Subjective Well‐Being and Health Behaviors in 2.5 Million Americans

Well-Being and Cardiovascular Health: Insights From the UK Biobank Study

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a leading global health concern. Emerging evidence suggests a potential protective role of well-being in reducing CVD risk.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We conducted a cohort analysis using the UK Biobank data set, encompassing 121 317 participants. We assessed the well-being of participants using a well-being index derived from baseline questionnaires. Well-being categories were derived by latent class analysis using general happiness and satisfaction with family, friendships, health, and finance situations. The relationship between well-being and 4 major CVDs was analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models and Mendelian randomization. The study also examined the impacts of well-being on lifestyle factors and inflammatory markers, and its mediating role in the well-being-CVD relationship. Higher well-being was associated with a significantly reduced risk of various CVDs. Latent class analysis identified 4 distinct well-being groups (low, variable, moderate-to-high, and high satisfaction), with higher satisfaction levels generally associated with lower risk of CVDs. Mendelian randomization suggested potential causal relationships between well-being and reduced risk of CVDs. Participants with greater well-being demonstrated healthier behaviors and lower levels of inflammatory markers. Mediation analysis indicated that lifestyle and inflammatory markers partially mediated the relationship between well-being and CVDs.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates a robust inverse association between well-being and the risks of CVDs, suggesting that enhancing well-being may be a viable strategy for CVD prevention. The role of lifestyle factors and inflammation as a mediator provides insight into possible biological pathways linking psychological states and cardiovascular health.

Sources of Well-Being for Hispanic Women Who Have Experienced Intimate Partner Violence: A Scoping Review

Purpose: This review sought to identify and integrate available evidence on various sources of Hispanic women's well-being following intimate partner violence (IPV). Methods: The review was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Four peer-reviewed databases were reviewed for studies published between 2007 and 2022. The inclusion criteria include being an original research, quantitative and/or qualitative data, Hispanic women as a separate group for analysis, well-being as an outcome variable (quantitative) or phenomenon of interest (qualitative), and published in English or Spanish. Results: A total of 2,292 records were identified, and nine articles were included in the final review. Findings revealed that ensuring safety and opportunities for women's children, separating from violent partners, and obtaining a job were related to increased well-being. Other findings revealed that peer support, self-empowerment, and leadership skills were associated with interpersonal, psychological, and community well-being, respectively. Economic and occupational well-being was linked to education and financial independence. Conclusions: This scoping review advances the exploration of well-being among Hispanic women who have experienced IPV. This knowledge can be used to inform post-IPV support for Hispanic women and highlight areas for intervention development to promote well-being.

The mediating role of health behaviors in the relationship between internal locus of control and life satisfaction in public health students

Well-being is a continuous process requiring decisions and actions to maintain or build health. This study examines the indirect effect of health locus of control on life satisfaction via healthy behaviors based on living systems theory. Participants were 730 students of various majors related to medicine and health, aged between 19 and 30 (M = 22.29, SD = 1.64), including 79.04% women. Self-report measures were used to assess life satisfaction, multidimensional health locus of control, and health behavior. Women scored higher than men on the total health behavior scale, especially in a healthy diet and preventive behavior. Men scored higher than women on internal health locus of control (HLC), while women scored higher than men on the powerful others HLC in making decisions about their health. The study confirmed the mediating effect of healthy behavior on the relationship between the internal HLC and life satisfaction. The present mechanism highlights the crucial role of internal motivation in increasing subjective well-being by maintaining health behaviors among young adults. The role of intervention programs focused on improving internal HLC and health behaviors is discussed.

Creating arts and crafting positively predicts subjective wellbeing

Introduction

This study explored whether engagement with Creating Arts and Crafting (CAC) predicted subjective wellbeing and loneliness, above and beyond known sociodemographic predictors.

Methods

Secondary data from 7,182 adults living in England from the Taking Part Survey (a 2019-2020 UK household survey of culture and sport participation) were analyzed. Hierarchical Linear regressions were used to explore the predictive effect of engagement with CAC on aspects of subjective wellbeing (anxiety, happiness, life satisfaction and a sense that life is worthwhile) and loneliness. Covariates included gender, Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD), age group, health and employment status.

Results

Engaging in CAC significantly predicted increased life satisfaction, a sense that life is worthwhile and happiness, above and beyond known sociodemographic predictors.

Conclusion

Our study provides support for the wellbeing benefits of engagement with creating arts and crafting, and we suggest that this will be a useful tool at a public health level, noting that relative accessibility and affordability creating arts and crafting.

Acceptance level of advance care planning and its associated factors among the public: A nationwide survey

BACKGROUND

Advance care planning (ACP) can contribute to individuals making decisions about their healthcare preferences in advance of serious illness. Up to now, the acceptance level and associated factors of ACP among the public in China remain unclear. This study aims to investigate the acceptance level of ACP in China and identify factors associated with it based on the socioecological model.

METHODS

A total of 19,738 participants were included in this survey. We employed a random forest regression analysis to select factors derived from the socioecological model. Multivariate generalized linear model analysis was then conducted to explore the factors that were associated with the acceptance level of ACP.

RESULTS

On a scale ranging from 0 to 100, the median score for acceptance level of ACP was 64.00 (IQR: 48.00-83.00) points. The results of the multivariate generalized linear model analysis revealed that participants who scored higher on measures of openness and neuroticism personality traits, as well as those who had greater perceptions of social support, higher levels of health literacy, better neighborly relationships, family health, and family social status, were more likely to accept ACP. Conversely, participants who reported higher levels of subjective well-being and greater family communication levels demonstrated a lower likelihood of accepting ACP.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identified multiple factors associated with the acceptance level of ACP. The findings offer valuable insights that can inform the design and implementation of targeted interventions aimed at facilitating a good death and may have significant implications for the formulation of end-of-life care policies and practices in other countries facing similar challenges.

A systematic review and a comprehensive approach to PhD students' wellbeing

The pursuit of a doctoral degree is a challenging process that can have a negative impact on the wellbeing of PhD students. Therefore, the aim here is to offer a systematic review of the current state of the literature on wellbeing among PhD students and the variables it involves in order to build an integrative model that will enrich future research. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology for systematic reviews has been used to lay out the process in a flow diagram. We systematically review studies up to 2021 (N = 38) published on the Web of Science and SCOPUS databases. The results show the current state of the literature on wellbeing in PhD students, the characteristics of the studies (location, study design, and sample), how the literature defines the concept, the variables involved, the study limitations, and future perspectives to improve the quality of life of doctoral students. Finally, a comprehensive approach to the topic is presented in an integrative model that encompasses all variables identified in the literature and offers a guide for future research.

The influence of grit on life satisfaction of Brazilian undergraduate students: academic adaptation as a mediator

Introduction

In recent years, research in educational contexts has pointed to the role of grit as a variable related to various positive outcomes, including life satisfaction. Academic adaptation seems vital for the success of academic life in college students. Considering university as an important life context for people pursuing higher education, what is the mediating effect of academic adaptation? This study proposed a mediation model to examine the mediating effect of academic adaptation in the relationship grit and life satisfaction.

Methods

A sample of 413 undergraduate Brazilian students, age ranging from 18 to 71 years (M = 27.30; SD = 10.20). A correlation analysis was performed between the variables and the following mediation model was tested: Grit (independent variable), academic adaptation (mediating variables) and life satisfaction (dependent variables).

Results

Mediation analysis indicated that academic adaptation mediated around 46.80% for the factor of consistency of interests and 40.90% of the relationship with perseverance of effort. Thus, the greater the grit of the university student, the greater the grit, which leads to better satisfaction with life.

Discussion

In recent years, research in educational contexts has pointed to the role of grit as a variable related to various positive outcomes. The findings elucidated that grit in academic context could benefit students' adaptation process, and the university's responsibility to improve its students' softskills, not only for the future stage after university, but also during the student's schooling.

A study on the impact of health shocks on subjective wellbeing of middle-aged people and older adults-Evidence from China

Introduction

The health issues that afflict middle-aged people and older individuals are a significant factor that affects their quality of life. It is crucial to investigate the impact of health shocks on the subjective wellbeing of this demographic and the mechanisms that underlie this impact to promote healthy aging.

Methods

This study utilized data from the China Family Panel Study in 2018 and 2020 to analyze the effects of HSs and their categories on the subjective wellbeing of middle-aged people and older individuals using the propensity score matching difference-in-differences method. Additionally, the study explored the mediating role of social participation.

Results

The findings indicate that health shocks, both chronic and acute, diminish the subjective wellbeing of middle-aged people and older adults. Furthermore, these shocks have a more significant negative effect on the subjective wellbeing of individuals aged 60 and above, women in the middle-aged and older demographic, individuals in rural areas who belong to the middle-aged and older age groups, and individuals possessing activities of daily living. The mechanism analysis revealed that health shocks, both chronic and acute, reduce the subjective wellbeing of middle-aged people and older individuals by disrupting partnerships.

Discussion

Lowering the possibility of health shocks, the government should build a strong health management system and improve the health insurance system to enable timely treatment for persons suffering from health shocks. Individuals and families should live healthy lives and engage in social activities to avoid health shocks and improve subjective wellbeing.

The relative importance of education and health behaviour for health and wellbeing

BACKGROUND

Indicators of socioeconomic position (SEP) and health behaviours (HB) are widely used predictors of health variations. Their relative importance is hard to establish, because HB takes a mediating role in the link between SEP and health. We aim to provide new knowledge on how SEP and HB are related to health and wellbeing.

METHODS

The analysis considered 14,713 Norwegians aged 40-63. Separate regressions were performed using two outcomes for health-related quality of life (EQ-5D-5 L; EQ-VAS), and one for subjective wellbeing (Satisfaction with Life Scale). As predictors, we used educational attainment and a composite measure of HB - both categorized into four levels. We adjusted for differences in childhood financial circumstances, sex and age. We estimated the percentage share of each predictor in total explained variation, and the relative contributions of HB in the education-health association.

RESULTS

The reference case model, excluding HB, suggests consistent stepwise education gradients in health-related quality of life. The gap between the lowest and highest education was 0.042 on the EQ-5D-5 L, and 0.062 on the EQ-VAS. When including HB, the education effects were much attenuated, making HB take the lion share of the explained health variance. HB contributes 29% of the education-health gradient when health is measured by EQ-5D-5 L, and 40% when measured by EQ-VAS. For subjective wellbeing, we observed a strong HB-gradient, but no education gradient.

CONCLUSION

In the institutional context of a rich egalitarian country, variations in health and wellbeing are to a larger extent explained by health behaviours than educational attainment.

Links of positive affect and stress to HbA1c: a prospective longitudinal study

While affect is linked to a number of diabetes outcomes, the specific role of positive affect (PA) in HbA1c remains unclear. The present study examined whether PA prospectively predicted lower HbA1c among adults with type 2 diabetes and whether this relation was moderated by stress. Participants were 123 adults (44.7% female; 60.2% White, 39.8% Black) recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Perceived stress, diabetes-specific distress, and PA were assessed at baseline; HbA1c was assessed at baseline (T1), six months (T2), and five years (T3). PA was cross-sectionally associated with lower HbA1c at T1 and prospectively predicted lower HbA1c at T3. PA interacted with both measures of T1 stress to predict T1 HbA1c, and PA interacted with T3 perceived stress to predict T3 HbA1c. Interactions were consistent with stress buffering. Sensitivity analyses attentuated findings, but robust evidence remained for PA as a protective factor for blood glucose five years later and for a stress-buffering effect of PA on diabetes-specific distress. Findings suggest PA may be a clinically useful indicator among adults with type 2 diabetes and may be particularly important for those experiencing the greatest stress from their disease.

Stress buffering after physical activity engagement: An experience sampling study

OBJECTIVES

While encountering daily hassles is a normative experience, it poses a threat to individuals' daily affective well-being. However, physical activity engagement may help to reduce the current stress-related impact on affective well-being (i.e. stress buffering), which we investigate in this study. Furthermore, we examined the possible moderating role of people's global stress context (i.e. exposure to major life events and chronic stress) on this within-person stress-buffering effect.

DESIGN

We approached these ideas using six-times-a-day experience sampling assessments over a period of 22 days.

METHODS

Drawing on a broad national sample of 156 middle-aged adults from the EE-SOEP-IS study, we aimed to elucidate the naturally occurring within-person dynamics of current stress, physical activity engagement, and momentary affect within individuals' everyday lives. Major life events and chronic stress were measured as between-person variables.

RESULTS

Multilevel analyses revealed significant within-person associations of current stress and physical activity engagement with momentary affect. Stress-related negative affect was lower when individuals engaged in physical activity, in accordance with the idea of a within-person stress-buffering effect of physical activity engagement. For individuals exposed to more severe major life events, the stress-buffering effect of physical activity engagement for negative affect was lower. Chronic stress did not moderate the within-person stress-buffering effect.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, results add to the existing literature that links physical activity to increased stress resilience and emphasizes the need for taking the global between-person stress context into account.

Translation and validation of the WHO-5 General well-being index into native language Quechua of the Peruvian South

To translate and validate the WHO-5 General Well-being Index for the people of the Peruvian South, a cross-sectional instrumental study was carried out with the voluntary participation of 186 people of both sexes between the ages of 18 and 65 years (M = 29.67 years old; SD = 10.94) living in the south region of Peru. The validity evidence was assessed based on the content using Aiken's coefficient V according to the internal structure through a confirmatory factor analysis, and reliability was calculated through Cronbach's alpha coefficient. The expert judgment was favorable for all items (V > 0.70). The unidimensional structure of the scale was confirmed (χ2 = 10.86, df = 5, p = 0.05; RMR = 0.020; GFI = 0.980; CFI = 0.990; TLI = 0.980 y RMSEA = 0.080), and it presents a suitable reliability range (α = > 0.75). This shows that the WHO-5 General Well-being Index for the people of the Peruvian South is a valid and reliable scale.

Emotional Well-Being: What It Is and Why It Matters

Psychological aspects of well-being are increasingly recognized and studied as fundamental components of healthy human functioning. However, this body of work is fragmented, with many different conceptualizations and terms being used (e.g., subjective well-being, psychological well-being). We describe the development of a provisional conceptualization of this form of well-being, here termed emotional well-being (EWB), leveraging prior conceptual and theoretical approaches. Our developmental process included review of related concepts and definitions from multiple disciplines, engagement with subject matter experts, consideration of essential properties across definitions, and concept mapping. Our conceptualization provides insight into key strengths and gaps in existing perspectives on this form of well-being, setting a foundation for evaluating assessment approaches, enhancing our understanding of the causes and consequences of EWB, and, ultimately, developing effective intervention strategies that promote EWB. We argue that this foundation is essential for developing a more cohesive and informative body of work on EWB.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42761-022-00163-0.

Perceived emotional intelligence and subjective well-being during adolescence: The moderating effect of age and sex

Studies focusing on subjective well-being during adolescence are relatively scarce yet necessary, due to the drop in well-being that occurs during this developmental stage. The aim of the present study is therefore: (1) to analyze the variability of perceived emotional intelligence (PEI) and subjective well-being in accordance with sex and age; and (2) to explore the moderating effect of sex and age on the association between PEI and subjective well-being. The sample comprised 1542 students aged between 11 and 18 years, divided into two age groups: younger (11–14 years) and older (15–18 years). All participants completed the Trait Meta Mood Scale and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Several ANOVAs and MANOVAs were performed using the SPSSv.28 statistical package. The simple moderation models were analyzed using the PROCESSv.4 macro. Age was the socio-personal variable that most significantly affected emotion repair and life satisfaction, whereas sex had a greater effect on the other variables studied. Sex moderated the predictive effect of emotional clarity on negative affect among girls, the predicted the effect of emotional attention on positive affect among boys, as well as the predictive effect of emotional clarity on life satisfaction in both groups. The theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed.

The Relationship Between the Big Five Personality Traits and the Theory of Planned Behavior in Using Mindfulness Mobile Apps: Cross-sectional Survey

Background

Mindfulness has emerged as a promising approach toward improving mental health. Interest in mindfulness mobile app services has also increased in recent years. Understanding the determinants of mindfulness behavior is essential to predict people’s utilization of mindfulness mobile apps and beneficial for developing and implementing relevant intervention strategies. Nevertheless, little has been done to determine the predictors of mindfulness behavior.

Objective

This study investigates the association between the Big Five personality traits and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) variables in the context of using mindfulness mobile apps to explore the potential indirect effects of conscientiousness and neuroticism on people’s behavioral intention for mindfulness, mediated by their attitude toward mindfulness, subjective norm about mindfulness, and perceived behavior control over mindfulness.

Methods

The authors conducted an online, cross-sectional survey in December 2021. Structural equation modeling was conducted to evaluate the overall model fit and test possible linkages among conscientiousness, neuroticism, attitude toward mindfulness, subjective norm about mindfulness, perceived behavior control over mindfulness, and behavioral intention for mindfulness. Bootstrapping mediation analyses were also conducted to test the potential mediating effect in the model.

Results

A total of 297 Korean participants’ responses (153 males and 144 females) were analyzed. The proposed model had a good fit. Conscientiousness was correlated with attitude toward mindfulness (β=.384, P<.001), subjective norm about mindfulness (β=.249, P<.001), and perceived behavior control over mindfulness (β=.443, P<.001). Neuroticism was not correlated with attitude toward mindfulness (β=−.072, P=.28), but was correlated with subjective norm about mindfulness (β=.217, P=.003) and perceived behavior control over mindfulness (β=−.235, P<.001). Attitude toward mindfulness (β=.508, P<.001), subjective norm about mindfulness (β=.132, P=.01), and perceived behavior control over mindfulness (β=.540, P<.001) were separately correlated with behavioral intention for mindfulness. Conscientiousness was not directly correlated with behavioral intention for mindfulness (β=−.082, P=.27), whereas neuroticism was directly correlated with behavioral intention for mindfulness (β=.194, P=.001). Conscientiousness was indirectly linked with behavioral intention for mindfulness through attitude toward mindfulness (B=0.171, 95% CI 0.103-0.251) and perceived behavior control over mindfulness (B=0.198, 95% CI 0.132-0.273) but not through subjective norm about mindfulness (B=0.023, 95% CI −0.002 to 0.060). Neuroticism was indirectly linked with behavioral intention for mindfulness via perceived behavior control over mindfulness (B=−0.138, 95% CI −0.197 to −0.088) but not via subjective norm about mindfulness (B=0.021, 95% CI −0.002 to 0.059).

Conclusions

The results show that the integration of the Big Five personality traits and TPB constructs is useful in predicting the use of mindfulness mobile apps. Focusing on conscientiousness and neuroticism in developing information dissemination and implementation strategies for enhancing mindfulness behavior using mobile apps may lead to the successful promotion of mindfulness mobile apps and adherence to mindfulness techniques.

Motivation and anxiety during the second COVID-19 lockdown in gym exercisers: The mediating role of affects and satisfaction with life

The present study aimed to analyze the association between motivation (self-determined and non-self-determined motivation), positive and negative affect, life satisfaction and state-anxiety in a sample of gym exercisers, during the 2nd COVID-19 lockdown in Portugal. Also, we aimed to analyze the possible mediating role of positive and negative affect and life satisfaction in the relationship between motivation and levels of state-anxiety. A total of 201 gym participants (30.42 ± 11.22) were enrolled in the present study, of which 116 (57.7%) were women and 85 (42.3%) were men. The survey included sociodemographic data as well as the subsequently validated instruments: the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. The results revealed a positive association between state-anxiety and negative affect (r = .69), controlled motivation (r = .33), and autonomous motivation (r = .25). Still, state-anxiety was negatively associated with positive affect (r = -.40) and with satisfaction with life (r = -.43),. In addition, the results of mediation analysis, revealed inconsistent mediation of positive affect and life satisfaction in the relationship between autonomous motivation and state-anxiety. However, a total mediation was observed through negative affect and life satisfaction in the relationship between controlled motivation and anxiety since the indirect effect (β = .27) is higher than the direct effect (β = .06). Overall, the results reinforce that positive affect and satisfaction with life could act as a possible buffer against state-anxiety in gym exercisers and, thus, should be considered in future interventions and studies.

Analysis of influence of physical health factors on subjective wellbeing of middle-aged and elderly women in China

PURPOSE

Despite a maturing literature on the association between subjective wellbeing (SWB) and mental condition, little is known regarding the happiness-physical health relation in China, among middle-aged and elderly women (MAEW) in particular. This study aimed to understand the effect of physical health on the SWB of MAEW in China.

METHODS

Data from the 2014 and 2018 China Family Panel Study were used to analyse the SWB of women over the age of 45 years. In addition, descriptive statistics was used to describe the population distribution and panel ordered logit regression for regression analysis.

RESULTS

Majority of the respondents reported satisfactory SWB, and the proportion of the respondents who were very happy and happy was more than 68%. In terms of health factors, self-rated health, 2-week morbidity and BMI were significantly related to the SWB of MAEW (all P-values < 0.05). Physical exercise (P-value < 0.01) was positively associated with SWB, whereas smoking status and drinking status were not related to SWB. In addition, demographic indicators, such as registered residence (P-value < 0.01), income (P-value < 0.01) and social status (P-value < 0.01), significantly affected the SWB of MAEW.

CONCLUSION

This study showed that MAEW's physical health could affect their SWB. Increased attention should be paid to the physical health of MAEW to improve their SWB. Policy mechanisms could be designed to motivate MAEW to take the initiative to engage in regular physical activity to improve their SWB. In addition, increased attention be paid to groups with low socioeconomic status and high stress, especially those who are employed, to improve residents' happiness.

My Healthy Brain: a multimodal lifestyle program to promote brain health

BACKGROUND

Promoting brain health depends on sustaining healthy behaviors across the lifespan. Yet, public adoption of lifestyle behaviors and knowledge of cognitive decline (CD) prevention remains poor. Our multidisciplinary team developed My Healthy Brain (MHB) to promote a healthy lifestyle (e.g. diet, exercise, alcohol, sleep) and build cognitive reserve (e.g. memory compensatory strategies). Our objective was to demonstrate early proof-of-concept for MHB by exploring the feasibility, acceptability, and improvement in primary lifestyle outcomes as well as secondary outcomes of self-determination and subjective wellbeing.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Older adults with subjective (self-report only) or objective (confirmed by cognitive testing) CD, referred by neurologists to modify lifestyle risk factors (e.g. sedentary), participated in a non-randomized open pilot of MHB (N = 24). Participants completed the 8-week MHB group (90 min each) and pre-post outcome measures.

RESULTS

MHB met all a-priori set benchmarks, including good feasibility of recruitment (71% of patients screened) and enrollment (75% completed baseline), and good acceptability of treatment (75% completed 6 of 8 sessions and post-testing). Program satisfaction was excellent (100% of participants) and no adverse events were reported. We also observed improvements in primary lifestyle outcomes as well as secondary outcomes of self-determination and subjective well-being.

DISCUSSION

While MHB demonstrated preliminary feasibility and the potential to modify lifestyle risk factors for CD, the program can be improved. Future work will explore the integration of mindfulness skills with behavioral principles to bolster multidomain lifestyle change, and the live video delivery format to bypass barriers to participation.

Changed health behavior improves subjective well-being and vice versa in a follow-up of 9 years

Background

Previous research on health behavior and subjective well-being has mainly focused on interindividual differences or explored certain domains of health behavior. Good health behavior and subjective well-being at baseline can predict each other after a follow-up. In the present cohort study, we explored the outcomes of change for an individual i.e., how changed health behavior is reflected in subsequent subjective well-being and vice versa.

Methods

Data (n = 10,855) originates from a population-based Health and Social Support (HeSSup) study on working-age Finns in 2003 and 2012. A composite measure of health behavior included physical activity, dietary habits, alcohol consumption, and smoking status (range 0–4, worst–best) and a composite measure of subjective well-being (with reversed scoring) included three life assessments, i.e., interest, happiness, and ease in life, and perceived loneliness (range 4–20, best–worst). Different multiple linear regression models were used to study how changes in health behavior predict subjective well-being and the opposite, how changes in subjective well-being predict health behavior.

Results

A positive change in health behavior from 2003 to 2012 predicted better subjective well-being (i.e., on average 0.31 points lower subjective well-being sum score), whereas a negative change predicted poorer subjective well-being (i.e., 0.37 points higher subjective well-being sum score) (both: p < 0.001) compared to those study subjects who had no change in health behavior. Similarly, when a positive and negative change in subjective well-being was studied, these figures were 0.071 points better and 0.072 points worse (both: p < 0.001) health behavior sum score, respectively. When the magnitude of the effect of change was compared to the range of scale of the outcome the effect of health behavior change appeared stronger than that of subjective well-being.

Conclusion

Changes in health behavior and subjective well-being have long-term effects on the level of the other, the effect of the first being slightly stronger than vice versa. These mutual long-term benefits can be used as a motivator in health promotion on individual and societal levels.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12955-022-01972-4.

Escala de Bienestar Subjetivo, versión corta (EBS-8): Revalidación, invarianza de medición y teoría de respuesta al ítem

La Escala de Bienestar Subjetivo (ebs-20) y su versión corta (ebs-8) fueron desarrolladas y validadas para medir en población hispanohablante la satisfacción con la vida y el afecto positivo. El objetivo del presente estudio fue obtener evidencias adicionales de validez para la ebs-8. Para ello, se aplicó la escala en tres estudios sucesivos a un total de 2259 mexicanos de 12 a 81 años. Los resultados del primer estudio permitieron confirmar la estructura unifactorial (cmin/df = 2.336; cfi = .996; rmsea = .047) y la adecuada confiabilidad de la escala (α = .958, ω = .957); en el segundo se probó su invarianza de medición por sexo, grupo social y edad (Δχ2 p > .05, δcfi < .004, δrmsea < .014); y en el tercer estudio se encontró, mediante la calibración de sus reactivos bajo la tri, que la escala estima satisfactoriamente el constructo evaluado (α > 1.69; β1 entre –2.78 y –2.35). A partir de los índices psicométricos obtenidos, se concluye que la ebs-8 es un excelente instrumento breve construido en español para evaluar el bienestar subjetivo en adolescentes, jóvenes, adultos y adultos mayores.

Psychometric Properties of the Diener Satisfaction With Life Scale With Five Response Options Applied to the Colombian Population

Introduction: The Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), developed by Diener, Emmons, Larsen, and Griffin in 1985, comprises five items with seven response options in terms of agreement–disagreement. Recently, there has been a suggestion to reduce the response options of the SWLS to optimize its applicability in different cultural contexts.

Objective: The study aims to assess the psychometric properties of the SWLS with five response options in the Colombian population. Specifically, we studied the dimensionality, invariance by gender and age (among a group of adolescents and emerging adults under 25 years and a group of adults of intermediate age and established adulthood under 59 years), convergent validity (with optimism), and divergent (with pessimism) and concurrent validity with other measures of well-being (flourishing, positive, and negative affects).

Methodology: This project was a cross-sectional study using a non-probabilistic sample of the general population. Participants were included if they identified themselves as Colombian and were at least 18 years of age. The final sample comprised 1,255 participants. The average age was 25.62 years (SD = 8.60) ranging from 18 to 67 years of age, and 35.8% of the participants were men. In addition to SWLS, we used the Flourishing Scale (FS), Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R), and Scale of Positive and Negative Experience (SPANE).

Results: Cronbach's alpha coefficient (0.842), composite reliability (0.851), and average variance extracted (0.537) showed very good values. CFA was conducted to test the one-dimensional structure of FS, showing excellent goodness of fit [χ(5)2 = 15.774, p < 0.001, CFI = 0.992, TLI = 0.985, RMSEA = 0.042, 90% RMSEA CI (0.020, 0.066), and SRMR = 0.016]. The correlations calculated among life satisfaction (SWLS) with flourishing (FS), positive and negative affects (SPANE), optimism, and pessimism (LOT-R) were statistically significant and as expected. Configural, metric, and scalar invariance across gender and age were confirmed. Percentiles were provided for the total score and for age.

Conclusions: The SWLS with five response options has adequate psychometric properties in the Colombian population, and the use of this version (with 5 response options) is recommended due to its greater applicability.

Subjective well-being predicts health behavior in a population-based 9-years follow-up of working-aged Finns

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Subjective well-being predicts subsequent health behavior in a 9-years of follow-up.

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Neither direction of influence was stronger as compared to the other one.

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Enhancing subjective well-being could serve as an additional support for health behavior change.

The cross-sectional association between measures of subjective well-being (SWB) and various health behaviors is well-established. In this 9-year (2003–2012) follow-up study, we explored how a composite indicator of SWB (range 4–20) with four items (interest, happiness, and ease in life, as well as perceived loneliness) predicts a composite health behavior measure (range 0–4) including dietary habits, physical activity, alcohol consumption, and smoking status. Study subjects (n = 10,855) originated from a population-based random sample of working-age Finns in the Health and Social Support study (HeSSup). According to linear regression analysis, better SWB predicted better health behavior sum score with a β = 0.019 (p < 0.001) with a maximum effect of 0.3 points after adjusting for age (p = 0.038), gender (p < 0.001), education (p = 0.55), baseline self-reported diseases (p = 0.020), baseline health behavior (β = 0.49, p < 0.001), and the interaction between SWB and education (p < 0.001). The results suggest that SWB has long-term positive effect on health behavior. Thus, interventions aiming at health behavioral changes could benefit from taking into account SWB and its improvement in the intervention.

Longitudinal stability and interrelations between health behavior and subjective well-being in a follow-up of nine years

BACKGROUND

The bidirectional relationship between health behavior and subjective well-being has previously been studied sparsely, and mainly for individual health behaviors and regression models. In the present study, we deepen this knowledge focusing on the four principal health behaviors and using structural equation modeling with selected covariates.

METHODS

The follow-up data (n = 11,804) was derived from a population-based random sample of working-age Finns from two waves (2003 and 2012) of the Health and Social Support (HeSSup) postal survey. Structural equation modeling was used to study the cross-sectional, cross-lagged, and longitudinal relationships between the four principal health behaviors and subjective well-being at baseline and after the nine-year follow-up adjusted for age, gender, education, and self-reported diseases. The included health behaviors were physical activity, dietary habits, alcohol consumption, and smoking status. Subjective well-being was measured through four items comprising happiness, interest, and ease in life, and perceived loneliness.

RESULTS

Bidirectionally, only health behavior in 2003 predicted subjective well-being in 2012, whereas subjective well-being in 2003 did not predict health behavior in 2012. In addition, the cross-sectional interactions in 2003 and in 2012 between health behavior and subjective well-being were statistically significant. The baseline levels predicted their respective follow-up levels, the effect being stronger in health behavior than in subjective well-being.

CONCLUSION

The four principal health behaviors together predict subsequent subjective well-being after an extensive follow-up. Although not particularly strong, the results could still be used for motivation for health behavior change, because of the beneficial effects of health behavior on subjective well-being.

Health behavior of working-aged Finns predicts self-reported life satisfaction in a population-based 9-years follow-up

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have shown positive association between health behavior and life satisfaction, but the studies have mostly been cross-sectional, had follow-up times up to 5 years or focused on only one health behavior domain. The aim of the study was to explore how principal health behavior domains predict life satisfaction as a composite score in a previously unexplored longitudinal setting.

METHODS

The present study tested whether a health behavior sum score (range 0-4) comprising of dietary habits, smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity predicted subsequent composite score of life satisfaction (range 4-20). Data included responses from 11,000 working-age Finns who participated in the Health and Social Support (HeSSup) prospective population-based postal survey.

RESULTS

Protective health behavior in 2003 predicted (p < .001) better life satisfaction 9 years later when sex, age, education, major diseases, and baseline life satisfaction were controlled for. The β in the linear regression model was - 0.24 (p < .001) corresponding to a difference of 0.96 points in life satisfaction between individuals having the best and worst health behavior.

CONCLUSION

Good health behavior has a long-term beneficial impact on subsequent life satisfaction. This knowledge could strengthen the motivation for improvement of health behavior particularly on an individual level but also on a policy level.

Adaptation and Psychometric Properties of the Scale of Positive and Negative Experience (SPANE) in the General Colombian Population

(1) Background: Diener’s Scale of Positive and Negative Experiences (SPANE) assesses the presence and intensity of positive and negative affects, since these are considered basic aspects of the study of well-being. This article studies its psychometric properties in the general Colombian population. (2) We conducted a cross-sectional study of a sample of 1255 Colombians and we used structural equation modeling to confirm the bifactor structure. Additionally, we studied invariance by gender, and convergent and concurrent validity. (3) We found acceptable fit indicators for the bifactor model (CFI = 0.889, RMSEA = 0.046, SRMR = 0.059) as well as for the convergent (CFI = 0.909, RMSEA = 0.050, SRMR = 0.063) and concurrent (CFI = 0.966, RMSEA = 0.036, SRMR = 0.041) validity models. We did not confirm total invariance across gender, although we found configural and metric invariance, so percentiles by sex were provided. (4) Conclusions: The SPANE is a valid and reliable measure to assess well-being among the Colombian population, although we alert researchers to the risk of comparing affectivity average scores between sexes.

A Bifactor Model of Subjective Well-Being at Personal, Community, and Country Levels: A Case With Three Latin-American Countries

Improving citizens' subjective well-being (SWB) has become an increasingly visible policy goal across industrialized countries. Although an increasing number of studies have investigated SWB at the individual level, little is known about subjective evaluation at social levels, such as the community and national levels. While the relationships between these levels have been analyzed in previous research, these assessments, which are part of the same unique construct of SWB, are under-investigated. The purpose of this study was to examine the dimensionality and reliability of a single measure of SWB, which contained individual, community, and national levels across three Latin-American countries (Argentina, Chile, and Venezuela), using a bifactor model analysis. Findings showed that the bifactor model exhibited a good fit to the data for the three countries. However, invariance testing between countries was not fully supported because of each item's specific contribution to both specific and general constructs. The analyses of each country showed that the SWB construct was in a gray area between unidimensionality and multidimensionality; some factors contributed more to the general factor and others to the specific level, depending on the country. These findings call for integrating more distant levels (community and country levels) into the understanding of SWB at the individual level, as they contribute not only to an overall construct, but they make unique contributions to SWB, which must be considered in public policy making.

Evaluation of Mood Check-in Feature for Participation in Meditation Mobile App Users: Retrospective Longitudinal Analysis

Background

Mindfulness meditation smartphone apps may improve mental health but lack evidence-based behavioral strategies to encourage their regular use for attaining mental health benefits. In October 2019, the Calm mindfulness meditation app introduced a mood check-in feature, but its effects on participation in meditation have yet to be tested.

Objective

The objective of this study was to investigate how a mood check-in feature impacts meditation behavior in Calm app subscribers.

Methods

This was a retrospective longitudinal analysis of mobile app usage data from a random sample of first-time subscribers to the Calm app (n=2600) who joined in summer 2018 or summer 2019. The mood check-in feature allows users to rate their mood using an emoji after completing a meditation session and displays a monthly calendar of their past mood check-ins. Regression analyses were used to compare the rate of change in meditation behavior before and after the introduction of mood check-ins and to estimate how usage of mood check-ins was associated with individuals’ future meditation behavior (ie, intent-to-treat effects). Additional regression models examined the heterogenous effect of mood check-ins between subscribers who were active or inactive users prior to the introduction to mood check-ins (ie, above or below the median number of weeks with any meditation within their cohort). In order to confirm the specific associations between mood check-ins and meditation engagement, we modeled the direct relationship between the use of mood check-ins in previous weeks and subsequent meditation behavior (ie, treatment on the treated effects).

Results

During the first 9 months of their subscription, the 2019 cohort completed an average of 0.482 more sessions per week (95% CI 0.309 to 0.655) than the 2018 cohort; however, across both cohorts, average weekly meditation declined (–0.033 sessions per week, 95% CI –0.035 to –0.031). Controlled for trends in meditation before mood check-ins and aggregate differences between the 2018 and 2019 samples, the time trend in the number of weekly meditation sessions increased by 0.045 sessions among the 2019 cohort after the introduction of mood check-ins (95% CI 0.039 to 0.052). This increase in meditation was most pronounced among the inactive subscribers (0.063 sessions, 95% CI 0.052 to 0.074). When controlled for past-week meditation, use of mood check-ins during the previous week was positively associated with the likelihood of meditating the following week (odds ratio 1.132, 95% CI 1.059 to 1.211); however, these associations were not sustained beyond 1 week.

Conclusions

Using mood check-ins increases meditation participation in Calm app subscribers and may be especially beneficial for inactive subscribers. Mobile apps should consider incorporating mood check-ins to help better engage a wider range of users in app-based meditation, but more research is warranted.

Financial Literacy and Exercise Behavior: Evidence from Japan

Lack of exercise, which increases the risk of many serious physical and mental illness, has been a common health issue in Japan. Recent studies confirm that financial literacy discourages irrational behavior like gambling and smoking. We therefore investigate how financial literacy, as a rational decision-making instrument, relates to peoples’ exercise behavior in Japan. We hypothesize that financial literacy encourages people to exercise regularly. Using Osaka University’s Preference Parameters Study (PPS) for 2010, we categorized respondents into two groups: those who exercise regularly or at least once a week and those who do not. Our probit estimation results show that financial literacy is positively related with exercise behavior, meaning that financially literate people are more likely to exercise regularly. As the COVID-19 health pandemic seems to exacerbate peoples’ physical inactivity, the results of our study show an alternative approach to encourage exercise. We therefore recommend that governments implement a financial literacy improvement policy to alleviate the lack of exercise.

Positive psychological well‐being and cardiovascular disease: Exploring mechanistic and developmental pathways

Empirical research regarding the health benefits of positive psychological well‐being (e.g., positive emotions, life satisfaction, purpose in life, and optimism) has flourished in recent years, particularly with regard to cardiovascular disease. This paper reviews the state of evidence for well‐being's association with cardiovascular disease in both healthy individuals and those diagnosed with a disease. Prospective studies consistently indicate well‐being reduces cardiovascular events in healthy and, to a lesser extent, patient populations. Potential pathways that link well‐being with cardiovascular disease are discussed (including health behaviors, physiological processes, and stress buffering), although the existing evidence is mostly cross‐sectional which limits conclusions about directionality. Issues related to development across the lifespan are considered and childhood is identified as a crucial period for establishing healthy cardiovascular trajectories. Outstanding questions for future research are provided with recommendations to focus on well‐powered and prospective study designs with rigorous assessment of both well‐being and cardiovascular‐related outcomes.

Psychological Health, Well-Being, and the Mind-Heart-Body Connection: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

As clinicians delivering health care, we are very good at treating disease but often not as good at treating the person. The focus of our attention has been on the specific physical condition rather than the patient as a whole. Less attention has been given to psychological health and how that can contribute to physical health and disease. However, there is now an increasing appreciation of how psychological health can contribute not only in a negative way to cardiovascular disease (CVD) but also in a positive way to better cardiovascular health and reduced cardiovascular risk. This American Heart Association scientific statement was commissioned to evaluate, synthesize, and summarize for the health care community knowledge to date on the relationship between psychological health and cardiovascular health and disease and to suggest simple steps to screen for, and ultimately improve, the psychological health of patients with and at risk for CVD. Based on current study data, the following statements can be made: There are good data showing clear associations between psychological health and CVD and risk; there is increasing evidence that psychological health may be causally linked to biological processes and behaviors that contribute to and cause CVD; the preponderance of data suggest that interventions to improve psychological health can have a beneficial impact on cardiovascular health; simple screening measures can be used by health care providers for patients with or at risk for CVD to assess psychological health status; and consideration of psychological health is advisable in the evaluation and management of patients with or at risk for CVD.

Pathways from emotional intelligence to well-being and health outcomes among unemployed: Mediation by health-promoting behaviours

This study investigated whether health-promoting behaviours mediate the relationship between emotional intelligence (EI) and well-being and health outcomes in the unemployed population. Spanish unemployed (N = 530) completed questionnaires of EI, health-promoting lifestyles, subjective well-being and perceived health. Path-analytic results showed that EI predicted well-being and self-reported health. Health-promoting behaviours: spiritual growth, stress management and physical activity, partially mediated the link between EI and well-being and health outcomes. Findings are discussed in terms of the role that promoting health behaviours might play regarding to well-being and health outcomes after job-loss, and in developing of EI and health-promotion programmes for unemployed populations.

Health behaviour changes during COVID-19 and the potential consequences: A mini-review

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about profound changes to social behaviour. While calls to identify mental health effects that may stem from these changes should be heeded, there is also a need to examine potential changes with respect to health behaviours. Media reports have signalled dramatic shifts in sleep, substance use, physical activity and diet, which may have subsequent downstream mental health consequences. We briefly discuss the interplay between health behaviours and mental health, and the possible changes in these areas resulting from anti-pandemic measures. We also highlight a call for greater research efforts to address the short and long-term consequences of changes to health behaviours.