Benefit Finding in Cardiac Patients: Relationships with Emotional Well-Being and Resources after Controlling for Physical Functional Impairment

2016 ◽  
Vol 19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pilar Sanjuán ◽  
Cristina García-Zamora ◽  
M. Ángeles Ruiz ◽  
Beatriz Rueda ◽  
Henar Arranz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Positive Affect ◽  
Functional Capacity ◽  
Emotional State ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Benefit Finding ◽  
Cardiac Patients ◽  
Life Event ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Adverse Life Event

AbstractBenefit finding (BF) is defined as the individual’s perception of positive change as a result of coping with an adverse life event. The beneficial effects of BF on well-being could be because BF favors the improvement of resources like self-efficacy, social support and effective coping. The main objective of this longitudinal 8 week study was to explore, in a sample of cardiac patients (n = 51), the combined contribution of BF and these resources to the positive affect. Moreover, we wanted to check whether these resources were derived from BF or, on the contrary, these resources were antecedents of BF. Results showed that after controlling for functional capacity, only effective coping could predict the positive affect at Time 1 (β = .32, p < .05), while the BF predicted it at Time 2 (β = .23, p < .001). Only social support predicted BF (β = .26, p < .05), but not the opposite. We discussed the desirability of promoting these processes to improve the emotional state of cardiac patients.

scholarly journals Comparing the Protective Value of Human and Pet Social Support on Well-Being of Older Adults During COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 936-936
Author(s):  
Juliet Sobering ◽  
Lisa Brown
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Behavioral Activation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Benefits ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Media Reports

Abstract Older adults are vulnerable to particular risk factors that contribute to lower well-being and poorer functioning. With the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of social support has been highlighted in media reports because of its well-known beneficial effects on overall well-being. However, as adults age, social networks, contacts, and activities naturally decrease. These age-related losses are often difficult, if not impossible, to replace. Pets have recently been recognized as a valuable source of social support for many older adults, providing both physical and psychological benefits through mutual connection and behavioral activation. Previous studies have examined how human social support or pet social support enhance older adults’ well-being (i.e., positive emotions, engagement, relationships, accomplishment, and meaning). However, there is a gap in our scientific knowledge as previous research has not evaluated if pet social support can serve as a protective factor in the absence of adequate human social support. Current analyses, with 141 older adult participants, suggests that pet owners with a positive attachment to their pet experience higher well-being as pets serve as a coping resource that protects against common life stressors. Similar to human social support, pet social support appears to be a protective factor that also promotes and fosters a sense of well-being in older adults. Support in late life is especially important for families and agencies to be attuned to, especially during a global pandemic.

Finding Resilience: The Mediation Effect of Sense of Community on the Psychological Well-Being of Military Spouses

2015 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 164-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mei-Chuan Wang ◽  
Pius Nyutu ◽  
Kimberly Tran ◽  
Angela Spears
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Positive Affect ◽  
Sense Of Community ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Military Spouses ◽  
Mediation Effect ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Military Community ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Military

The goal of this study was to identify positive factors that increase the psychological well-being of military spouses in the areas of environmental mastery. We proposed that positive affect and social support from family and friends would have indirect effects on psychological well-being through their association with a greater sense of community with the military culture. Participants were 207 female spouses of active-duty service members. Data were analyzed using MEDIATE to test the mediational effect. Results indicated that social support from friends and positive affect did predict a sense of community, which in turn was associated with increased feelings of psychological well-being. The findings suggest that a perceived sense of military community helps military spouses gain a sense of mastery and control in a constantly changing environment.

scholarly journals Correlations of Subjective and Social Well-Being With Sedentary Behavior and Physical Activity in Older Adults—A Population-Based Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuyun Chen ◽  
Amaia Calderón-Larrañaga ◽  
Marguerita Saadeh ◽  
Ing-Mari Dohrn ◽  
Anna-Karin Welmer
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Positive Affect ◽  
Sedentary Behavior ◽  
Social Participation ◽  
Oldest Old ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Sitting Time ◽  
National Study

Abstract Background Subjective and social well-being, avoiding sedentary behavior (SB), and engaging in physical activity (PA) are important factors for health in older adults, but the extent to which they are related to each other remains unclear. We aimed to investigate these correlations, and whether they differ by age. Method A cross-sectional study was carried out in 595 people aged 66 years and older, from the Swedish National study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen. Subjective and social well-being (life satisfaction, positive and negative affect, social connections, social support, and social participation) were assessed through validated questionnaires and activPAL3 accelerometers provided information on SB and PA. Data were analyzed using multi-adjusted quantile regression models. Results Higher positive affect was significantly associated with less daily sitting time (β = −27.08, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −47.77, −6.39) and higher levels of light PA (LPA) (β = 40.67, 95% CI: 21.06, 60.28). Higher levels of social support and social participation were associated with less daily sitting time (β = −22.79, 95% CI: −39.97, −5.62; and β = −21.22, 95% CI: −39.99, −2.44) and more time in LPA (β = 23.86, 95% CI: 4.91, 42.81; and β = 25.37, 95% CI: 6.27, 44.47). Stratified analyses suggested that the associations of positive affect and social participation were strongest for individuals aged 80 years and older. Conclusions Our results suggest that older adults with higher levels of subjective and social well-being spend less time sitting and engage more in PA. This was especially evident among the oldest-old individuals. Future research should longitudinally investigate the directionality of these correlations.

Leisure and Social Supports in Relation to Positive Affect Among Older Adults

2021 ◽  
pp. 073346482199048
Author(s):  
Sunwoo Lee ◽  
Jungsu Ryu ◽  
Jinmoo Heo
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Positive Affect ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
Leisure Activity ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Social Exchanges ◽  
Using Data

The current study examined the extent to which leisure activities were related to different forms of social support and its association with positive affect. A secondary data analysis was employed using data drawn from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) in 2014. The study sample was composed of 4,303 individuals whose ages ranged from 65 to 105 ( M = 75.78, SD = 7.42; 57.8% females). Employing bootstrapping technique, the hypothesized relationship between leisure, social support, and positive affect was examined. Mediating effect of social support was also determined. Results indicated that leisure activity, social support, and positive affect were significantly associated, but the relationship varied. The study findings expanded our understanding of the divergent leisure paths to positive social support and emotional well-being of the older adults. Promoting diverse recreational settings is necessary in leisure interventions that can facilitate frequent and positive social exchanges in both in-home and out-of-home environments.

The Risk of using Antidepressants During Pregnancy: Serious Concern or much ado about Little?

2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (S1) ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
M. Steiner ◽  
A. Shea ◽  
C.N. Soares
Keyword(s):  
Maternal Morbidity ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Adverse Outcomes ◽  
Cortisol Awakening Response ◽  
Life Event ◽  
Relative Safety ◽  
Adverse Life Event ◽  
Potential Risks ◽  
Positive Effect

Perinatal psychiatric disorders are a leading cause of maternal morbidity, they transmit across generations and may pose the first adverse life event for a child. The myth that pregnancy is “protective” in terms of mental health has long been refuted and it is now well established that the incidence of depression during pregnancy is at least as high when compared to other phases in a woman's lifetime. Moreover, depression during pregnancy has been associated with a number of adverse outcomes both for the mother and the baby. Untreated depression during pregnancy is also one of the strongest predictors of a subsequent postpartum depression.Data on the “relative safety” of antidepressants during pregnancy are accumulating but at the same time sporadic, at times inconsistent reports on potential risks associated with their use are cause for concern. Recognizing the limitations of our knowledge regarding the “relative safety” of antidepressants during pregnancy it is paramount to weigh the risk of not treating vs. the benefit of treating in each case.We report here on more than 400 pregnant women at risk for depression seen at our clinic. One third of these women received antidepressants during different phases of their pregnancies and the outcome/well-being of their babies assessed. There were no significant increases in long-term untoward outcomes in these babies.We also demonstrated in a smaller subpopulation that the use of antidepressants has a “positive” effect on both neuroendocrine and neurophysiological parameters, using the cortisol awakening response and heart rate variability as biological markers.

The Risk of Using Antidepressants During Pregnancy: Serious Concern or Much Ado about Little?

2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (S1) ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
M. Steiner ◽  
A. Shea ◽  
C.N. Soares
Keyword(s):  
Maternal Morbidity ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Adverse Outcomes ◽  
Cortisol Awakening Response ◽  
Life Event ◽  
Relative Safety ◽  
Adverse Life Event ◽  
Potential Risks ◽  
Positive Effect

Perinatal psychiatric disorders are a leading cause of maternal morbidity, they transmit across generations and may pose the first adverse life event for a child. The myth that pregnancy is “protective” in terms of mental health has long been refuted and it is now well established that the incidence of depression during pregnancy is at least as high when compared to other phases in a woman's lifetime. Moreover, depression during pregnancy has been associated with a number of adverse outcomes both for the mother and the baby. Untreated depression during pregnancy is also one of the strongest predictors of a subsequent postpartum depression.Data on the “relative safety” of antidepressants during pregnancy are accumulating but at the same time sporadic, at times inconsistent reports on potential risks associated with their use are cause for concern. Recognizing the limitations of our knowledge regarding the “relative safety” of antidepressants during pregnancy it is paramount to weigh the risk of not treating vs. the benefit of treating in each case.We report here on more than 400 pregnant women at risk for depression seen at our clinic. One third of these women received antidepressants during different phases of their pregnancies and the outcome/well-being of their babies assessed. There were no significant increases in long-term untoward outcomes in these babies.We also demonstrated in a smaller subpopulation that the use of antidepressants has a “positive” effect on both neuroendocrine and neurophysiological parameters, using the cortisol awakening response and heart rate variability as biological markers.

Social support and psychological well-being of nursing home residents in Hong Kong

2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 1185-1190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheung-Tak Cheng ◽  
Coty Kit Ling Lee ◽  
Pizza Ka-Yee Chow
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Nursing Home ◽  
Positive Affect ◽  
Nursing Home Residents ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Network Size ◽  
Chinese Society ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Contact Frequency

ABSTRACTBackground: This study sought to investigate the extent to which structural and functional social support promotes psychological well-being among nursing home residents in a Chinese society.Methods: 71 nursing home residents (57 women, 14 men) provided ratings on contact frequency and emotional and instrumental support exchanges with network members. Psychological well-being was measured using depression, loneliness, positive affect, and life satisfaction.Results: Network size was associated with well-being, but was largely nonsignificant after controlling for frequency of contact or functional support. Contact and support from staff and fellow residents were consistently related to all well-being variables, whereas interactions with family were associated with life satisfaction and positive affect only. Being able to reciprocate support was also related to well-being in this sample of frail elderly, controlling for other factors.Conclusion: Interactions with staff and residents in the institution are more protective of well-being than interactions with family members. Even in a society where familism is strongly valued, assimilation into the institution facilitates support exchange when needed.

Development and Validation of the Emotional Intimacy Scale

2005 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 193-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vaughn G. Sinclair ◽  
Sharon W. Dowdy
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Positive Affect ◽  
Intervention Program ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Coping Behaviors ◽  
Emotional Intimacy ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
Perceived Health Competence

Although many measures have been developed to capture elements of social support, only a few include an assessment of emotional intimacy. Emotional intimacy involves a perception of closeness to another that allows sharing of personal feelings, accompanied by expectations of understanding, affirmation, and demonstrations of caring. The 5-item Emotional Intimacy Scale (EIS) was developed to assess the emotional intimacy component in one close relationship. A sample of 90 women with rheumatoid arthritis was used to assess the reliability and validity of the scale. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability for a 6-week period were .88 and .85, respectively. To assess construct validity, significant, positive correlations were obtained between the EIS and measures of social support, self-efficacy, perceived health competence, reappraisal coping behaviors, life satisfaction, and positive affect. Significant negative correlations were obtained between the EIS and perceived stress levels, helplessness, negative pain coping behaviors, pain, and fatigue. In support of criterion-related validity, the EIS predicted outcomes from an intervention program. To further assess criterion-related validity, scores on the EIS and helplessness predicted scores on two indicators of psychological well-being that measured positive affect and life satisfaction. The EIS is a brief measure of emotional intimacy with good psychometric properties.

scholarly journals Benefit finding and well-being in older adults: The utility of the General Benefit Finding Scale.

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 8-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tony Cassidy ◽  
Ingrid Doyle
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Benefit Finding ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
General Benefit ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mental Well Being

 The research aim was to test the General Benefit Finding Scale (GBFS) in a cross-sectional survey of adults aged 55 years and older and to assess to what extent it relates to mental well-being, perceived social support, health and personality. Participants (n=341) completed a questionnaire which included demographic questions, the GBFS, and measures of mental well-being, perceived social support, activity levels, and personality. Benefit finding was higher in older adults and correlated positively with mental well-being and perceived support. The impact of the psychosocial factors investigated on benefit finding levels was small (9.2%) with mental well-being, sex and agreeableness being significant predictors. The study provides additional support for the use of the GBFS and suggests that perceived social support, particularly from friends, is especially important for older adults.

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