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Ramsey A, Govind T, Lam JA, Palmer BW, Jeste DV, Lee EE. Self-compassion, but not compassion toward others, is associated with better physical health: A cross-sectional study. Schizophr Res 2023; 255:17-23. [PMID: 36940620 PMCID: PMC10881115 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2023.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
Compassion is a modifiable construct that is associated with better physical health outcomes but, to our knowledge, has seldom been studied in people with schizophrenia (PwS) despite its applicability to counteract widespread depression in this community that might prevent positive health behaviors. We hypothesized that, compared to non-psychiatric comparison subjects (NCs), PwS would have lower compassion toward self (CTS), lower compassion toward others (CTO), and a positive association between compassion and health outcomes, such as physical wellbeing, comorbidities, and plasma hs-CRP. This cross-sectional study examined differences in physical health, CTS, and CTO in 189 PwS and 166 NCs. We used general linear models to analyze the relationship between compassion and health. As hypothesized, PwS had lower levels of CTS and CTO, worse physical well-being, more comorbidities, and higher levels of plasma hs-CRP than NCs. In the combined sample, higher CTS was significantly associated with better physical well-being and fewer comorbidities, while higher CTO was significantly associated with more comorbidities. In PwS alone, higher CTS was significantly associated with better physical well-being and lower levels of hs-CRP. CTS seemed to have a larger positive association with physical health than CTO, with depression acting as a potential mediator for CTS. Exploring effects of CTS interventions on physical health and health behaviors could be a promising next step.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arren Ramsey
- Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Tushara Govind
- Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Lam
- Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Barton W Palmer
- Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; VA San Diego Healthcare System MIRECC, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Dilip V Jeste
- Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Ellen E Lee
- Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA.
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Zhang J, Liu Z, Long Y, Tao H, Ouyang X, Wu G, Chen M, Yu M, Zhou L, Sun M, Lv D, Cui G, Yi Q, Tang H, An C, Wang J, Wu Z. Mediating role of impaired wisdom in the relation between childhood trauma and psychotic-like experiences in Chinese college students: a nationwide cross-sectional study. BMC Psychiatry 2022; 22:655. [PMID: 36271351 PMCID: PMC9587544 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-022-04270-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The association between childhood trauma (CT) and psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) is well-established. Many previous studies have recognized wisdom as a protective factor for mental health, but its role in the relation between CT and PLEs remains unknown. We aimed to investigate the mediating effect of wisdom in the above association among Chinese college students. METHODS We conducted a nationwide survey covering 9 colleges across China and recruited a total of 5873 students using online questionnaires between September 14 and October 18, 2021. Convenience sampling was adopted. We employed the San Diego Wisdom Scale (SD-WISE), the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-28), and the 15-item Positive Subscale of the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE-15) to measure the wisdom, CT and PLEs, respectively. Descriptive, correlation, and mediation analysis were utilized. RESULTS The positive correlation between CT and PLEs was well-replicated among college students (Pearson's r = 0.30, p < 0.001). Wisdom was negatively associated with CT (Pearson's r = - 0.46, p < 0.001) and frequency of PLEs (Pearson's r = - 0.25, p < 0.001). Total wisdom scores partially mediated the relationship between cumulative childhood trauma, neglect, abuse and PLEs, separately. The mediated model respectively explained 21.9%, 42.54% and 18.27% of the effect of CT on PLEs. Our model further suggested that childhood trauma could be related to PLEs through decreasing the following wisdom components: decisiveness, emotional regulation and prosocial behavior. CONCLUSION For the first time, our results suggested that impaired wisdom played a role in the translation from childhood adversity to subclinical psychotic symptoms, implicating wisdom as a possible target for early intervention for psychosis among young individuals. Longitudinal work is warranted to verify the clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiamei Zhang
- grid.216417.70000 0001 0379 7164Second Xiangya Hospital, Institute of Mental Health, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan China ,grid.452708.c0000 0004 1803 0208China National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders, Changsha, Hunan China
| | - Zhening Liu
- grid.216417.70000 0001 0379 7164Second Xiangya Hospital, Institute of Mental Health, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan China ,grid.452708.c0000 0004 1803 0208China National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders, Changsha, Hunan China
| | - Yicheng Long
- grid.216417.70000 0001 0379 7164Second Xiangya Hospital, Institute of Mental Health, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan China ,grid.452708.c0000 0004 1803 0208China National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders, Changsha, Hunan China
| | - Haojuan Tao
- grid.216417.70000 0001 0379 7164Second Xiangya Hospital, Institute of Mental Health, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan China ,grid.452708.c0000 0004 1803 0208China National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders, Changsha, Hunan China
| | - Xuan Ouyang
- grid.216417.70000 0001 0379 7164Second Xiangya Hospital, Institute of Mental Health, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan China ,grid.452708.c0000 0004 1803 0208China National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders, Changsha, Hunan China
| | - Guowei Wu
- grid.216417.70000 0001 0379 7164Second Xiangya Hospital, Institute of Mental Health, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan China ,grid.452708.c0000 0004 1803 0208China National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders, Changsha, Hunan China
| | - Min Chen
- grid.449428.70000 0004 1797 7280Department of Psychiatry, Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong China
| | - Miaoyu Yu
- grid.412594.f0000 0004 1757 2961Department of Mental Health, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Liang Zhou
- grid.410737.60000 0000 8653 1072Department of Social Psychiatry, the Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong China
| | - Meng Sun
- grid.410737.60000 0000 8653 1072Department of Social Psychiatry, the Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong China
| | - Dongsheng Lv
- grid.410612.00000 0004 0604 6392Department of Mental Health Institute of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, The Affiliated Mental Center of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Inner Mongolia, Hohhot, China
| | - Guangcheng Cui
- grid.412613.30000 0004 1808 3289Department of Psychiatry, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang China
| | - Qizhong Yi
- grid.13394.3c0000 0004 1799 3993Psychological Medicine Center, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang China
| | - Hong Tang
- grid.440714.20000 0004 1797 9454Department of Psychiatry, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi China
| | - Cuixia An
- grid.256883.20000 0004 1760 8442Department of Psychiatry, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei China
| | - Jianjian Wang
- Second Xiangya Hospital, Institute of Mental Health, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. .,China National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders, Changsha, Hunan, China. .,Clinical Nursing Teaching and Research Section, The second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
| | - Zhipeng Wu
- Second Xiangya Hospital, Institute of Mental Health, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. .,China National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders, Changsha, Hunan, China. .,Clinical Nursing Teaching and Research Section, The second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES The relationship between wisdom and fluid intelligence (Gf) is poorly understood, particularly in older adults. We empirically tested the magnitude of the correlation between wisdom and Gf to help determine the extent of overlap between these two constructs. DESIGN Cross-sectional study with preregistered hypotheses and well-powered analytic plan (https://osf.io/h3pjx). SETTING Memory and Aging Center at the University of California San Francisco, located in the USA. PARTICIPANTS 141 healthy older adults (mean age = 76 years; 56% female). MEASUREMENTS Wisdom was quantified using a well-validated self-report-based scale (San Diego Wisdom Scale or SD-WISE). Gf was assessed via composite measures of processing speed (Gf-PS) and executive functioning (Gf-EF). The relationships of SD-WISE scores to Gf-PS and Gf-EF were tested in bivariate correlational analyses and multiple regression models adjusted for demographics (age, sex, and education). Exploratory analyses evaluated the relationships between SD-WISE and age, episodic memory performance, and dorsolateral and ventromedial prefrontal cortical volumes on magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS Wisdom showed a small, positive association with Gf-EF (r = 0.181 [95% CI 0.016, 0.336], p = .031), which was reduced to nonsignificance upon controlling for demographics, and no association with Gf-PS (r = 0.019 [95% CI -0.179, 0.216], p = .854). Wisdom demonstrated a small, negative correlation with age (r = -0.197 [95% CI -0.351, -0.033], p = .019), but was not significantly related to episodic memory or prefrontal volumes. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that most of the variance in wisdom (>95%) is unaccounted for by Gf. The independence of wisdom from cognitive functions that reliably show age-associated declines suggests that it may hold unique potential to bolster decision-making, interpersonal functioning, and other everyday activities in older adults.
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Wu Z, Jiang Z, Wang Z, Ji Y, Wang F, Ross B, Sun X, Liu Z, Long Y. Association Between Wisdom and Psychotic-Like Experiences in the General Population: A Cross-Sectional Study. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:814242. [PMID: 35509888 PMCID: PMC9058059 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.814242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Wisdom has been empirically researched as a complex psychological characteristic that is associated with many mental health outcomes. However, its association with psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) remains unclear. This is the first work to assess wisdom, explore its association with PLEs, and test its moderating effect on the relation between the frequency of PLEs and their associated distress in the general population. METHODS From January 29th to February 5th, 2021, our online self-administered survey recruited 927 participants (ages 14 to 65) from thirteen Chinese provinces. Convenience sampling was employed. We measured wisdom with the 12-item three-dimensional wisdom scale (3D-WS-12) and PLEs with the 15-item positive subscale of the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE-P15). RESULTS Using the cut-off value of 1.47 in the mean frequency score, we divided our participants into high-PLEs group (188, 22.1%) and low-PLEs group (663, 77.9%). Three-dimensional wisdom score was decreased in the high-PLEs group compared to the low-PLEs group (Kruskal-Wallis t = 59.9, p < 0.001). Wisdom was associated with less frequent PLEs (Spearman's rho = -0.21, p < 0.01) and lower distress related to PLEs (Spearman's rho = -0.28) in the high-PLEs group (all above p < 0.001), which were replicated in the low-PLEs group. Notably, wisdom significantly attenuated the distress associated with PLEs [coefficient = -0.018, Bootstrap 95% CI (-0.029, -0.008)], but only in the low-PLEs group. CONCLUSION Our results implicated that wisdom could protect individuals from distressful subclinical psychotic symptoms and wiser individuals have better general mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhipeng Wu
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Changsha, China
| | - Zhengqian Jiang
- Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhipeng Wang
- Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yuqiao Ji
- Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Feiwen Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Changsha, China
| | - Brendan Ross
- Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Xiaoqi Sun
- Department of Psychology, Cognition and Human Behavior Key Laboratory of Hunan Province, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhening Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Changsha, China
| | - Yicheng Long
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Changsha, China
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Compassion toward others and self-compassion predict mental and physical well-being: a 5-year longitudinal study of 1090 community-dwelling adults across the lifespan. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:397. [PMID: 34282145 PMCID: PMC8287292 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01491-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
There is growing interest in the role of compassion in promoting health and well-being, with cross-sectional data showing an inverse correlation with loneliness. This is the first longitudinal study examining both compassion toward others (CTO) and compassion toward self (CTS) as predictors of mental and physical health outcomes including loneliness, across adult lifespan. We followed 552 women and 538 men in San Diego County for up to 7.5 (mean 4.8 and SD 2.2) years, using validated rating scales for CTO, CTS, and loneliness. Linear mixed-effects models were employed to examine age- and sex-related trajectories of CTO and CTS over time. Linear regression models were used to evaluate baseline and longitudinal relationships of CTO and CTS with mental well-being, physical well-being, and loneliness. CTS and CTO were weakly intercorrelated. Women had higher baseline CTO than men. While CTO was stable over time and across the lifespan, CTS scores had an inverse U-shaped relationship with age, peaking around age 77. There were significant baseline × slope interactions of both CTO and CTS predicting improvements in physical well-being in adults <60 years old. Increases in CTO and CTS predicted improvements in mental well-being. Higher baseline CTO and CTS as well as increases in CTO and CTS scores predicted lower loneliness scores at follow-up. Thus, CTO and CTS were associated with better mental well-being and loneliness across the adult lifespan, and physical well-being in younger adults, and are promising targets for interventions to improve health outcomes.
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Grennan G, Balasubramani PP, Alim F, Zafar-Khan M, Lee EE, Jeste DV, Mishra J. Cognitive and Neural Correlates of Loneliness and Wisdom during Emotional Bias. Cereb Cortex 2021; 31:3311-3322. [PMID: 33687437 PMCID: PMC8196261 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Loneliness and wisdom have opposing impacts on health and well-being, yet their neuro-cognitive bases have never been simultaneously investigated. In this study of 147 healthy human subjects sampled across the adult lifespan, we simultaneously studied the cognitive and neural correlates of loneliness and wisdom in the context of an emotion bias task. Aligned with the social threat framework of loneliness, we found that loneliness was associated with reduced speed of processing when angry emotional stimuli were presented to bias cognition. In contrast, we found that wisdom was associated with greater speed of processing when happy emotions biased cognition. Source models of electroencephalographic data showed that loneliness was specifically associated with enhanced angry stimulus-driven theta activity in the left transverse temporal region of interest, which is located in the area of the temporoparietal junction (TPJ), while wisdom was specifically related to increased TPJ theta activity during happy stimulus processing. Additionally, enhanced attentiveness to threatening stimuli for lonelier individuals was observed as greater beta activity in left superior parietal cortex, while wisdom significantly related to enhanced happy stimulus-evoked alpha activity in the left insula. Our results demonstrate emotion-context driven modulations in cognitive neural circuits by loneliness versus wisdom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gillian Grennan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, 92037 CA, USA
- Neural Engineering and Translation Labs, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, 92037 CA, USA
| | - Pragathi Priyadharsini Balasubramani
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, 92037 CA, USA
- Neural Engineering and Translation Labs, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, 92037 CA, USA
| | - Fahad Alim
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, 92037 CA, USA
- Neural Engineering and Translation Labs, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, 92037 CA, USA
| | - Mariam Zafar-Khan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, 92037 CA, USA
- Neural Engineering and Translation Labs, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, 92037 CA, USA
| | - Ellen E Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, 92037 CA, USA
- Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, 92037 CA, USA
- Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, 92161 CA, USA
| | - Dilip V Jeste
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, 92037 CA, USA
- Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, 92037 CA, USA
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, 92037 CA, USA
| | - Jyoti Mishra
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, 92037 CA, USA
- Neural Engineering and Translation Labs, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, 92037 CA, USA
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Vásquez E, Lee EE, Zhang W, Tu X, Moore DJ, Marquine MJ, Jeste DV. HIV and three dimensions of Wisdom: Association with cognitive function and physical and mental well-being: For: Psychiatry Research. Psychiatry Res 2020; 294:113510. [PMID: 33096437 PMCID: PMC7942181 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Wisdom is a unique human personality trait with cognitive, affective or compassionate, and reflective dimensions. We evaluated relationships of three specific dimensions of wisdom with cognitive function and physical and mental well-being in people with HIV (PWH) and HIV-negative (HIV-) participants. Subjects included 138 adults (61 PWH, 77 HIV-) from the San Diego community. Validated measures were used to assess wisdom and well-being. Cognitive function was assessed via the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. We conducted multivariate linear regressions to evaluate the associations of wisdom dimensions with cognitive function and physical and mental well-being. Compared to the HIV- group, PWH had lower mean scores on cognitive function, and physical and mental well-being, and cognitive and reflective dimensions of wisdom, but similar scores on affective or compassionate wisdom. Among PWH, higher total wisdom scores were associated with older age, lower likelihood of substance dependence, greater mental well-being, better cognitive function, higher resilience, social support, and optimism scores, as well as lower levels of perceived stress and nadir CD4 count. Our findings of an association of different dimensions of wisdom with physical and/or mental well-being in PWH would point to a possibility that enhancing these dimensions of wisdom might improve health outcomes in PWH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Vásquez
- School of Public Health, University at Albany State University of New York, New York, NY, United States
| | - Ellen E Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States; Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States; Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Weihui Zhang
- School of Public Health, University at Albany State University of New York, New York, NY, United States
| | - Xin Tu
- Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States; Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - David J Moore
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States; Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - María J Marquine
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Dilip V Jeste
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States; Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States; Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.
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Lee EE, Bangen KJ, Avanzino JA, Hou B, Ramsey M, Eglit G, Liu J, Tu XM, Paulus M, Jeste DV. Outcomes of Randomized Clinical Trials of Interventions to Enhance Social, Emotional, and Spiritual Components of Wisdom: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry 2020; 77:925-935. [PMID: 32401284 PMCID: PMC7221873 DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.0821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Importance Wisdom is a neurobiological personality trait made up of specific components, including prosocial behaviors, emotional regulation, and spirituality. It is associated with greater well-being and happiness. Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of interventions to enhance individual components of wisdom. Data Sources MEDLINE and PsycINFO databases were searched for articles published through December 31, 2018. Study Eligibility Criteria Randomized clinical trials that sought to enhance a component of wisdom, used published measures to assess that component, were published in English, had a minimum sample size of 40 participants, and presented data that enabled computation of effect sizes were included in this meta-analysis. Data Extraction and Synthesis Random-effect models were used to calculate pooled standardized mean differences (SMDs) for each wisdom component and random-effects meta-regression to assess heterogeneity of studies. Main Outcomes and Measures Improvement in wisdom component using published measures. Results Fifty-seven studies (N = 7096 participants) met review criteria: 29 for prosocial behaviors, 13 for emotional regulation, and 15 for spirituality. Study samples included people with psychiatric or physical illnesses and from the community. Of the studies, 27 (47%) reported significant improvement with medium to large effect sizes. Meta-analysis revealed significant pooled SMDs for prosocial behaviors (23 studies; pooled SMD, 0.43 [95% CI, 0.22-0.3]; P = .02), emotional regulation (12 studies; pooled SMD, 0.67 [95% CI, 0.21-1.12]; P = .004), and spirituality (12 studies; pooled SMD, 1.00 [95% CI, 0.41-1.60]; P = .001). Heterogeneity of studies was considerable for all wisdom components. Publication bias was present for prosocial behavior and emotional regulation studies; after adjusting for it, the pooled SMD for prosocial behavior remained significant (SMD, 0.4 [95% CI, 0.16-0.78]; P = .003). Meta-regression analysis found that effect sizes did not vary by wisdom component, although for trials on prosocial behaviors, large effect sizes were associated with older mean participant age (β, 0.08 [SE, 0.04]), and the reverse was true for spirituality trials (β, -0.13 [SE, 0.04]). For spirituality interventions, higher-quality trials had larger effect sizes (β, 4.17 [SE, 1.07]), although the reverse was true for prosocial behavior trials (β, -0.91 [SE 0.44]). Conclusions and Relevance Interventions to enhance spirituality, emotional regulation, and prosocial behaviors are effective in a proportion of people with mental or physical illnesses and from the community. The modern behavioral epidemics of loneliness, suicide, and opioid abuse point to a growing need for wisdom-enhancing interventions to promote individual and societal well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen E. Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California
- Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
| | - Katherine J. Bangen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
| | - Julie A. Avanzino
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
- Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
| | - BaiChun Hou
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
- Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
| | - Marina Ramsey
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
| | - Graham Eglit
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California
- Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
| | - Jinyuan Liu
- Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, San Diego
| | - Xin M. Tu
- Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, San Diego
| | - Martin Paulus
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
| | - Dilip V. Jeste
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
- Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
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Jeste DV, Lee EE, Palmer BW, Treichler EBH. Moving from Humanities to Sciences: A New Model of Wisdom Fortified by Sciences of Neurobiology, Medicine, and Evolution. PSYCHOLOGICAL INQUIRY 2020; 31:134-143. [PMID: 33731980 PMCID: PMC7963217 DOI: 10.1080/1047840x.2020.1757984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dilip V. Jeste
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
- Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Ellen E. Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
- Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Barton W. Palmer
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
- Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
- Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC), VA San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Emily B. H. Treichler
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
- Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
- Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC), VA San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
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Jeste DV, Lee EE, Cassidy C, Caspari R, Gagneux P, Glorioso D, Miller BL, Semendeferi K, Vogler C, Nusbaum H, Blazer D. The New Science of Practical Wisdom. PERSPECTIVES IN BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2019; 62:216-236. [PMID: 31281119 PMCID: PMC7138215 DOI: 10.1353/pbm.2019.0011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Wisdom has been discussed for centuries in religious and philosophical texts. It is often viewed as a fuzzy psychological construct analogous to consciousness, stress, and resilience. This essay provides an understanding of wisdom as a scientific construct, based on empirical research starting in the 1970s. The focus is on practical rather than theoretical wisdom. While there are different conceptualizations of wisdom, it is best defined as a complex human characteristic or trait with specific components: social decision-making, emotional regulation, prosocial behavior (such as empathy and compassion), self-reflection, acceptance of uncertainty, decisiveness, and spirituality. These psychological processes involve the fronto-limbic circuitry. Wisdom is associated with positive life outcomes including better health, well-being, happiness, life satisfaction, and resilience. Wisdom tends to increase with active aging, facilitating a contribution of wise grandparents to promoting fitness of younger kin. Despite the loss of their own fertility and physical health, older adults help enhance their children's and grandchildren's well-being, health, longevity, and fertility-the "grandmother hypothesis" of wisdom. Wisdom has important implications at individual and societal levels and is a major contributor to human thriving. We need to place a greater emphasis on promoting wisdom through our educational systems from elementary to professional schools.
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