effect of each type of SI on MWB is negative, with the strongest negative path from living alone to MWB. However, when including the direct effects of each type of SI on MWB in the partial mediating model, the total effect of contact with family members on MWB loses statistical significance. The specific indirect effects of the three facets of SI on MWB remain significant and negative. These findings suggest that different aspects of SI have distinct relationships with MWB, and that absence of contact with family members influences MWB only if they activate the feeling of loneliness. PubDate: 2023-11-07
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Abstract: Abstract Optimism is a construct considered fundamental for human functioning and well-being; however, few studies link optimism to subjective and psychological well-being during childhood and adolescence. Therefore, the objective of this study is to demonstrate the prospective relationships between dispositional optimism, and subjective well-being (SWB) and psychological well-being (PWB) through a prospective study with 479 children aged 10.74 years old (SD = 0.72) and 503 adolescents aged 13.41 years old (SD = 1.09). Two cross-lagged models were calculated, one for each group, which responded the questionnaires in two waves one year apart from each other. The results of the first cross-lagged model with children show positive and prospective relationships between optimism (Time 1) and the cognitive and affective components of SWB (Time 2) and the indicator of PWB (Time 2). Equivalent results are observed in the cross-lagged model conducted with the adolescent sample. Finally, multi-group analysis was performed to evaluate the existence of gender-based invariance. The findings indicated variations between the models, notably, a more pronounced influence of optimism on psychological well-being was discerned among girls, encompassing both childhood and adolescence. The results were discussed, emphasizing the relevance of developing optimism as a dispositional trait at early ages. PubDate: 2023-11-02
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Abstract: Abstract This study examined how satisfaction with aspects of running the business as well as satisfaction with aspects of the private life are related to small-business owners' subjective well-being (SWB). Measures were obtained of both life satisfaction (LS) and emotional well-being (EWB) to investigate possible differences. Questionnaire data from a survey of small-business owners (n=614) showed that in the business domain LS is associated with satisfaction with revenues, EWB with satisfaction with customer and employee contacts, and both LS and EWB with satisfaction with working time. In the private life domain, LS is associated with satisfaction with family and economy and EWB with satisfaction with leisure. Overall, LS has a stronger association than EWB with satisfaction with aspects of private life, while the associations with satisfaction with business aspects are equally strong. PubDate: 2023-11-01
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Abstract: Abstract This study investigates the outcomes of online Service-Learning (SL) in Philippine partner communities, addressing a literature gap on predominantly face-to-face (f2f) SL. Applying the Conceptual Framework of Community Impacts Arising from Service-Learning, it employs a mixed-method convergent design to assess the benefits, drawbacks, and influential factors of online SL’s effectiveness (CARE, TIP, and FEAR). Data, sourced from 101 survey participants across 46 Community Partner Organizations (CPOs) in affiliation with Ateneo de Manila University, is complemented by the insights derived from 22 comprehensive interviews with key community contact persons. Findings reveal that online SL bolsters CPOs’ missions, enhance resources, facilitates knowledge transfer, and yields positive outcomes. However, barriers such as Time management challenges, Infrastructure and technical hurdles, and Participation obstacles (TIP), along with its consequent drawbacks such as difficulty in providing timely and effective Feedback, disparity in varying levels of Effort displayed by students, erosion of Authentic relationships in prolonged virtual engagements, and Repetitiveness and nonfulfillment concerns (FEAR) were identified as challenges. Despite these, Collaborative coordination, Active communication, Responsiveness to CPO’s needs, and Engaging online environment (CARE) were recognized as key enablers. This research highlights the significance of examining the outcomes of online SL from the perspective of community partners, informing best practices for implementation, and cultivating effective online SL collaborations that can be adapted across various countries with similar contexts. PubDate: 2023-10-31
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Abstract: Abstract Unlike developed countries, we find a bell-shaped curve for the average frequency of depressive symptoms from the Indonesian Family Life Survey where the same people are followed over 14 years (2000–2014). This incidence is at a high level around the age of 60 and lower for younger and older people. If we may assume that a high incidence of depressive symptoms goes together with a low average of mental health then we may conclude that the average mental health is at at a low level around 60 and higher for younger and older people (U-shape). In addition, we provide evidence for the first time that positive future expectations of one’s physical health significantly reduces incidence of depressive symptoms after accounting for reverse causality. This is however contingent on gender as optimistic health expectation is effective for male but not for female. This effect is also more pronounced for those 60 years and below as well as urban residents. However, the association of health optimism with incidence of depressive symptoms weakens with age. Results from this paper show that a focus on rural/urban residency, younger and older age cohorts and gender can provide targeted social policies to effectively promote better mental health. PubDate: 2023-10-31
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