Well-Being With Soul: Science in Pursuit of Human Potential

"I'm Part of Something That Matters": Exploring What Older Adults Value Through Their Engagement in Age-Friendly Community Initiatives

Older adults' engagement in age-friendly community (AFC) initiatives is considered an essential element of community transformation. However, research on older adults' experiences of engaging in AFC initiatives remains nascent. Based on qualitative interviews with 23 older adult participants from 15 AFC initiatives across four states in the United States (U.S.), our reflexive thematic analysisidentified three themes regarding what participants value from their engagement: (a) social contribution; (b) social connectedness and integration; and (c) staying active and personal growth. Exploring older adults' interest in contributing to, connecting with, and growing in their community can inform recruitment and retention in AFC initiatives.

The Interplay Between Workplace Incivility, Religiosity and Well-Being: Insights from Jordan and the United Arab Emirates

Drawing on the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) theory, this study examines the relationship between workplace incivility and workers' psychological well-being. A related aim is to examine the link between workers' religiosity and their well-being, with workplace incivility moderating this nexus. Data were collected from 247 employees identified from private sectors (in Jordan and the UAE) via online-survey questionnaire. Factor analysis and hierarchical moderated multiple regression models were used to test the hypotheses. Study results show that workers' religiosity is positively and significantly associated with their psychological well-being, while workplace incivility is negatively (but insignificantly) associated with workers' psychological well-being. In addition, and contrary to our expectations and prior studies, our results suggest that workplace incivility strengthens the direct relationship between religiosity and well-being. The mechanism of this intersection may propose that rude and uncivil treatments positively predict self-blame, something that may lead the targets to become more religious to get recovery from different types of incivility and stressful life events. This study highlights the contextual applicability and possible extension of the JD-R theory through extending its model to religiosity and well-being of employees in a diverse cultural context in the Middle East.

A qualitative study of daily activities that inform a process-based model of well-being among Singaporean adults

BACKGROUND

Individual appraisals of personal well-being consider a spectrum of constructs including the reflections on the degree to which one's life is ultimately secure, meaningful, or valued in the context of dynamic changes in their bio-psycho-social environments. Standardized questionnaires for well-being evaluate an ideal state of health which is operationally defined by abstract constructs. Patient reports describe well-being as a more dynamic construct that relates to how they adapt to successive changes in their life situations. While response shift theory addresses this dynamic nature, little is known about how personal well-being is pursued as personal aspirations evolve. In this study, we identify regularly practiced goal-directed activities reported to contribute to the pursuit of personal well-being. We then propose a taxonomy of these reported activities to inform a process-based model for well-being.

METHODS

Purposive sampling was conducted with individuals, 30 to 60 years of age, with diverse ethnicities reflecting the Singaporean population. Individual semi-structured interviews were administered with the primary question: "What are the things or activities you have done in the last two weeks that made you feel like you had a good day?" Probes explored the personally salient meaning of each activity. A thematic approach was used for data analysis followed by a framework analysis to categorize the activities into major themes.

RESULTS

We interviewed 40 individuals comprised of 60% female participants. Thematic analysis identified eight types of goal-directed activities, which were categorized under three major themes: (i) Self-Affirming Care through individual self-care and maintaining interpersonal relationships, (ii) Achievement-Focused Tasks as indicated by work-related accomplishments and developing a skill or hobby, (iii) Affiliative Growth and Support as reflected through religious practices and community services. Planned physical activity contributed to self-affirming care and achievement-focused tasks. Social affirming roles were associated with both achievement-focused tasks and affiliative growth and support.

CONCLUSIONS

In the dimensions of goal-directed activities identified, there is close alignment between Self-Affirming Care and attachment theory; Achievement-Focused Tasks and self-determination theory; and Affiliative Growth and Support and social mattering. These findings can contribute to a comprehensive process-based model of well-being which is more closely aligned to patient-report appraisals of personal well-being.

Role of workplace bullying and workplace incivility for employee performance: Mediated-moderated mechanism

Workplace events play a significant role in shaping the performance of employees and organizations. Negative events, in particular, require careful attention due to their severe impact on employee wellbeing and performance. Workplace bullying and incivility are two negative events that can cause significant harm to employees and contribute to poor performance. This study examines the effects of workplace bullying and incivility on employee performance in the presence of perceived psychological wellbeing (PWB), with the moderating role of perceived organizational support (POS) considered for both independent variables and employee performance (EP). The study focuses on female nurses working in the healthcare sector of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The results of the study indicate that workplace bullying and incivility have adverse effects on employee performance and that PWB mediates these relationships. Moreover, perceived organizational support moderates the relationship between both predictors and the employee performance criterion. In conclusion, the findings of this study highlight the importance of creating a positive and supportive work environment to mitigate the negative effects of workplace bullying and incivility on employee performance.

"Think positive and don't die alone" - Foreign-born, South Asian older adults' perceptions on healthy aging

South Asians are the largest and fastest-growing racialized group in Canada, yet there are limited data on various aspects of health and well-being within this population. This includes the South Asian older adults' ethnoculturally informed perceptions of ageing. The study aimed to understand how social and cultural forces impact the meaning assigned to healthy ageing amongst older South Asians in Canada. We recruited with purposeful and snowball sampling strategies in Southern Ontario. We conducted in-depth focus group and individual interviews (n = 19) in five South Asian languages, employing a multilingual and cross-cultural qualitative approach. In our analysis, we identified three central themes: (a) taking care of body (b) taking care of mind and heart and (c) healthy ageing through the integration of mind and body. Our study demonstrates that older immigrants are a diverse and heterogeneous population and that their conception of healthy ageing is strongly influenced by their country of origin. This study also demonstrates how racialized foreign-born older adults might provide distinctive perspectives on the ageing process and on social theories of ageing due to their simultaneous immersion in and belonging to global majority and global minority cultures. This research also adds to the limited body of literature on the theories of ageing, despite migration trends, still has a white-centric lens.

Contributions of Eudaimonic Well-Being to Mental Health Practice

Purpose

Synergies between a eudaimonic model of psychological well-being (Ryff, 1989) and mental health practice are examined. The model grew out of clinical, developmental, existential, and humanistic perspectives that emphasized psychological strengths and capacities, in contrast to the focus on emotional distress and dysfunction in clinical psychology.

Design/Approach

Conceptual foundations of the eudaimonic approach are described, along with the six components positive functioning that are used to measure well-being. These qualities may be important in facilitating the recovery experiences, which are of interest in Mental Health and Social Inclusion.

Findings

Four categories of empirical evidence about eudaimonia are reviewed: (1) how it changes with aging, (2) how it matters for health, (3) what are its biological and neurological underpinnings, and (4) whether it can be promoted. Major contemporary forces against eudaimonia are also considered, including ever-widening inequality, the enduring pandemic, and world-wide strife. In contrast, encounters with the arts and nature are put forth as forces for eudaimonia. The relevance of these ideas for mental health research and practice is considered.

Originality

Mental health is often defined as the absence of mental illness. The novelty of the eudaimonic approach is to define mental health as the presence of well-being, assessed with different components of positive functioning.

Practical Implications

Enormous suffering defines our contemporary world. Such realities call for greater attention to factors that undermine as well as nurture the realization of human potential, the core of eudaimonic well-being.

Financial satisfaction, food security, and shared meals are foundations of happiness among older persons in Thailand

The objective of this study was to investigate the association between happiness and food-related behaviours and other potential factors among older persons in Thailand. This was a cross-sectional study with multistage random sampling. In total, 1,197 older (age 60 + years) persons participated in this study. Face-to-face interviews were conducted to obtain information about socio-demographic characteristics, health status, household chores, home gardening, financial situation, family meals, and food security. Descriptive and multivariate regression analyses were performed for data analysis. The analysis found that age, health status, household chores, and home gardening were found to be significantly associated with happiness. Statistically-significant associations of financial situation, family meals, and food insecurity with happiness were also observed. People who were not dissatisfied with their financial situation were happier than people who were unhappy with their financial situation. Older people who ate every meal with a family member(s) were happiest. People who had severe food insecurity were less happy than those with food security. The findings suggest the need for investment priorities on food and nutrition with a long-term policy to ensure financial self-sufficiency and food security among older persons and their family.

Identifying predictors of psychological well-being among volunteer mentors in Big Brothers Big Sisters

Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) facilitates mentoring relationships between youth and volunteer mentors. Although research has examined outcomes for youth in BBBS, relatively less investigation has been undertaken for volunteer outcomes. This study explored factors associated with changes in psychological well-being among BBBS volunteer mentors. Participants included 593 mentors (Mage = 31) surveyed at study baseline and 15-month follow-up. A classification and regression decision tree approach was used to predict residualized change in psychological well-being from study baseline with match length included as the first split variable, and demographic, individual, and relationship variables included as candidate predictors. Analyses indicated that mentors with longer relationships (>4.5 months) reported more positive change in psychological well-being compared with mentors with shorter relationships. Perceived quality of program supervision was a further predictor within both groups of volunteers. Findings suggest that longer relationships and greater program support may contribute to mentor well-being.

The Relationship between Happiness and Mental Health among Saudi Women

The happiness and mental health of individuals are crucial for national developments. In Saudi Arabia, wellbeing occupies a central position in Vision 2030, along with women's empowerment. Rapidly changing rights and responsibilities might result in more sources of stress. The aim of this study was to explore happiness and mental health among Saudi women during their contributions to a fast-growing nation in all fields. We assessed happiness and mental health (somatic symptoms, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and social dysfunction) in 308 Saudi women aged 15-50 years using a self-administered online survey comprising the short Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ-8) and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). The participants demonstrated general satisfaction yet showed rising psychological distress. Married women reported better mental health compared to single women, particularly with regards to anxiety, insomnia, and depression. Depression was highest among younger women. Employed women demonstrated lower social functioning compared to unemployed women. Women with a higher educational level showed lower social functioning. Happiness scores were significantly and inversely related with overall mental health scores as well as mental health subscales (somatic, anxiety, and depression), except for social dysfunction, which showed a positive correlation to happiness scores. This study contributes to the body of literature on women's mental health and happiness by providing recommendations for improving both as well as directions for future research.

The Role of Personal and Contextual Resources on the Relationship Between Soul at Work and Discerning Millennial Employees

In this study, the influence of soul at work on discerning millennial employees was analysed, keeping in mind the newer workforce and less paid attention to the nurturance of their soul and discernment. This article also studies and investigates the mediating and moderating roles of personal and contextual resources. 624 respondents (367 office and 257 online) were interviewed working as executives in manufacturing and service industries (public and private) from eastern and northern India. Data was gathered using a cross-sectional study, and structural equation modelling (SEM) was employed to study the hypothesis. The findings indicated a relationship between soul at work and discerning millennial employees. The impact of meditation and moderation was also found in this relationship. The study adds to the literature on the soul at work by combining it with discerning millennial employees, demonstrating its uniqueness and importance for the desired outcome. This research explains unique results with meaningful discussion and practical suggestions derived from the data.

Gender, Stress, and Well-Being in Adulthood

Exposure to stressors may be one of the most critical components of health and well-being. Although research on stress and health abounds, most studies have focused on establishing that stress is harmful to physical and mental health whereas less attention has been paid to analysing the effects of stress on well-being. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the relevance of gender in the association of stress with well-being in adulthood. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1578 women and 1507 men from the Spanish general population aged between 30 and 59. All participants were assessed by eight self-reports measuring chronic stress, life events, daily hassles, eudaimonic well-being, life satisfaction, masculine/instrumental and feminine/expressive traits, coping styles, and social support. Although stress does not affect women's eudaimonic well-being, a greater number of life events and more daily hassles rendered lower life satisfaction in women. Men's greater chronic stress was associated with lower eudaimonic well-being and life satisfaction; moreover, a greater number of life events was associated with men's lower life satisfaction. We conclude that gender is relevant in the stress and well-being of adults as well as in the association between stress and well-being.

Mindfulness and psychological distress in men during the COVID-19 pandemic: The mediating role of environmental mastery and purpose in life

Men's mental health has been severely affected during the COVID-19 pandemic, with many studies focussing on the determinants of men's psychological distress. This study aimed at examining the relationships between mindfulness, environmental mastery (EM), purpose in life (PL) and indicators of psychological distress (i.e., common mental disorders and perceived stress). This was a cross-sectional online study in which participants were 1,006 men aged between 29 and 39 years (45.1%), residing in Brazil during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. A parallel multiple mediator model was used to test the study variables' relationships, using mindfulness as the independent variable and indicators of psychological distress as the dependent variables. Results indicated that EM and PL significantly mediated the effects of mindfulness on men's psychological distress, lowering its levels and accounting for 31% of common mental disorders and 51% of perceived stress. Implications for public health policies and clinical practice are discussed.

Mindfulness and psychological well-being in adolescents: the mediating role of self-compassion, emotional dysregulation and cognitive flexibility

INTRODUCTION

Adolescence is a critical period of growth. Mental health during adolescence is one of the most important determinants of mental health in adulthood. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between mindfulness and psychological well-being of adolescents considering the mediating role of self-compassion, emotional dysregulation and cognitive flexibility.

METHODS

The method of this research is cross-sectional. The research population was adolescents (elementary, first and second high school) in Zanjan, Iran in 2021, whose approximate number was 14,000. Data through adolescent mindfulness questionnaires (Brown, West, Loverich, and Biegel, 2011), short form of psychological well-being questionnaire (Ryff and Keyes, 1995), short form of self-compassion scale (Raes et al., 2011), difficulty in Emotion regulation (Gratz and Roemer, 2004) and cognitive flexibility (Dennis and Vander Wal, 2010) were collected. Data analysis was performed using Pearson correlation coefficient and path analysis with SPSS-26 and lisrel-10.2 software.

RESULTS

According the results, in addition to the fact that mindfulness is directly and positively related to psychological well-being (p < 0.05), it is also indirectly through self-compassion and Cognitive flexibility has a positive and significant relationship with psychological well-being and also mindfulness has an indirect, negative and significant relationship with psychological well-being through emotional dysregulation (p < 0.05). The results supported the goodness of model fit and confirmation of hypotheses.

CONCLUSION

Therefore, it is recommended that practitioners provide the basis for promoting psychological well-being through mindfulness, emotional dysregulation, self-compassion and cognitive flexibility.

Health-related quality of life and psychological indicators of thriving 15-19 years after heart or lung transplantation

BACKGROUND

Survival into the second decade after cardiothoracic transplantation (CTX) is no longer uncommon. Few data exist on any health-related quality of life (HRQOL) impairments survivors face, or whether they may even experience positive psychological outcomes indicative of "thriving" (e.g., personal growth). We provide such data in a long-term survivor cohort.

METHODS

Among 304 patients prospectively studied across the first 2 years post-CTX, we re-interviewed patients ≥15 years post-CTX. We (a) examined levels of HRQOL and positive psychological outcomes (posttraumatic growth related to CTX, purpose in life, life satisfaction) at follow-up, (b) evaluated change since transplant with mixed-effects models, and (c) identified psychosocial and clinical correlates of study outcomes with multivariable regression.

RESULTS

Of 77 survivors, 64 (83%) were assessed (35 heart, 29 lung recipients; 15-19 years post-CTX). Physical HRQOL was poorer than the general population norm and earlier post-transplant levels (P's < .001). Mental HRQOL exceeded the norm (P < .001), with little temporal change (P = .070). Mean positive psychological outcome scores exceeded scales' midpoints at follow-up. Life satisfaction, assessed longitudinally, declined over time (P < .001) but remained similar to the norm at follow-up. Recent hospitalization and dyspnea increased patients' likelihood of poor physical HRQOL at follow-up (P's ≤ .022). Lower sense of mastery and poorer caregiver support lessened patients' likelihood of positive psychological outcomes (P's ≤ .049). Medical comorbidities and type of CTX were not associated with study outcomes at follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite physical HRQOL impairment, long-term CTX survivors otherwise showed favorable outcomes. Clinical attention to correlates of HRQOL and positive psychological outcomes may help maximize survivors' well-being.

Needs and Well-Being Across Europe: Basic Psychological Needs Are Closely Connected With Well-Being, Meaning, and Symptoms of Depression in 27 European Countries

In the quest to identify the key sources of subjective well-being, self-determination theory (SDT) has proposed that three basic psychological needs—autonomy, competence, and relatedness—are fundamental to well-being across cultures. To understand their influence on well-being, we analyzed data from European Social Survey on 27 European countries ( n = 48,550) using structural equation modeling with alignment invariance that allowed us to get comparable indicators across the countries. Both across Europe, and within each of the 27 countries, SDT’s basic psychological needs—both when examined alone and when examined together—were strongly related to key indicators of well-being (happiness, life satisfaction, and meaning in life) and a key indicator of ill-being (symptoms of depression), even controlling for demographic factors and socio-economic position. Moreover, basic needs substantially and sometimes fully mediated the effects of socio-economic position on well-being, underscoring their status as crucial to human well-being.

Relevant Variables in the Stimulation of Psychological Well-Being in Physical Education: A Systematic Review

This study is based on the need to explore the different strategies and interventions that seek to develop psychological well-being (PW) in scholars (children and adolescents aged 9–19 years) through physical education and school sports by bearing in mind other variables that can extensively facilitate PW in these students. This study analyzed 504 research works published between 2010 and 2020, and 23 were selected for this review because they met the inclusion criteria. The results showed that the most studied variables were: motivation, academic performance, teaching climate in physical education (PE) teaching styles, parents’ relationships and school environment. The literature review carried out in this study reveals the need to consider PW with other relevant variables, and the importance of doing so from a community approach, in which all systems (parents, school and government) are active participants, and contribute to generate a positive environment for all. Finally, school professionals should be aware of the need to stimulate their students’ PW because government organizations should be interested in promoting such a policy in this population.

Theorizing the notion of well-being in Islam: An update of Ryff's theory of eudaimonic psychological well-being

Prior studies suggest that knowledge about workers' psychological well-being is overly focused on materialism or biologically-based understanding, not taking into account the role of spirituality in one's well-being. Drawing on Ryff's (1989) psychological well-being framework and using an interdisciplinary approach, this paper offers a model of 'well-being in Islam' through theorizing this concept from an Islamic lens and contextually studying the implications of Islamic practices and spiritual facilities for employees' psychological well-being in workplaces. Drawing on qualitative data collected from 22 employees, our model (findings) shows that worshipping Allah, contemplative practices, and patience are key elements of one's well-being. This paper also points towards the important role of specific spiritual provisions (e.g., designated rooms for prayer, prayer time and ablution facilities) and contemplative practices (e.g., ritualistic-cyclic, creative process, generative, movement practices, stillness, activist, relational) for Ryff's six dimensions of employees' eudaimonic well-being. This study is unique as it integrates the notion of well-being in Islam into management and organization studies and offers a novel and contextual extension of Ryff's theory by integrating a spiritual notion of well-being. In the end, theoretical and practical implications are offered.

Happy to belong: Exploring the embeddedness of well-being in the integration of migrant and refugee minors

This paper aims to explore the role of Child Well-Being (CWB) in the integration processes of migrant and refugee minors. Through the co-creative development of a new child-centered system of indicators about the integration of migrant and refugee children in Europe the authors discuss a) the prominent role of well-being in this set of indicators, and b) how reappraising these indicators from a well-being approach can contribute to delving into which aspects of CWB are connected to the integration of migrant children. The contributions of this paper open new research paths: on the one hand, the methodology presented provides a reference for future research that can replicate the procedure to build child-centered indicators in disciplines different than migration studies; on the other hand, the results presented suggest not only that well-being has a prominent role in migrant children integration experiences, but also, that reappraising dimensions of migrant children’s integration from a well-being approach hints at blurry borders between both concepts. This suggests promising research opportunities to underpin the relationship between integration and well-being.

Does Physical Activity in Natural Outdoor Environments Improve Wellbeing? A Meta-Analysis

Organizational initiatives and researchers have argued for the importance of the natural outdoor environment (NOE) for promoting wellbeing. The main aim of this meta-analysis was to synthesize the existing literature to examine the effects of physical activity (PA) in the NOE on wellbeing in adults. The secondary aim was to explore whether wellbeing reported by adults differs as a function of PA context. Electronic databases (PubMed, ProQuest Nursing and Allied Health, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus and Embase) were searched for English peer-reviewed articles published before January 2019. Inclusion criteria were: (1) healthy adults; (2) PA in the NOE; (3) the measurement of wellbeing; and (4) randomized control trials, quasi-experimental designs, matched group designs. To address the secondary aim, PA in the NOE was compared with that performed indoors. Risk of bias was assessed through the Effective Public Health Practice Project (EHPP) Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies. Primary studies meeting inclusion criteria for the main (nstudies = 19) and secondary (nstudies = 5) aims were analyzed and interpreted. The overall effect size for the main analysis was moderate (d = 0.49, p < 0.001; 95% CI = 0.33, 0.66), with the magnitude of effect varying depending on wellbeing dimension. Wellbeing was greater in PA in the NOE subgroup (d = 0.53) when compared with the indoor subgroup (d = 0.28), albeit not statistically significant (p = 0.15). Although physical activity in the NOE was associated with higher wellbeing, there is limited evidence to support that it confers superior benefits to that engaged indoors. Researchers are encouraged to include study designs that measure markers of wellbeing at multiple time points, greater consideration to diverse wellbeing dimensions and justify decisions linked to PA and NOE types.

Lifestyle, psychological well-being, and body mass index of indigenous women

Lifestyle, psychological well-being, and body mass index of indigenous women. Introduction. Obesity is more common in women and has also been found to be present in indigenous populations. During university studies, obesity-related lifestyles are in the process of consolidation, and although this is known, research is limited to addressing physical activity and diet, ignoring other lifestyle components, such as life appreciation. Additionally, there is a need to corroborate whether psychological well-being contributes to excess weight in indigenous women. Objective. To determine whether there is an association between lifestyle, psychological well-being, and body mass index (BMI) in indigenous women. Materials and methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 110 female Zapotec university students in Juchitán, Oaxaca, Mexico. The Psychological Well-Being Scale, the Healthy Lifestyle Scale for University Students, and a questionnaire about personal data were used. Body weight and height were measured to calculate BMI. Results. There was a negative correlation between BMI, self-acceptance (r = -0.33; p < 0.01), and life appreciation (r = -0.22; p < 0.05). Positive correlations were found between lifestyle and psychological well-being dimensions, with the strongest correlations being observed between life appreciation and purpose in life (r = 0.55) and self-acceptance (r = 0.48). The multivariable models determined that life appreciation and self-acceptance are associated with BMI. Conclusion. Life appreciation and self-acceptance are predictors of BMI and are even more strongly associated than exercise and nutrition behaviors.

Meaning-Making in the Face of Intersecting Catastrophes: COVID-19 and the Plague of Inequality

Beyond the enormous toll in illness and death, the COVID-19 pandemic unleashed multiple additional problems (job loss, evictions, hunger) that are disproportionately borne by those who were already vulnerable. In this essay, I reflect about these intersecting catastrophes, which I see as undermining the capacities of many to live meaningful and fulfilling lives. Symptoms of these problems are growing "deaths of despair" due to suicide, drug and alcohol addictions. Drawing on multidisciplinary science, I suggest that these widespread problems cannot be ministered to by focusing only at the individual level. Structural factors, including unfair distributions of resources and opportunities demand attention as well because they are fueling growing disparities between the privileged and the disadvantaged segments of contemporary societies. I examine what meanings and emotions are relevant responses to these troubled times, giving emphasis to the legitimacy of anger and outrage in the face of suffering and injustice. Further insight is sought in historical accounts of longstanding tensions between self-interest and the social contract. Going forward, I suggest that these turbulent times call for greater engagement with and scientific understanding of the arts and humanities in activating the deepest corners of our humanity. Examples from past and current art dealing with human suffering, inequality, and plagues illustrate their possible role in nurturing human capacities to understand, to care, and to act.

Positive Psychology: Looking Back and Looking Forward

Envisioning the future of positive psychology (PP) requires looking at its past. To that end, I first review prior critiques of PP to underscore that certain early problems have persisted over time. I then selectively examine recent research to illustrate progress in certain areas as well as draw attention to recurrent problems. Key among them is promulgation of poorly constructed measures of well-being and reliance on homogeneous, privileged research samples. Another concern is the commercialization of PP, which points to the need for greater oversight and quality control in profit-seeking endeavors. Looking ahead, I advocate for future science tied to contemporary challenges, particularly ever-widening inequality and the pandemic. These constitute intersecting catastrophes that need scientific attention. Such problems bring into focus "neglected negatives" that may be fueling current difficulties, including greed, indifference, and stupidity. Anger, which defies easy characterization as positive or negative, also warrants greater scientific study. Going forward I advocate for greater study of domains that likely nurture good lives and just societies - namely, participation in the arts and encounters with nature, both currently under study. Overall, my entreaty to PP is to reckon with persistent problems from its past, while striving toward a future that is societally relevant and virtuous.

Undergraduates' lived experience of project-/problem-based learning in introductory biology

Recommendations for enhancing scientific literacy, inclusivity, and the ecosystem for innovation call for transitioning from teacher-centered to learner-centered science classrooms, particularly at the introductory undergraduate level. Yet little is documented about the challenges that undergraduates perceive in such classrooms and the students' ways of navigating them. Via mixed methods, we studied undergraduates' lived experience in one form of learner-centered teaching, hybrid project-/problem-based learning (PBL), in introductory organismal biology at a baccalaureate institution. Prominent in qualitative analyses of student interviews and written reflections were undergraduates' initial expectation of and longing for an emphasis on facts and transmission of them. The prominence diminished from semester's middle to end, as students came to value developing ideas, solving problems collaboratively, and engaging in deep ways of learning. Collaboration and personal resources such as belief in self emerged as supports for these shifts. Quantitative analyses corroborated that PBL students transformed as learners, moving toward informed views on the nature of science, advancing in multivariable causal reasoning, and more frequently adopting deep approaches for learning than students in lecture-based sections. The qualitative and quantitative findings portray the PBL classroom as an intercultural experience in which culture shock yields over time to acceptance in a way supported by students' internal resources and peer collaboration. The findings have value to those seeking to implement PBL and other complex-learning approaches in a manner responsive to the lived experience of the learner.

The Fertility of a Concept: A Bibliometric Review of Human Flourishing

Human flourishing is a thriving concept, whose use has greatly increased among academic researchers from a variety of fields, from the arts and humanities and psychology to the social and environmental sciences and economics. To better understand the concept's success, this work proposes a bibliometric review, in which statistical methods and data mining were used to analyze 1829 documents, chosen from the Scopus database by searching the term "human flourishing". Through cluster and network analyses, the study shows the concept's evolution and composition, as well as its current tensions and trends, in which the predominantly psychological approach is being compensated with social concerns and the search for justice. Furthermore, the concept's strong philosophical roots provide it with abstract richness and great fertility, which can be seen in keywords, such as virtue or eudaimonia. This bibliometric review proved to be useful for this type of study, despite the limitations imposed by the characteristics of the Scopus database itself.

Beyond the "Third Wave of Positive Psychology": Challenges and Opportunities for Future Research

The positive psychology (PP) landscape is changing, and its initial identity is being challenged. Moving beyond the “third wave of PP,” two roads for future research and practice in well-being studies are discerned: The first is the state of the art PP trajectory that will (for the near future) continue as a scientific (sub)discipline in/next to psychology (because of its popular brand name). The second trajectory (main focus of this manuscript) links to pointers described as part of the so-called third wave of PP, which will be argued as actually being the beginning of a new domain of inter- or transdisciplinary well-being studies in its own right. It has a broader scope than the state of the art in PP, but is more delineated than in planetary well-being studies. It is in particular suitable to understand the complex nature of bio-psycho-social-ecological well-being, and to promote health and wellness in times of enormous challenges and changes. A unique cohering focus for this post-disciplinary well-being research domain is proposed. In both trajectories, future research will have to increase cognizance of metatheoretical assumptions, develop more encompassing theories to bridge the conceptual fragmentation in the field, and implement methodological reforms, while keeping context and the interwovenness of the various levels of the scientific text in mind. Opportunities are indicated to contribute to the discourse on the identity and development of scientific knowledge in mainstream positive psychology and the evolving post-disciplinary domain of well-being studies.

Development and psychometric assessment of a psychological well-being instrument for adults with mild intellectual disability or borderline intellectual functioning

BACKGROUND

Measuring eudaimonic well-being is important to gain a complete picture of the well-being of individuals with mild intellectual disabilities or borderline intellectual functioning (MID-BIF), but there is no measurement instrument available for this population coding for multiple dimensions of eudaimonic well-being.

AIMS

The current study developed and piloted a new instrument coding for eudaimonic well-being in individuals with MID-BIF.

METHODS AND PROCEDURES

The instrument (SPWB-ID) was adapted from Ryff's scales of psychological well-being, including subscales addressing purpose in life, environmental mastery, positive relationships, self-acceptance, personal growth, and autonomy. Adaptations were based on the literature and interviews with people with MID-BIF and experts in the field. The SPWB-ID was piloted among 103 adults with MID-BIF.

OUTCOMES AND RESULTS

The trimmed version of the SPWB-ID showed sufficient to good internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Hypothesis testing for construct validity suggested the subscales of the SPWB-ID measured well-being, showing moderate to high correlations with quality of life, and differences in eudaimonic well-being between participants with and without clinically relevant depression scores.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

The SPWB-ID reliably measures eudaimonic well-being in individuals with MID-BIF. This enables support providers to collect information on eudaimonic well-being, providing input for person-centred care and support for individuals with MID-BIF.

Effects of Self-Control on Subjective Well-Being: Examining the Moderating Role of Trait and State Motivation

It is well documented that self-control has a positive effect on individuals’ subjective well-being. However, little research has focused on the moderators underlying this relationship. The present research used two studies to examine the moderating role of both trait and state motivation on the relationship between self-control and subjective well-being using psychometric and experimental models, respectively. In Study 1, we explored whether trait motivation (including promotion vs. prevention motivation) moderated the relationship between trait self-control and subjective well-being using a psychometric model. In Study 2, we examined the moderating effects of both trait and state motivation on the effect of state self-control (measured via ego depletion) on subjective well-being using an experimental model. Our results indicated that self-control had a positive effect on subjective well-being, with this relationship being primarily moderated by prevention motivation. When state and trait prevention motivations were congruent, self-control had the most obvious impact on subjective well-being. This study suggests that current understandings around the association between self-control and happiness is limited, implying that motivation should be the focus of future research.

Spirituality and Well-Being: Theory, Science, and the Nature Connection

The links between spirituality and eudaimonic well-being are examined, beginning with a look at theoretical issues as to whether spirituality is best construed as part of well-being, or as a possible influence on well-being. A brief review of scientific findings from the MIDUS study linking religion and spirituality to well-being and other outcomes is then provided to show recent empirical work on these topics. Suggestions for future work are also provided. The third section is forward-thinking and addresses the power of nature to nurture spirituality and well-being, beginning with a look at how current research has linked nature to human flourishing. Issues of spirituality are rarely mentioned in this literature, despite evidence that nature has long been a source of inspiration in poetry, literature, art, and music. These works reveal that the natural world speaks to the human soul. To explore such ideas, parts of Jungian psychology are revisited: the soul's longing for poetry, myth, and metaphor; the importance of animism, which sees nature as a field inhabited by spirit; and the devaluing of ancient cultures. The final section considers the wisdom of the indigenous peoples who saw spirit in everything. Their inputs, exemplified with "Two-Eyed Seeing", offer new visions for thinking about the interplay of spirituality, well-being, and the natural world.

The Mindfulness Map: A Practical Classification Framework of Mindfulness Practices, Associated Intentions, and Experiential Understandings

When considering the numerous mindfulness-based and mindfulness-informed programs that have flourished in the past decades it is not always clear that they all refer to the same “mindfulness. ” To facilitate more clarity and precision in describing, researching and teaching mindfulness in the secular settings, we propose a classification framework of mindfulness practices, intentions behind them and the experiential understandings the practices may aim to develop. Accordingly, the proposed framework, called the Mindfulness Map, has two axes. The first axis outlines mindfulness practices (and associated instructions) classified into four groups (MGs), e.g. the MG1 focuses on cultivating attention to the present moment somatic and sensory experience while the MG4 focuses on cultivating the ability to recognize and deconstruct perceptual, cognitive and emotional experiences and biases. The second axis outlines possible intentions (INTs) to cultivate particular experiential understanding (EU) via teaching and practicing the MGs, e.g., the INT1 designates the intention to gain EU of how our relationship to experience contributes to wellbeing, the INT2 refers to the intention to gain EU of the changing nature of body, mind and external phenomenon. We suggest that the same MG can lead to different EUs outcomes based on the specific INTs applied in their teaching or practice. The range of INTs and EUs included here is not exhaustive, there are further types the Map could be expanded toward. Aside from encouraging more fine-grained distinctions of mindfulness practices, the proposed Map aims to open discussions about interactions between MGs, INTs, EUs and practice outcomes. The Map may facilitate more nuanced and precise approaches to researching the range of outcomes cultivated by mindfulness practices, help bridge contradictory findings, and catalyze further debate and research into ethical aspects of mindfulness. The Map also highlights the need for further teaching development and research on longer-term trajectories of mindfulness practice. While the proposed Mindfulness Map organises the mindfulness practice territory along two axes, it is aimed as a starting point for further discussion and can be further revised and/or expanded by other axes.

Positive and meaningful lives: Systematic review and meta-analysis of eudaimonic well-being in first-episode psychosis

BACKGROUND

First-episode psychosis typically has its onset during adolescence. Prolonged deficits in social functioning are common in FEP and yet often variance in functioning remains unexplained. Developmental psychology frameworks may be useful for understanding these deficits. Eudaimonic well-being (EWB), or positive self-development, is a developmental psychology construct that has been shown to predict mental health outcomes across multiple populations but has not been systematically reviewed in FEP.

AIM

Our aim was to systematically review the evidence for: the predictors of EWB, the effectiveness of EWB interventions and to examine the quality of this research in FEP.

METHODS

Selected studies measured either composite or components of EWB. A systematic search produced 2876 abstracts and 122 articles were identified for full screening which produced 17 final papers with 2459 participants.

RESULTS

Studies comprised six RCTs, eight prospective follow-up studies and three case-controlled studies. Self-esteem and self-efficacy were the most commonly measured components. A meta-analysis of RCTs revealed no statistically significant effect of interventions on self-esteem. The extant research indicates that character strengths may be associated with higher EWB. Self-esteem may be lower in FEP compared with age matched controls but not different from ultra-high risk patients. Self-esteem appears to be associated with poorer insight and improved therapeutic alliance. Significant problems with both external and internal validity of reviewed studies were apparent.

CONCLUSIONS

The hypotheses that lowered EWB is a risk factor for both onset of FEP and for poorer functional outcomes warrant further investigation. There is currently no evidence for effective interventions for EWB in FEP.

Role of Restorativeness in Improving the Psychological Well-Being of University Students

Many university students experience high levels of study-related fatigue, hence, necessitating opportunities for restoration. They could potentially benefit from campus-based physical activities that provide them with effective restoration breaks and allow them to return to their studies cognitively refreshed. Thus, a cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the association between perceived restorativeness among postgraduates and their psychological well-being by using the four constructs of Kaplan's attention restoration theory (ART): fascination, being away, extent, and compatibility. In this study, nature view windows were also used as a moderator. Malaysian postgraduate students [n = 192; 94 females; age in years (M = 30.64, SD = 2.73)] completed the Ryff's scale of psychological wellbeing (PWB) and perceived restorativeness scale for activity (PRAS). This study used the partial least squares-structural equation model (PLS-SEM) to examine these relationships. The results demonstrate that three ART constructs, namely, being away, fascination, and compatibility, are significant predictors of psychological well-being across the sample size. Furthermore, for participants who reside in university dormitories, windows that overlook nature can enhance the relationship of being away, compatibility, and fascination to psychological well-being, compared with those with less natural views. Thus, this study confirmed the moderating effect of nature view windows and provided insight into the ART constructs that facilitate and enhance restorative experiences. By strengthening ART with additional factors, this study has also contributed toward the improvement of the psychological well-being of university students.

The Joyful Life: An Existential-Humanistic Approach to Positive Psychology in the Time of a Pandemic

In the midst of a global pandemic, psychology has a duty to identify dispositional or character traits that can be cultivated in citizens in order to create resiliency in the face of profound losses, suffering and distress. Dispositional joy holds some promise as such a trait that could be especially important for well-being during the current pandemic and its consequences. The concept of the Joyful Life may operate as bridge between positive psychology and humanistic, existential, and spiritual views of the good life, by integrating hedonic, prudential, eudaimonic and chaironic visions of the good life. Previous phenomenological research on state joy suggests that momentary states of joy may have features that overlap with happiness but go beyond mere hedonic interests, and point to the experience of a life oriented toward virtue and a sense of the transcendent or the sacred. However, qualitative research on the Joyful Life, or dispositional joy, is sorely lacking. This study utilized a dialogical phenomenological analysis to conduct a group-based analysis of 17 volunteer students, who produced 51 autobiographical narrative descriptions of the joyful life. The dialogical analyses were assisted by integration of the Imagery in Movement Method, which incorporated expressive drawing and psychodrama as an aid to explicate implicit themes in the experiences of the participants. The analyses yielded ten invariant themes found across the autobiographical narrative descriptions: Being broken, being grounded, being centered, breaking open, being uplifted, being supertemporal, being open to the mystery, being grateful, opening up and out, and being together. The descriptions of a Joyful Life were consistent with a meaning orientation to happiness, due to their emphasis on the cultivation of virtue in the service of a higher calling, the realization of which was felt to be a gift or blessing. The discussion examines implications for future research, including the current relevance of a joyful disposition during a global pandemic. Due to the joyful disposition's tendency to transform suffering and tragedy into meaning, and its theme of an orientation to prosocial motivations, the Joyful Life may occupy a central place in the study of resiliency and personal growth in response to personal and collective trauma such as COVID-19.

Jammin' the Blues: Experiencing the "Good Life"

The purpose of this study was to examine the characteristics, attitudes, and perceptions of older musicians who participated regularly in a local blues jam. Six core dimensions of eudaimonic well-being and their conceptual foundations provided a framework for examining the way that music-making contributes to subjective well-being during the lifespan of an individual. The following research questions guided this investigation: (1) In what ways do biographical factors and engagement with music influence the lives of older adult blues/rock musicians who participate in a local blues jam? (2) What implications for subjective well-being with regard to music learning might be used to inform music education practices? Interviews and observations over a 2-month period provided data for understanding how lived experiences impacted personal well-being, and musical growth and development over time. Findings suggested that eudaimonic well-being is the result of active engagement in human activities that are goal-directed and purposeful, and a good life involves the self-realization of individual dispositions and talents over a lifetime. Implications for music education include individualized pedagogical approaches that encourage learners to discover a sense of well-being in and through music.

The Scales of Psychological Well-Being - a validation, usability and test-retest study among community-dwelling older people in Finland

Objectives: To validate the Finnish version of the 42-item Scales of Psychological Well-Being among community-dwelling older people. The study also examined the test-retest reliability and usability, i.e. user experience, of the scales in this age group.Method: The 42-item version of the SPWB was administered as part of a face-to-face interview among 968 men and women aged 75, 80 or 85 years. The subsample for test-retest analyses comprised 42 participants, who in addition to 11 interviewers also answered questions concerning the usability of the scales. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, Cronbach's alpha coefficients, Pearson and intra-class correlation coefficients, and Kendal's Tau B were used in the analyses.Results: The factor analyses did not support the theory-based six-factor structure of the scales. The Cronbach's alphas showed high internal consistency reliability for the total scale, but modest for the subscales. The intercorrelations between the subscales were moderate. The total score and the subscale scores of the SPWB correlated positively with quality of life and life satisfaction, and negatively with depressive symptoms. The interviewers reported that while most of the participants responded to the scales without marked difficulties, others could only answer after clarifications of some statements.Discussion: The reliability of the 42-item version of the SPWB was modest. The factor structure was inconsistent among the three age groups studied, but the scales were feasible to use. The current results call for further methodological consideration to optimize assessment of eudaimonic well-being in old age.

Fostering Well-Being in the Elderly: Translating Theories on Positive Aging to Practical Approaches

This article overviews positive aging concepts and strategies to enhance well-being in the elderly and then presents a translation of theories on positive aging to practical approaches for Positive Aging. Drawing upon positive psychology and positive aging research and tools, this program is designed to help older adults improve their well-being by acquiring skills and strategies to cope with present and future challenges. The Mental Fitness Program for Positive Aging (MFPPA) can enhance seniors' quality of life by increasing their vital involvement and active engagement in life. This model is most appropriate for community dwelling individuals. It can easily be conducted in wide range of adult education programs in community centers, sheltered homes, and primary care clinics. It can also be conducted through online psychoeducational training.

Psychological Wellbeing in Physical Education and School Sports: A Systematic Review

Mental health in children and adolescents has become an increasingly important topic in recent years. It is against this backdrop that physical education and school sports play an important role in promoting psychological wellbeing. The aim of this review was to analyse interventions for improving psychological wellbeing in this area. To this end, a literature review was conducted using four databases (WOS, SPORTDiscus, SCOPUS and ERIC) and the following keywords: psychological wellbeing, physical education, and school sports. Twenty-one articles met the inclusion criteria. The results showed that interventions varied greatly in terms of duration and used a wide range of strategies (conventional and non-conventional sports, physical activity, games, etc.) for promoting psychological wellbeing, primarily among secondary school students. There was a lack of consensus as to the conceptualisation of the construct of psychological wellbeing, resulting in a variety of tools and methods for assessing it. Some studies also suggested a link between psychological wellbeing and other variables, such as basic psychological needs and self-determination. Finally, this study provides a definition of psychological wellbeing through physical activity based on our findings.

Significados de ser feliz na velhice e qualidade de vida percebida segundo idosos brasileiros

Resumo Objetivo Identificar associações entre significados atribuídos ao conceito “ser feliz na velhice” e qualidade de vida percebida em amostra de idosos recrutados na comunidade. Métodos Os dados foram extraídos dos bancos da linha de base (LB; 2008-2009) e do seguimento (SG; 2016-2017) do Estudo Fibra Campinas, de base populacional, sobre fragilidade em idosos. Participaram 211 indivíduos com idade média de 81,0±4,3 anos no SG, com registro de respostas a uma questão aberta sobre felicidade na velhice na LB e à escala CASP-19 de qualidade de vida percebida (SG). Os registros da LB foram submetidos a análise de conteúdo; os do SG a medidas de frequência, posição e dispersão, e ambos a análises de regressão logística. Resultados Da análise de conteúdo foram derivados quatro temas: saúde e funcionalidade (o mais mencionado), bem-estar psicológico, relações interpessoais e recursos materiais. As categorias mais citadas foram autodesenvolvimento e relações familiares. Prevaleceram altas as pontuações na CASP-19, que foram mais prováveis entre os idosos que não mencionaram recursos materiais (OR=2,44; IC95%:1,20-4,43), nem saúde e funcionalidade (OR=2,03; IC95%:1,22-4,22), e entre os que citaram relações interpessoais (OR=1,92; IC95%:1,08-3,41) na LB. Altas pontuações no fator Autorrealização/Prazer foram mais prováveis entre os de 80-84 anos (OR=1,93; IC95%:1,01-3,68) e entre os que não citaram saúde e funcionalidade (OR=1,98; IC95%:1,00-1,98) na LB. Conclusão Felicidade na velhice e qualidade de vida referenciada a necessidades psicológicas são construtos relacionados. Sua avaliação capta vivências que excedem condições materiais e de saúde, predominantes nas medidas clássicas de qualidade de vida na velhice.

The Relationship Between Psychological Well-Being and Autonomy in Young People According to Age

Psychological well-being manifests itself in all aspects of human activity and is essential to understanding whether young people experience life satisfaction and whether, as they mature, well-being can be associated with different levels of personal autonomy. This quantitative study was developed within the framework of international research on young people's autonomy in the transition to adulthood. Its main objectives were to analyze the relationship between psychological well-being and autonomy and examine potential variations between the two variables according to age. To this end, Ryff's Psychological Well-Being Scale and the Transition to Adulthood Autonomy Scale (EDATVA) designed by Bernal et al., were used with a sample of 1,148 young people aged 16-21 from Madrid, Spain, and Bogotá, Colombia. The results show that almost all the dimensions on the Psychological Well-Being Scale correlate significantly and positively with the dimensions on the EDATVA scale. Specifically, moderate correlations were obtained between self-organization on the EDATVA scale and purpose in life (r = 0.568; p = 0.01) and environmental mastery (r = 0.447; p = 0.01) on the Psychological Well-Being Scale. In turn, autonomy on Ryff's scale obtained the highest correlation (r = 0.382; p = 0.01) with understanding context on the EDATVA scale. It was also found that the older 18-21 age group obtained higher scores than the younger 16-17 age group in all dimensions on both the EDATVA and the Psychological Well-Being Scale. Earlier studies endorse the results found in this research, especially the differences in the scores for both scales according to age groups. This opens avenues for future research to analyze the relationship between psychological well-being and autonomy as independent variables in other sectors of the population.

Friends, family, and romantic partners: Three critical relationships in older women's lives

How are different social relationships jointly and uniquely associated with older women's health and well-being, and what is the directionality of these associations? We address these questions using longitudinal data from the Midlife in the United States study. We find that relationship quality with romantic partners, family, and friends is positively linked with better health and well-being concurrently and longitudinally. Cross-lagged analyses indicate that romantic relationships are more predictive of than predicted by health and well-being, family relationships are more predicted by than predictive of health and well-being, and friendships are both predicted by and predictive of health and well-being.

Study of the role of regular physical activity on promoting hedonism and eudaimonia in breast cancer survivors

Background

Individuals who have completed cancer treatment may have psychological and physical challenges. Participating in regular physical activity is considered as one of the most important factors for improving postcancer experience.

Aims

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of participating in physical activities on hedonism and eudaimonia among breast cancer survivors.

Methods

The research method was a semi-experimental design in the form of time-series using two experimental and control groups. 42 breast cancer survivors participated in this study in Urmia. Data using motives for activation of hedonism and eudiamonia (HEMA) were gathered before the intervention program (pre-test), at the end of intervention (the first post-test), and two weeks after the first post-test (the second post-test). For data analysis, descriptive and inferential statistics (T-test, Chi-square, and repeated measures ANOVA) were used.

Result

Repeated measures ANOVA analysis in the three different periods of pre-test, post-test, and a month later post-test showed that changes in the mean score of hedonism and eudaimonia motivation were not similar in the two groups and indicated the improvement of dialysis adequacy in the intervention group compared with the control group.

Conclusion

Generally, the results showed that participating in regular physical activity is an effective intervention on enhancing the motives for hedonism and eduaimonia in breast cancer survivors.

Japanese version of the 42-item psychological well-being scale (PWBS-42): a validation study

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to examine the internal consistency, structural validity, and convergent/known-group validity of the Japanese version of the 42-item Psychological Well-Being Scale (PWBS-42).

METHODS

The PWBS-42 includes six 7-item subscales designed to measure the following dimensions of eudaimonic psychological well-being: 1) autonomy, 2) environmental mastery, 3) personal growth, 4) positive relations with others, 5) purpose in life, and 6) self-acceptance. A questionnaire was administered to 2102 community residents in Tokyo aged 30 or over as a part of the Midlife in Japan (MIDJA) survey, in 2008. The internal consistency reliability was tested using Cronbach's α. Structural validity was examined using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Convergent validity was evaluated by calculating correlations of the Japanese PWBS-42 subscales with life satisfaction, negative affect, negative adjectives, positive affect, positive adjectives, self-esteem, and perceived stress scales.

RESULTS

Data from 1027 respondents (505 males and 522 females) were analyzed (valid response rate = 56.2%). Cronbach's α values ranged from 0.70 to 0.78 for five of the subscales, while that for purpose in life was lower (0.57). EFA yielded a five-factor structure: The first two factors consisted of negative and positive items mostly from the environmental mastery, purpose in life, and self-acceptance subscales. The third, fourth, and fifth factors consisted mostly of items from the positive relations with others, autonomy, and personal growth subscales, respectively. As hypothesized, the scores for life satisfaction, negative and positive affect/adjectives, self-esteem and perceived stress were significantly correlated with all subscales of the Japanese PWBS-42.

CONCLUSION

The subscales of the Japanese version of the PWBS-42 showed accep. levels of reliability and support for convergent validity in the Japanese population. The factor structure was slightly different from the theoretical 6-factor model: items of three subscales (environmental mastery, purpose in life, and self-acceptance) loaded together on two factors. This finding may be interpreted in light of the interdependent self construal found in Japan in which these three components could be closely linked.

Social Networking Sites and Youth Transition: The Use of Facebook and Personal Well-Being of Social Work Young Graduates

Research on youth transitions, and the well-being of young people, has to take into consideration the digital context in which they are immersed. Digital interaction of young people increase year by year, social networking sites play a key role in their personal and professional relationships, and a very high percentage of jobs require digital skills. According to Eurostat (2019), participating on social networking sites (one of the most common online activities in the EU-28), is growing every year [more than half (56%) of individuals aged 16–74 used the internet for social networking sites], and this percentage increases among the younger generations. In this article, we present the results of our research on the digital skills and well-being of young people on Facebook, based on a survey with a sample of 126 young people graduated from the University of Málaga (School of Social Work) (Spain). Based on certain scales, the level of digital skills that students have on Facebook was measured, considering strategic aspects for information search, level of use and presence of Facebook in life, maintenance of relations and tolerance to diversity. Variables of psychosocial well-being were also measured (social capital, self-esteem, life satisfaction, and personal well-being). Variables of digital skills on Facebook were subsequently related to well-being variables. Results show that certain digital skills relate to the well-being of young people. In this sense, we deem it crucial to develop education policies that could provide young graduates with general digital skills to be used on social networking sites.

Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Enriched Life Scale Among US Military Veterans

The Enriched Life Scale (ELS) is a 40-item measure developed by the military veteran service organization, Team Red, White & Blue (RWB), to systematically capture and quantify the lived experiences of military veterans transitioning to civilian life. As Team RWB's mission is to "enrich veterans' lives," veterans who conceived of and co-developed the ELS as a psychometric instrument defined what an "enriched life" would entail. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) of the ELS revealed a five-factor structure capturing the domains of: physical health, mental health, genuine relationships, sense of purpose, and engaged citizenship. The goal of the current study was to use confirmatory factor analysis to validate the factor structure of the ELS in a sample of veterans not affiliated with Team RWB. We also sought to explore convergent validity with the Military to Civilian Questionnaire, a measure of military to civilian reintegration challenges. Five hundred and twenty-nine veterans participated in the study. We estimated three models, one-factor, four-factor, and five-factor model via maximum likelihood estimation with robust Huber-White standard errors. The five-factor model showed the best fit to the data (RMSEA = 0.05, CFI = 0.90, TLI = 0.90, SRMR = 0.06). Additionally, the five-factor model demonstrated convergent and discriminant validity, as well as internal consistency reliability (genuine relationships, α = 0.90; sense of purpose, α = 0.93; engaged citizenship, α = 0.89; mental health, α = 0.88; and physical health, α = 0.78). Overall, the ELS is a valid and reliable measure of veteran enrichment and could potentially be used in conjunction with diagnostic instruments that capture strain-related transition challenges (to include mental health disorders) to capture post-military service wellbeing.