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Peláez Zuberbühler J, Coo Calcagni C, Salanova M. Know and use your personal strengths! A Spanish validation of the strengths knowledge and use scales and their relationship with meaningful work and work-related well-being. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1086510. [PMID: 37151313 PMCID: PMC10158793 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1086510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Research in the field of work and organizational psychology increasingly highlights the role of meaningful work as a protector of well-being at work. This study tests the role of strengths knowledge and use as new pathways through which meaningful work may have a positive effect on work engagement and mental health. Methods Study 1 and Study 2 report the validation of the Spanish Strengths Use and Knowledge Scales respectively, with samples of N = 617 (Study 1) and N = 365 (Study 2) employees. Study 3 tests the mediating effects of strengths use and knowledge in a model with different work-related constructs in another sample of N = 798 employees. Results Findings from Studies 1 and 2 indicate that the instruments offer adequate evidence of reliability and validity. Results from Study 3 revealed that strengths knowledge is a mediator in the relationship between meaningful work and strengths use. Findings also confirmed the mediating roles of strengths use in the relationship between meaningful work and work engagement, and between meaningful work and mental health. Discussion This study highlights the ability to be aware of and apply signature strengths as effective and novel pathways to foster well-being at work through the cultivation of meaningful work.
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López J, Pérez-Rojo G, Noriega C, Martínez-Huertas JA, Velasco C. Longitudinal Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Older Adults' Wellbeing. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:837533. [PMID: 35350426 PMCID: PMC8957849 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.837533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The COVID-19 pandemic is a major stressful life event. This pandemic is causing significant changes in older adults' daily life affecting their physical and mental health. Psychological wellbeing is a protective variable when facing adverse circumstances, like the COVID-19 pandemic. This study analyzes the impact of COVID-19 on older adults' psychological wellbeing (personal growth and purpose in life) over time. Materials and Methods One hundred ninety-two people over 60 years old participated in a longitudinal study. Data were collected in three time points: during the lockdown on March 2020, when the lockdown finished (4 months after baseline), and during the third wave (10 months after baseline). We used latent growth curve models to assess the linear longitudinal trajectories of psychological wellbeing. Results Older adults did not show worse psychological wellbeing over time. Age has a positive impact on purpose in life. Furthermore, being a male, worrying about adverse effects of COVID-19, family functioning, resilience, personal growth, and acceptance associated with purpose in life. Discussion These results suggest that despite the difficult circumstances experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, older adults have used protective variables for their psychological wellbeing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier López
- Department of Psychology and Pedagogy, School of Medicine, Universidad San Pablo-CEU, CEU Universities, Madrid, Spain
| | - Gema Pérez-Rojo
- Department of Psychology and Pedagogy, School of Medicine, Universidad San Pablo-CEU, CEU Universities, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina Noriega
- Department of Psychology and Pedagogy, School of Medicine, Universidad San Pablo-CEU, CEU Universities, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Cristina Velasco
- Department of Psychology and Pedagogy, School of Medicine, Universidad San Pablo-CEU, CEU Universities, Madrid, Spain
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Jessen S, Mirkovic J, Halvorsen Brendmo E, Solberg Nes L. Evaluating a Strengths-Based mHealth Tool (MyStrengths): Explorative Feasibility Trial. JMIR Form Res 2021; 5:e30572. [PMID: 34787580 PMCID: PMC8663534 DOI: 10.2196/30572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As the number of people living with chronic illnesses increases, providing wide-reaching and easy-to-use support tools is becoming increasingly important. Supporting people in this group to recognize and use more of their personal strengths has the potential to improve their quality of life. With this in mind, we have developed the MyStrengths app prototype, a gamefully designed app aimed at aiding users in both identifying their strengths and using these strengths more actively in their daily life. OBJECTIVE The goal of this study was to evaluate the user-reported feasibility and usefulness of the MyStrengths app. The study additionally aimed to explore whether the use of MyStrengths could be associated with selected psychosocial outcomes. METHODS A 31-day explorative feasibility trial with a pretest-posttest design and an optional end of study interview was conducted. Data collection included system-use log data, demographic information, pre- and post-psychosocial measures (ie, strengths use, self-efficacy, health-related quality of life, depression), user experience measures (ie, usability, engagement, flow), and interview data. RESULTS In total, 34 people with at least 1 chronic condition were enrolled in the study, with 26 participants (mean age 48 years, range 29-62 years; 1 male) completing the trial. Among these individuals, 18 were also interviewed posttrial. Participants used the MyStrengths app an average of 6 days during the trial period, with 54% (14/26) using the app over a period of at least 19 days. In total, 8738 unique app actions were registered. Of the psychosocial outcome measures, only 1 subscale, general health in the RAND 36-Item Health Survey, yielded significant pre- and posttest changes. Posttrial interviews showed that the number of participants who considered the MyStrengths app to be useful, somewhat useful, or not useful was evenly distributed across 3 groups. However, every participant did voice support for the strengths approach. All participants were able to identify a multitude of personal strengths using the MyStrengths app. Most participants that reported it to be useful had little or no previous experience with the personal strengths approach. A multitude of users welcomed the gameful design choices, particularly the rolling die feature, suggesting strengths exercises, activities that use a specific strength, were well received. CONCLUSIONS Although the reported usefulness and feedback from use varied, most participants were favorable to the strengths-focused approach to care and support. Consequently, low-threshold and wide-reaching mobile health tools that use a strengths-focused approach, such as MyStrengths, hold the potential to support people living with chronic illness in performing self-management and achieving mastery of their life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stian Jessen
- Department of Digital Health Research, Division of Medicine, Oslo University Hospital HF, Oslo, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jelena Mirkovic
- Department of Digital Health Research, Division of Medicine, Oslo University Hospital HF, Oslo, Norway
| | - Elanor Halvorsen Brendmo
- Department of Digital Health Research, Division of Medicine, Oslo University Hospital HF, Oslo, Norway
| | - Lise Solberg Nes
- Department of Digital Health Research, Division of Medicine, Oslo University Hospital HF, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN, United States
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Liboro R, Despres J, Ranuschio B, Bell S, Barnes L. Forging Resilience to HIV/AIDS: Personal Strengths of Middle-aged and Older Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men Living With HIV/AIDS. Am J Mens Health 2021; 15:15579883211049016. [PMID: 34587823 PMCID: PMC8488414 DOI: 10.1177/15579883211049016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
HIV-positive gay, bisexual, two-spirit, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) have exhibited significant resilience to HIV/AIDS in Canada since the start of the epidemic. Since 2012, most of the research that has been conducted on resilience to HIV/AIDS has utilized quantitative methods and deficits-based approaches, with a preferential focus on the plight of young MSM. In order to address apparent gaps in research on HIV/AIDS resilience, we conducted a community-based participatory research qualitative study that utilized a strengths-based approach to examine the perspectives and lived experiences of HIV-positive, middle-aged and older MSM on their individual attributes that helped forge their HIV/AIDS resilience. We conducted 41 semistructured interviews with diverse, HIV-positive, middle-aged and older MSM from Central and Southwestern Ontario, Canada. From our thematic analysis of our interviews, we identified four themes, which represented personal strengths that fostered resilience to HIV/AIDS: (a) proactiveness, (b) perseverance, (c) having the right mindset, and (d) self-awareness with self-control. This article discusses the importance of these personal strengths to fostering HIV/AIDS resilience, and how community-based resources could potentially lessen the need to muster such personal strengths, or alternatively, cultivate them.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Liboro
- University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA.,Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - J Despres
- University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - B Ranuschio
- University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - S Bell
- University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - L Barnes
- University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA
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López J, Perez-Rojo G, Noriega C, Carretero I, Velasco C, Martinez-Huertas JA, López-Frutos P, Galarraga L. Psychological well-being among older adults during the COVID-19 outbreak: a comparative study of the young-old and the old-old adults. Int Psychogeriatr 2020; 32:1365-70. [PMID: 32438934 DOI: 10.1017/S1041610220000964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 outbreak could be considered as an uncontrollable stressful life event. Lockdown measures have provoked a disruption of daily life with a great impact over older adults' health and well-being. Nevertheless, eudaimonic well-being plays a protective role in confronting adverse circumstances, such as the COVID-19 situation. This study aims to assess the association between age and psychological well-being (personal growth and purpose in life). Young-old (60-70 years) and old-old (71-80 years) community-dwelling Spaniards (N = 878) completed a survey and reported on their sociodemographic characteristics and their levels of health, COVID-19 stress-related, appraisal, and personal resources. Old-old did not evidence poorer psychological well-being than young-old. Age has only a negative impact on personal growth. The results also suggest that the nature of the COVID-19 impact (except for the loss of a loved one) may not be as relevant for the older adults' well-being as their appraisals and personal resources for managing COVID-related problems. In addition, these results suggest that some sociodemographic and health-related variables have an impact on older adults' well-being. Thus, perceived-health, family functioning, resilience, gratitude, and acceptance had significant associations with both personal growth and purpose in life. Efforts to address older adults' psychological well-being focusing on older adults' personal resources should be considered.
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Jessen S, Mirkovic J, Nes LS. MyStrengths, a Strengths-Focused Mobile Health Tool: Participatory Design and Development. JMIR Form Res 2020; 4:e18049. [PMID: 32706651 PMCID: PMC7414410 DOI: 10.2196/18049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 06/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND People living with chronic illnesses are an increasingly large group. Research indicates that care and self-management should not only focus on the illness and problem-oriented aspects of these individuals' lives but also support them in recognizing and leveraging their personal strengths in daily life. OBJECTIVE This paper presents the design and developmental process of MyStrengths, a mobile health (mHealth) app designed to help its users (people with chronic conditions) both find and make use of their personal strengths in their daily lives. Through 4 consecutive phases, this paper presents participant- and researcher-driven activities, discussions regarding design, and development of both the MyStrengths app and its content. METHODS During the 4 phases, we used a range of methods and activities, including (1) an idea-generating workshop aimed at creating ideas for strengths-supporting features with different stakeholders, including patients, caregivers, relatives, and designers (N=35); (2) research seminars with an international group of experts (N=6), in which the concept, theoretical background, and design ideas for the app were discussed; (3) a series of co-design workshops with people in the user group (N=22) aiming to create ideas for how to, in an engaging manner, design the app; and (4) in 4 developmental iterations, the app was evaluated by people in the user group (N=13). Content and strengths exercises were worked on and honed by the research team, the expert groups, and our internal editorial team during the entire developmental process. RESULTS The first phase found a wide range of stakeholder requirements to, and ideas for, strengths-focused mHealth apps. From reviewing literature during the second phase, we found a dearth of research on personal strengths with respect to people living with chronic illnesses. Activities during the third phase creatively provided numerous ideas and suggestions for engaging and gameful ways to develop and design the MyStrengths app. The final phase saw the output from all the earlier phases come together. Through multiple increasingly complete iterations of user evaluations testing and developing, the final prototype of the MyStrengths app was created. CONCLUSIONS Although research supports the use of strengths-focused mHealth tools to support people living with chronic illnesses, there is little guidance as to how these tools and their content should be designed. Through all activities, we found great support among participating users for strengths-focused apps, and we can consider such apps to be both appropriate and valuable. This paper illustrates how combining a range of user-, researcher-, literature-, and designer-based methods can contribute to creating mHealth tools to support people with chronic illnesses to find and use more of their own personal strengths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stian Jessen
- Department of Digital Health Research, Division of Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jelena Mirkovic
- Department of Digital Health Research, Division of Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Lise Solberg Nes
- Department of Digital Health Research, Division of Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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Kristjansdottir OB, Stenberg U, Mirkovic J, Krogseth T, Ljoså TM, Stange KC, Ruland CM. Personal strengths reported by people with chronic illness: A qualitative study. Health Expect 2018; 21:787-795. [PMID: 29478260 PMCID: PMC6117496 DOI: 10.1111/hex.12674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Self-management of chronic illness can be highly demanding and people need to mobilize their personal strengths to live well with their condition. More knowledge is needed about how people with chronic illness perceive and use their personal strengths as a basis for better integrating empowering person-centred approaches into health care. OBJECTIVE To explore what people with chronic illness describe as their strengths relevant to their health and well-being. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Thirty-nine participants (11 men) from 4 outpatient self-management programmes were recruited to individual or group interviews. Participants included patients with chronic respiratory disease (n = 7), chronic pain (n = 18) and morbid obesity (n = 14). Interviews were analysed using content analysis. RESULTS A number of personal strengths were reported and categorized into 3 domains: (i) Internal strengths, (ii) External strengths and (iii) Self-management strategies. Internal strengths included being persistent, having a positive outlook, being kind and caring, experiencing positive emotions, being kind towards oneself, reconciling oneself with the situation, having courage and having knowledge and insight. External strengths included support from family, friends, peers and health-care providers. Self-management strategies included being active, planning and prioritizing, reducing stress, goal setting and seeking knowledge and help. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION The study provides insights into personal strengths as reported by people with chronic illness. The results complement prior findings on strengths in people with health challenges and can aid in incorporating person-centred approaches into health care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olöf Birna Kristjansdottir
- Center for Shared Decision Making and Collaborative Care ResearchDivision of MedicineOslo University HospitalOsloNorway
| | - Una Stenberg
- Center for Shared Decision Making and Collaborative Care ResearchDivision of MedicineOslo University HospitalOsloNorway
- Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Learning and Mastery in HealthOslo University HospitalOsloNorway
| | - Jelena Mirkovic
- Center for Shared Decision Making and Collaborative Care ResearchDivision of MedicineOslo University HospitalOsloNorway
| | - Tonje Krogseth
- Center for Shared Decision Making and Collaborative Care ResearchDivision of MedicineOslo University HospitalOsloNorway
| | - Tone Marte Ljoså
- Department of Pain Management and ResearchOslo University HospitalOsloNorway
| | - Kurt C. Stange
- Center for Community Health IntegrationCase Western Reserve UniversityClevelandOHUSA
| | - Cornelia M. Ruland
- Center for Shared Decision Making and Collaborative Care ResearchDivision of MedicineOslo University HospitalOsloNorway
- Faculty of MedicineInstitute of Clinical MedicineUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
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