Search Results (1,327)

Contemporary design of medical and therapeutic facilities increasingly recognizes that healing outcomes are influenced not only by functional performance but also by spatial experience, sensory perception, and atmospheric qualities of the built environment. Within this context, courtyards represent a recurrent architectural element in healthcare settings, historically associated with access to nature, daylight, ventilation, and social interaction. Beyond their utilitarian role, courtyards can operate as multisensory environments that support psychological regulation, emotional restoration, and physical well-being. This study investigates the therapeutic courtyard as a spatial component situated at the intersection of functional requirements and phenomenological experience in healing architecture. Rather than aiming to demonstrate universal applicability, the research seeks to identify and structure the key functional and phenomenological attributes that contribute to the restorative potential of courtyard spaces in healthcare environments. The study combines a structured literature review with an exploratory, perception-oriented survey based on conceptual courtyard scenarios. The research explicitly focuses on key spatial parameters of therapeutic courtyard design, including access to daylight, ventilation and microclimate, contact with nature, accessibility and orientation, social integration, opportunities for activity and recreation, possibilities for isolation and safety, adaptability and multifunctionality, as well as aesthetic and symbolic qualities. By translating theoretical insights into practical design considerations, the study contributes to the development of human-centered strategies for contemporary healing architecture. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study investigates whether psychological well-being moderates the relationship between burnout and depressive symptoms among mental health professionals, who are frequently exposed to high emotional labor. Methods: A sample of 607 professionals—including psychologists, guidance counselors, social workers, and psychiatrists—working in public and private institutions in Turkey participated in the study. Data were collected online using the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the Psychological Well-Being Scale, and the Beck Depression Inventory–II. A latent interaction term between burnout and psychological well-being was tested using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Results: Burnout was positively associated with depressive symptoms (β = 0.37, p < 0.001), and psychological well-being showed a significant main effect on depressive symptoms (β = 0.26, p < 0.001). Importantly, the interaction between burnout and psychological well-being was significant (β = 0.20, p < 0.001), indicating that psychological well-being significantly moderates the relationship between burnout and depressive symptoms. Specifically, the positive interaction suggests that the association between burnout and depressive symptoms becomes stronger at higher levels of psychological well-being. The model explained 27% of the variance in depressive symptoms. Conclusions: These findings highlight the protective role of psychological well-being and suggest that interventions aimed at enhancing well-being may help reduce depressive symptoms among mental health professionals in high-stress environments. Full article

Background/Objectives: In light of the concerning research data on students’ mental health, it is essential to provide high-quality programs that support children and young people in strengthening their psychological well-being. To address this need, the three-year Erasmus+ KA3 international project PROMEHS: Promoting Mental Health at Schools was developed. The project involved universities and education policy representatives from seven European countries, Italy (project leader), Greece, Croatia, Latvia, Malta, Portugal, and Romania. Its core activities included the development of the PROMEHS curriculum, grounded in three key components: social and emotional learning, resilience, and the prevention of behavioral problems, alongside a rigorous evaluation of its implementation. The main research aim was to test the effect of PROMEHS on students’ and teachers’ mental health. Methods: In Croatia, the curriculum was introduced following the training of teachers (N = 76). It was implemented in kindergartens, and primary and secondary schools (N = 32), involving a total of 790 children. Using a quasi-experimental design, data were collected at two measurement points in both experimental and control groups by teachers, parents, and students. Results: The findings revealed significant improvements in children’s social and emotional competencies and resilience, accompanied by reductions in behavioural difficulties. These effects were most evident in teachers’ assessments, compared to parents’ ratings and student self-reports. Furthermore, teachers reported a significantly higher level of psychological well-being following implementation. Conclusions: Bearing in mind some study limitations, it can be concluded that this study provides evidence of the positive effects of PROMEHS in Croatian educational settings. Building on these outcomes and PROMEHS as an evidence-based program, a micro-qualification education was created to ensure the sustainability and systematic integration of the PROMEHS curriculum into Croatian kindergartens and schools. Full article

Background/Objectives: Adolescence is a developmental period characterised by intensive use of social media and an increased prevalence of emotional problems such as depression and anxiety. Scientific evidence indicates that the modality of social media use (active or passive) can significantly predict these problems, with active use being linked to a higher likelihood of cyberbullying victimisation. As victimisation is associated with more severe emotional problems, social media represents an important context for understanding adolescent mental health. Following this, the main aim of this study was to examine how the modality of social media use (SMU) is related to emotional problems, and whether cyberbullying victimisation mediates this relationship. Methods: This study was conducted on a convenient sample of N = 1822 students (49.0% boys, 51.0% girls; M_age = 13.22 years, SD_age = 0.629) from a total of 64 elementary schools throughout Croatia. A modified Croatian version of the Active and Passive Use of Social Networks Scale, the Anxiety and Depression subscales of the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale—Youth Version, and the Cyber-Victimisation subscale of the European Cyberbullying Intervention Project Questionnaire were used. Results: The results indicate that passive SMU among boys is directly related only to anxiety, while that among girls contributes only to the explanation of depression. Regarding cyberbullying victimisation as a mediator, full mediation in the association between active SMU and emotional problems was found for both girls and boys. Conclusions: This represents a significant theoretical contribution, as well as a contribution to the development of psychosocial interventions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Youth with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) face unique challenges in balancing dietary choices, physical health outcomes, and social–emotional well-being in school settings. This cross-sectional exploratory pilot study examined the associations of diet with physical health and teacher-reported social–emotional functioning in students with T1DM. Methods: Students with T1DM (mean age = 13.42; 47 female, 50 male; 50% White, Non-Hispanic, 50% minority) self-reported their nutritional habits using the KBlock Dietary Screener for Children when school was in session. Teacher-rated school-related behaviors were assessed through the Behavior Assessment Scale for Children-2nd Edition (BASC-2). Canonical correlation analysis was conducted to determine whether the variable sets (diet with physical health and school-related behavioral health) shared a significant multivariate relationship. Results: Youth with lower glycemic loads and consuming more sugar, dairy, and meat/poultry/fish but fewer legumes, fruit, and less saturated fat exhibited fewer externalizing symptoms and higher BMI. Diet uniquely accounted for modest variance in combined social–emotional and physical health, controlling for demographics and T1DM duration. Findings support increasing the availability of whole, nutrient-rich foods, integrating comprehensive nutrition education into curricula, and ensuring access for all students, regardless of socioeconomic status. Conclusions: Comprehensive dietary assessments and school-based randomized control trials are needed to enact more evidence-based dietary recommendations or interventions for youth, aiming for a balanced approach that addresses both mental and physical health outcomes. Full article

Background/Objectives: Meaningful social connections are critical for well-being in later life, yet older adults living with HIV frequently experience social isolation and loneliness, compounded by stigma, mental health conditions, and systemic inequities. This study aimed to explore how older adults living with HIV and a concurrent mental health diagnosis experience social isolation and cultivate meaningful relationships, situating these experiences within Social Convoy Theory. Methods: Using a Heideggerian phenomenological approach, we conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 33 adults aged 50 and older in Ontario, Canada, who self-identified as living with HIV and a diagnosed mental health condition. Participants were recruited through community-engaged strategies and snowball sampling. Data were analyzed iteratively, combining descriptive and interpretive coding to identify patterns in social isolation, relational meaning, and the influence of intersecting social, structural, and health determinants. Results: Participants described social isolation as both a physical and existential experience, influenced by stigma, mental health challenges, and contextual factors such as urban versus rural settings. Meaningful relationships were characterized by authenticity, trust, emotional safety, and reciprocity, often formed within peer networks sharing similar lived experiences. Community engagement and virtual platforms facilitated connection, while rural or suburban environments often intensified isolation. Relationships providing validation, agency, and continuity of experience were particularly impactful on participants’ well-being. Conclusions: Social isolation among older adults living with HIV and mental health conditions extends beyond objective network measures to include emotional and identity-related dimensions. Interventions should prioritize affirming, context-sensitive spaces that support disclosure, trust, and reciprocal relationships, recognizing the nuanced needs of this population for both social and existential connectedness. Full article

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained heart rhythm disorder. It is estimated that AF affects over 52 million people worldwide, with its prevalence expected to double in the next four decades. AF significantly increases the risk of stroke and heart failure, contributing to 340,000 excess deaths annually. Beyond these life-threatening complications, AF results in limitations in physical, emotional, and social well-being causing significant reductions in quality of life and resulting in 8.4 million disability-adjusted life-years per year, highlighting the wide-ranging impact of AF on public health. Moreover, AF is increasingly recognized for its association with cognitive decline and dementia. AF is a chronic and progressive disease characterized by rapid and erratic electrical activity in the atria, often in association with structural changes in the heart tissue. AF is often initiated by triggered activity, often from ectopic foci in the pulmonary veins. These triggered impulses may initiate AF via: (1) sustained rapid firing with secondary disorganization into fibrillatory waves, or (2) by triggering micro re-entrant circuits around the pulmonary venous-LA junction and within the atrial body. In each instance, AF perpetuation necessitates the presence of a vulnerable atrial substrate, which perpetuates and stabilizes re-entrant circuits through a combination of slowed and heterogeneous conduction, as well as functional conduction abnormalities (e.g., fibrosis disrupting tissue integrity, and abnormalities in the intercalated disks disrupting effective cell-to-cell coupling). The re-entry wavelength, determined by conduction velocity and refractory period, is shortened by slowed conduction, favoring AF maintenance. One major factor contributing to these changes is the disruption of the extracellular matrix (ECM), which is induced by atrial fibrosis. Fibrosis-driven disruption of the ECM, especially in the heart and blood vessels, is commonly caused by conditions such as aging, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and chronic inflammatory or autoimmune diseases. These factors lead to excessive collagen and protein deposition by activated fibroblasts (i.e., myofibroblasts), resulting in increased tissue stiffness, maladaptive remodeling, and impaired organ function. Fibrosis typically occurs when cardiac fibroblasts are activated to myofibroblasts, resulting in the deposition of excessive collagen and other proteins. This change in ECM interferes with the normal electrical function of the heart by creating irregular, fibrotic regions. AF and atrial fibrosis have a reciprocal relationship: AF promotes fibrosis through fibroblast activation and extracellular matrix buildup, while atrial fibrosis can sustain and perpetuate AF, contributing to higher rates of AF recurrence after treatments such as catheter ablation or cardioversion. 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

Background/Objectives: Smartphone-based leisure reservation platforms increasingly shape how individuals participate in leisure, yet little is known about how such technology-mediated engagement influences users’ awareness of multidimensional health benefits. The purpose of this study is to investigate how regular users of smartphone-based leisure reservation platforms perceive multidimensional health benefits associated with their leisure activities. Methods: Based on a constructivist/interpretivist approach, this study applied Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Ten participants with at least one year of platform use completed semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed through iterative coding and theme development, with trustworthiness ensured through member checking, peer debriefing, and triangulation. Results: Participants reported three dimensions of health awareness. (1) App-enabled accessibility as a catalyst for physical health awareness (i.e., physical health benefits) included improved vitality and increased motivation to maintain exercise routines. (2) App-based planning and anticipation in supporting mental well-being (i.e., mental health benefits) involved stress reduction, emotional recovery, enjoyment, and heightened self-care awareness. (3) Platform-mediated social encounters and the construction of social health (i.e., social health benefits) reflected expanded social networks, strengthened interpersonal relationships, and a greater sense of belonging fostered through shared leisure experiences. Conclusions: Smartphone-based leisure platforms play a meaningful role in enhancing users’ awareness of multidimensional health benefits. By improving accessibility, diversifying leisure options, and facilitating social interaction, these platforms support holistic well-being. The findings contribute to understanding technology-mediated leisure and offer practical implications for designing digital leisure services that promote physical, mental, and social health. Full article

Background/Objectives: Cross-border retirement migration has become a global trend. However, this population from Hong Kong, with a unique status, offers valuable opportunities for multidimensional empirical research. This paper aims to apply a Stress and Coping Theory–based model to verify the presence of reverse culture shock (RCS) among them and explore how social support and its appraisal are associated with loneliness. It further examines indirect associations involving secondary appraisal within the appraisal structure. Methods: We recruited 210 Hong Kong seniors (aged ≥65) who had relocated to mainland China and had ever returned and surveyed them using validated scales. Results: Robust regression results revealed that higher levels of RCS were associated with higher levels of loneliness. Compared to social support (β = −0.04, p = 0.278), its appraisal had a significant negative association with loneliness (β = −0.09, p < 0.05). Mediation analysis demonstrated a significant indirect association involving social support appraisal, with variation across duration since the last return. Conclusions: With the resumption of normal cross-border travel after COVID-19, RCS is associated with subjective well-being among older returnees. Support appraisal shows a stronger association with loneliness, although this association varies by temporal context. We further propose that within the appraisal structure, secondary appraisal may be implicated in indirect associations linking primary appraisal to emotional outcomes, and that these associations vary by temporal context. Full article

Social–emotional development in early childhood lays the groundwork for school readiness, healthy relationships, and long-term well-being. Parents play a pivotal role in this process, shaping children’s emotional awareness, regulation, and social competence through everyday interactions. This literature review synthesizes evidence from 74 peer-reviewed studies to evaluate nine evidence-based parenting interventions targeting parents of preschool-aged children. The programs were analyzed with respect to their objectives, theoretical foundations, components, and the resulting outcomes for both parents and children. Across interventions, consistent benefits emerged in children, including improved emotion recognition, regulation, empathy, and prosocial behavior, as well as reductions in internalizing problems. Parents also gained in confidence and positive discipline practices. Key elements linked to effectiveness included active parent skill-building (such as modeling, role play, and guided practice), structured parent–child interactions, multi-component designs integrating home and school contexts, and flexible delivery formats that adapt to family needs. These findings underscore the critical role of parenting interventions as an evidence-based method to enhance preschoolers’ social–emotional development. Full article

The paper introduces ‘transformative’ curriculum initiatives such as education for sustainable development (ESD) and global citizenship education (GCED), which address ‘macro’ challenges such as climate change, together with ‘holistic’ approaches to student learning such as ‘social and emotional learning’ (SEL) and education for ‘life skills’, ‘21st century skills’, ‘transversal competencies’, AI-related ethics, and ‘health and well-being.’ These are reflected in Section 6 of the 2023 UNESCO Recommendation on Education for Peace, Human Rights and Sustainable Development. It is suggested that such broad goals put forward at global policy level may serve as inspiration for national context-specific programming, while also needing better integration of national insights and cultural differences into global discourse. The paper aims to provide insights to education policy-makers responsible for national curriculum, textbooks and other learning resources, teacher training and examination processes, helping them to promote the human values, integrity and sense of agency needed by students in a time of multiple global and personal challenges. This requires an innovative approach to curricula for established school subjects and can be included in curricula being developed for AI literacy and related ethics. Research into the integration of transformative and holistic dimensions into curricula, materials, teacher preparation, and assessment is needed, as well as ongoing monitoring and feedback. AI-supported networking and resource sharing at local, national and international level can support implementation of transformative and holistic learning, to maintain and strengthen the human dimensions of learning. Full article

Background/Objectives: Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) require contextual approaches emphasizing family roles. Parents of children with NDDs face a complex socio-emotional reality. They may experience high levels of stress, fatigue, depression, and feelings of guilt and uncertainty, and they are often left feeling isolated and unsupported. All of these factors increase their socio-emotional vulnerability and affect their children’s wellbeing. A significant part of the available evidence has focused on parents of typically developing children or on a single construct. For these reasons, and considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the aim of this study was to review interventions targeting the improvement of the socio-emotional wellbeing of parents of children with NDDs, in order to characterise recent research, the specific constructs addressed, and the effectiveness of interventions. Methods: No prior protocol/registration. ERIC and Web of Science databases (selected for their broad multidisciplinary coverage in psychology and social sciences) were searched from 2020–2025 (last search: 7 September 2025), limited to English/Spanish publications. Inclusion criteria encompassed parents/primary family caregivers of children with NDDs receiving socio-emotional programs. Two independent reviewers screened the titles/abstracts and full texts, resolving disagreements through discussion. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, this systematic review employed narrative synthesis without risk-of-bias assessment and included 16 studies (approximately, 1100 participants). Results: The analysis indicated a scarce but growing scientific output, with a complex methodological landscape showing promising preliminary convergence in intervention outcomes. Interventions effects appeared mediated by cultural suitability, accessibility, and contextual alignment. Conclusions: Future work should pursue multisystemic approaches engaging diverse societal contexts and agents to optimize child and family wellbeing. Full article

The aim of this paper is to identify and psychographically characterize consumers operating in the phygital environment based on their emotional responses to tools used in commerce and services. The theoretical section involves a bibliometric analysis (Web of Science and Scopus papers from 2015 to 2024) using Bibliometrix and Biblioshiny in RStudio. The empirical study was conducted using the Internet survey technique in February 2025 on a nationwide random-quota sample of 2160 adult internet users. Based on cluster analysis, three types of consumers were identified: solution skeptics (48.1%), cautious explorers (20.1%), and tool enthusiasts (31.9%). The results indicate that emotions play a key role in the perception of phygital experiences. The article provides practical guidance for companies, including approaches for designing more inclusive and accessible shopping environments. A positive attitude toward these tools can foster more efficient use of services, reducing overconsumption and improving quality of life. In the context of sustainable development, these results point to the need for further research into the real impact of phygital solutions on consumer wellbeing—social, economic, and environmental. Full article

Numerous studies have demonstrated the benefits of social and emotional learning (SEL) for both students and teachers. For students, SEL enhances their learning environment, psychological well-being, and academic performance. For teachers, it fosters a sense of meaningfulness in their work and strengthens relationships with students. However, effective SEL requires guidance, a safe emotional environment, and opportunities for personal reflection. This study explored SEL by analyzing the reflections of eight trainee teachers in the United Arab Emirates and six in Finland, who participated in similar SEL courses independently. Utilizing both data-driven and theory-driven content analysis based on the levels of processing the results indicated that over 60% of student responses were elaborative or insightful, while less than 40% were at the reproduction level. The most prominent SEL category identified was developing social interaction, whereas responsible decision-making was the least represented. Overall, the course significantly enhanced participants’ theoretical understanding and SEL development, yielding similar outcomes in both countries. The findings suggest that methods promoting responsible decision-making should be further integrated into teacher training for SEL development. Full article