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Social Connection and Compassion: Important Predictors of Health and Well-Being
... WHO states that being in work can enable people to form positive relationships and be part of a community; these factors can enrich mental health (World Health Organization, 2022). Positive social connection is crucial for humans to live healthy lives and enhance their well-being (Seppala et al., 2013). Early research in social connection emphasizes the psychological need for connection, motivating humans to survive and thrive (Seppala et al., 2013). ...
... Positive social connection is crucial for humans to live healthy lives and enhance their well-being (Seppala et al., 2013). Early research in social connection emphasizes the psychological need for connection, motivating humans to survive and thrive (Seppala et al., 2013). Social connection also impacts mental and physical health (Seppala et al., 2013). ...
... Early research in social connection emphasizes the psychological need for connection, motivating humans to survive and thrive (Seppala et al., 2013). Social connection also impacts mental and physical health (Seppala et al., 2013). This is because lack of, or low-quality, social connection can be a determinant for suicide, while high-quality social connection can increase longevity (Seppala et al., 2013). ...
... Despite living in an increasingly connected world, loneliness and apathy are widespread [1], [2]. Social isolation is fiercely detrimental to mental health and emotional resilience, but beyond mental health alone, social connections imbue the agency to take prosocial actions in the world [3]- [5]. Motivated by this human need, many prior works have explored using embodied social robots as tools to improve social connection by offering companionship [6]- [8]. ...
... to Strongly agree(5) • I am an empathetic person • While watching a movie, a T.V. show, or a play, I may become so involved that I forgot about myself and my surroundings, and experience the story as if it were real and as if I were taking part in it. • If I wish I can imagine (or daydream) some things so vividly that it's like watching a good movie or hearing a good story. ...
Despite living in an increasingly connected world, social isolation is a prevalent issue today. While social robots have been explored as tools to enhance social connection through companionship, their potential as asynchronous social platforms for fostering connection towards humanity has received less attention. In this work, we introduce the design of a social support companion that facilitates the exchange of emotionally relevant stories and scaffolds reflection to enhance feelings of connection via five design dimensions. We investigate how social robots can serve as "social proxies" facilitating human stories, passing stories from other human narrators to the user. To this end, we conduct a real-world deployment of 40 robot stations in users' homes over the course of two weeks. Through thematic analysis of user interviews, we find that social proxy robots can foster connection towards other people's experiences via mechanisms such as identifying connections across stories or offering diverse perspectives. We present design guidelines from our study insights on the use of social robot systems that serve as social platforms to enhance human empathy and connection.
... It appears that the value of CWI goes beyond the physical benefits, promoting a wider social benefit that may also contribute to well-being. In a study done by Seppala et al. (2013), socially active individuals reported increased happiness, reduced levels of depression and anxiety, and greater resilience to stressors. The study further revealed that those with a low sense of social connection experienced greater psychological distress. ...
... The study further revealed that those with a low sense of social connection experienced greater psychological distress. This heightened distress can lead to social anxiety, decreased interpersonal trust and diminished self-esteem (Seppala et al., 2013). The sense of connection to others appeared to not only enhance an individual's well-being but may help to foster a feeling of support and camaraderie that uplifts the entire community. ...
Background. As the prevalence of mental health disorders continues to rise, there is a growing need for effective and accessible holistic approaches to promote well-being. Cold-water immersion (CWI) has gained popularity in recent years due to its potential health benefits. This scoping review aimed to investigate the qualitative benefits of CWI through the experiences of healthy individuals. Methods.A systematic search of seven databases was conducted and included both peer-reviewed and grey literature from the following databases: PubMed, Embase, Psychinfo, SPORTDiscus, Proquest Health and Medical, Proquest Dissertation and Theses Global, and CINAHL. Quantitative studies examining CWI and its effects on well-being, along with the CWI parameters were included to complement the qualitative findings. A qualitative content analysis was conducted through an inductive approach. Results. In the initial search, 419 records were identified, out of which 13 studies were selected for inclusion in this review. A total of 34 unique codes were derived and grouped into eight content categories. Four overarching themes related to the CWI experiences were revealed: 1) physical and psychological health benefits, 2) connection to nature, 3) sense of connectedness, 4) personal growth. Conclusion. The experiences individuals gain from CWI are profound and can exert both direct and indirect influences on the promotion of well-being. However, further research is needed to establish the specific parameters that promote well-being through CWI.
... Psychological theorists have emphasized the importance of positive human social connection for health, well-being, and survival defining "social connection as a person's subjective sense of having close and positively experienced relationships with others in the social world" The different subfields of psychology use different terms for social connection. For example, the subfield of developmental psychology uses the term attachment; clinical psychology and related sociological research employ the terms social support and loneliness; and social psychology applies the terms belongingness, social connectedness, and social exclusion (Seppala et al., 2013;p.412-3). Social connectedness originates from belongingness which together make social connectedness meaningful. ...
... It is a sense of mattering to each other indicating 4 elements: membership, influence, integration and fulfillment of needs, and shared emotional connection (McMillan & Chavis, 1986). Shared emotional connection activates social connection serving as a protective factor with closer the relationship providing powerful support (Seppala et al., 2013) making belongingness a factor for emotional connection. Emotional connection provides a significant positive correlation with emotional well-being (Suragarn, Hain & Pfaff, 2021) drawing its inverse association with workplace loneliness. ...
Workplace loneliness is growing as a major factor affecting workplace wellbeing. Drilling down into the causes of workplace loneliness this chapter comes across workplace isolation, workplace ostracism and workplace alienation as the three main perpetrators. While workplace isolation occurs due to the inherent type of work, it could also occur due to position or role held at work. Remote and hybrid work models further contribute to workplace isolation also perpetrating workplace alienation and workplace ostracism – two added dimensions of workplace loneliness. While workplace ostracism is an outcome of toxic work environment, organization culture and team dynamics, workplace alienation results from an individual's response to work. Resilience develops the potential to combat alienation facilitating the ability to regroup one's strengths and balance the flipside of remote and hybrid work models thereby alleviating workplace isolation. The facilitating and enabling role played by leaders mitigate workplace loneliness while enhancing, sustaining and managing workplace wellbeing.
... Another approach to the empowerment of older adults is fostering social connectedness among older adults, not only with the creation of community centres but also with evidence-based interventions to social disengagement. Social connectedness refers to the personal experience of closely associated and fulfilling interactions with others (Seppala et al., 2013). According to Maslow's theory, compassionate and loving relationships with those around us are fundamental human requirements (Maslow, 1943). ...
... Individuals with strong social connections exhibit altered cognitive processing of stress by regulating emotions, which reduces anxiety-related inflammation and calms the nervous system (Detillion et al., 2004). The protective aspect of socialisation sensations is strongly associated with mental health (Holt-Lunstad et al., 2017;Seppala et al., 2013). Intergenerational programmes, including mentorship initiatives, volunteer opportunities, and intergenerational learning activities, foster mutual respect, understanding, and social relationships between older adults and younger generations. ...
Healthy ageing refers to the dynamic process of acquiring and maintaining functional capabilities that enhance the well-being of older adults. The World Health Organization aims to optimise older adults’ functional capability as they age. However, concurrent shifts, including climate change and extreme temperatures, challenge WHO’s “Decade of Healthy Ageing” agenda for 2030. Consequently, given the global population’s upward trajectory, it is imperative to establish neighbourhoods that facilitate healthy and fulfilling lives for older adults. This chapter delves into empowering older adults to utilise their neighbourhoods effectively. Specifically, it examines the pivotal role of neighbourhood resources as intriguing environments that can either facilitate or hinder the ageing process in a health-promoting manner. The discussion highlights the intricate interplay among psychological, social, and physical aspects of empowerment, emphasising the contribution of inclusivity and neighbourhood engagement to older adults’ enhanced autonomy and overall well-being. Moreover, the chapter explores interventions and policies to harness neighbourhood resources, promote healthy ageing, foster intergenerational relationships, and develop age-friendly neighbourhoods.
... Adding further complexity, there is also evidence that certain types of empathy may galvanize altruistic behavior and thus buffer the experience of stress (Batson, 2017;DeSteno, 2015;Enelamah & Tran, 2020;Farrelly & Bennett, 2018;Persson & Kajonius, 2016). Past research indicates that if the individual can act on their feelings of (emotional) empathy by engaging in compassionate and altruistic behavior to alleviate another's suffering, then this may mitigate the ill effects of any empathy-related stress (Cosley et al., 2010;de Lima Junior et al., 2022;Dulin & Hill, 2003;Kornilaki, 2022;Miller et al., 2015;Schwartz et al., 2003;Seppala et al., 2013). In other words, this evidence suggests that the stress of empathizing with someone's plight may be assuaged by actively trying to improve that person's situation-for example by offering emotional support or doing relevant charity work. ...
... In line with the literature discussed above, we explore the extent to which different facets of empathy may expose the individual to, or protect them from, loneliness and different types of stress. We also delve into the potential mechanisms of these associations, specifically examining the aforementioned indication that empathy motivates altruism (Batson, 2017;DeSteno, 2015;Enelamah & Tran, 2020;Farrelly & Bennett, 2018;Persson & Kajonius, 2016) and that engaging in altruistic behavior may help the individual cope with empathy-related vicarious stress (Cosley et al., 2010;de Lima Junior et al., 2022;Dulin & Hill, 2003;Kornilaki, 2022;Miller et al., 2015;Schwartz et al., 2003;Seppala et al., 2013). ...
Background
Empathy has been associated with a range of positive outcomes, including social connection, pro‐social behavior, and mental health. Nonetheless, acknowledging the multidimensional aspects of empathy, budding research indicates that sometimes empathy may precipitate negative health outcomes.
Aim
In the present paper, we explore the extent to which the multidimensional aspects of empathy—as measured by the Interpersonal Reactivity Index—may relate to the experience of increased stress during the COVID‐19 pandemic. We also examine potential behavioral moderators (altruism) and social mediators (loneliness) of any such effect.
Method
We conducted a cross‐sectional survey study of 2595 Danish university students and implemented linear regression analyses to determine the relationships between our key variables.
Results
In both crude and adjusted regression models, our findings indicate positive associations between the IRI subscales Fantasy, Empathic Concern, and Personal Distress on self‐reported stress and loneliness. Perspective Taking was marginally and inversely associated with stress but not loneliness. Altruism did not moderate these associations, but loneliness did mediate the effects of Fantasy, Empathic Concern, and Personal Distress on stress.
Discussion
Our results emphasize the importance of conceptualizing empathy in multi‐dimensional terms. Further, our study highlights the potential negative health consequences of empathy in certain settings. These results may help focus future research in this area and feed into mental health interventions.
... These findings show that even eight educational lessons consisting of five-to-ten-minute-long instructional videos can improve participants' compassion. These findings also are consistent with previous research that found that compassion can be enhanced through training [26], compassion for others can be developed [59], and compassion is an essential predictor of well-being [60]. ...
... Furthermore, a happier, flourishing student would be less likely to engage in violent or harmful thoughts or behaviors. A significant change in overall well-being was related to previous findings that found compassion is an important predictor of a person's sense of well-being (e.g., [60]). By improving students' overall well-being, colleges and universities could help to create a positive and healthy learning environment for all, as envisioned by many education philosophers, with compassion education. ...
College students experiencing psychological distress have significantly greater negative emotions than students who practice compassionate thinking. We have developed Eight Steps to Great Compassion (ESGC), an innovative brief and no-cost online video training program about how to increase compassion among busy and young adult university students. To examine the effectiveness and benefits of the ESGC, a single-group pre-test–post-test quantitative design with undergraduate university students (N = 92; Mage = 20.39) evaluated its effects. The results from the post-test showed that the ESGC had a significant positive impact on increased feelings of compassion towards oneself, compassion for others, and the sense of personal well-being from the pre-test. The analysis of the PERMA-Profiler subscales also reflected a statistically significant increase in overall well-being and health and a decrease in negative emotions and loneliness. From the Post-Survey Lesson Feedback, 88% of the participants reported significant positive changes in themselves and the way that they live due to the program. These findings appear to show important implications for improving healthy minds and reducing negative emotions among university students.
... However, converging evidence indicates that positive emotions and prosocial qualities are just as important for improving overall well-being as stress, depression, and anxiety are to detracting from health and well-being [1]. Across fieldsfrom medicine, mental health care, and education to economics, business and organizational development-there is a growing emphasis on investigating prosocial constructs such as compassion and empathy [2]. ...
... Compassion, or the heartfelt wish to reduce the suffering of self and others, promotes social connection and is an important predictor of overall quality of life [2] and well-being [3]. Empathy, or understanding and vicariously sharing other people's positive emotions, is related to prosocial behaviors (e.g., helping, giving, emotional support), positive affect, quality of life, closeness, trust, and relationship satisfaction [4]. ...
Evidence to date indicates that compassion and empathy are health-enhancing qualities. Research points to interventions and practices involving compassion and empathy being beneficial, as well as being salient outcomes of contemplative practices such as mindfulness. Advancing the science of compassion and empathy requires that we select measures best suited to evaluating effectiveness of training and answering research questions. The objective of this scoping review was to 1) determine what instruments are currently available for measuring empathy and compassion, 2) assess how and to what extent they have been validated, and 3) provide an online tool to assist researchers and program evaluators in selecting appropriate measures for their settings and populations. A scoping review and broad evidence map were employed to systematically search and present an overview of the large and diverse body of literature pertaining to measuring compassion and empathy. A search string yielded 19,446 articles, and screening resulted in 559 measure development or validation articles reporting on 503 measures focusing on or containing subscales designed to measure empathy and/or compassion. For each measure, we identified the type of measure, construct being measured, in what context or population it was validated, response set, sample items, and how many different types of psychometrics had been assessed for that measure. We provide tables summarizing these data, as well as an open-source online interactive data visualization allowing viewers to search for measures of empathy and compassion, review their basic qualities, and access original citations containing more detail. Finally, we provide a rubric to help readers determine which measure(s) might best fit their context.
... Appreciating similarities may be beneficial. In fact, feeling similar to someone is not only a core component of social connection (Seppala et al., 2013), but also increases feelings of connectedness which extend to other members of the "outgroup" (Galinsky et al., 2005). Social connection is linked to other benefits as well, including improved health, wellbeing, and even longevity (Seppala et al., 2013). ...
... In fact, feeling similar to someone is not only a core component of social connection (Seppala et al., 2013), but also increases feelings of connectedness which extend to other members of the "outgroup" (Galinsky et al., 2005). Social connection is linked to other benefits as well, including improved health, wellbeing, and even longevity (Seppala et al., 2013). ...
... Both compassion and self-compassion traits have been associated to a series of benefits for social interactions: reduced punishment behaviors 25 , enhanced social connectedness 24 , and a greater tendency to resolve conflicts through compromise 26 . Consistent with this idea, cultivating compassion has been suggested to benefit social relationships 27 . At the empirical level, several studies support this positive impact of compassion training on social relationships, finding a causal link between compassion interventions (through loving-kindness and compassion-based meditation) and prosocial behaviors 28,29 . ...
... At the empirical level, several studies support this positive impact of compassion training on social relationships, finding a causal link between compassion interventions (through loving-kindness and compassion-based meditation) and prosocial behaviors 28,29 . Furthermore, longitudinal studies in which compassion has been cultivated have shown that compassion training promotes interpersonal closeness 27,30,31 , in line with the "affiliative function" of emotions. However, even though research on compassion has significantly increased in the last decades 32 , there is still uncertainty whether compassion training also benefits social ties in more difficult contexts such as tense relationships with disliked persons. ...
Evidence-based interventions to favor more harmonious interactions in difficult relationships remain scarce. This study examined whether compassion training may have beneficial effects in an ongoing tense relationship with a disliked person, by reducing schadenfreude toward them and increasing felt interpersonal closeness. 108 participants were assigned to one of three 5-week trainings in a longitudinal randomized controlled study: compassion training, reappraisal training (emotion regulation control condition), or Italian language training (neutral active control condition). The disliked person was not targeted during the trainings to test potential transfer effects. Misfortune scenarios and a measure of interpersonal closeness were used to test whether schadenfreude and closeness feelings toward a disliked person changed from pre- to post-training, across different experimental and control groups. Only compassion and reappraisal trainees reported a decrease of schadenfreude feelings toward the disliked person compared to their pre-training ratings, no changes were observed in the Italian language training. Importantly, feelings of closeness toward the disliked person increased in the compassion training group compared to the other two groups. This increase of closeness feelings could be a central mechanism for improving social interactions. These transfer effects open new perspectives concerning emotion regulation interventions in conflict resolution.
... Current research into the science of social connection now provides empirical evidence to support Buber's (1923Buber's ( /2008) treatise on the importance of relationships. Social relationships have been shown to International Journal of Social Science Research and Review Volume 8, Issue 3 March, 2025 be critical to physical and mental health and to longevity (Seppӓlӓ et al., 2013), an impact evident from early childhood (National Scientific Council on the Developing Child, 2020). There is evidence that the human need for social connection overrides even the most basic needs, such as for food and shelter (Lieberman, 2014). ...
The evidence for play as a key component of child development is well established and play scholarship has had reverberations in all aspects of children's lives. This paper asks whether increased awareness and acknowledgement of play's multiple benefits for children's learning, health, and overall development have led to its instrumentalization as a strategy for change, and in so doing appropriated a unique gift of childhood. It examines whether gift theory can enhance our understanding of the play expereience, specifically in relation to play in the healthcare settings. Draeing on their experience as Health Play Specialists in the UK and in Japan, the authors propose that when the provision of play in hospitals and other healthcare settings can be framed as a gift exchange, the integrity of the play experience is preserved, but that this is conditional on the giver's consciousness and the quality of the relationship between the player and the provider of the play.
... These findings reveal important insights into interpersonal relationships and adolescent well-being. For adolescents, compassion and prosocial behaviors contribute to building and maintaining social support networks, which, in turn, enhance social connectedness and provide resources for coping with stress and adversity (Förster and Kanske, 2022;Seppala et al., 2013). Likewise, engaging in compassionate acts can provide adolescents with a sense of mastery over their environment and relationships, enhance their self-perception, and reinforce their sense of efficacy in social interactions (Kleppang et al., 2023). ...
Introduction
This study aimed to validate the 16-item Compassion Scale (CS) for use with Hong Kong adolescents. 1,193 secondary school students in grades 7 to 11 (M = 13.80 years, 43.3% female) completed the questionnaire survey.
Methods
We used EFA and CFA to examine the factor structure of the CS and assessed its convergent and discriminant validity through CR, AVE, AIC, and BIC calculations. We also evaluated the concurrent validity by analysing partial correlations between the CS and its subscales with social connectedness and self-efficacy. In addition, we employed multigroup analysis to determine the model fit of the CS across demographic subgroups.
Results
Factor analyses showed a three-factor structure combining mindfulness and kindness into one factor that we named benevolence, together with common humanity and indifference. Satisfactory model fit was found in different subgroups across age, gender, grade, and school type. Findings suggested that girls, on average, showed a higher level of compassionate concern for others than boys, and younger adolescents were more compassionate than their older counterparts. The CS and its subscales were significantly and positively correlated with social connectedness and self-efficacy, supporting concurrent validity.
Discussion
The findings signify the unique sociocultural context in Hong Kong, which is deeply affected by Chinese traditions, Western individualism, and neoliberal ideals. Overall, the study provides robust support for the CS as a reliable and valid measure for cross-cultural research on compassion and yields evidence-based implications for compassion interventions.
... Compassion develops social interaction in children and adults. Social linking is vital to accommodative human functioning, as it is connected to higher self-esteem, wellbeing, empathy and greater interpersonal orientation (Seppala et al., 2013). A research study indicated that job related expectations and psychosocial safety had significant positive relationship with self-efficacy. ...
Healthcare is vital as people get ill, emergencies, accidents may arise, and healthcare is necessary to diagnose, tackle and manage such critical situations. Often people have chronic diseases and they have to face different challenges regarding their illness, they have different social needs whose fulfillment can lead to improved health competence in patients. This study aims to assess the impact of perceived compassionate care from doctors and social support on perceived health competence of patients managing chronic illnesses. To determine the moderating effect of social support in relationship between perceived compassionate care and perceived health competence in patients, a correlational study with purposive sampling technique was carried out. Total 150 patients were recruited who having chronic illnesses and managing them by regular follow up. To get responses from patients standardized measurement instruments were used, as patient perceived compassionate healthcare scale (Rodriguez & Lown, 2011), Duke Functional Social Support questionnaire (Broadhead et all, 1995), perceived health competence scale (Smith & Wallston, 1998). Descriptive analysis, reliability analysis, correlation analysis and moderation analysis were done. Results shown that there is significant positive correlation between patients perceived compassionate healthcare, perceived social support and patients' perceived health competence. Moderation analysis revealed that the coefficient of interaction is positive so it depicts that social support positively moderated the relationship between perceived compassion satisfaction and perceived health competence and it has additive effect. This study highlights the importance of doctor-patient relationship that how a satisfactory relationship can increase health competence of patients along with social support. Moreover, it is an indicator for doctors to be more compassionate with their patients to improve overall health outcome.
... Social support plays a vital role in increasing resilience by providing individuals with emotional, instrumental, and informational resources to cope with stress and adversity (Li et al., 2021). Strong relationships with family, friends, and community members foster a sense of belonging and connectedness, which can alleviate the negative impact of stress and promote psychological well-being (Moss et al., 2019;Seppala et al., 2013). This is especially important for neurodivergent individuals, as social support helps counter social stigma and discrimination. ...
... Fostering opportunities to interact with and act compassionately toward stigmatized groups would not only benefit those who are stigmatized, but also benefit lonely individuals by providing new opportunities for connection with those they are helping and other volunteers (e.g., Pilisuk & Minkler, 1980). Moreover, research has shown that prosocial behaviors such as compassion are consistently linked to both mental and physical health benefits (Seppala et al., 2013). ...
This study extends recent research on correlates of compassion for suffering social groups. Using a nationally representative sample of 627 U.S. adults, this study used cross-sectional survey data to determine if loneliness, the tendency for interpersonal victimhood, and stigmatizing attitudes held toward suffering social groups correlated with less compassion for suffering social groups. Participants were randomly assigned to respond in regard to one of three suffering social groups: adults who are addicted to opioids, unemployed adults who have been hurt by the rising prices of goods and services, or women who do not have access to reproductive health care in their area. Both main effects and interaction effects were hypothesized. Results showed significant main effects in which loneliness, stigmatizing attitudes held towards a suffering social group, and the tendency for interpersonal victimhood were negatively related to compassion felt for suffering social groups. Additional exploratory analyses showed that these main effects depended on the specific suffering social group. Whereas all three variables inhibited compassion for adults addicted to opioids, only loneliness and stigmatizing attitudes inhibited compassion for the unemployed, and only stigmatizing attitudes inhibited compassion for women lacking access to reproductive health care. These findings can be used to guide the development of future interventions that may address issues that inhibit compassion towards those who are suffering, particularly those in suffering social groups that are stigmatized.
... It has been argued that being compassionate towards others and the resulting helping behavior have strong evolutionary roots in fostering social integration and a sense of belonging 59 . A growing body of evidence suggests that being integrated socially is associated with physiological health indices, such as physiological stress levels 60 , especially in relation to daily contacts with regular social partners 40,61 . ...
It has been suggested that having a reputation for being prosocial is a critical part of social status across all human societies. It has also been argued that prosocial behavior confers benefits, whether physiological, such as stress reduction, or social, such as building allies or becoming more popular. Here, we investigate the relationship between helping reputation (being named as someone others would go to for help), and hair-derived chronic stress (hair cortisol concentration). In a sample of 77 women and 62 men, we found that perceived helping reputation was not related to chronic stress. Overall, the results of our study suggest that, in an egalitarian society with fluid camp membership and widely practiced generosity such as the Hadza, helping reputation does not necessarily boost stress-related health benefits through prestige-signaling mechanisms observed in hierarchical, large-scale societies.
... As network processes and outcomes are contextual, there is also evidence to suggest there are distinct influences that shape college student networks which are different from other significant social contexts [28]. There is some consensus that social support and meaningful relationships matter significantly in college [29][30][31] and positive relationships with others are important in maintaining well-being and health in general [32][33][34][35]. Additionally, higher education can play a role in structuring and facilitating student networks. ...
While much of the research suggests that quality relationships and supportive campus environments shape well-being in college, racialized experiences can moderate the effort students put into their academic and well-being endeavors. However, our understanding of how relationships and networks support student well-being is understudied. This descriptive study employs a critical-relational well-being framework to analyze (n = 1200) survey responses from the Healthy Minds survey to determine perceived institutional and personal well-being support connections for Black and Indigenous college students in the United States before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. A descriptive two-mode social network analysis suggests a slight decrease in support network diversity and network differences in perceived well-being support by the level of well-being and gender. Faculty and advisors were structurally central in Black and Indigenous men’s well-being support and for those with higher well-being, but less central for Black and Indigenous women, and those with lower well-being. While family and friends provided vital social support, campus actors such as professors from class and academic advisors also served central structural roles for students with more diverse networks. Teaching assistants, student affairs staff, and religious affiliations served unique roles for students with fewer support role categories.
... Benefits include improvements in well-being, happiness, prosocial and altruistic behavior, empathy, emotion regulation, resiliency, mental health, and cognition. Social connection has also been shown to contribute to holding more positive views of others (Seppala et al., 2013). In the Book of Proverbs, the importance of connecting with others in positive ways is described in the maxim "iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another" (Proverbs 27:17). ...
There is a growing body of popular and scholarly literature dedicated to the topic of holistic health. Many writers, both Christian and non-Christian, acknowledge the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of the human person. After analyzing approaches supported by contemporary psychology and neuroscience, we find that some of the practices that have been shown to promote overall well-being are consistent with the theological and spiritual traditions of the Catholic Church. In this article, we describe 10 practices demonstrated to promote human flourishing.
... Compassion has been recognized by many 2SLGBTQ+ people as a component integral to their happiness and well-being (Riggle et al., 2008). Compassion creates feelings of empathy for others and cultivates bonds of social connectedness (Riggle et al., 2008;Seppala et al., 2013). Self-compassion may help 2SLGBTQ+ people experience a greater sense of wellbeing through, for instance, the sense of acceptance afforded therein (Beard et al., 2017;Keng & Liew, 2017). ...
Individuals who identify as Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (2SLGBTQ+) frequently encounter discrimination, stigma, harassment, and violence. Despite the prevailing influences of cis-heteronormative narratives, 2SLGBTQ+ individuals often encounter support, love, kindness, acceptance, and compassion in their everyday lives. The aim of the research was to explore how compassion can be a catalyst for societal change. Through three theoretical lenses: post-structuralism, queer theory, and Buddhism, we explored the beliefs, values, and experiences surrounding compassion for 2SLGBTQ+ individuals navigating a cis-heteronormative societal landscape. Eligibility criteria for participants included being 19 years or older, residing in Canada, self-identifying as 2SLGBTQ+, and possessing an interest in discussing compassion. Twenty individuals consented to participate in semi-structured interviews that were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Participants were asked about their understanding of compassion, its significance in their lives, and their practices related to it. They were prompted to recall moments when they received compassion and instances when they expressed compassion toward others. Transcripts were analyzed using Foucauldian discourse analysis. Three major themes arose: (1) (un)learning compassion through chosen families and queer mentorship; (2) pursuing queer lines of flight through generative compassion; and (3) creating queer futures through acts of (self-) compassion. Cultural and social constructs often position compassion and pain as intertwined and fundamental facets to the human experience. We situate both compulsory and generative forms of compassion within an organizing metaphor of “boundless radiance,” the dynamic movements of compassion toward an ever-widening field of becoming that cultivates the way of the open heart.
... Furthermore, in terms of their traditional nomadic lifestyle, Tibetan people historically led a nomadic way of life, characterized by unstable living arrangements, which, in turn, resulted in lower social connectedness. Social connectedness is closely related to empathy (Seppala et al., 2013). Social connectedness plays a vital role in reducing feelings of loneliness and social isolation (Miller, 2023;Petersen et al., 2023), offering individuals opportunities for interaction with others and the development of a shared sense of experience (Andersen & Przybylinski, 2018). ...
Objectives: Individuals often automatically have more empathy for same-race members. However, there are no studies on racial bias in empathy (RBE) among Tibetan school-aged children. The present study aimed to examine the development of RBEs, including racial bias in cognitive empathy, affective empathy, and behavioral empathy, in Tibetan school-aged children. Method: In Experiment 1 (N = 108, aged 7–12), ethnic identity was primed using Tibetan and Han names. Then negative and neutral events were applied to measure the RBEs of Tibetan children. In Experiment 2 (N = 148, aged 7–12), negative events were replaced by pain events. In Experiment 3 (N = 60, aged 7–12), Tibetan children’s ethnic identity and the awareness of the wrongfulness of ethnic intergroup bias were added to examine the underlying mechanism. Result: Results found that RBEs increased among Tibetan children aged 7–10 and decreased among those aged 11–12, Moreover, we analyzed age as a continuous variable and found that 10 years old was the inflection point in the development of RBEs in Tibetan children. Importantly, children aged 11–12 years old realized more wrongfulness of ethnic intergroup bias than children aged 7–10. The ethnic identity of Tibetan children aged 7–10 mediated the relation between age group and RBEs. And the wrongfulness of ethnic intergroup bias mediated the link between age group and RBEs in Tibetan children aged 9–12. Conclusion: Our study sheds light on the development of RBEs in Tibetan school-aged children and highlights the importance of identifying the appropriate timing for intervening in prejudice.
... • Trauma-informed resilience models (e.g., Hoch, et al, 2015;Elliott & Urquiza, 2006) • Neuroscience and bio-psychological models (Siebert, 2005;Hunter, et al, 2018;Creswell, et al, 2019;Siegel, 2007) • Positive psychology perspectives (Gloria & Steinhardt, 2014;Folkman & Moskowitz, 2000;Fredrickson, 2004Fredrickson, , 2005Tugade, et al, 2004;Magyar-Moe, et al, 2015) • Positive psychology models integrating mindfulness and compassion (Siegel, 2007;Loizzo, 2012Seppälä et al, 2013;Harris, 2019) • Social ecological models (Ungar, 2013(Ungar, , 2015 • Cultural sensitivity-, responsiveness-and competence-based models addressing racism and other forms of systemic oppression as context factors (de Chesnay, et al, 2012;NCES, 2021;Boser, 2014;Kung, et al, 2020) These different paradigms target varying causal contributors of stress (e.g., acute present-day or long-standing early traumas; inter-personal relations; systemic oppression; resource gaps, etc.). Consequently, each paradigm recommends varying and different mechanisms and interventions for stress management, coping and resilience capacity-building. ...
... In regard to our prominent findings of most parents' poor or lack of self-awareness and self-care, this may be a focus of request. For example, cultivating loving-kindness meditationthat is cultivating a mental state of wishing well and unconditional love and kindness to all fellow beings (Zhao, 2022) has been shown to enhance positive emotions, resulting in decreased illness and increased social support; both associated with social connection (Seppala et al., 2013). Due to its positive impact on anxiety and depression, emotion regulation, social connections, and building inner mental strength and self-esteem, Zhao (2022) recommends offering loving-kindness meditations to a broader audience facing psychosocial challenges, including in healthcare. ...
... The ED program will serve as an attention control group to reduce for unknown and known confounding factors such as the effects of attention and social interactions on health outcomes. Social interactions have known gender differences, with women benefitting from social engagement more than men [14]. The ED program will utilize the same participant schedule in frequency and duration of contact as the HC to isolate the specific effects of HC on physical activity. ...
Background
Limited mobility in older adults consistently predicts both morbidity and mortality. As individuals age, the rates of mobility disability increase from 1.0% in people aged 15–24 to 20.6% in adults over 65 years of age. Physical activity can effectively improve mobility in older adults, yet many older adults do not engage in sufficient physical activity. Evidence shows that increasing physical activity by 50 min of moderate intensity physical activity in sedentary older adults with mobility limitations can improve mobility and reduce the incidence of mobility disability. To maximize the healthy life span of older adults, it is necessary to find effective and efficient interventions that can be delivered widely to prevent mobility limitations, increase physical activity participation, and improve quality of life in older adults. We propose a randomized controlled trial to assess the effect of a physical activity health coaching intervention on mobility in older adults with mobility limitations.
Methods
This randomized controlled trial among 290 (145 per group) community-dwelling older adults with mobility limitations, aged 70–89 years old, will compare the effect of a physical activity health coaching intervention versus a general healthy aging education program on mobility, as assessed with the Short Physical Performance Battery. The physical activity health coaching intervention will be delivered by exercise individuals who are trained in Brief Action Planning. The coaches will use evidence-based behavior change techniques including goal-setting, action planning, self-monitoring, and feedback to improve participation in physical activity by a known dose of 50 min per week. There will be a total of 9 health coaching or education sessions delivered over 26 weeks with a subsequent 26-week follow-up period, wherein both groups will receive the same duration and frequency of study visits and activities.
Discussion
The consequences of limited mobility pose a significant burden on the quality of life of older adults. Our trial is novel in that it investigates implementing a dose of physical activity that is known to improve mobility in older adults utilizing a health coaching intervention.
Trial registration
ClinicalTrials.gov Protocol Registration System: NCT05978336; registered on 28 July 2023.
... The COVID-19 pandemic and resultant restrictions placed upon Canadians and residents of many other countries (ie, stay-at-home orders and social distancing mandates) significantly impacted elements of many people's social connections over the last 2 years [1,2]. Social connectedness, defined as an individual's subjective sense of having close relationships with others [3,4] is necessary for health and well-being [5]. During multiple phases of the pandemic, social connectedness was severely compromised for many people both directly and indirectly by restrictions placed on face-to-face engagements [6]. ...
Background
The COVID-19 pandemic and resultant restrictions on social gatherings significantly impacted many peoples’ sense of social connectedness, defined as an individual’s subjective sense of having close relationships with others. Older adults living in long-term care homes (LTCHs) experienced extreme restrictions on social gatherings, which negatively impacted their physical and mental health as well as the health and well-being of their family caregivers. Their experiences highlighted the need to reconceptualize social connectedness. In particular, the pandemic highlighted the need to explore novel ways to attain fulfilling relationships with others in the absence of physical gatherings such as through the use of a hybridized system of web-based and in-person presence.
Objective
Given the potential benefits and challenges of web-based presence technology within LTCHs, the proposed research objectives are to (1) explore experiences regarding the use of web-based presence technology (WPT) in support of social connectedness between older adults in LTCHs and their family members, and (2) identify the contextual factors that must be addressed for successful WPT implementation within LTCHs.
Methods
This study will take place in south western Ontario, Canada, and be guided by a qualitative multimethod research design conducted in three stages: (1) qualitive description with in-depth qualitative interviews guided by the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and analyzed using content analysis; (2) qualitative description and document analysis methodologies, informed by content and thematic analysis methods; and (3) explicit between-methods triangulation of study findings from stages 1 and 2, interpretation of findings and development of a guiding framework for technology implementation within LTCHs. Using a purposeful, maximum variation sampling approach, stage 1 will involve recruiting approximately 45 participants comprising a range of older adults, family members (30 participants) and staff (15 participants) within several LTCH settings. In stage 2, theoretical sampling will be used to recruit key LTCH stakeholders (directors, administrators, and IT support). In stage 3, the findings from stages 1 and 2 will be triangulated and interpreted to develop a working framework for WPT usage within LTCHs.
Results
Data collection will begin in fall 2023. The findings emerging from this study will provide insights and understanding about how the factors, barriers, and facilitators to embedding and spreading WPT in LTCHs may benefit or negatively impact older adults in LTCHs, family caregivers, and staff and administrators of LTCHs.
Conclusions
The results of this research study will provide a greater understanding of potential approaches that could be used to successfully integrate WPTs in LTCHs. Additionally, benefits as well as challenges for older adults in LTCHs, family caregivers, and staff and administrators of LTCHs will be identified. These findings will help increase knowledge and understanding of how WPT may be used to support social connectedness between older adults in LTCHs and their family members.
International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)
PRR1-10.2196/50137
... Psychology and anthropology indicate a huge benefit from socialization, touch, and personal interactions. 99 Both individual user well-being and societal well-being require consideration. Even the principle of doing no harm would inspire protection and provide a basis for regulation. ...
Advances in artificial intelligence have resulted in objects that behave and sound like humans and exude a more human feel. Therefore, the relationships between humans and technology have evolved, becoming more personal and complex. Some AI is harmful to humans due to the nature of the human relationship with it. We explore examples ranging from chatbots to AI romantic partners. While humans must better protect themselves emotionally, tech companies must create design solutions as well as be transparent about profit motives to address the growing basket of harms. We propose solutions including alignment with AI principles that promote well-being, prevent exploitation, and acknowledge the importance of human relationships.
This study investigates the psychological benefits of value co-creation in tourism, focusing on its effect on hedonic and eudaimonic well-being. Although tourism has conventionally been associated with hedonic consumption, less consideration has been given to its fuller potential for bettering more profound psychological outcomes. Therefore, this research fills this gap by investigating how value co-creation activities enhance well-being. In particular, we propose that co-creation enhances positive emotions, empowerment, and social connectedness, providing both hedonic and eudaimonic well-being in the short and long run. We used data from 410 domestic travelers who participated in co-creation during their most recent trips and used structural equation modeling to investigate the links between co-creation behaviors and well-being outcomes. Results showed that positive emotions act as partial mediators in associations of co-creation behaviors with hedonic and eudaimonic well-being. The strongest drivers of psychological benefits involved empowerment and social connectedness. These findings spotlight the emotional and psychological dimensions of tourism marketing strategies, offering the potential for tourism businesses to achieve more significant customer satisfaction and long-term well-being benefits from travelers. These findings have valuable implications for managers pursuing meaningful customer relationships through value co-creation and enhancement of overall well-being through inspiring travel experiences.
The current study aimed to investigate the connection between social connectedness and psychological well‐being (PWB), while concurrently exploring the potential mediating roles of loneliness and perceived stress in this relationship among international students in China. Drawing on the literature highlighting the protective effect of social support, this study also sought to explore whether social support played a moderating role in the loneliness‐ and perceived stress‐PWB relationships. The sample comprised 530 students (43.4% of females), aged between 18 and 31 years ( M = 24.39, SD = 4.12), and enrolled in various academic disciplines. Findings of the mediation model indicated that loneliness and perceived stress mediated the relationship between social connectedness and students' PWB. Additionally, moderation analyses revealed that social support had a significant moderating effect such that the negative associations between loneliness/perceived stress and PWB became non‐significant or weaker for international students with high levels of social support. Furthermore, the indirect effects of social connectedness on PWB was also found to be significantly moderated by varying social support levels. Limitations and recommendations for future studies as well as implications for practice are also discussed.
Existing literature has shown that kindness matters for wellbeing. Although prior studies demonstrated gender differences in how kindness relates to well-being – with females receiving greater benefits than males–, there is scant evidence of the link of kindness to life satisfaction over time, especially in gifted and high-ability student populations. This study examined the associations among kindness, social self-efficacy, and life satisfaction among high-ability adolescent girls via a two-wave cross-lagged panel design. Results of a cross-lagged panel structural equation modeling demonstrated that Time 1 kindness was linked to higher Time 2 social self-efficacy. Time 1 life satisfaction was associated with greater Time 2 social self-efficacy. However, Time 1 kindness did not predict Time 2 life satisfaction. This research suggests that kindness can serve as a potential pathway to greater confidence in establishing and maintaining relationships among girls with high academic abilities.
In this chapter we discuss the challenges related to the integration of AI into healthcare, and its impacts on patients who want to be recognized as unique individuals. AI has the potential to change the way that healthcare is delivered and can increase the efficiency of healthcare services. However, there are still challenges that have yet to be addressed. As healthcare has developed, the perspectives and wants of patients have been overlooked. Therefore, the chapter focuses on the impact of AI use in healthcare on patients. We discuss the challenges for AI integration from three perspectives: epistemological, psychological, and ethical. We conclude our chapter with points that should be considered regarding the inevitable integration of AI in healthcare.
Key points
• The increased use of AI in healthcare will change fundamental aspects of patient-clinician relationships and even some facets of what it means to be an individual, unique, human.
• Healthcare systems are traditionally centered on patients and should continue to be patient-centered. With the onset of AI and its incorporation into healthcare, this may not always be the case.
• In some extreme cases, the integration of AI into healthcare may even lead to the denial of a patient’s “humanness” or dehumanization
Needs
• In patients want to be seen as unique individuals. Despite the development and advancements in healthcare, this still needs to be recognized.
• There remain significant ethical and legal concerns that need to be addressed regarding its implementation and use. Some ethical concerns include bias in the responses generated by AI, and privacy
Recommendations
• In incorporating AI into healthcare, catering to a patient’s need for a sense of uniqueness will also increase patient satisfaction with, and foster personal involvement in their own healthcare.
• In protecting the interests of patients, designated parties need to be accountable and responsible for the use of AI in healthcare
This chapter presents evidence that while inclusion of people with disabilities into mainstream society may indeed be an ideal goal, for some individuals, especially those who have developmental disabilities, its implementation is often ineffective and results in physical integration rather than in psychological inclusion, with diminished consequences for healthy adjustment and well-being. By examining the ways in which segregated settings in Canada, Holland and Israel, as well as innovative labor laws in Italy and Japan can promote psychological inclusion, we argue for a less idealistic and rather more pragmatic approach whereby such individuals are empowered to choose from different available employment and living arrangements they feel best suit their individual needs, rather than limiting their options to those that conform to a utopian ideal of inclusion.
Objective
Although elevated social anxiety in developmental prosopagnosia (DP) has been reported in anecdotal and qualitative studies, the current study sought to better quantify the prevalence, severity, and moderators of social anxiety in a large DP sample.
Method
A total of 88 DPs and 58 controls completed the validated Social Interaction Anxiety Scale and assessments of face recognition, autism traits, personality (Big Five Inventory), and coping strategies.
Results
DPs reported greater social anxiety symptoms (M = 30.25) than controls (M = 17.19), with 44% of DPs above a probable clinical cutoff compared with 14% of controls. Exploratory analyses revealed that DPs’ social anxiety was more specific to items pertaining to mixing socially or interacting with unfamiliar people. Notably, several DPs reported minimal social anxiety, which was associated with being more extraverted and having fewer autism traits. A follow-up survey revealed that extraverted DPs more openly disclosed face recognition inabilities than introverted DPs, which may be a factor in their reduced social anxiety.
Conclusion
These results better quantify the potential serious psychosocial consequences of DP and highlight the importance of individual differences as well as targeted intervention.
The notion that humans form socio-emotional bonds with other people is an underlying assumption of much archaeological work on social life in the past. Yet we have been slower to recognise the emotional role of non-humans. From our relationships with objects, animals, religious beliefs and important places, we can gain intense, palpable feelings of security, which impact our cognition and social behaviour, and which provide a wealth of benefits to our mental and physical health and well-being too. In this paper, I discuss how the psychological theory of attachment may provide useful insights into a variety of interpersonal and non-human socio-emotional relationships, helping us to understand why and how humans form attachment bonds. I will also discuss the significant, yet understudied, role played by so-called ‘compensatory’ attachment figures such as companion animals and cherished possessions. Attachment theory provides a simple, yet useful, framework with which to think about bonds in the past, and so allows us to broaden our conception of who—and what—plays an important role in our social and emotional lives. This has broader relevance in the modern world for how we think about concepts such as emotional resilience, material relationships and the significance of our social lives. Humans are, at heart, intensely social creatures, and thinking about the nature of our social lives and the role of attachment provides exciting insights into life in the past.
Depression is a major global health concern expected to worsen by 2030. In 2019, 28 million individuals were affected by depressive disorders. Dietary and supplemental vitamins show overall favorable preventative and therapeutic effects on depression. B vitamins are crucial for neurological function and mood regulation. Deficiencies in these vitamins are linked to depression. Studies on individual B vitamins show promise in improving depressive symptoms, particularly thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and folate. Vitamin C deficiency may heighten depressive symptoms, but its exact role is not fully understood. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is associated with insufficient sunlight exposure and vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D supplementation for SAD shows inconsistent results due to methodological variations. Further investigation is needed to understand the mechanisms of vitamins in depression treatment. Moreover, more research on SAD and light therapy’s efficacy and underlying mechanisms involving photoreceptors, enzymes, and immune markers is needed. Although dietary and supplemental vitamins show overall favorable preventative and therapeutic effects on depression, dietitians treating psychiatric disorders face challenges due to diverse study designs, making direct comparisons difficult. Therefore, this article reviews the current literature to assess the role of dietary and supplemental vitamins in the prevention and treatment of depression. This review found that, although evidence supports the role of B vitamins and vitamins C and D in preventing and treating depression, further research is needed to clarify their mechanisms of action and determine the most effective intervention strategies.
Son yıllarda pozitif psikoloji literatüründe, pozitif kişilik özelliklerinin ölçülmesine dair ilginin gittikçe arttığı görülmektedir. Bu bağlamda merhametin ölçülebilmesi ve diğer değişkenlerle olan ilişkisinin değerlendirilebilmesi için çeşitli psikolojik ölçme araçları geliştirilmiştir. Ancak, ergenlerde merhameti ölçebilecek Türkçe geçerlik ve güvenirlik çalışması yapılmış herhangi bir ölçme aracı olmadığı tespit edilmiştir. Ergenlerin merhamet kapasitesini ölçebilecek geçerlik ve güvenilirliği tespit edilmiş bir ölçme aracının olması psikoterapi ve eğitim alanlarında kullanılabilmesi açısından önemli bir ihtiyacı karşılayabilir. Bu nedenle, bu araştırmada ergenlerde merhamet kapasitesini belirleyebilecek bir ölçme aracının geliştirilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Bu amaçla yapılan literatür taraması, odak görüşme ve uzman görüşü aşamalarından sonra ölçeğin ilk formu verilmiştir. Ölçeğin faktör yapısını belirleyebilmek için açımlayıcı faktör analizi; yapılan analiz sonucunda tespit edilen faktör yapısına ilişkin yapı geçerliliğini doğrulamak için ise doğrulayıcı faktör analizi yapılmıştır. Yapılan analiz sonuçlarından elde edilen bilgilere göre ölçeğin; sevecenlik, sorumluluk, empati, duygulanım, benmerkezcilik, acımasızlık olmak üzere altı faktörlü bir yapıda olduğu ve varyansın %62.14’ünü açıkladığı belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca ölçeğin doğrulayıcı faktör analizi sonucunda elde edilen ölçeğe ait uyum iyiliği değerleri ise χ2/Sd (1090.83/390) = 2.80, p=.001, IFI=.94, NNFI=.94; CFI=.94; GFI=.86; SRMR: .070; RMSEA=.063 (RMSEA için güven aralığı=.059–.068) olarak bulunmuştur. Sonuç olarak, bu bulgulara göre Ergenlerde (12-18 yaş) Merhamet Ölçeği’nin, ergenlerde merhamet kapasitesini değerlendirmeye yönelik yapılacak çalışmalarda güvenilir biçimde kullanılabilecek bir ölçek olduğunu göstermektedir.
Volunteering older adults plays a role in maintaining well‐being through facilitation of face‐to‐face communication. However, the COVID‐19 pandemic reduced volunteer opportunities involving physical interaction among seniors. While studies have reported that indirect communication such as non‐face‐to‐face can support and improve mental health, it remains unclear whether it can substitute face‐to‐face communication among older volunteers accustomed to frequent interpersonal interactions. Therefore, the current study aimed to examine the relationship between communication forms and well‐being during the pandemic by communication partner, among volunteers aged 65 years and above. Participants engaged in REPRINTS, which are volunteer who read picture books to children. At questionnaire survey was completed to investigate changes in the frequency of face‐to‐face and non‐face‐to‐face communication before and during the pandemic, and well‐being using the WHO‐5. The results showed that maintaining or increasing the frequency of face‐to‐face communication with friends and neighbours before to during the pandemic was associated with a lower risk of being determined poor well‐being (ORs: 0.465, 95% CI: 0.274–0.789, p = .004). This study demonstrated the significance of creating opportunities for face‐to‐face communication to maintain the well‐being of older volunteers during the pandemic.
Introduction: The construct forgiveness has gained immense attention in recent times among the positive psychology researchers, considering the innumerable benefits that an individual can have due to the virtue. The present study was carried out to investigate whether forgiveness has any significant relationship with social connectedness and subjective well-being and to check whether forgiveness predicts social connectedness and subjective well-being among the college students of Kerala. Method: The sample of the study consisted of 531 college students (male=163; Mage=20.36, female=368; Mage= 20.18) from Kerala. The statistical analysis used were Pearson's correlation coefficient and regression analysis. Results: The results of the study indicated there exist a significant positive correlation between forgiveness and social connectedness and between forgiveness and subjective well-being. The results further suggested that forgiveness significantly and positively predicted both the dependent variables, that is social connectedness and subjective well-being. Conclusion: As forgiveness is helpful in predicting social connectedness and subjective well-being, more focus can be given to the virtue, as the variables measured in the study is significant in promoting positive mental health.
Today's busy lifestyle and race for success have increased the stress levels among people thus increasing the importance of both physical and mental wellbeing. Outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic forced people to be indoors due to lockdown and restrictions. The pandemic acted as a wake-up call for many people to understand the need of wellbeing and wellness. This precisely led many people to undertake wellness tourism activities post Covid-19 pandemic. This study is conducted at this juncture to discuss the changes, impacts, challenges and opportunities of wellness tourism in post-Covid-19 scenario. Previous research articles were thoroughly analyzed for this purpose and the results showed that wellness tourism has got a great growth potential post Covid-19 as people have understood the importance of wellbeing and wellness tourism. Wellness tourism possesses the power to act as the vehicle for the recovery of tourism industry as a whole, which was effected by the pandemic. The tourism stakeholders need to improve the infrastructure and try to provide diversified wellness tourism packages to capitalize the growth prospect of this segment.
Research suggests that staying connected with people is very beneficial to our physical and mental well-being. Moreover, a lack of social connection is associated with poor mental and physical health, and lower overall well-being. For individuals with social anxiety, it is particularly difficult to cultivate social connections. Due to the prolonged period of social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic, research suggests that social anxiety in university students has increased. This study employed a convergent parallel mixed method design and administered a self-reported questionnaire which included quantitative and qualitative questions. The questionnaire was administered to 301 undergraduate students to determine if feelings of social anxiety in students changed during and after the pandemic. This study also analyzed social anxiety levels across racial and ethnocultural demographics and assessed the cultural stigmas and barriers that may prevent students from accessing mental health services. Results from the quantitative analyses showed a significant difference in social anxiety scores before and after the pandemic. However, in our sample, feelings of social anxiety post-pandemic did not differ across race, or income which were our main variables of interest. In addition, there was a positive correlation between social anxiety scores and household income and fear of negative evaluation. The qualitative results showed that important barriers to accessing mental health services include fear of parents learning they are in therapy, cost of mental health services, language barriers, and concern that a therapist would not have cultural sensitivity. This study highlights the need for increased interventions to reduce social anxiety among students, and proposes a preventative approach we refer to as “Life-Skills Training” to address social anxiety.
Background: In 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic has imposed a lockdown in several countries all around the world. In Italy a decret-law on March 9, 2020 lockdown was extended to schools and Universities. This situation caused symptoms such as: anxiety, insomnia, post-traumatic stress disorder and somatization. In these conditions, loneliness likely exacerbated symptoms of depression and anxiety. Furthermore, changes due to online teaching, managing relationship with professor could affect well-being and mood. This research aims to verify how a low level of depression, high self-esteem, internal Locus of Control and high self-efficacy are predictors of well-being and allowing a good management of the critical situation due to the pandemic.
Methods: This study has been carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown. The experimental subjects were psychology students and postgraduates in psychotherapy. Tests were administered measuring: personality traits, self-esteem, self-efficacy, perceived social support, depression, internal addiction.
Results: Both experimental groups showed difficulties in socialization and in motivational support and the students showed higher anxiety and depression with respect to postgraduates. Furthermore, a correlation between depression, anxiety and stress was observed. Also, stress proved to be a cross-cutting factor in conditions of anxiety and low mood, while depression and anxiety were correlated. Additionally, high self-efficacy is related to low score of stress, anxiety and depression, such as internal Locus of Control. Last, internet addiction is in relationship with low perceived social support and low capacity of handling the situation.
Conclusions: Internal Locus of Control is crucial to handle anxiety, depression and internet addiction and a high level of self-esteem, self-efficacy and perceived social support are protective factors for anxiety and depression.
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