scholarly journals The role of Yoga in working from home during the COVID-19 global lockdown

Work ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 731-737
Author(s):  
Kanupriya Sharma ◽  
Akshay Anand ◽  
Raj Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Service ◽  
Intervention Studies ◽  
Recurrent Infection ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Yoga Practice ◽  
Online Programs ◽  
Online Platforms ◽  
Economic Climate ◽  
Related Stress

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has become a major cause of stress and anxiety worldwide. Due to the global lockdown, work, employment, businesses and the economic climate have been severely affected. It has generated stress among people from all sections of society, especially to workers who have been assigned to cater to healthcare service or those constrained to secure daily essential items. It is widely perceived that elderly or those affected by diabetes, hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases (CVD’s) are prone to COVID-19. As per an ongoing survey, the initial data shows that the above-mentioned anxiety and stress cause insomnia, and has the considerable potential to weaken the immune system, the sole protection against the virus. OBJECTIVE: This study focuses on the need of Yoga practice at work places and at home during the global lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Literature was searched using PubMed and Google Scholar for COVID-19-related stress and anxiety at work and society due to the worldwide lockdown. The predisposing comorbidities, viral mechanism of action and treatment regimen were also searched. Yoga-based intervention studies and online programs were also searched. RESULTS: As the lockdown cannot last forever and workplaces will have to be functional soon, there is an increased possibility of recurrent infection. Therefore, Yoga can provide the necessary tool for risk reduction, amelioration of stress and anxiety and strengthening of the immune function. The online platforms provide a good media for Yoga training at work places and homes. CONCLUSION: Due to social distancing norms, the availability of Yoga trainers has become restricted. Yoga practice is actively sought to achieve reduced anxiety and stress so that improved sleep may positively impact immunity. As a consequence, there is a spurt in social media, catering to daily online Yoga sessions which apparently prove useful in providing accessible means to achieve mental as well as physical well-being.

scholarly journals Too close for comfort? COVID-19-related stress among older couples and the moderating role of closeness

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 1059-1059
Author(s):  
Kira Birditt ◽  
Angela Turkelson ◽  
Angela Oya
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Older Couples ◽  
Baseline Interview ◽  
Cohabiting Couples ◽  
Stress Levels ◽  
Related Stress ◽  
Moderating Role

Abstract Married and cohabiting couples have important influences on one another’s stress and well-being. Pandemic-related stress may influence the extent to which couples' stress levels are coregulated. This study examined the experience of nonspecific stress and pandemic-related stress and the moderating role of closeness among couples aged 50 and over in which at least one member had hypertension. A total of 30 couples reported their feelings of closeness to one another in a baseline interview and their feelings of nonspecific stress and pandemic-related stress every three hours for 5 days. There was no difference in closeness and nonspecific stress between husbands and wives. Wives reported greater pandemic-related stress than husbands. Actor-partner interdependence models revealed that wives’ nonspecific stress predicted husbands’ nonspecific stress (b = 0.17, SE = 0.04, p < .001) and that husbands’ nonspecific stress predicted wives’ nonspecific stress in each three hour period (b = 0.19, SE = 0.04, p < .001) and these associations were not moderated by closeness. Coregulation in pandemic-related stress among husbands and wives was moderated by wives’ feelings of closeness such that when wives’ feelings of closeness were lower, greater husband pandemic-related stress predicted lower pandemic-related stress for wives (b = -0.16, SE = 0.07, p < .05) whereas when wives’ feelings of closeness were higher, greater husband pandemic-related stress predicted greater pandemic-related stress for wives (b = 0.22, SE = 0.09, p < .05). These findings indicate that closeness may have detrimental effects especially when considering emotional coregulation in couples regarding the pandemic.

scholarly journals The Protective Role of Character Strengths in COVID-19 Stress and Well-Being in Individuals With Chronic Conditions and Disabilities: An Exploratory Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 67-74
Author(s):  
Emre Umucu ◽  
Timothy N. Tansey ◽  
Jessica Brooks ◽  
Beatrice Lee
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Conditions ◽  
Character Strengths ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Protective Role ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Internal Resources ◽  
Related Stress

Individuals with chronic conditions and disabilities, in response to stress associated with COVID-19, may experience a decrease in their overall well-being beyond that experienced by otherwise healthy individuals. Therefore, it is imperative to identify internal resources (e.g., character strengths) that can help them better manage COVID-19-related stress and enhance well-being in spite of COVID-19. This study explored the potential protective role of character strengths and virtues in moderating the negative effects of COVID-19 on stress and well-being. A cross-sectional study design was implemented. Participants included 269 individuals with self-reported chronic conditions and disabilities. After controlling for demographic and clinical characteristics, we examined whether character strengths and virtues acted as independent moderators between COVID-19-related stress and well-being. A higher degree of multiple character strengths significantly and independently moderated the relationship between COVID-19-related stress and well-being. Findings suggested the importance of promoting more character strengths overall in people with chronic conditions and disabilities to help them better manage COVID-19-related stress and enhance well-being.

THE ROLE OF SEX AND GENDER IDENTIFICATION IN STEM FACULTY'S WORK-RELATED STRESS AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 325-337 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren Hawthorne ◽  
Shannon K. McCoy ◽  
Ellen E. Newell ◽  
Amy Blackstone ◽  
Susan K. Gardner
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Sex And Gender ◽  
Gender Identification ◽  
Work Related Stress ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Related Stress ◽  
And Gender

The role of loyalty programs in healthcare service ecosystems

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 899-919 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vusal Gambarov ◽  
Debora Sarno ◽  
Xhimi Hysa ◽  
Mario Calabrese ◽  
Alberto Bilotta
Keyword(s):  
Service Quality ◽  
Healthcare Service ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Loyalty Programs ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Service Ecosystems ◽  
Service Ecosystem

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of patient loyalty programs in healthcare environment, generally considered as a way to engage patients and potentially increase the perception of service quality of healthcare systems, but not systematically analyzed at the state of the art. Design/methodology/approach The Service Dominant logic and, in particular, the service ecosystem construct are adopted and integrated with relevant literature references and empirical studies on a sample of patients. Loyalty programs are interpreted as institutions coordinating actors of the healthcare service ecosystem. Findings A conceptual model linking loyalty programs to patients and healthcare providers’ co-creation practices, engagement, satisfaction, trust, and perception of service quality is build and explained based on literature and a case study, finding that loyalty programs can strengthen the adaptability and the well-being of a healthcare service ecosystem. Practical implications This contribution can have a significant impact on the design of new and the evolution of current healthcare service ecosystem, providing interesting insights to practitioners on the topic of loyalty programs, both for their development and their benefits. Originality/value The paper revised previous healthcare service ecosystems and highlights the role of the loyalty program institution at each level and between levels of the ecosystem.

scholarly journals Gratitude in infertility: a cross-sectional examination of dispositional gratitude in coping with infertility-related stress in women undergoing IVF

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bobo H P Lau ◽  
Sylvia H Yao ◽  
Michelle Y J Tam ◽  
Cecilia L W Chan ◽  
Ernest H Y Ng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Unexplained Infertility ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Coping Process ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Related Stress

Abstract STUDY QUESTION Do sense of meaning and acceptance mediate the relationships between gratitude and infertility-related stress among women undergoing IVF? SUMMARY ANSWER Among women undergoing IVF, the negative relationships between gratitude and infertility-related stress are explained by a general sense of meaningfulness and acceptance of life. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Infertility experts increasingly call for a re-balancing of the deficit-based view of psychosocial adjustment in IVF, which has been heavily dominated by studies of risk factors and psychological distress. Attention has been given to strength-based perspectives that emphasize character strengths and personal growth. Gratitude has been found to be a potent protective factor in coping with life stressors; however, its salutary effects and protective processes for infertile women undergoing IVF are yet to be explored. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This study utilized baseline data of a randomized controlled trial for mind–body interventions with 357 Hong Kong Chinese women. Data collection was conducted between January 2015 and December 2017. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTINGS, METHODS Eligible women were approached by a research assistant immediately after their first medical consultation at an ART centre of a major university-affiliated hospital. Participants were asked to complete a battery of questionnaires, including the Gratitude Questionnaire-6, the Fertility Problem Inventory, and the Holistic Well-Being Scale. Mediation analyses were conducted with bootstrapped samples. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Of the 494 women who were approached, 357 (72.3%) provided informed consent and participated in the study. Results show that gratitude was negatively associated with all infertility-related stress domains (rs = −0.19 to −0.36), and these relationships are mediated by acceptance and loss of sense of meaning. Further, the link between gratitude and relationship concerns is mediated by loss of sense of meaning in women with a definable cause of infertility (95% CI = [−0.31, −0.08]), but by acceptance among those with unexplained infertility (95% CI = [−0.33, −0.01]). LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION The cross-sectional nature of the study precluded inferences of causality. Self-selection and self-report biases could be present. Our findings may not be readily generalizable to women who do not intend to undergo psychosocial intervention for their infertility or ART. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Our findings support the salutary effects of gratitude in coping with IVF and highlight the role of unexplained infertility in the coping process. These findings offer preliminary support to the use of psychosocial interventions in promoting gratitude, acceptance, and meaning reconstruction for reducing infertility-related stress in women undergoing IVF. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This study was funded by the Hong Kong University Grant Council—General Research Fund (HKU27400414). All authors declare no competing interests. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER HKUCTR-1984.

scholarly journals Dementia Care-Related Stress and Working Memory Performance: Examining the Mediating Role of Sleep

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 451-451
Author(s):  
Ashley Blasi ◽  
Francesca Falzarano
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Dementia Care ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Related Stress ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Dementia Family caregivers often experience significant stress and burden, which has been associated with a myriad of adverse effects on physical and mental health, as well as cognition. The impact of caregiving on health and well-being may have negative implications on the provision of quality and effective care. Specifically, working memory is a key domain of cognition that ultimately underlies logic and decision making processes. Thus, the purpose of the current study is to examine the associations between dementia care-related stress and working memory, as well as potential mediators of this relationship, in a sample of 50 primary caregivers who completed measures examining stress, including burden and overload, and several domains of cognition. Our results showed that higher levels of caregiving overload were associated with worse working memory performance, measured using the N-back task. Additionally, we found that lower sleep quality fully mediated the relationship between overload and working memory performance, such that the negative effects of overload on working memory performance may operate as a result of sleep impairment. By determining the mediating role of sleep while also providing evidence to support the negative relationship between stress and working memory, our results provide support for the development of interventions that target factors such as burden and sleep quality to help mitigate stress in caregivers.

scholarly journals Testing Predictive Factors of Depressive Symptoms among Grandparents under the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 804-804
Author(s):  
Yuqin Jiao ◽  
Christine Fruhauf
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Conceptual Model ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Protective Role ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Related Stress ◽  
Mental Well Being ◽  
Health And Well Being

Abstract An estimated 69.5 million Americans are reported to be grandparents. Among them, about 10% are raising grandchildren and the number of grandparents who are raising grandchildren (GRG) is increasing. Previous research on GRG suggests that the unexpected caregiving duties may lead to negative physical and mental health including more depressive symptoms when compared to non-caregiving grandparents (NGRG). Additionally, grandparent-grandchild relationships determined by emotional availability (EA) of the grandparent may be impacted. These factors might further be complicated, especially as it relates to the health and well-being of GRG, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, the overarching goal of this presentation is to use the biopsychosocial model to present a conceptual framework to test the mental well-being of GRG during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this presentation, we will 1) summarize appropriate literature on GRG; 2) share a COVID-19 health and well-being assessment survey designated for GRG in order to assess their health before and since the COVID pandemic; and 3) propose a conceptual model to investigate and test the protective role of physical activity and GRG’s EA in the grandparent-grandchild relationship for the mental health of GRG. In our model, we argue that GRG experience more COVID-19 pandemic-related stress and more depressive symptoms when compared to NGRG. This proposed conceptual model offers one way to test the predictors of depressive symptoms on GRG. Future testing has the potential to shed new light on the development of appropriate intervention programs tailored to maintain the mental health of GRG.

Social Motives Predict Loneliness During a Developmental Transition

2017 ◽  
Vol 76 (4) ◽  
pp. 145-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jana Nikitin ◽  
Alexandra M. Freund
Keyword(s):  
Social Relationships ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Avoidance ◽  
Social Approach ◽  
Social Motives ◽  
Developmental Transitions ◽  
Avoidance Motivation ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Low Levels

Abstract. Establishing new social relationships is important for mastering developmental transitions in young adulthood. In a 2-year longitudinal study with four measurement occasions (T1: n = 245, T2: n = 96, T3: n = 103, T4: n = 85), we investigated the role of social motives in college students’ mastery of the transition of moving out of the parental home, using loneliness as an indicator of poor adjustment to the transition. Students with strong social approach motivation reported stable and low levels of loneliness. In contrast, students with strong social avoidance motivation reported high levels of loneliness. However, this effect dissipated relatively quickly as most of the young adults adapted to the transition over a period of several weeks. The present study also provides evidence for an interaction between social approach and social avoidance motives: Social approach motives buffered the negative effect on social well-being of social avoidance motives. These results illustrate the importance of social approach and social avoidance motives and their interplay during developmental transitions.

Psychological Resilience Provides No Independent Protection From Suicidal Risk

Crisis ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 130-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danica W. Y. Liu ◽  
A. Kate Fairweather-Schmidt ◽  
Richard Burns ◽  
Rachel M. Roberts ◽  
Kaarin J. Anstey
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Psychological Resilience ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Life Project ◽  
Resilience Factors ◽  
First Time

Abstract. Background: Little is known about the role of resilience in the likelihood of suicidal ideation (SI) over time. Aims: We examined the association between resilience and SI in a young-adult cohort over 4 years. Our objectives were to determine whether resilience was associated with SI at follow-up or, conversely, whether SI was associated with lowered resilience at follow-up. Method: Participants were selected from the Personality and Total Health (PATH) Through Life Project from Canberra and Queanbeyan, Australia, aged 28–32 years at the first time point and 32–36 at the second. Multinomial, linear, and binary regression analyses explored the association between resilience and SI over two time points. Models were adjusted for suicidality risk factors. Results: While unadjusted analyses identified associations between resilience and SI, these effects were fully explained by the inclusion of other suicidality risk factors. Conclusion: Despite strong cross-sectional associations, resilience and SI appear to be unrelated in a longitudinal context, once risk/resilience factors are controlled for. As independent indicators of psychological well-being, suicidality and resilience are essential if current status is to be captured. However, the addition of other factors (e.g., support, mastery) makes this association tenuous. Consequently, resilience per se may not be protective of SI.

Prospective Memory Development Across the Lifespan

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 162-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sascha Zuber ◽  
Matthias Kliegel
Keyword(s):  
Prospective Memory ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Present Model ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Cognitive Factors ◽  
Everyday Functioning ◽  
Integrative Framework

Abstract. Prospective Memory (PM; i.e., the ability to remember to perform planned tasks) represents a key proxy of healthy aging, as it relates to older adults’ everyday functioning, autonomy, and personal well-being. The current review illustrates how PM performance develops across the lifespan and how multiple cognitive and non-cognitive factors influence this trajectory. Further, a new, integrative framework is presented, detailing how those processes interplay in retrieving and executing delayed intentions. Specifically, while most previous models have focused on memory processes, the present model focuses on the role of executive functioning in PM and its development across the lifespan. Finally, a practical outlook is presented, suggesting how the current knowledge can be applied in geriatrics and geropsychology to promote healthy aging by maintaining prospective abilities in the elderly.

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