Search Results (111)

Zhuangzi, a seminal figure in ancient Chinese philosophy, offers profound insights into emotional well-being through his Qi-emotion theory. This paper examines Zhuangzi’s approach to emotional well-being by exploring the interplay between Qi (vital energy), atmosphere, and emotions. By drawing comparative perspectives from Neo-Phenomenology’s concept of atmosphere and the Chinese classical concept of Qi-feeling, the study challenges traditional views that emotions are solely internal phenomena. Instead, it proposes that emotions are field-like, arising from dynamic interactions between individuals and their environments. Through an in-depth analysis of Zhuangzi’s philosophy, particularly his methods of self-cultivation such as “fasting the mind” (xin zhai 心齋) and non-action (wu wei 無爲), this paper illustrates how aligning oneself with the Dao (the Way 道) and harmonizing Qi can lead to emotional balance and spiritual freedom. The study integrates Eastern and Western philosophical traditions, highlighting the significance of enlightened mind, embodiment, and atmospheric resonance in achieving emotional well-being. The findings suggest that Zhuangzi’s Qi-emotion theory provides valuable insights for contemporary philosophical practice and therapy by emphasizing the unity of mind, body, and environment. By fostering harmony with the natural world and transcending personal attachments, individuals can attain a state of inner peace and holistic well-being. Full article

Ageing is a dynamic biological process involving interconnected physiological, psychological, and social changes, making the promotion of healthy ageing a global public health priority. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines healthy ageing as the process of developing and maintaining functional ability that enables well-being in older age. The WHO’s Decade of Healthy Aging (2021–2030) outlines four key action areas: changing attitudes toward ageing, creating age-friendly environments, delivering integrated and person-centred care, and ensuring access to long-term care. This Perspective examines yoga, a holistic mind–body practice integrating physical postures, breath regulation, and mindfulness, as a potentially safe, adaptable, and scalable intervention for older adults. Evidence suggests that yoga may improve flexibility, balance, mobility, and cardiovascular function, reduce pain, and support the management of chronic conditions commonly associated with ageing. Psychological and cognitive research further indicates reductions in stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, alongside potential benefits for attention, memory, and executive function. Improvements in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) have been reported across physical, psychological, and social domains, with benefits sustained through regular practice. Adaptations such as chair-based practices, restorative postures, and the use of props enhance accessibility and safety, allowing participation across diverse functional levels. Mindfulness and breath-focused components of yoga may additionally support emotional regulation, resilience, and psychological well-being, particularly among older adults experiencing stress or limited mobility. Yoga interventions are generally well tolerated, demonstrate high adherence, and can be delivered through in-person and digital formats, addressing common access barriers. Despite this growing evidence base, yoga remains underintegrated within health policy and care systems in the US, UK, and India. Strengthening its role may require coordinated efforts across research, policy, and implementation to support healthy ageing outcomes. Full article

Amid escalating ecological degradation, social fragmentation, and rising mental health challenges—especially in rural and agricultural communities—there is an urgent need to reimagine systems that support both planetary and human flourishing. This viewpoint examines an emerging paradigm in agriculture that emphasizes the role of farmers’ inner development in fostering practices that enhance ecological health, community well-being, and a resilient food system. A key goal is to draw more academic attention to growing community calls for more holistic, relational, and spiritually grounded approaches to food systems as an important focus for ongoing research. Drawing on diverse case studies from Japan, India, and Europe, we examine how small-scale and natural farming initiatives are integrating inner development, universal human values, and ecological consciousness. These case studies were developed and/or refined through a program led by the Conscious Food Systems Alliance (CoFSA), an initiative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) that seeks to integrate inner transformation with sustainable food systems change. The initiatives are intended as illustrative examples of how agriculture can transcend its conventional, anthropocentric role as a food production system to become a site for cultivating deeper self-awareness, spiritual connection, and regenerative relationships with nature. Participants in these cases reported significant shifts in mindset—from materialistic and extractive worldviews to more relational and value-driven orientations rooted in care, cooperation, and sustainability. Core practices such as mindfulness, experiential learning, and spiritual ecology helped reframe farming as a holistic process that nurtures both land and life. These exploratory case studies suggest that when farmers are supported in aligning with inner values and natural systems, they become empowered as agents of systemic change. By linking personal growth with planetary stewardship, these models offer pathways toward more integrated, life-affirming approaches to agriculture and future academic research. Full article

The global population aged 65 and older is expected to double from 761 million in 2021 to 1.6 billion by 2050. Despite often being treated separately in clinical practice and policy, oral health and mental health are fundamentally interconnected in older adulthood, forming a bidirectional relationship that exacerbates disability, social inequity, and systemic healthcare challenges. This narrative review aims to summarize the two-way relationship between mental and oral health and emphasize their combined impact on systemic health, social engagement, and independence among ageing populations. The bidirectional relationship has profound clinical significance. Untreated oral diseases induce chronic pain and cause social embarrassment, aggravating pre-existing depression and anxiety. Periodontal disease can worsen systemic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and dementia via a shared inflammatory pathway. Conversely, mental health issues—including depression, anxiety, cognitive decline, and the use of psychotropic medications—reduce motivation for oral care, prompt dental neglect, and affect salivary function, deteriorating oral health. Despite clear connections, systemic gaps persist, including fragmented healthcare systems, financial barriers, stigma, lack of awareness, and caregiver burnout. To address these challenges, strategies such as developing integrated care models to unify dental and mental health services, reforming policies to prioritize oral and mental health parity, advocating anti-stigma campaigns to clear the misconceptions, and implementing community-based healthcare programmes to reach underserved older adults are essential. By recognizing oral health as a vital component of mental resilience, societies can transform ageing into an era of empowered well-being, where the mouth–mind connection promotes holistic health rather than functional decline. Full article

Background: As ageing populations grow, the prevalence of dementia and pre-dementia conditions is rising. Emerging approaches to neurorehabilitation emphasize not only performance-based outcomes but also holistic, experiential, and person-centred aspects of care. The extended mind thesis further highlights the potential role of external tools in supporting impaired cognitive functions. Within this ecological and experiential perspective, Social Assistive Robotics (SAR) may offer a multidimensional approach to address cognitive, emotional, and social needs in neurocognitive disorders. Objective: To synthesize current evidence on the effects of robotic interventions within an enactive framework integrating mind, body, environment, and technology. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Ovid Medline, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Springer, Wiley, IEEE Xplore, ACM Digital Library, and the Cochrane Library. Due to heterogeneity among included studies, an umbrella review was performed using vote-counting by direction of effect as a non-quantitative synthesis method. Methodological rigour followed JBI and Cochrane guidelines. Results: Sixteen reviews were included. The strongest and most consistent benefits emerged for affective outcomes, particularly emotional response and social interaction p = 0.007 (two-sided). Conversely, outcomes related to cognition, anxiety, agitation, depression, and quality of life showed mixed or non-significant effects, while neuropsychiatric symptoms demonstrated no benefit. Conclusions: Discrepancies across reviews seem driven by methodological limitations in primary studies, limiting interpretability. The strength of this umbrella review lies in identifying systematic gaps that can guide future research. With stronger evidence, integrating SAR into experiential neurorehabilitation may offer a promising avenue for holistic, ecologically grounded care that extends beyond traditional task-based performance. Trial Registration: PROSPERO CRD420251165419. Full article

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the mediating roles of social skills and peer relationships in the association between mindfulness and spiritual well-being (SWB) among adolescents. Drawing on the mindfulness-to-meaning theory, the research sought to clarify how mindfulness supports adolescents’ spiritual well-being through social and relational mechanisms. Method: A correlational research design was employed with a sample of 761 adolescents attending high schools in Türkiye. Data were collected using the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, Social Skills Scale, Peer Relations Scale, and the Three-Factor Spiritual Well-Being Scale. The hypothesized serial mediation model was tested using PROCESS Macro Model 6 with 5000 bootstrap samples. Results: Mindfulness was positively associated with SWB. Both social skills and peer relationships showed significant mediating effects. The serial indirect effect through social skills and peer relationships was also significant. Conclusions: Findings highlight mindfulness as a key psychosocial resource that enhances adolescents’ spiritual well-being through improved social skills and supportive peer relationships. School-based mindfulness programs should integrate peer interaction and social skills components to promote adolescents’ holistic development. Full article

This paper explores the function of miracles in classical and modern Islamic theology, focusing particularly on Fethullah Gülen’s interpretation and its relevance to contemporary discussions on revelation, rationality, and science. Traditionally, miracles are viewed as divine signs confirming prophethood by surpassing natural laws and serving as challenges to disbelievers. While classical scholars upheld their evidentiary role, modern thinkers—under the influence of positivism and rationalism—have sought to reinterpret or dismiss their validity, particularly sensory or physical miracles. In this context, Gülen presents a distinctive perspective that reframes miracles not merely as supernatural phenomena, but as signs pointing to both spiritual truths and technological inspiration. Drawing from the insights of Said Nursi, Gülen highlights how prophetic miracles have anticipated and guided scientific advancements, thereby integrating material progress with spiritual wisdom. Gülen’s holistic understanding of human nature and prophetic guidance, rooted in the concept of human beings as the most refined creation (ahsani taqwīm), positions prophets as leaders of both spiritual and intellectual advancement. This dual role challenges the perceived conflict between revelation and reason, asserting that rationality reaches its full potential only when informed by prophetic insight. The paper also situates Gülen’s thought within broader modern theological discourses, particularly in response to critiques that Islam is incompatible with science. Gülen affirms the necessity of revelation not as a hindrance to rational inquiry but as its essential guide, likening prophets to expert physicians who administer the elixir of revelation to protect and elevate the human mind. By analysing Gülen’s approach to miracles and prophetic intellect (fatānah), this paper argues that his theology offers a balanced framework for reconciling religion and science, and contributes a meaningful response to contemporary debates surrounding the rationality of faith and the enduring relevance of prophethood. Full article

This study critically examines the structure, mechanisms, and enduring relevance of character education embedded in the indigenous knowledge systems of the Greater Horn of Africa. Pre-colonial African societies upheld sophisticated educational frameworks that emphasized holistic moral formation and communal character development, values that continue to influence rural communities today. Drawing on an integrative literature review, the paper identifies preparationism, functionalism, and communalism as core philosophical foundations shaping these systems. Moral and civic values were cultivated through informal, lifelong learning, guided by the collaborative roles of the home and community in fostering respect, responsibility, and social cohesion. Central pedagogical instruments included initiation rites, which provided structured moral instruction, and oral literature, which transmitted ethical reasoning and cultural wisdom. The findings underscore the continued relevance of indigenous character education in addressing contemporary societal challenges and advocate for Decolonizing the Mind as a pathway to revitalizing these traditions. The study concludes that reformed rites of passage, when purged of harmful elements, preserve cultural identity and strengthen communal ethics, offering a sustainable model for moral and civic education in modern Horn of African contexts. Full article

Background: Low back pain (LBP) profoundly impacts daily life, requiring assessment tools that capture its complex effects on the body and mind. This study explores a measurement tool designed to assess LBP disability, testing whether Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling (ESEM) better reveals its multidimensional nature compared to Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). Methods: We analyzed data from 266 LBP patients using CFA and ESEM. The tool, developed from the items from existing scales, included 99 questions on body functions, activities, and participation. Using Mplus 8 software, we compared model fit and item connections. Results: Two main factors; “Body Functions” and “Activity-Participation” identified by CFA were tested using ESEM. While ESEM had slightly better fit compared to CFA model, many items linked across both factors which shows how pain and emotions overlap with daily activities. These results align with the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and reflect LBP’s broad impact. Conclusions: ESEM offers a broader understanding of LBP’s multidimensional nature compared with CFA, guiding clinicians to create a holistic management approach that address physical and psychosocial challenges. This preliminary study supports the use of ESEM in disability research, demonstrating its usefulness in identifying the multifaceted nature of LBP, therefore providing a broader perspective for assessment and management. Full article

Positive Body Image (PBI) has been conceptualized as a multidimensional construct encompassing acceptance, functionality appreciation, and self-care, yet little is known about the lived processes through which women move from self-criticism to reconciliation with their bodies. This study aimed to explore how women experience, construct, and sustain PBI in their everyday lives, and to identify the psychological and contextual factors that facilitate its development. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten women in Greece (ages 18–62) of diverse body sizes, educational backgrounds, and life circumstances, which were then analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Participants were recruited through convenience sampling and interviewed online between July and August 2025. Findings revealed three superordinate themes—(1) Catalysts of Realism and Self-Care, (2) From Rejection to Reconciliation, and (3) My Own Positive Body Image—comprising nine subthemes that together illustrated a developmental process of body acceptance and meaning-making. Findings revealed a trajectory from self-rejection to reconciliation, marked by shifts from external appearance to holistic embodiment, and from self-criticism to compassion, functionality appreciation, and intrinsic motivation. Participants described mindful self-care practices—particularly exercise and healthy eating—as acts of self-nurturing, supported by psychotherapy, positive social relationships, and turning points such as illness, aging, or personal maturation. These catalysts facilitated a reorientation of body image away from societal ideals and toward health, resilience, and existential meaning. The study contributes to understanding how women develop sustainable forms of PBI, highlighting the importance of self-compassion, supportive contexts, and body functionality. These insights have implications for interventions aiming to promote wellbeing, resilience, and healthier relationships with the body across the lifespan. Full article

Ageing literature, while growing in huge volume in the past decades, is still largely dominated by frameworks and topics of frailty and decline. A shift in attention to conceptualising ageing more holistically to include psychosocial and emotional aspects as well as subjective experience is much needed, in order to better account for the ageing (well) experience and processes in today’s times. There is a large portion of older adults with relatively good health. As life expectancy increases around the world, many older adults are living longer and healthier overall, often wishing for their lives to continue being active, meaningful, and fulfilling. With this changing demographic in mind, we argue for a framework of positive ageing. We define positive ageing as a subjective, intentional experience, which includes the multi-dimensional construction of ageing well. The notion of positive ageing has the potential to widen the scope of gerontological research and to help guide policy and intervention development. Furthermore, this conceptual framework and a cyclic model of positive ageing presented in the current work can effectively complement current models and practices of care in geriatrics by taking a more person-centred and holistic approach to understanding and managing health and well-being. Full article

Ritual prayer (ṣalāh) is one of the most central and enduring practices in Islam, widely recognized for its spiritual significance. However, its educational and formative role in shaping the Muslim’s inner self and moral identity remains insufficiently explored in contemporary scholarship. This paper aims to examine ritual prayer as a core pedagogical tool within Islamic education, focusing on its transformative power in the processes of self-purification (tazkiyah) and identity formation. The study seeks to analyze the ethical and psychological dimensions of ṣalāh, drawing on classical Islamic sources, as well as integrating insights from contemporary critical philosophy—particularly Byung-Chul Han’s Vita Contemplativa—and Islamic virtue ethics, including perspectives such as those advanced by Elizabeth Bucar. Through this framework, the paper explores how prayer shapes inner dispositions like humility, mindfulness, sincerity, patience, and submission, reinforcing both spiritual awareness and communal belonging. Employing a descriptive-analytical methodology, the study engages Qur’anic verses, prophetic traditions, and traditional pedagogical literature to investigate how ṣalāh functions as a lived and repeated experience that cultivates the soul and molds ethical behavior. The discussion highlights how regular performance of prayer integrates belief with action and contributes to the formation of a reflective and morally grounded Muslim identity. This paper contributes to the field of Islamic Practical Theology by demonstrating how ritual prayer operates as a dynamic and holistic model for moral and spiritual development. It provides educators and scholars with a theoretical and applied vision for incorporating ṣalāh-based character education into Islamic curricula. Future research may explore how prayer interacts with modern lifestyles, digital spiritual practices, and intergenerational transmission of religious identity in diverse contexts. Full article

This research article explores the integration of Buddhist and philosophical principles into educational methodologies to enhance learning skills. The objectives were to develop a creative educational model, identify key factors influencing learning skills, and assess the approach’s effectiveness. The study targeted students from higher education institutions as the population. A purposive sampling technique was employed, selecting participants who demonstrated an interest in or familiarity with Buddhist teachings and philosophical inquiry. The research employed a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques. Tools included questionnaires/surveys, semi-structured interview questions, and observations, supplemented by focus group discussions and thematic analyses and a suitability and feasibility evaluation form. The analyses were performed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA), content analysis, theme analysis, and data saturation. Statistics were in the form of percentages, means, SDs, t-values, and exploratory factor analyses (EFA). The results indicated that integrating Buddhist practices, such as mindfulness and reflective thinking, with philosophical methods, such as critical inquiry and dialogue, significantly improved students’ cognitive, emotional, and ethical development. Key findings highlighted the importance of fostering an environment encouraging open-mindedness, self-reflection, and ethical reasoning. The study’s significance lies in its contribution to educational innovation, providing a framework for integrating spiritual and philosophical dimensions into contemporary education. This approach enhances traditional academic skills and promotes holistic development, preparing students for personal and societal challenges. Full article

American Indians and Alaska Natives experience disproportionately high cancer diagnoses and death rates. This study aims to elucidate American Indian and Alaska Native understandings of cancer as voiced through poetry. Ten writers submitted poems in response to a call for American Indians and Alaskan Natives to share their perspectives, experiences, and knowledge about cancer through poetry. Poetry submissions were analyzed for emergent themes through an inductive-deductive approach using framework analyses grounded in the Native Wellness Model and Cancer Control Continuum. Four overarching themes, one within each of the four Native Wellness Model constructs (mind, body, spirit, and context) and 17 sub-themes, reveal that cancer is a holistic experience for American Indian and Alaska Native Peoples. Participant knowledge and experiences varied across the Cancer Control Continuum, with survivorship and palliative care most reflected in the poetry. Fewer poems addressed detection, etiology, and prevention. Poetry can serve as a culturally relevant data source to better understand cancer from American Indian and Alaskan Native perspectives, experiences, and knowledge. More holistic approaches to cancer education, prevention, treatment, and research with American Indians and Alaskan Natives could improve efforts to address cancer within this population. Full article

The present study explores the determinants of tourist satisfaction within the context of wellness tourism in Greece, an emerging segment of the tourism industry that emphasizes holistic well-being. The aim was to assess the overall satisfaction of wellness tourists, identify the relative importance and performance of satisfaction dimensions, and offer insights for service improvement. A structured questionnaire was administered to 487 wellness tourists during the summer of 2024, and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Multicriteria Satisfaction Analysis (MUSA) method. The results revealed a high overall satisfaction level (90.4%), with physical and spiritual well-being activities contributing most significantly to the satisfaction structure. In contrast, mind well-being activities scored the lowest in satisfaction, despite being rated highly in importance, suggesting a service gap. Improvement analysis indicated that mental and spiritual well-being activities are high-impact, low-effort areas for enhancement. Demographic data further highlighted that wellness tourists are typically young, educated and economically active women. The findings suggest the need for more personalized, holistic offerings and point to the potential integration of wellness and medical tourism services. The study offers practical implications for wellness providers and destination managers and identifies future research directions related to satisfaction dynamics and health-oriented tourism strategies. Full article