The Relationship Between Social Isolation and Psychological Well-Being Among Older Adults in the Community

Objective:To investigate the psychological well-being of the elderly in Baoding City,Hebei Province,and analyze its influencing factors,with a focus on exploring the relationship between social isolation and psychological well-being.This study aims to provide a reference for effective interventions that promote the physical and mental health of elderly individuals in the community.Methods:A total of 265 elderly individuals from six communities in Baoding City,Hebei Province were surveyed between November 2023 and March 2024 using the general information questionnaire,the Social Isolation Scale for the Elderly,and the Comprehensive Happiness Questionnaire.Results:The total score of the Social Isolation Scale for the elderly in the community was(14.15±3.73)points,indicating a moderate level of social isolation.The average score of P50 on the Psychological Well-being Scale was 4.88,suggesting that the psychological well-being of the elderly in the community was moderate to high.Multivariate regression analysis showed that the level of social isolation significantly influenced the psychological well-being of the elderly(P<0.05),with social isolation negatively correlated with psychological well-being.Conclusion:Healthcare professionals should pay attention to the social isolation of elderly individuals in the community and develop targeted interventions to improve their psychological well-being and quality of life.

Enhancing Women's Well-being and Self-Confidence through Fragrance Cosmetics:Perceptions within Close and Broader Social Circles

Mental and physical stress can affect people's self-confidence and happiness.The primary objective of this study is to develop an active fragrance that has been proved to have a positive effect on happiness and self-confidence based on the latest research results of aroma components and fragrance innovation.The active fragrance is applied to the cream formula to study the emotions it brings to the user and extend the research scope of the active emotion to the close and extensive social circle of users to see whether it can perceive it.This study provides a reference cosmetic solution for emotional regulating active fragrance.

Impacts of Social and Demographic Factors on Residents' Subjective Well-being in Rural China

The objective of social development is to construct a harmonious society.In China,the key to a harmonious society is the happiness of more than 900 million farmers living in the rural areas.This study aimed to measure rural residents' subjective well-being(SWB) through the day reconstruction method,as well as to analyze SWB's influencing factors through a variety of statistical methods.The results showed that the average U index was 12.79%,indicating that respondents were unhappy 12.79% of the time.Twenty-seven percent of the population had a U index greater than 0,with the average value being 47%,indicating that these people were unhappy 47% of the time.The study also found that SWB varied according to the characteristics of the respondents.Logistic regression analysis showed that social and demographic factors,including age,education,county,household size,generation number,per capita income,migration status and social networking,which significantly affected rural residents' SWB.The size of the impact varied with the different factors.

Self-Compassion Moderates the Effect of Contingent Self-Esteem on Well-Being:Evidence from Cross-Sectional Survey and Experiment

Contingent self-esteem captures the fragile nature of self-esteem and is often regarded as suboptimal to psychological functioning.Self-compassion is another important self-related concept assumed to promote mental health and well-being.However,research on the relation of self-compassion to contingent self-esteem is lacking.Two studies were conducted to explore the role of selfcompassion,either as a personal characteristic or an induced mindset,in influencing the effects of contingent self-esteem on well-being.Study 1 recruited 256 Chinese college students(30.4%male,mean age=21.72 years)who filled out measures of contingent self-esteem,self-compassion,and well-being.The results found that self-compassion moderated the effect of contingent self-esteem on well-being.In Study 2,a sample of 90 Chinese college students(34%male,mean age=18.39 years)were randomly assigned to either a control or self-compassion group.They completed baseline trait measures of contingent self-esteem,self-compassion,and self-esteem.Then,they were led to have a 12-min break(control group)or listen to a 12-min self-compassion audio(self-compassion group),followed by a social stress task and outcome measures.The results demonstrated the effectiveness of the brief self-compassion training and its moderating role in influencing the effects of contingent self-esteem on negative affects after the social stress task.This research provides implications that to equip with a self-compassionate mindset could lower the risk of the impairment of well-being associated with elements of contingent selfesteem,which involves a fragile sense of self-worth.It may also provide insights into the development of an“optimal selfesteem”and the improvement of well-being.

The Impact of Supervisory Career Support on Employees’Well-Being:A Dual Path Model of Opportunity and Ability

Background:In the pursuit of fostering employees’well-being,leaders are recognized as playing a vital role.However,so far,most of the existing research has focused on leadership behavior and the superficial interaction between leaders and members but has unexpectedly ignored the specific supporting role of supervisors in the career development of employees,that is,supervisory career support.Additionally,the internal mechanism of how career support from supervisors is related to and promotes employees’wellbeing is still unclear.Based on social cognitive career theory(SCCT),this study aimed to explore whether,how,and when supervisory career support affects employee well-being by introducing the two paths of‘career prospect’and‘career confidence.’Methods:During July 2023,this study employed a cross-sectional design.We gathered participants from corporate situated in Southern China.Results:Results based on a large sample of 14,533 employees showed that supervisory career support was positively related to employees’well-being through the dual path of career prospects(opportunity)and career confidence(ability).Employees high in proactive personality experienced the above positive effects most.Conclusion:This study provides meaningful implications for managers to implement personalized support strategies to improve employees’well-being.

Relationships between Emotional Well-Being, Patient Activation and Social Support among Adults with Severe Obesity Who Have Undergone Gastric Bypass Surgery

Objective: To examine the relationship between emotional well-being, patient activation and social support in a cohort of adults with severe obesity who underwent gastric bypass surgery from January to December 2012. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Subjects: Of a total population of 129 people, aged 18 - 68 years, at a local hospital in central Norway, 64 (50%) responding to the questionnaire, 52 (81%) being women. Main Outcome Measures: The World Health Organization—Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5), the 13-item Patient Activation Measure (PAM-13), a 16-item instrument on the frequency and content of social support, and demographic and clinical data. Results: A significant positive association was found between higher level of patient activation and better emotional well-being (P = 0.02) in linear regression analysis. A higher level of family support was significantly associated with better emotional well-being (practical social support from the family (P = 0.04), emotional social support from family (P = 0.01) and from friends (P = 0.005)). Conclusion: Screening tools for emotional well-being should be used systematically in postoperative consultations to recognize those who need a more individually tailored post-surgery follow-up care after gastric bypass surgery. In addition, health care providers in both specialist and primary health care settings should consider assessing the level of social support as part of regular follow-up routines.

The Relationship between Mental Health Literacy and Subjective Well-Being of Young and Middle-Aged Residents: Perceived the Mediating Role of Social Support and Its Urban-Rural Differences

This study investigates mental health literacy among young and middle-aged urban and rural residents and the differences in mental health literacy,perceived social support and subjective well-being.From January to February 2022,620 participants(320 rural and 300 urban residents)from three provinces of China were selected by con-venience sampling.A general data questionnaire,mental health literacy scale,perceived social support scale and subjective well-being scale were administered.The mental health literacy scores of urban residents were 3.34±0.57 and those of rural residents were 2.73±0.79.The results of multiple regression analysis showed that the mental health literacy scores of rural residents were more significant than those of urban residents in terms of sex and age,while urban residents’mental health literacy scores were more significant than those of rural resi-dents in terms of monthly income.Mental health literacy,perceived social support and subjective well-being of young and middle-aged urban and rural residents were all positively correlated(P<0.01).While the level of mental health literacy is better among urban residents than rural residents,perceived social support plays a partial mediating role between mental health literacy and subjective well-being of both urban and rural residents,and should be the focus of researchers seeking to improve the level of well-being of residents.

Women health and microbiota:Different aspects of well-being

In this editorial,we comment on the article by Marano et al recently published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology 2023;29(45):5945-5952.We focus on the role of gut microbiota(GM)in women’s health,highlighting the need to thoroughly comprehend the sex differences in microbiota.Together,the host and GM support the host’s health.The microbiota components consist of viruses,bacteria,fungi,and archaea.This complex is an essential part of the host and is involved in neu-rological development,metabolic control,immune system dynamics,and host dynamic homeostasis.It has been shown that differences in the GM of males and females can contribute to chronic diseases,such as gastrointestinal,metabolic,neurological,cardiovascular,and respiratory illnesses.These differences can also result in some sex-specific changes in immunity.Every day,research on GM reveals new and more expansive frontiers,offering a wealth of innovative oppor-tunities for preventive and precision medicine.

Brain region-specific roles of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in social stress-induced depressive-like behavior

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor is a key factor in stress adaptation and avoidance of a social stress behavioral response.Recent studies have shown that brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression in stressed mice is brain region–specific,particularly involving the corticolimbic system,including the ventral tegmental area,nucleus accumbens,prefrontal cortex,amygdala,and hippocampus.Determining how brain-derived neurotrophic factor participates in stress processing in different brain regions will deepen our understanding of social stress psychopathology.In this review,we discuss the expression and regulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in stress-sensitive brain regions closely related to the pathophysiology of depression.We focused on associated molecular pathways and neural circuits,with special attention to the brain-derived neurotrophic factor–tropomyosin receptor kinase B signaling pathway and the ventral tegmental area–nucleus accumbens dopamine circuit.We determined that stress-induced alterations in brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels are likely related to the nature,severity,and duration of stress,especially in the above-mentioned brain regions of the corticolimbic system.Therefore,BDNF might be a biological indicator regulating stress-related processes in various brain regions.

Intervention package on stress management: Improving comprehensive well-being among nurses

Objective:The main objective of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of the stress management intervention package in improving stress-related burnout.Materials and Methods:An experimental study was done on 300 nurses selected by a nonprobability convenience sampling technique and a quasi-experimental one-group pre-and posttest research design was utilized.Modified expanded nurses stress scale and self-structured three-point Likert scale on the challenges that nurses may face following stressful life events utilized to collect information.The nurses signed up for six interactive sessions on various stress-coping methods by utilizing a variety of teaching strategies such as lecture cum discussion,video slides,group work,and direct interaction with the experts to explore stress-related issues.Results:Continuous stress affects both the body and the mind,causing psychosomatic symptoms.Data found that 2%to 10%of nurses frequently suffered with physical symptoms such as exhaustion,backache,acidity,headache,shoulder stiffness,and insomnia.Following the intervention,the number of nurses who had these symptoms frequently and sometimes decreased.Previously,10%of nurses experienced emotional symptoms frequently;however,after intervention,this figure was reduced to<2%.The greatest proportion of nurses(18%)reported frequently worrying,while 1.3%expressed frequent worrying after intervention.Maximum(5%)of nurses had a tendency to eat too little or too much;this has been reduced to 0.3%after the intervention.The intervention package on stress management significantly improved nurses’Conclusion:An intervention package for stress management was helpful in lowering physical,emotional,psychological,and behavioral stress-related symptoms among nurses.

Relationship Between Individuals’Epidemic Risk Perception Within Living Space and Subjective Well-Being:Empirical Evidence from China after the First Wave of COVID-19

It is common to observe the epidemic risk perception(ERP)and a decline in subjective well-being(SWB)in the context of public health events,such as Corona Virus Disease 2019(COVID-19).However,there have been few studies exploring the impact of individuals’ERP within living space on their SWB,especially from a geographical and daily activity perspective after the resumption of work and other activities following a wave of the pandemic.In this paper,we conducted a study with 789 participants in urban China,measuring their ERP within living space and examining its influence on their SWB using path analysis.The results indicated that individuals’ERP within their living space had a significant negative effect on their SWB.The density of certain types of facilities within their living space,such as bus stops,subway stations,restaurants,fast food shops,convenience shops,hospitals,and public toilets,had a significantly negative impact on their SWB,mediated by their ERP within living space.Additionally,participation in out-of-home work and other activities not only increased individuals’ERP within living space,but also strengthened its negative effect on their SWB.

The Effects of Childhood Trauma on College Students’Depressive Symptoms:The Mediation Role of Subjective Well-Being and the Moderation Role of Resilience

Background:The enduring and detrimental impact of childhood trauma on later health and well-being is now well established.However,research on the relationship between childhood trauma and depressive symptoms,along with the potential risk and protective factors,is insufficient in the context of Chinese college student population.Methods:Data on childhood trauma,depressive symptoms,resilience,and subjective well-being were collected through surveys conducted with 367 Chinese university students.The data collected in this study were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 and PROCESS 3.5.Results:The results revealed that subjective well-being mediated the relationship between childhood trauma and depressive symptoms among college students,with direct and indirect effects accounting for 59.46%and 40.54%of the total effect,respectively.The pathway process between subjective well-being and depressive symptoms was moderated by resilience,whereby an increase in resilience levels corresponded to a gradual escalation in the predictive power of subjective well-being on depressive symptoms.Conclusion:The study indicates that childhood trauma significantly and positively predicts depressive symptoms among college students,and it can also directly predict depressive symptoms through the mediating effect of subjective well-being.Elevating levels of psychological resilience and subjective well-being among college students can mitigate depression and promote psychological well-being.From the perspective of positive psychology,the present study provides a new perspective for the prevention and intervention of depressive symptoms among college students.

Disparities in the impact of economic well-being on self-esteem in adulthood:Race and ethnicity

BACKGROUND Most studies have defined economic well-being as socioeconomic status,with little attention given to whether other indicators influence self-esteem.Little is known about racial/ethnic disparities in the relationship between economic wellbeing and self-esteem during adulthood.AIM To explore the impact of economic well-being on self-esteem in adulthood and differences in the association across race/ethnicity.METHODS The current study used data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979.The final sample consisted of 2267 African Americans,1425 Hispanics,and 3678 non-Hispanic Whites.Ordinary linear regression analyses and logistic regression analyses were conducted.RESULTS African Americans and Hispanics were more likely to be in poverty in comparison with non-Hispanic Whites.More African Americans were unemployed than Whites.Those who received fringe benefits,were more satisfied with jobs,and were employed were more likely to have higher levels of self-esteem.Poverty was negatively associated with self-esteem.Interaction effects were found between African Americans and job satisfaction predicting self-esteem.CONCLUSION The role of employers is important in cultivating employees’self-esteem.Satisfactory outcomes or feelings of happiness from the workplace may be more important to non-Hispanic Whites compared to African Americans and Hispanics.

Exploring well-being disparities between urban and rural areas:A case study in the Stavropol Territory,Russia

Rural areas are crucial for a country’s sustainable economy.New strategies are needed to develop rural areas to improve the well-being of rural population and generate new job opportunities.This is especially important in countries where agricultural production accounts for a significant share of the gross product,such as Russia.In this study,we identified the key indicators of satisfaction and differences between rural and urban citizens based on their social,economic,and environmental backgrounds,and determined whether there are well-being disparities between rural and urban areas in the Stavropol Territory,Russia.We collected primary data through a survey based on the European Social Survey framework to investigate the potential differences between rural and urban areas.By computing the regional well-being index using principal component analysis,we found that there was no statistically significant difference in well-being between rural and urban areas.Results of key indicators showed that rural residents felt psychologically more comfortable and safer,assessed their family relationships better,and adhered more to traditions and customs.However,urban residents showed better economic and social conditions(e.g.,infrastructures,medical care,education,and Internet access).The results of this study imply that we can better understand the local needs,advantages,and unique qualities,thereby gaining insight into the effectiveness of government programs.Policy-makers and local authorities can consider targeted interventions based on the findings of this study and strive to enhance the well-being of both urban and rural residents.

Researching the Impact of the Quality of Village Governance on Farmers’Well-Being:From the Perspectives of Income and Occupational Differentiation

The goal of village governance is to improve the well-being of farmers,so this study aims to measure the impact the quality of village governance on the well-being of farmers.It also examines the heterogeneity of this impact across different farmer groups from the perspectives of income levels and occupational differentiation.To this end,this study developed an indicator system based on survey data collected from 1,442 farmers in the Sichuan,Shaanxi,and Gansu provinces,as well as the Ningxia Hui autonomous region.Multiple linear regression models were then used to analyze this data,and the findings revealed that improvements in the quality of village governance significantly increased the well-being of farmers.Specifically,primary-level empowerment and capacity building were shown to contribute the most to the enhancement of the farmers’well-being,followed by social inclusion,and social cohesion was found to have only a minimal effect.In terms of income levels,improving the quality of village governance benefited middle-income farmers the most,followed by low-income farmers,and it had the least effect on high-income farmers.In terms of occupations,full-time farmers gained the most from improvements in the quality of village governance,followed by off-farm farmers,with part-time farmers benefiting the least.Based on these findings,this study suggests that policymakers should improve the quality of village governance to enhance the well-being of farmers,focusing on the impact that level of income and occupational differentiation have on village governance.

Association between Mental Health Literacy and Workplace Well-Being of Chinese Grassroots Civil Servants:The Chain Mediating Effects of Regulatory Emotional Self-Efficacy and Resilience

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between mental health literacy(MHL)and workplace well-being(WWB)of Chinese grassroots civil servants,with regulatory emotional self-efficacy(RESE)and resilience as mediating variables.A questionnaire survey was conducted among Chinese grassroots civil servants,with a valid sample size of 2673 after excluding missing values and conducting relevant data processing.The PROCESS was used to examine the relationship between MHL,RESE,resilience,and WWB.The study found that MHL among grassroots civil servants was positively and significantly correlated with WWB(r=0.73,p<0.01).RESE partially mediated the relationship between MHL and WWB(β=0.25,95%CI[0.22,0.28]).Resilience partially mediated the relationship between MHL and WWB(β=0.22,95%CI[0.19,0.26]).MHL had a positive effect on WWB through the chain mediating effect of RESE and resilience(β=0.05,95%CI[0.03,0.07]).There is a close relationship between MHL and WWB,where Chinese grassroots civil servants with higher levels of MHL can develop stronger RESE and resilience,leading to higher WWB.The results of this study remind organizational institutions of Chinese grassroots civil servants that enhancing MHL,RESE,and resilience is an important pathway to promoting their WWB.

How Urban Public Service Affects the Well-Being of Migrant Workers:An Empirical Analysis Based on the Theoretical Perspective of Social Comparison Theory

Government city management is facing higher requirements with the development of the number of migrant workers.Therefore,improving their subjective well-being is a significant practical problem that the government must consider in public governance.This research discusses the influence of public service satisfaction on the well-being of urban migrant workers from the perspective of social comparison theory and the role of the sense of social equity and social conflict in the process of this influence.Using the structural equation modeling and moderated mediating mechanism analysis,the results show that:(1)the satisfaction of social and economic public service significantly and positively affects subjective well-being.(2)The sense of social equity completely mediated the influence of the satisfaction of public social service on well-being and partly mediated the influence of the satisfaction of public financial service on well-being.(3)The sense of social equity and conflict have a moderated mediating effect for social and economic public service satisfaction on well-being.Finally,the article concludes with some suggestions to improve the well-being of migrant workers based on the conclusion of the study.

The pain of inequality:Income gap and carbon intensity of well-being

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the United Nations sets out 17 sustainable development goals(SDGs)that call for global action to end poverty,protect the planet,and improve the lives and futures of all people,including reducing inequality and taking climate action.The academic and policy issues corresponding to these two goals are income distribution and low-carbon development respectively.This paper makes a connection between the two and examines the impact of income gap on carbon intensity of well-being(CIWB)based on panel data of 40 countries around the world,which has important theoretical significance and empirical reference value.The main conclusions are as follows:(1)During the sample period,the carbon intensity of well-being of 36 in the 40 countries showed a downward trend,indicating that the pressure brought by the increase of unit well-being level on carbon emission space was gradually decreasing.The biggest drop in carbon intensity of well-being is in Estonia.(2)According to the average value of the past years,the income gaps are large in Colombia,Costa Rica,Paraguay,Ecuador and Peru,and the five countries with the smallest income gap are Ukraine,Slovenia,Belarus,the Czech Republic and Kyrgyzstan Republic.(3)The regression results of the econometric model with carbon intensity of well-being as the dependent variable,income gap as the independent variable,and urbanization rate,energy consumption structure and export trade as the control variables show that the increase of income gap will increase carbon intensity of well-being,and the increase of urbanization rate,renewable energy consumption and export dependence will reduce carbon intensity of well-being.Finally,according to the research conclusions,the policy implications for China's future high-quality development are extracted.

A Review of Western and Eastern Traditional Views of Well-Being

This paper reviews traditional understanding of well-being from both Western and Eastern cultural perspectives. First, two distinct Western traditions in defining well-being are compared, namely hedonic and eudaemonic approaches. The hedonic approach defines happiness as the maximization of pleasure, while the eudaemonic approach regards happiness as the fulfillment of a person’s natural needs and overall flourishing. Second, the views of well-being in lens of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism in the East are reviewed. The common and different understandings of well-being between Western and Eastern traditions are discussed as followed. Finally, two well-known operationalized definitions of well-being, that is subjective well-being and psychological well-being, proposed in the roots of Western traditions are elucidated.

Managing Homework-Related Stress:Strategies for Balancing Academic Demands and Mental Well-Being in Students

This paper examines the growing issue of homework-related stress among students,focusing on the impact of academic demands,parental expectations,and social comparisons on students’mental health.While homework serves as an important educational tool,its excessive volume and pressure can lead to psychological issues such as anxiety,depression,and burnout.Parental involvement,although beneficial,can heighten stress when coupled with unrealistic expectations.Additionally,social media exacerbates these pressures by promoting comparisons and idealized standards.The paper proposes a holistic approach,involving educators,parents,and students,to mitigate these stressors.Key strategies include assigning meaningful homework,fostering open communication,teaching time management skills,and encouraging a balance between academic success and mental well-being.By addressing homework-related stress,students can be supported in achieving both academic and personal success while maintaining their mental health.